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With just one race to go, the pressure is on to lock down Countdown berths

With just the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals remaining in the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series regular season, 21 drivers have already secured their positions for the Countdown to the Championship playoffs that begin Sept. 12-15 in Reading.
19 Aug 2024
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
News
Countdown to the Championship

With just the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals remaining in the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series regular season, 21 drivers have already secured their positions for the Countdown to the Championship playoffs that begin Sept. 12-15 in Reading.

J.R. Todd in Funny Car and Troy Coughlin Jr. in Pro Stock both added their names to the playoff rosters with their performances at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd.

The six-race playoffs are open to the top 10 points earners in each class as well as drivers who have made the minimum number of required qualifying runs at all regular season events, regardless of points position.

Following the Lucas Oil Nationals, the following drivers have clinched their berths in the Countdown to the Championship based solely on points:

TOP FUEL 

  • Doug Kalitta
  • Shawn Langdon
  • Steve Torrence
  • Antron Brown
  • Justin Ashley

FUNNY CAR

  • Austin Prock
  • Bob Tasca III
  • Matt Hagan
  • J.R Todd

PRO STOCK

  • Dallas Glenn
  • Greg Anderson
  • Erica Enders
  • Aaron Stanfield
  • Jeg Coughlin Jr.
  • Troy Coughlin Jr.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

  • Gaige Herrera
  • Matt Smith
  • John Hall
  • Richard Gadson
  • Chase Van Sant
  • Angie Smith

Additionally, drivers who have not yet clinched their berths based on points but have made the minimum number of required qualifying runs at all regular season events will earn a berth in the Countdown to the Championship, regardless of points position.

That list currently includes:

TOP FUEL
Clay Millican
Tony Stewart
Tony Schumacher
Billy Torrence
Josh Hart
Shawn Reed

FUNNY CAR
Ron Capps
Daniel Wilkerson
Chad Green
Alexis DeJoria
Cruz Pedregon
Buddy Hull
Dave Richards

PRO STOCK
Jerry Tucker
Deric Kramer
Eric Latino
Matt Hartford
Chris McGaha
Mason McGaha

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
None