Rookie Report Card after Bristol
Three of the five candidates for this year's Auto Club Road to the Future Award that recognizes NHRA's top rookie in the Pro ranks were in competition at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Top Fuel racer Troy Coughlin Jr., Funny Car's Jonnie Lindberg, and Pro Stock sensation Tanner Gray all competed over Father's Day weekend at Bristol Dragway with mixed results. Gray tallied two more round-wins, bringing his season total to 22, while Coughlin and Lindberg made early exits. Top Fuel runner Shawn Reed and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Joey Gladstone are also in contention for the rookie award, though Reed sat out Bristol and the motorcycles were not in competition there.
Following is a look at the season stats for the 2017 rookie class through the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, race 11 of 24 on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.
Coughlin | Reed | Lindberg | Gray | Gladstone | |
Events attended | 11 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 4 |
Best qualifying position | 5 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
Round-wins | 4 | 2 | 8 | 22 | 4 |
Event wins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Runner-ups | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Holeshot W/L* | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 3/2 | 1/0 |
DNQs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Points position | 8 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 7 |
*Does not include NHRA Four-Wide Nationals |