Wed, 09 Nov 2011, 00:55 AM Lower Seeds have Produced Dramatic Finishes in Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship Era

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

POMONA, Calif. -- Spencer Massey (TF) and Matt Hagan (FC) are leading their respective categories heading into the final race of the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship season at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona Nov. 10-13. Neither driver started the Countdown as the top seed, as Massey was third and Hagan was tied for fifth following the regular season. During the Countdown era (since 2007), only four regular season top seeds in all four of the Full Throttle Series categories (Larry Dixon, TF, 2010; John Force, FC, 2010; Tony Schumacher, TF, 2008; and Matt Smith, PSM, 2007) have went on to win the world championship title. Below are some of the drivers who started the Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship playoffs well back in the standings, but rallied to win world championship titles:

NHRA Full Throttle World Champion   Reg. Season Finish   How the title was won
Robert Hight, Funny Car 2009                10th     Posted runner-up at Indy to get into playoffs, then won three of six playoff races to take the title
LE Tonglet, Pro Stock Motorcycle 2010       7th      Peaked at the right time, winning four races and posting one runner-up finish during the playoffs
Eddie Krawiec, Pro Stock Motorcycle 2008    7th      Didn't win a race that season, but advanced to four final rounds during the playoffs
Cruz Pedregon, Funny Car 2008               4th      Dropped to sixth after third playoff race, but won the final three playoff races and the title
Greg Anderson, Pro Stock 2010               4th      Anderson raced to three wins and a runner-up finish in the playoffs to earn his fourth world championship

Is Three the Magic Number in the Full Throttle Countdown to the Chamionship?

Five NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world champions during the Countdown era started the Countdown in third place in the point standings, which could be good news for Spencer Massey in Top Fuel and Robert Hight in Funny Car, two competitors who finished the regular season in third place and are still in contention for titles in their respective categories as the season's final race is set at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Nov. 10-13. Below are the drivers who have won Full Throttle titles over the years following a third place regular season finish:

Tony Schumacher, 2009, Top Fuel
Mike Edwards, 2009, Pro Stock
Hector Arana, 2009, Pro Stock Motorcycle
Jeg Couhglin, 2008, Pro Stock
Jeg Coughlin, 2007, Pro Stock

Second-Seeded Line Keeps Pro Stock Record Alive

When Jason Line won the NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock world championship title two weeks ago in Las Vegas, he kept a Countdown to the Championship streak alive in Pro Stock. During the Countdown era (since 2007), no top seed from the regular season has gone on to win the Pro Stock world championship crown. Below are the regular season leaders and the eventual NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock world champions with their regular season points finish in parentheses:

NHRA Pro Stock World Champ     NHRA Regular Season Top Seed
2011   Jason Line (2nd)           Greg Anderson
2010   Greg Anderson (4th)        Mike Edwards
2009   Mike Edwards  (3rd)        Jeg Coughlin
2008   Jeg Coughlin (3rd)         Greg Anderson
2007   Jeg Coughlin (3rd)         Greg Anderson

NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship Standings

Point standings (top 10) for NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series categories following the 21st of 22 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series

TOP FUEL: 1. Spencer Massey, 2,503; 2. Del Worsham, 2,501; 3. Antron Brown, 2,489; 4. Larry Dixon, 2,459; 5. Tony Schumacher, 2,367; 6. Brandon Bernstein, 2,326; 7. David Grubnic, 2,220; 8. Doug Kalitta, 2,207; 9. Shawn Langdon, 2,198; 10. Morgan Lucas, 2,084.

FUNNY CAR: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,416; 2. Jack Beckman, 2,415; 3. Cruz Pedregon, 2,390; 4. Mike Neff, 2,382; 5. Robert Hight, 2,345; 6. Ron Capps, 2,344; 7. Bob Tasca III, 2,295; 8. Jeff Arend, 2,270; 9. John Force, 2,200; 10. Tim Wilkerson, 2,179.

PRO STOCK: 1. Jason Line, 2,592*; 2. Mike Edwards, 2,424; 3. Greg Anderson, 2,393; 4. Vincent Nobile, 2,344; 5. Allen Johnson, 2,338; 6. Erica Enders, 2,337; 7. Rodger Brogdon, 2,275; 8. Greg Stanfield, 2,238; 9. Shane Gray, 2,186; 10. Ron Krisher, 2,167.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. Eddie Krawiec, 2,589; 2. Hector Arana Jr, 2,520; 3. Matt Smith, 2,403; 4. Andrew Hines, 2,384; 5. Karen Stoffer, 2,329; 6. Hector Arana, 2,312; 7. Jerry Savoie, 2,305; 8. LE Tonglet, 2,299; 9. Michael Phillips, 2,246; 10. Jim Underdahl, 2,201.

*Clinched 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championship on Oct. 30 in Las Vegas

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