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

[ocdart]

Congratulations to 'Yunick13' (FABO) for winning the 2024 NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals Top Qualifier title with an outstanding total of 22.5 bonus each. 'GTXDAN' (FBBO) picked the #1 qualifier in Top Fuel, The #2 qualifier in Pro Stock and the #3 qualifier in Funny Car.
'Budnicks' (FBBO) is the runner-up qualifier with 22.0 bonus points.
Way to go!
More great picks!

16 players again this week and 15 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.
* 5 different Funny Car drivers with no Round 1 head-to-head matchups. The is a possibility of two head-to-head matchups in the second round of eliminations if all of the drivers survive until then.
* 3 different Pro Stock drivers with no Round 1 head-to-head matchups. All Pro Stock driver picks are in the bottom half of the bracket and there is a possibility of a head-to-head matchup is the second round of eliminations if the drivers survive until then.
Good luck all!

 

[64BEL]

Nice qualifying picks, Dan and Bud!

It was cool to see that they've renamed the Hemi Challenge at Indy the Sox & Martin Hemi Challenge sponsored by the McCandless Collection.

NHRA US Nationals 2024 Banner - McCandless Collection

 

[ocdart]

Maybe the Brainerd race should have been named the "Holeshot and Redlight Nationals"!
After all of the improbable early elimination round results - eight of the top 10 drivers in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock and seven of the top 10 Funny Car drivers had been eliminated after Round 2 - 'ocdart' (FABO) was the top finisher with 117.5 points. He picked the class winners in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock. His Funny Car pick lost in the second round of eliminations. He was also helped by both ED and Speed bonus points in Funny Car.
'memike' (FABO) grabbed the runner-up spot with 95.0 points.
The top FBBO player was '64BEL' with 84.5 points.

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

Top Fuel
E.T. - Steve Torrence and Tony Stewart, 3.688 during qualifying
Speed - Brittany Force, 336.07 during qualifying

Funny Car
E.T. - Austin Prock, 3.872 during Round 1 of eliminations
Speed - Austin Prock, 334.75 during Round 1 of eliminations

Pro Stock
E.T. - Jerry Tucker and Erica Enders, 6.612 during qualifying
Speed - Greg Anderson, 208.30 while losing during Round 1 of eliminations


Here are the game point standings after the 13th event of the 2024 season:

1394.5 - Outlawd (FBBO) no change in the points standings
1383.0 - ocdart (FABO) +5
1380.0 - Budnicks (FBBO) -1
1371.5 - Yunick13 (FABO) -1
1357.0 - TT5.9mag (FABO) -1
1354.5 - stroked340 (FABO -1
1332.5 - GTXDAN (FBBO) -1
1329.5 - Duster79 (FABO) +1
1320.0 - cuda20 (FABO) -1
1316.0 - 64BEL (FBBO) no change
1282.0 - Back in Time (FABO) +1
1271.0 - alsant (FBBO) -1
1265.5 - memike (FABO) +1
1240.0 - johnnycuda (FABO) -1
1182.5 - Nick2317 (FBBO) no change
1154.5 - SSG_Karg (FABO) no change

I don't remember when the points have been this close going to the U.S. Nationals!

Now we get a weekend off to study our picks before the final event of the regular season.
The next race event on the 2024 season will be the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis, IN, scheduled for August 28-September 2.
Unbelievable, one short field at Indy! nhra.com currently shows the following class entry numbers:

21 - Top Fuel
19 - Funny Car
21 - Pro Stock
14 - Pro Stock Motocycle

As always, please check to verify your picks are participating before posting your picks. There will also be some new names participating for the first time this season.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[alsant]

Nice job guys !

 

[Budnicks]

Dang @ocdart went up +5 spots

@64BEL did great too in eliminations

@GTXDAN in qualifying too

upset tire-shake nationals, a lot of underdogs made it rounds, lots of redlights too
except for maybe Matt Hagan or Dallas Glenn

INDY US Nats next

 

[64BEL]

Nice move, oc!

Way to hang on, Outlawd!

 

[GTXDAN]

Way to go guys. Let's keep going. Indy's next, I'll be there as usual.

 

[ocdart]

Here's your "Tuesday Before the Event" reminder for the 70th anniversary Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals starting Wednesday, August 28, at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis, IN.

Please post your picks before Pro Stock and Nitro qualifying starts so you will be eligible for all event bonus points. Q1 on Friday, Q2 and Q3 on Saturday, and Q4 and Q5 on Sunday. The first of the scheduled five rounds of Pro qualifying is scheduled to start at 6:45pm EDT (3:45pm PDT) on Friday.
Elimination Round scoring for this event is "points-and-a-half" with 15 points awarded for each elimination round win.

There will be not be any short Pro fields at the U.S. Nationals as nhra.com currently shows the following number of entries:
* 20 Top Fuel
* 19 Funny Car
* 22 Pro Stock
* 17 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.

The current weather forecast for Pro qualifying at Indianapolis, IN, calls for
* Friday - a high of 94F with the possibility of light rain (38% starting about 10pm and ending about 4am Saturday morning)
* Saturday - sunny with a high of 84F
* Sunday - sunny with a high of 85F
* Monday - sunny with a high of 74F

The current television schedule for the U.S. Nationals...
* Qualifying Show 1: 1:00-3:00pm EDT (10:00am-Noon PDT), Sunday, September 1 on FS1
* Funny Car All-Star Callout: 5:00-6:30pm EDT (2:00-3:30pm PDT), Sunday, September 1 on FOX
* Qualifying Show 2: 6:30-8:30pm EDT (3:30-5:30pm PDT), Sunday, September 1, on FS1
* Final eliminations Round 1: Noon-2:00pm EDT (9:00-11:00am PDT), Monday, September 2 on FS1
* Final eliminations Rounds 2-4: 2:00-5:00pm EDT (11:00am-2:00pm PDT), Monday, September 2 on FOX

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

 

[Budnicks]

US Nats
I'll be sticking with all my "locked in picks"
let em' ride, till they buck ya' off

Good luck everyone

 

[GTXDAN]

US Nationals

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

Good luck everybody

 

[64BEL]

US Nats
I'll be sticking with all my "locked in picks"
let em' ride, till they buck ya' off

Good luck everyone

Well said - same here! Good luck guys!

 

[ocdart]

70th Anniversary U.S. Nationals Tony Stewart Racing paint schemes.
I like 'em!

 

[ocdart]

70th Anniversary U.S. Nationals Ron Capps paint scheme.
Another winner!

 

[Budnicks]

View attachment 1718243

70th Anniversary U.S. Nationals Tony Stewart Racing paint schemes.
I like 'em!

View attachment 1718270

70th Anniversary U.S. Nationals Ron Capps paint scheme.
Another winner!

Both/All 3 are very cool,
I like Capps doing the "the Snake tribute again"

Tony Stewart, reminds me of a really patriotic guy

 

[Outlawd]

US Nationals....

TF=Doug Kalitta
FC="Fast Jack" Beckman
PS=Erica Enders
PSM=Matt Smith

Good luck everybody!!!

 

[alsant]

D Kalitta
J Beckman
G Anderson
G Herrera

Good luck all !!

 

[ocdart]

2024 70th anniversary Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals qualifying leaders:

Q1
Weather: 88F, 56% relative humidity, barometer 29.98", adjusted altitude 3,678', track temp. n/a
TF: Brittany Force, 3.740 @ 334.32
FC: Blake Alexander, 3.890 @ 327.82
PS: Erica Enders & Greg Anderson, 6.621; Greg Anderson @ 206.23
PSM: Angie Smith, 6.883; Jianna Everisto @ 198.15

Q2
Weather: 75F, 86% relative humidity, barometer 30.06", adjusted altitude 2,713', track temp. n/a
TF: Brittany Force, 3.693 @ 334.32
FC: Austin Prock, 3.855; Bob Tasca III @ 336.23
PS: Greg Anderson, 6.588; Jerry Tucker @ 207.59
PSM: Angie Smith, 6.859; Jianna Everisto @ 198.15

Q3
Weather: 80F, 76% relative humidity, barometer 30.01", adjusted altitude 3,119', track temp. 105F
TF: Brittany Force, 3.693 @ 334.32
FC: Austin Prock, 3.855; Bob Tasca III @ 336.23
PS: Greg Anderson, 6.588; Jerry Tucker @ 207.59
PSM: John Hall, 6.830; Matt Smith @ 199.35

Q4
Weather: 79F, 58% relative humidity, barometer 29.99", adjusted altitude 2,858', track temp. 107F
TF: Brittany Force, 3.693 @ 334.32
FC: Austin Prock, 3.855; Bob Tasca III @ 336.23
PS: Greg Anderson, 6.575; Troy Coughlin Jr. @ 208.07
PSM: Gaige Herrera, 6.809; Matt Smith @ 199.35

Q5
Weather: 83F, 56% relative humidity, barometer 29.97", adjusted altitude 3,180', track temp. 114F
TF: Brittany Force, 3.693 @ 334.32
FC: Austin Prock, 3.855; Bob Tasca III @ 336.23
PS: Greg Anderson, 6.575; Troy Coughlin Jr. @ 208.07
PSM: Gaige Herrera, 6.809; Matt Smith @ 199.35

 

[ocdart]

Congratulations to 'stroked340' (FABO) and 'Budnicks' (FBBO) for sharing the 2024 70th anniversary Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals Top Qualifier title with an outstanding total of 29.5 bonus points each. They both picked the #1 qualifier in Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, and the #6 qualifier in Top Fuel.
'johnnycuda' (FABO) and '64BEL' (FBBO) shared the runner-up qualifier with 29.0 bonus points.
Way to go!
More great picks!

16 players again this week and 13 different driver combos made up of:
* 3 different Top Fuel drivers with no Round 1 head-to-head matchups. The earliest possibility of a head-to-head matchup is the semi-final round of eliminations if both drivers survive until then. The top Top Fuel driver pick did not qualify for Monday eliminations.
* 5 different Funny Car drivers with no Round 1 head-to-head matchups. There is a possibility of two head-to-head matchups in the second round of eliminations if all of the drivers survive until then.
* 4 different Pro Stock drivers with no Round 1 head-to-head matchups. There is a possibility of one head-to-head matchup in the second round of eliminations if both drivers survive Round 1.
* 2 different Pro Stock Motorcycle drivers with no Round 1 head-to-head matchup. The only possibility of a head-to-head matchup is in the final round of eliminations if both drivers survive until then.
Good luck all!

 

[GTXDAN]

We're racing in Indy

 

[ocdart]

Congratulations to 'Budnicks' (FBBO) and 'stroked340' (FABO) for sharing the the "Top Picker Eliminator" title for the 70th anniversary Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals Top Qualifier title with outstanding totals of 229.5 points each. They both picked the class winners in Funny Car and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Their Top Fuel pick lost in the final round of eliminations and their Pro Stock pick lost in the semi-final round of eliminations. They were also helped with ET bonus points in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
'TT5.9mag' (FABO) grabbed the runner-up spot with 227.5 points.
Way to go!

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

Top Fuel
E.T. - Brittany Force, 3.693 during qualifying
Speed - Brittany Force, 334.32 during qualifying

Funny Car
E.T. - Jack Beckman, 3.842 during Round 1 of eliminations
Speed - Bob Tasca III, 336.23 during qualifying

Pro Stock
E.T. - Erica Enders, 6.529 during Round 1 of eliminations
Speed - Erica Enders, 210.37 during Round 1 of eliminations

Pro Stock Motorcycle
E.T. - Gaige Herrera, 6.755 during Round 2 of eliminations
Speed - Jianna Everisto, 200.41 during Round 1 of eliminations

Congratulations to 'Budnicks' (FBBO) for being the NHRA "Pick 'Em" game point leader at the close of the regular season!

Here are the game point standings after the 14th event of the 2024 season:

1609.5 - Budnicks (FBBO) +2 change in the points standings
1584.5 - TT5.9mag (FABO) +3
1584.0 - stroked340 (FABO) +3
1545.5 - cuda20 (FABO) +5
1521.5 - Outlawd (FBBO) -4
1516.5 - Yunick13 (FABO) -2
1515.0 - 64BEL (FBBO) +3
1512.5 - ocdart (FABO) -6
1511.5 - GTXDAN (FBBO) -2
1482.5 - Duster79 (FABO) -2
1461.0 - Back in Time (FABO) no change
1449.0 - memike (FABO) +1
1439.0 - johnnycuda (FABO) +1
1424.0 - alsant (FBBO) -2
1325.0 - SSG_Karg (FABO) +1
1307.5 - Nick2317 (FBBO) -1

Lots of position movement because of the points-and-a-half for elimination round wins at the U.S. Nationals.

Now we get a weekend off to study our picks before the first event of the six-race "countdown".
The next race event on the 2024 season will be the 39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, PA, scheduled for September 12-15.
nhra.com currently shows the following class entry numbers:

18 - Top Fuel
16 - Funny Car
17 - Pro Stock (none of the Cuadra boys are currently entered)
14 - Pro Stock Motocycle

As always, please check to verify your picks are participating before posting your picks.

GOOD LUCK!

The points reset after the U.S. Nationals. I will post the reset point totals in the next day or two so be on the lookout.