NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

 

 

 

 

Tricky Tipster's Dallas picks

13 Oct 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 AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals.

TOP FUEL
Funny Car | Pro Stock | Pro Stock Motorcycle
  
Antron BrownAntron Brown • Matco Tools
He’s got a nice somewhat comfortable 77-point lead, so victory here would just about put the wraps on a third championship. Even a semifinal would be a huge boost.
3-1
  
Doug KalittaDoug Kalitta • Mac Tools
Pretty much a must-win race for Team Kalitta or at the very least they need to pick up a round or two on Brown, which they are fully capable of doing.
4-1
  
Brittany ForceBrittany Force • Monster Energy
This car has been a bit hot and cold since midseason, but lately it’s been more hot, so that bodes well for another victory. Certainly, Team Monster has the capability to get the job done.
6-1
  
Tony SchumacherTony Schumacher • U.S. Army
Scored his first win in Dallas in 1999 and has since returned to bag five more titles at the Texas Motorplex. Oh, and he’s also an honorary Texan, for what that’s worth.
7-1
  
Steve TorrencSteve Torrence • Capco Contractors
Trailing by 163 points with three races left, a championship is almost certainly out of reach, but for a native Texan, a win in Dallas would make a nice late-season consolation prize.
8-1
  
Shawn LangdonShawn Langdon • Red Fuel/Sandvik
In the week between Reading and Dallas, he kept his skills sharp with a strong performance in his bracket dragster. That helps explain why his lights are among the best in the class. Oh, and the car is pretty solid as well.
10-1
  
Richie CramptonRichie Crampton • Lucas Oil Products
This has obviously not been the type of year that the Lucas team expected to have, but they still have three chances to end it on a high note, and they are definitely better now than at the start of the season.
12-1
  
Leah PritchettLeah Pritchett • Papa John’s/Mopar
Made a nice move in the points standings after winning four rounds during the Countdown. The “new” Schumacher team is coming together, and another win this season would not be at all surprising.
15-1
 

FUNNY CAR
Ron CappsRon Capps • NAPA Dodge
OK, so he has not won a race since Seattle. He’s still the points leader, and he’s consistently turned in finishes of semifinal or better. That’s how championships are won.
7-2
  
Tommy Johnson Jr.Tommy Johnson Jr. • Make-A-Wish Dodge
In recent weeks, this team found the consistency they had been lacking in the first third of the season. While T.J. is probably not as overdue as teammate Capps, he’s still a guy who has paid his dues.
4-1
  
Del WorshamDel Worsham • DHL Toyota
Facing a 122-point deficit, he pretty much has to win here and probably collect a few bonus points to defend his title. It’s a tough task but not an impossible one.
6-1
  
John ForceJohn Force • Peak Chevrolet
The 16-time champ has seven wins in Dallas but none since 2005. We still don’t think it would be wise to bet against him. He needs to get back in the groove after a forgettable Reading event.
7-1
  
Jack BeckmanJack Beckman • Infinite Hero Dodge
With six round-wins in the last two events, he’s been able to get back in the championship battle, but trailing by 93 points, he’s going to need to gain ground on Capps and Johnson in order to stay there. A win would do just that.
9-1
  
Matt HaganMatt Hagan • Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge
A day in the life of Tricky Tipster. Put a guy like this in the No. 6 spot and watch him go out and run the table. That’s just the nature of Funny Car racing in 2016.
10-1
  
Robert HightRobert Hight • Auto Club Chevrolet
Frustrating times for the former world champ. He’s got one of the best cars in the class yet hasn’t been to the semi’s since Denver. Something has to give sooner or later.
12-1
  
Tim WilkersonTim Wilkerson • Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang
Imagine where he might be if he hadn’t dinged two cars in bizarre starting-line accidents this season. Despite the setbacks, he could easily win one of the last three races, or all three for that matter.
15-1
 

PRO STOCK
Jason LineJason Line • Summit Camaro
His lead has been cut to 45 points with three races left. That’s not big enough to feel safe and not quite small enough to feel threatened. One thing for sure: an early loss here could have a devastating effect.
3-1
  
Greg AndersonGreg Anderson • Summit Camaro
If he wants to win a fifth championship, the goal is simple: win the race or at the very least go a round or two more than teammate Line. The KB drivers generally get along well, but with three races left, there is a bit more of an “every man for himself” mentality.
7-2
  
Vincent NobileVincent Nobile • Mountain View Camaro
He publicly said that he needed to win Reading in order to stay in championship contention, and then he went out and did it. A similar statement and end result would be a really good thing right about now.
5-1
  
Shane GrayShane Gray • Valvoline/Nova Services Camaro
It’s a crime that this car has not won a race this year. He was one of the first to get the new EFI package dialed in, and he’s been very quick in the second half. Basically, he’s long overdue.
6-1
  
Bo ButnerBo Butner • Butner Auto Camaro
So far, waiting for this guy to win his first Pro race is like watching Wile E. Coyote chase the Road Runner at the edge of a cliff; something bad inevitably happens. The difference is Butner is going to catch his prey.
8-1
  
Alex LaughlinAlex Laughlin • Gas Monkey Camaro
Going to have his hands full at his home event, where he is also making his Top Alcohol Dragster debut. Regardless, he should still be riding high from the St. Louis race and turn in a quality effort.
10-1
  
Drew SkillmanDrew Skillman • Skillman Auto Group Camaro
Tested the wheels off his car for two days in Indy last week. How much did they learn? We’ll see here, but we’re guessing it was a productive test.
12-1
  
Chris McGahaChris McGaha • Harlow Sammons Camaro
Odessa isn’t exactly next door to Dallas, but he’s still a Texan and this is still a home race, and it would be a great complement to his earlier Indy victory.
15-1
 

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
Eddie KrawiecEddie Krawiec • Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
Did a little trash talking in Reading and then backed it up with a potentially season-saving performance. He’s 38 markers back in the title hunt, which makes him very much a player.
3-1
  
Andrew HinesAndrew Hines • Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
Tends to be a bit more reserved than his teammate, at least when it comes to voicing opinions. That being said, he wins a lot of races and remains a favorite to win a sixth championship.
7-2
  
Angelle SampeyAngelle Sampey • Star/BPS Buell
After the disaster that was Reading, she should be thankful to only be 52 points back. The damage could have been much worse. She’s not out of this thing yet, not by a longshot.
5-1
  
Jerry SavoieJerry Savoie • White Alligator Suzuki
Remember what he did in Dallas last year? He ran the table with a string of mid-6.7s. That type of performance would also probably get the job done this season.
6-1
  
LE TongletLE Tonglet • Nitro Fish Suzuki
Now that he’s 126 points back, it’s going to be really hard to win a second championship, but he’s also not someone you’d want to see on your side of the ladder.
7-1
  
Chip EllisChip Ellis • Pippin Trucking Buell
Figures to rebound from Reading disappointment with a solid qualifying effort. He really could use a few round-wins to go with it.
9-1
  
Cory ReedCory Reed • PSE/YNot Racing Buell
Got a feeling that Reading was the first of many more final rounds to come. Don’t be surprised to see him get a win before the end of this season, either.
12-1
  
Hector Arana Jr.Hector Arana Jr. • Lucas Oil Buell
The fact that he’s way down here shows you just how stacked the Pro Stock Motorcycle class is these days. There’s an easy 12 bikes that are capable of winning, and his is one of them.
14-1