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Tricky Tipster's Chicago picks

07 Jul 2016
NHRA News
News

For more than five decades, NHRA National Dragster's famed Tricky Tipster has tested his prognosticating skills prior to each national event, putting odds on the top eight racers he thinks have the best shot at victory in Tricky Tipster. This week, Tricky Tipster handicaps the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals.

TOP FUEL
Funny Car | Pro Stock | Pro Stock Motorcycle | Top Alcohol Dragster | Top Alcohol Funny Car
  
Shawn LangdonShawn Langdon • Red Fuel/Sandvik Coromant
Langdon’s season turned around so fast that it’s making us lightheaded. He’s going for three in a row.
5-2
  
Doug KalittaDoug Kalitta • Mac Tools
In 2016, he has qualified No. 1 or 2 at two-thirds of the events and won three-fourths of the rounds he has competed in.
3-1
  
Antron BrownAntron Brown • Matco Tools
On even years, the Windy City becomes the winning city for the 2012 and 2014 victor.
4-1
  
Steve TorrenceSteve Torrence • Capco Contractors
He had to withdraw from Norwalk due to a medical procedure, but the competition hasn’t forgotten what a strong car the Englishtown winner has had of late.
5-1
  
Tony SchumacherTony Schumacher • U.S. Army
The defending event winner has been on the verge of scoring his first victory of the season. His comfort level is high in the Chicago area where he grew up.
6-1
  
Brittany ForceBrittany Force • Monster Energy
The lauded Route 66 Raceway surface will provide a great complement to her Alan Johnson horsepower.
7-1
  
J.R. ToddJ.R. Todd • SealMaster
He is hungrier than ever after reaching the final round for the second time this season with a great performance in Norwalk.
9-1
  
Leah PritchettLeah Pritchett • Albrecht’s Fast Track
The only other time Dave Albrecht’s motorcycle repair and customization shop was the major sponsor for a Pro team at an event, Craig Treble won a Wally in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Pritchett will try to help them go two-for-two.
12-1
 

FUNNY CAR
Ron CappsRon Capps • NAPA Dodge
Winning in Funny Car isn’t as easy as this team is making it look right now. There are so many great cars out there, so it’s hard to say how long this team can continue to dominate, but we’re sticking with it until there’s reason not to do so.
2-1
  
Courtney ForceCourtney Force • Traxxas Chevy
Force’s record here is a little spotty, but she does very well in even years — she was the runner-up in 2012 and advanced to the semi’s in 2014. With her car's consistency this year, we like her chances of continuing that trend.
4-1
  
Matt HaganMatt Hagan • Mopar Express Lane/
Rocky Boots Dodge

His ranking this week has as much to do with his record here as it does with how his car is running. Hagan has been in the final here the last three years, winning twice. A solid Norwalk qualifying effort proves the potential is there to do it again.
5-1
  
Tommy Johnson Jr.Tommy Johnson Jr. • Make-A-Wish Dodge
Speaking of great records at Route 66 Raceway … Since Johnson returned to full-time competition, his worst finish here is a runner-up. The defending event champ also happens to have a great car, too.
6-1
  
Del WorshamDel Worsham • DHL Toyota
Not to get all broken record on you loyal Tipster followers, but seriously, the great qualifying efforts, including a No. 1 start in Norwalk, have to translate into Sunday success soon, right?
7-1
  
Jack BeckmanJack Beckman • Infinite Hero Dodge
One of Tipster’s favorite teachers preached, “Consistency is key.” While said teacher was referring to writing, the same definitely can be said about racing, and Beckman’s team is proof of that. Once it fixes its consistency issues, this team should be right back in the thick of things.
8-1
  
Robert HightRobert Hight • Auto Club Chevy
Hight came this close to making Tipster look like a really big fool for leaving him out of our Norwalk rankings. We’re not making that mistake again. Hight and crew are clearly making progress with their new car, which looked pretty darn good in Ohio.
10-1
  
Alexis DeJoriaAlexis DeJoria • Patrón Toyota
Another week, another round of “Who makes the cut and who doesn’t?” The who: DeJoria and John Force. The why: DeJoria’s car has just been better overall this year, and both drivers have pretty comparable recent records here.
11-1
 

PRO STOCK
Jason LineJason Line • Summit Camaro
We are officially halfway through the season, and the KB Racing team has yet to be defeated. Line holds an incredible winning record of 41-5 going into Chicago, making him the favorite once again.
2-1
  
Greg AndersonGreg Anderson • Summit Camaro
He stayed just as competitive as his KB teammate by appearing in his ninth final round in Norwalk, with five wins so far this season.
5-2
  
Allen JohnsonAllen Johnson • Marathon Petroleum Dart
He struggled to make it down the track in Norwalk, but Tipster won’t count that against him. Johnson has had the most consistent car compared to the rest of the field, giving him a greater chance of upsetting the two Summit Camaros.
4-1
  
Vincent NobileVincent Nobile • Mountain View Camaro
He has really stepped up his game in the last month. Nobile has qualified in the top half for four consecutive races and had two semifinal finishes. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him make a final-round appearance very soon.
5-1
  
Shane GrayShane Gray • Gray Motorsports Camaro
After struggling to make it past the first round earlier this season, Gray has turned things around with three semifinal finishes in the last five races.
6-1
  
Drew SkillmanDrew Skillman • Ray Skillman Auto Camaro
He scored his second-highest qualifying position of the year last time out and consistently made solid runs. His team will be back to where it needs to be in no time.
8-1
  
Bo ButnerBo Butner • Jim Butner Auto Camaro
While he continues to impress with quick runs in qualifying, Butner is still struggling in eliminations, not making it past the first round since Epping.
10-1
  
Jeg Coughlin Jr.Jeg Coughlin Jr. • JEGS.com Dart
Had another first-round loss in Norwalk, but his semifinal finish in Bristol gave him this last spot. It’s still too soon to see if this team is making moves in the right direction.
12-1
 

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
Eddie KrawiecEddie Krawiec • Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
The three-time champ has lost only two rounds this season and has won three of the first five events. He has also qualified No. 1 four times, which makes this a fairly obvious pick.
7-2
  
Jerry SavoieJerry Savoie • White Alligator Suzuki
The two-time runner-up this season is overdue for his first trip to the winner’s circle. Interestingly enough, four of his five losses on the season have come against Krawiec.
4-1
  
Angelle SampeyAngelle Sampey • Star Racing Buell
Given her recent results and the quality of the competition in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class this season, she might actually be better than she was in her championship seasons of 2000 through 2002.
5-1
  
Andrew HinesAndrew Hines • Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
Sitting on 394 round-wins, and Sampey has 382. One of them will be the first Pro Stock Motorcycle rider to hit 400. Hines should easily do it by the end of July.
7-1
  
Hector Arana Jr.Hector Arana Jr. • Lucas Oil Buell
Something has been amiss on the Lucas Oil Buell for most of the season, but from time to time, the Aranas have been impressive. He’s overdue for a breakout, and as the winner of the last two Chicago races, this is as good a place as any to start.
9-1
  
Matt SmithMatt Smith • Victory Gunner
Although it ended with a disappointing quarterfinal finish, Norwalk was a breakthrough event for the Victory team. When this bike is right, and it now appears to be, he is capable of running with anyone in the class.
10-1
  
LE TongletLE Tonglet • Nitro Fish Suzuki
This is arguably the second-best Suzuki in the class, behind Savoie, and Tonglet rates among the class’ best riders. That’s a tough combination to beat when the Nitro Fish team is on its game.
12-1
  
Hector AranaHector Arana Sr. • Lucas Oil Buell
Thirty years into his career, this is still a very competitive bike-rider combination, but he could do himself a favor by not qualifying in the 8-9 spots, which means a tough quarterfinal draw against a top qualifier.
15-1
 

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Chris Demke • Peen Rite/Boost Performance
Not even Michael Jordan won four straight years in Chicago, but that’s what Demke is in position to do with Jerry Maddern’s “X” car.
3-1
  
Joey Severance • J&A Service
The points leader will do fine if he can transfer some of his Saturday success from past JEGS Allstars events to race day.
7-2
  
Rich McPhillips • McPhillips Racing
He should have painted his dragster green a long time ago. He enters the race with a lot of momentum after wins in Norwalk and at the East Region event in West Lebanon, N.Y.
4-1
  
Megan Meyer • Racers Evolved
She is cooking up a whole mess of points during her rookie season in the alcohol ranks.
5-1
  
Duane Shields • Peak Antifreeze
The 2011 national champion has one win in three finals in regional action this season and is running hard enough to break through on the national side.
7-1
  
Mia Tedesco • CARS Protection Plus
She opened the season with a regional win and hasn’t had much luck since, but nobody wants to line up against this car when it reaches the finish line with all eight candles lit.
8-1
  
Randy Meyer • Randy Meyer Racing
“Megan’s dad” is more than capable behind the wheel when he gets the opportunity to hop in his second A/Fuel Dragster.
9-1
  
Gord Gingles • The Bull
This hard-running Canadian team has the power to hang with anybody, and the driver often makes up the difference when it’s close.
11-1
 

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
John Lombardo Jr. • NAPA/Lucas Oil Chevy
Even with Ron Capps’ impressive wins during the "Eastern Swing," the most dominant NAPA-sponsored Funny Car might still belong to Lombardo.
2-1
  
Kris Hool • SK Professional Tools Chevy
The Hool brothers have pushed their hot rod to the final round here in each of the past two seasons and would love to close the deal at the home race of their major sponsor.
4-1
  
Doug Gordon • MB Cabinets Chevy
He and father Mike are both JEGS Allstars winners. A victory during the Sunday portion of this race would be a first for the California driver.
5-1
  
Annie Whiteley • J&A Service Chevy
The No. 1 qualifier in Norwalk returns to the site of her first national event win in 2013.
6-1
  
Terry Ruckman • Ruckman Brothers Racing Chevy
The Las Vegas winner looked strong in Norwalk with his new Camaro.
8-1
  
Andy Bohl • Competition Products/Hedman Hedders Chevy
Last year’s Indy winner showed no signs of rust in his 2016 national event debut in Norwalk, where he reached the semifinals.
9-1
  
Jay Payne • Peak Antifreeze Chevy
Last time he raced at Route 66 Raceway, he took home the gold man. He scored the win at the North Central Region event in June and is going for a Chicago sweep.
10-1
  
Shane Westerfield • CP-Carrillo/BBR Chevy
He is pulling a reverse Clark Griswold by loading up his family for a cross-country trip from LA to Chicago. He is in search of a Wally, though not the moose.
11-1