2018 8th Annual FABO NHRA "Pick 'Em" Game - Time For Your NITRO Fix! Here We Go Again!!!

[ocdart]

JMO, but I think the television coverage of the 2018 U.S. Nationals missed some things that could have made it better. Last year I really enjoyed seeing the final round races of all the eliminators from Stock on up.
I also thought they could have covered the Mountain Motor Pro Stock exhibition sometime during the weekend. And only the final round of the Hemi Challenge? Come on!

Congratulations to 'cuda20' (FABO) for winning the 2018 U.S. Nationals "Top Picker Eliminator" title with a very nice total of 172.5 points. He picked the class winner in Pro Stock, his Pro Stock Motorcycle pick lost in the final round of eliminations and both his Top Fuel and Funny Car picks lost in the second round of eliminations.finals and his Top Fuel pick went out in the semi-finals. His point total was helped by ET bonus points in Pro Stock and Speed bonus points in Funny Car.
'64BEL' (FBBO) was the event runner-up with 145.0 points.


Here's where the bonus points were earned if you picked the right drivers:

Top Fuel
E.T. - Mike Salinas, 3.756 during qualifying
Speed - Tony Schumacher, 328.14 during qualifying

Funny Car
E.T. - J.R. Todd, 3.910 during qualifying
Speed - Courtney Force, 325.69 during qualifying

Pro Stock
E.T. - Tanner Gray, 6.603 during qualifying
Speed - Chris McGaha, 208.94 during qualifying

Pro Stock Motorcycle
E.T. - Matt Smith, 6.814 during qualifying
Speed - Hector Arana Jr., 199.29 during qualifying



Here are the game point standings after the 18th event of the 2018 season, the close of the 'regular' season before the points are reset heading into the Countdown:
1624.5 - stroked340 (FABO) no change in the game standings
1581.5 - cuda20 (FABO) +1
1561.0 - Duster79 (FABO) -1
1528.5 - SSG_Karg (FABO) no change
1483.0 - Back in Time (FABO) no change
1476.0 - aslant (FBBO) +2
1469.5 - Nick2317 (FBBO) no change
1432.0 - Budnicks (FBBO) -2
1428.0 - johnnycuda (FABO) no change
1409.5 - ocdart (FABO) +1
1402.0 - 71dartswinger (FABO) -1
1349.5 - memike (FABO) no change
1284.0 - super-bee_ski (FBBO) no change
1142.0 - 64BEL (FBBO) no change


OK, now a weekend off before the 'Countdown' starts at the 19th race of the 2017 season, the 34th annual Dodge NHRA Nationals, September 13-16, at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania.
As always, your picks need to be posted before Pro Qualifying starts on Friday, September 15 in order to qualify for all event bonus points. Pro qualifying is scheduled to start at 11:45AM EDT (8:45AM PDT).
The Dodge Nationals entry list is posted on NHRA.com and currently shows 14 Top Fuel, 16 Funny Car, 15 Pro Stock and 9 Pro Stock Motorcycle entries, but the counts are always subject to change. Keep checking NHRA.com for an updated entry list.
Get your picks posted and good luck!

I'll give y'all a day or two to digest the points shown above before posting the reset points and special notice for the 'Countdown' events.

 

[alsant]

Way to go Bel !!!!!!!!!

 

[Budnicks]

nice picks @64BEL

I went backwards -2 spots

 

[ocdart]

OK, here's the information on how the points were reset. The same as the past several years:

The plan is based on NHRA's model but is even more competitive. NHRA gives the points leader a 30-point lead over 2nd-place, then 10 points separate each succeeding place (third, fourth, fifth, etc.).
But, just like the last four years, here's what I did after the U.S. Nationals as a starting point for the remaining six races for the 2018 FABO Championship and bragging rights: 1st place points were re-set at 2000 points. 2nd place was reset at 1970 points. Each succeeding place is separated by a maximum of 10 points unless the existing point totals difference following the U.S. Nationals is less than 10 points; existing point differences were used where the difference was less than 10 points. So if you're in 3rd place or lower in the standings and 40 points behind the person in front of you before the points were reset, you're now only 10 points behind after the points were reset; but if you were only 2 points behind the person in front of you before the points were reset, you're still only 2 points behind them after the points reset.

This tightens the points up even more from 1st to 14th and will make the last six races even more competitive.

As before, this is going to be fun!

Before you look at the reset points, please read the following IMPORTANT INFORMATION because it won't be reposted. You will miss out if you don't read it.
* It is your responsibility from here on out to post your picks on time without a reminder. I'm not going to post reminders or send PM's.
* The "pick carry over" that was initiated last year is no longer in effect. If you don't post picks before the start of Pro Qualifying at each event then you will miss out on all event bonus points. If you don't post picks before the start of eliminations, you will miss out on all points for that event.
* If you miss posting picks for two consecutive events during the "Countdown" you will "lose your sponsor" and have to sit out the rest of the season. 'fishmens67' (FBBO) hasn't posted new picks for quite a few races now. His picks have been "carried over" for each of the past five (5) events, but that will end if he doesn't post new picks after the second event of the "Countdown".
* The only way to guarantee your picks are posted is to make sure you post them prior to the deadline, or "lock" your picks in for the remainder of the season. As before, you can always change your "locked-in" picks by posting new ones on the game thread.

OK, here are the reset points following the U.S. Nationals.
Before the reset, the point difference from first to sixteenth was 482.5 points...

2000.0 - stroked340 (FABO)
1970.0 - cuda20 (FABO)
1960.0 - Duster79 (FABO)
1950.0 - SSGKarg (FABO)
1940.0 - Back in Time (FABO)
1933.0 - alsant (FBBO)
1926.5 - Nick2317 (FBBO)
1916.5 - Budnicks (FBBO)
1912.5 - johnnycuda (FABO)
1902.5 - ocdart (FABO)
1895.0 - 71dartswinger (FABO)
1885.0 - memike (FABO)
1875.0 - super-bee_ski (FBBO)
1865.0 - 64BEL (FBBO)

...now the point difference is only 135.0 points.

Here we go...​

 

[ocdart]

Here's your "Tuesday-before-the-event" reminder for the 34th annual Dodge // NHRA Nationals that starts Friday, September 14th. The first event of the 2018 Countdown.
The entry list currently shows:
16 Top Fuel
16 Funny Car
16 Pro Stock
20 Pro Stock Motorcycle

This might be a "weather" event because of the remnants of Hurrican Florence.
The extended weather forecast calls for a high temp of 76F on Friday with thunderstorms lasting until 9:00PM EDT, a high temp of 80F and cloudy with up to a 50% chance of moisture through most of Saturday and 81F and partly sunny on Sunday.

Get your picks posted!

 

[Nick2317]

I don't think it will happen but

TF Steve Torrence
FC Matt Hagan
PS Jason Line
PSM Eddie Krawiec

 

[Budnicks]

Probably not gonna' happen

but wtf

T/F Steve Torrence

F/C Ron Capps

P/S Greg Anderson

P/SM Eddie Kraweic

 

[alsant]

Antron Brown
Robert Height
Greg Anderson
Eddie Kreiwic

Good luck all!!

 

[ocdart]

34th annual Dodge// NHRA Nationals qualifying leaders:

Q1
Weather: 77F, 75% relative humidity, barometer 29.62 adjusted altitude 2,417', track temp 89F

TF: Clay Millican, 3.747 @ 328.30
FC: Jack Beckman, 3.954 @ 322.88
PS: Jeg Coughlin Jr., 6.555; Tanner Gray @ 210.21
PSM: Matt Smith, 6.828 @ 198.20

Q2
Weather: 78F, 75% relative humidity, barometer 29.59 adjusted altitude 2,583', track temp 89F

TF: Clay Millican, 3.723 @ 330.72​

FC: Courtney Force, 3.907; John Force @ 331.12
PS: Erica Enders-Stevens, 6.550; Drew Skillman @ 210.24
PSM: Matt Smith, 6.828 @ 198.20

Q3
Weather: 79F, 66% relative humidity, barometer 29.61 adjusted altitude 2,553', track temp 108F

TF: Clay Millican, 3.723; Steve Torrance @ 330.88
FC: Courtney Force, 3.907; John Force @ 331.12
PS: Jeg Coughlin Jr., 6.545; Drew Skillman @ 210.80
PSM: Matt Smith and Eddie Krawiec, 6.828; Matt Smith @ 198.20


Q4
Weather: 79F, 67% relative humidity, barometer 29.59 adjusted altitude 2,960', track temp 105F

TF: Clay Millican, 3.723; Steve Torrance @ 330.88
FC: Courtney Force, 3.907; John Force @ 331.12
PS: Tanner Gray, 6.550; Drew Skillman @ 210.80
PSM: Matt Smith and Eddie Krawiec, 6.828; Matt Smith @ 198.20​

​

 

[Budnicks]

well I'm 0-fer, freaken' figures

I was goona' go with Matt Smith again
but he sucks in eliminations

oh well, such is the norm, in my picks this season

good luck everyone else

 

[ocdart]

Congratulations to '71dartswinger' (FBBO) for winning the Top Qualifier title for the 2018 Dodge// Nationals with an outstanding 30.5 bonus points by picking the #1 qualifier in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, the #2 pick in Pro Stock Motorcycle and the #3 qualifiers in Pro Stock.
'cuda20' (FABO) took the runner-up spot with 26.5 bonus points.


Way to go!!
Good luck all in eliminations tomorrow!

We have 13 players this week to start the Countdown with 12 different driver combos made up of:
* 5 different Top Fuel drivers with one Round 1 head-to-head matchup between #6 qualifier Antron Brown (4 picks) and #16 qualifier Brittany Force (1 pick). There will not be any head-to-head matchups in Round 2 of eliminations.
* 7 different Funny Car drivers with one Round 1 head-to-head matchup between JFR driver 7 qualifier John Force (1 pick) and DSR driver #10 qualifier Matt Hagan (2 picks). There is also a possibility of two head-to-head matchups in Round 2 if all four drivers win their opening round of eliminations.
* 6 different Pro Stock drivers picked this week with no Round 1 head-to-head matchups. There is also a possibility of two head-to-head matchup in Round 2 of eliminations.
* 3 different Pro Stock motorcycle drivers picked this week with no Round 1 head-to-head matchups and no possible Round 2 matchups.

Good luck all!

 

[alsant]

Nice job FBBO brothers !!

 

[ocdart]

Congratulations to '64BEL' (FBBO) for winning the 2018 Dodge// Nationals "Top Picker Eliminator" title with a very nice total of 126.0 points. He picked the class winner in Top Fuel, the class runner-up in Funny Car, his Pro Stock Motorcycle pick lost in the semi-final round of eliminations and Pro Stock pick lost in the second round of eliminations.
'Budnicks' (FBBO) was the event runner-up with 125.0 points.
'Back in Time' was the top FABO player finishing with 116.0 points.

Here's where the bonus points were earned if you picked the right drivers:


Top Fuel
E.T. - Clay Millican, 3.723 during qualifying
Speed - Clay Millican, 331.12 during Round 1 of eliminations


Funny Car
E.T. - Courtney Force, 3.907 during qualifying
Speed - John Force, 331.12 during qualifying


Pro Stock
E.T. - Tanner Gray, 6.542 during qualifying
Speed - Drew Skillman, 211.06 during Round 3 of eliminations

Pro Stock Motorcycle
E.T. - Matt Smith, 6.814 during Round 3 of eliminations
Speed - Hector Arana Jr., 198.88 during Round 1 of eliminations




Here are the game point standings after the 19th event of the 2018 season, the opening event of the Countdown:
2104.0 - stroked340 (FABO) no change in the game standings​

2070.5 - Duster79 (FABO) +1
2069.0 - cuda20 (FABO) -1
2056.0 - Back in Time (FABO) +1
2041.5 - Budnicks (FBBO) +3
2034.0 - alsant (FBBO) no change
2025.0 - SSG_Karg (FABO) -3
2018.5 - Nick2317 (FABO) -1
2005.5 - ocdart (FABO) +1
2001.0 - memike (FABO) +2
1991.0 - 64BEL (FBBO) +3
1990.5 - 71dartswinger (FABO) -1
1988.0 - johnnycuda (FABO) -4
1284.0 - super-bee_ski (FBBO) -1

No rest because the 20th event of the 2018 season, the second event of the Countdown is next weekend, off before the 'Countdown' starts at the 19th race of the 2017 season, the 7th annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, September 21-23, at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois.

As always, your picks need to be posted before Pro Qualifying starts on Friday, September 21 in order to qualify for all event bonus points. Pro qualifying is scheduled to start at 3:15PM EDT (1:15PM PDT).

The Midwest Nationals entry list is posted on
NHRA.com
and currently shows 20 Top Fuel, 16 Funny Car, 15 Pro Stock and 19 Pro Stock Motorcycle entries, but the counts are always subject to change. Keep checking NHRA.com for an updated entry list.

Get your picks posted and good luck!
​

 

[alsant]

Way to go Bel!!!

Way to go Bud!!

Up 3 pts each!

 

[Budnicks]

Way to go @64BEL up +3 too

I was wondering if my guys/picks would race better
than my qualifying picks ended up

 

[ocdart]

Here's your "Tuesday-before-the-event" reminder for the 7th annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals that starts Friday, September 21st. The second event of the 2018 Countdown.
The entry list currently shows:
20 Top Fuel
18 Funny Car
17 Pro Stock
19 Pro Stock Motorcycle

This might be another "weather" event.
The extended weather forecast calls for a high temp of 83F on Friday with light rain starting about noon and turning into thunderstorms from 2-5PM, a high temp of 91F on Saturday with rain starting about 4AM then turning into thunderstorms about 7AM and lasting the rest of the day. Light rain is supposed to end around 9AM on Sunday and then remain cloudy the rest of the day with a high temp of about 91F.

Get your picks posted and get your umbrellas out!

Oh, one more thing: competitionplus.com reports that John Gaydosh Jr. is done with NHRA Pro Stock. His car has been sold and is on the way to Sweden. He says he can't afford $170,000 for a new car to be competitive and doesn't have the $1-million annual sponsorship it takes to compete in Pro Stock. In the article on competitionplus.com he says shock absorbers alone are a $30,000 expenditure. That's just crazy.

 

[Nick2317]

Ill go with

TF Steve torrence
FC Matt Hagan
PS Tanner Gray
PSM Eddie Kraweic

 

[super-bee_ski]

Top Fuel: Clay Millican

Funny Car: Courtney Force

Pro Stock: Gregg Anderson

Pro Bike: Eddie Kraweic

 

[gtxracer]

Top Fuel: Clay Milican
Funny Car: J R Todd
Pro Stock: Vincent Nobile
Pro Bike: L E Tonglet
Just for grins!

 

[Budnicks]

AAA Midwest Nats picks

T/F Steve Torrence

F/C Ron Capps

P/S Greg Anderson

P/SM Eddie Kraweic

good luck everyone