2024 14th Annual FABO NHRA "Pick 'Em" Game - It's NITRO Burnin' Time Again!!!

[ocdart]

Here's your "Tuesday Before the Event" reminder for the NHRA Northwest Nationals scheduled for July 19-21 at Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA.

Please post your picks before qualifying starts so you will be eligible for all event bonus points.

NHRA continues with a "standard" qualifying schedule: Q1 and Q2 on Friday, Q3 and Q4 on Saturday. The first of the scheduled four rounds of Pro qualifying is scheduled to start at 6:30pm EDT (3:30pm PDT) on Friday.

There will be some short fields at the Nortwest Nationals as nhra.com currently shows the following number of entries:
* 14 Top Fuel
* 16 Funny Car (John Force continues to show as an entry)
* 18 Pro Stock (none of the Cuadra brothers are entered)
* 13 Pro Stock Motorcycle

Those counts are always subject to change so make sure to check to make sure your driver picks are entered.
Please check nhra.com to make sure your picks are competing in this event.
Although John Force is entered in Funny Car, the team has not yet announced whether a substitute driver for the 16-time series champion will carry on in a back-up Funny Car.

The current weather forecast for Kent, WA, calls for
* Friday - sunny with a high of 84F
* Saturday - sunny with a high of 86F
* Sunday - mostly sunny with a high of 82F

The current television schedule for the Northwest Nationals...
* Qualifying Show 1: 10:30pm-midnight EDT (7:30-9:00pm PDT), Friday, July 19, on FS1
* Qualifying Show 2: 1:00-3:00pm (10:00am-noon), Sunday, July 21 on FS1
* Finals: 4:00-7:00pm EDT (1:00-4:00pm PDT), Sunday, July 21 on FS1

All television coverage will also re-air at later times. Check www.nhra.com.

 

[GTXDAN]

Northwest Nationals

TF D Kalitta
FC A Prock
PS G Anderson
PSM G Herrera

 

[ocdart]

Interesting discussion on Brian Loehnes' podcast this week regarding a substitute driver for John Force.
NHRA rules allow a substitute driver to earn points for the original driver over only 8 races in a season. This means a substitute driver could be in John's Funny Car starting at Brainerd, MN, and run out the remainder of the season accumulating points for Force.
No mention yet out of JFR about a substitute driver.

John Force is currently in 4th place in the Funny Car standings. 40 points behind #3 Matt Hagan, 7 points ahead of #5 J.R. Todd, and 132 points ahead of #6 Ron Capps. Even without running at either Seattle or Sonoma, John will still be solidly in the Countdown.

My guess/suggestion of a substitute driver?
How would you like to see "Fast Jack" Beckman in John's car?

 

[Budnicks]

My guess/suggestion of a substitute driver?
How would you like to see Jack Beckman in John's car?

I'd like to see that, he was/"probably still is" a great driver...

 

[Budnicks]

For NW Nats
Sticking with my "locked in picks"
let em' ride

Good Luck Everyone

 

[Budnicks]

Interesting discussion on Brian Loehnes' podcast this week regarding a substitute driver for John Force.
NHRA rules allow a substitute driver to earn points for the original driver over only 8 races in a season. This means a substitute driver could be in John's Funny Car starting at Brainerd, MN, and run out the remainder of the season accumulating points for Force.
No mention yet out of JFR about a substitute driver.

John Force is currently in 4th place in the Funny Car standings. 40 points behind #3 Matt Hagan, 7 points ahead of #5 J.R. Todd, and 132 points ahead of #6 Ron Capps. Even without running at either Seattle or Sonoma, John will still be solidly in the Countdown.

I'm not sure why they don't have someone in there, they trust
running one of their back-ups, keep the points going
& to help satisfy keep the sponsors name out there, going to races too
I know they're worried about John but they need to keep the ship rolling
or loose what they have, in todays budgets you can't afford to loose big $$$
sponsors, by no-shows, by most of the team...
It's not being callous, it's a business, a truly cutthroat business
they will walk away, if not being represented at the tracks/TV exposure etc.

Gary Densham would be a good pick too, they got along great
he was part of that JFR team & they won, grant you, he's getting older too

or Tommy Johnson Jr. would probably be great too

most the best drivers have rides already
&/or come with assoc. sponsors
some financial help too

still haven't heard what's up with Robert Hight's condition/health ?
allegedly, why he didn't run this season ?

 

[ocdart]

I'm not sure why they don't have someone in there, they trust
running one of their back-ups, keep the points going
& to help satisfy keep the sponsors name out there, going to races too

My understanding of the NHRA rules is a substitute driver can only accumulate points for the original driver for eight races.
If they put a sub driver in right now starting at Seattle, the sub couldn't accumulate points at either Las Vegas or the Finals at the end of the season.

I'm sure JFR has run all the scenarios past the sponsors.

 

[ocdart]

Interesting discussion on Brian Loehnes' podcast this week regarding a substitute driver for John Force.
NHRA rules allow a substitute driver to earn points for the original driver over only 8 races in a season. This means a substitute driver could be in John's Funny Car starting at Brainerd, MN, and run out the remainder of the season accumulating points for Force.
No mention yet out of JFR about a substitute driver.

John Force is currently in 4th place in the Funny Car standings. 40 points behind #3 Matt Hagan, 7 points ahead of #5 J.R. Todd, and 132 points ahead of #6 Ron Capps. Even without running at either Seattle or Sonoma, John will still be solidly in the Countdown.

My guess/suggestion of a substitute driver?
How would you like to see "Fast Jack" Beckman in John's car?

Robert Hight and JFR said today, "We hope to tie up all the loose ends and introduce a driver some time right after Sonoma (NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 26-28). There’s a good pool of driving talent out there but, obviously, we need to find the right fit for both the team and our sponsors.”

The nhra.com announcement also said the tentative target for the car’s return is the 47th annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire, August 2-3, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, an event in which Force was to have raced against Funny Car rivals Ron Capps, Cruz Pedregon and Dale Creasy Jr. as part of a show that also includes Top Fuel dragsters, jets and a world class fireworks show.

 

[alsant]

J Ashley
M Hagan
G Anderson
G Herrera

Good luck guys !

 

[ocdart]

@Outlawd, don't forget to post your NHRA picks for the Northwest Nationals before qualifying starts today.

 

[ocdart]

@Outlawd, don't forget to post your NHRA picks for the Northwest Nationals before qualifying starts today.

Q1 at Pacific Raceways is underway and still no response from 'Outlawd'.
I will carryover his most recent picks.
He can still post new picks for Seattle before eliminations start on Sunday, but no event bonus points for this race.

 

[ocdart]

2024 NHRA Northwest Nationals qualifying leaders:

Q1
Weather: 84F, 42% relative humidity, barometer 30.13", adjusted altitude 2,226', track temp. 127F
TF: Josh Hart, 3.955 @ 321.65
FC: Austin Prock, 3.892; Bob Tasca III @ 324.36
PS: Eric Latino, 6.541; Aaron Stanfield @ 211.06
PSM: Gaige Herrera, 6.739; Angie Smith @ 200.62

Q2
Weather: 72F, 63% relative humidity, barometer 30.12", adjusted altitude 1,534', track temp. 100F
TF: Steve Torrence, 3.688 @ 335.32
FC: Austin Prock, 3.838; Ron Capps @ 331.53
PS: Erica Enders, 6.500; Chris McGaha @ 211.13
PSM: Gaige Herrera, 6.734 @ 201.22

Q3
Weather: 88F, 38% relative humidity, barometer 30.05", adjusted altitude 2,562', track temp. n/a
TF: Steve Torrence, 3.688 @ 335.32
FC: Austin Prock, 3.838; Ron Capps @ 331.53
PS: Erica Enders, 6.500; Chris McGaha @ 211.13
PSM: Gaige Herrera, 6.734 @ 201.22

Q4
Weather: 88F, 37% relative humidity, barometer 30.02", adjusted altitude 2,582', track temp. 130F
TF: Steve Torrence, 3.688 @ 335.32
FC: Austin Prock, 3.838; Ron Capps @ 331.53
PS: Erica Enders, 6.500; Chris McGaha @ 211.13
PSM: Gaige Herrera, 6.734; Angie Smith @ 201.43

 

[Outlawd]

Q1 at Pacific Raceways is underway and still no response from 'Outlawd'.
I will carryover his most recent picks.
He can still post new picks for Seattle before eliminations start on Sunday, but no event bonus points for this race.

please refer to posts 239 and 240. Remember I threw my picks in early as I was going to be busy later.

 

[ocdart]

please refer to posts 239 and 240. Remember I threw my picks in early as I was going to be busy later.

Sorry, I got them but didn't record them.
You're golden and good to go.

 

[GTXDAN]

Wow only 11 bikes racing. Sounds like some are giving up as Herrera is unbeatable. Anybody notice LE Tonglet is no longer racing. He had a V&H bike exactly like Gaige's. Cost him 12,500 a race to rent. Was supposed to be the same, but it wouldn't run with Gaige's, They wouldn't do anything about it so he dropped out.

 

[ocdart]

Wow only 11 bikes racing. Sounds like some are giving up as Herrera is unbeatable. Anybody notice LE Tonglet is no longer racing. He had a V&H bike exactly like Gaige's. Cost him 12,500 a race to rent. Was supposed to be the same, but it wouldn't run with Gaige's, They wouldn't do anything about it so he dropped out.

Yeah, I noticed. I didn't know if maybe his fire fighter responsibilities were getting in the way.
I was thinking of picking him the next time he raced.

 

[Budnicks]

My understanding of the NHRA rules is a substitute driver can only accumulate points for the original driver for eight races.
If they put a sub driver in right now starting at Seattle, the sub couldn't accumulate points at either Las Vegas or the Finals at the end of the season.

I'm sure JFR has run all the scenarios past the sponsors.

Yeah I didn't realize it was only for 8 races either...

 

[ocdart]

Congratulations to 'Budnicks' (FBBO) and 'Outlawd' (FBBO) for sharing the 2024 NHRA Northwest Nationals Top Qualifier title with outstanding totals of 30.5 bonus points each. 'Budnicks' (FBBO) picked the #1 qualifiers in Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, the #4 qualifier in Top Fuel. 'Outlawd' (FBBO) picked the #1 qualifier in Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, and the #4 qualifier in Pro Stock.
'64BEL' (FBBO) and 'SSG_Karg' (FABO) shared the runner-up qualifier with 30.0 bonus points each.
Way to go!
More great picks!

16 players again this week and 14 different driver combos made up of:
* 5 different Top Fuel drivers with no Round 1 head-to-head matchups. There is a possibility of one head-to-head matchups in the second round of eliminations if both drivers survive Round 1.
* 4 different Funny Car drivers with no Round 1 head-to-head matchups. The first possibility of a head-to-head matchup is the semi-final round if the drivers survive until then.
* 3 different Pro Stock drivers with one Round 1 head-to-head matchup between the #4 qualifier Greg Anderson (7 picks) and the #13 qualifier Dallas Glenn (2 picks)
* 2 different Pro Stock Motorcycle drivers with the only possible head-to-head matchup in the final round of eliminations if both drivers get that far
Good luck all!

 

[Budnicks]

Yea Ha... for me

congrats to @Outlawd & @64BEL too

 

[64BEL]

Nice picking, Bud and Outlawd!