NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

No drag racing career is complete without a win at the “Big Go”, the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. It’s not only NHRA’s oldest, richest, and most prestigious event, but it also marks the end of the regular season, which makes it even more important for teams jockeying for position in the Countdown to the Championship. Taking into account the pressure to perform on the sport’s biggest stage, fearless Tricky Tipster, NHRA National Dragster magazine's own Wizard of Odds, Steve Torrence, Courtney Force, Tanner Gray, Eddie Krawiec, and Rickie Smith are favored to win pro titles.

TOP FUEL

FUNNY CAR | PRO STOCK | PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE | PRO MOD

Steve Torrence
Capco Contractors

There was a tiny bit of hesitation to give the top spot to the Capco team since they did not take part in the pre-Indy test session but when you’ve won five races and hold a sizable lead in the standings do you really need to test? Oh, and he’s also the defending event champion.
Odds: 5-2

Tony Schumacher
U.S. Army

Sadly, this will be the last go-round at Indy for Schumacher and the U.S. Army team. Incredibly, he’s won this race ten times since 2000 and has only lost twice in final rounds. Another win here would be a fitting send-off for one of the sport’s all-time great driver/sponsor partnerships. The Sarge is also running pretty well lately.
Odds: 4-1

Billy Torrence
Capco Contractors

Part-time racer? Ha don’t believe that for a moment. The patriarch of the Capco clan proved in Brainerd that he can wheel a Top Fuel dragster with the best of them. He’s got great equipment and a great crew, so a second-consecutive victory would not, or should not be a surprise to anyone.
Odds: 5-1

Antron Brown
Matco Tools

There is an old saying in drag racing (at least since the introduction of the Countdown) that the last seven events matter more than the first seven. Yes, the Matco team has struggled but they’ve looked pretty darned good lately. In fact, a win in Seattle and a runner-up in Brainerd have them geared up for another championship battle.
Odds: 7-1

Leah Pritchett
Dodge/Pennzoil/Papa John’s

She will be busy this week racing her Factory Showdown car and watching husband, Gary, make his debut in the Top Alcohol Funny Car class. That being said, she seems to thrive in a perpetual motion environment. A Top Fuel/Factory Stock double is also very much a possibility.
Odds: 8-1

Blake Alexander
Pronto Auto

You didn’t forget this guy did you? The Vandergriff team sat out Seattle and Brainerd but to refresh your memory, they are coming off a pair of wins in Norwalk and Sonoma and a semifinal in Denver. In just six events this year, he’s got a 16-4 record in elimination rounds.
Odds: 9-1

Doug Kalitta
Mac Tools

Coming off a solid Western Swing, the Mac Tools car ran very well during the two-day pre-Indy test last week. The last time a Kalitta car won Top Fuel at Indy, it was “Radman” himself, team boss Connie Kalitta, that earned the title with a win over fellow Hall of Famer Eddie Hill in the thrilling 1994 final.
Odds: 10-1

Clay Millican
Parts Plus/Great Clips

With five qualifying sessions, there is every reason to believe that crew chief David Grubnic will find a way to put this car into the top spot in qualifying, something they’ve done seven times in the first 17 events this season. No reason to think they won’t turn on a few win lights on race day either.
Odds: 13-1

FUNNY CAR

Courtney Force
Advance Auto Parts Chevy

The Force team has a tremendous history of success at Indy, but Courtney is still looking for her first win here. She has led the points for most of the season and was the darling of the pre-Indy test session with a strong 3.88 run. She’s also nearly home free as far as clinching the top spot in the Countdown goes.
Odds: 3-1

Ron Capps
NAPA Dodge

Here we go again with the age-old question; When is Ron Capps going to win Indy? He got his long-awaited world championship two years ago and was a runner-up for the first-time last season. The NAPA team is peaking at the right time and this might just be the year that Capps rounds out his resumé.  
Odds: 4-1

Robert Hight
Auto Club Chevy

Three-time Indy winner and a six-time finalist here knows how to get the job done at good old Lucas Oil Raceway Indianapolis. Added value thanks to a number of solid runs made during the Indy test session last week.
Odds: 5-1

Jack Beckman
Infinite Hero Dodge

Nothing cures a team’s ailments like a big win and the Infinite Hero team got one in Brainerd. They didn’t’ just win the event, they looked very good doing it. Then, they tested a new body in Indy and that was also a successful endeavor.
Odds: 6-1

Tommy Johnson Jr.
Make-A-Wish Dodge

The next person to remind Tommy that he’s winless on the season had better be prepared to take cover. It certainly isn’t for a lack of effort. Lately, the Make-A-Wish team has come on strong with two semi’s and a runner-up at the last three events. Hey, if you’re only going to win a handful of events each season, why not make it Indy and the Countdown races?
Odds: 7-1

J.R. Todd
DHL Toyota

Ran like a bracket car during the test session where the DHL car collected a stack of mid-3.9-second time slips. Hard to say how that plays out when the real deal starts this week, but the defending event champ should be in the mix from start to finish.
Odds: 9-1

Matt Hagan
Mopar Dodge

After he won Norwalk and Epping one had to figure he was going to challenge Courtney Force for the top seed before the start of the Countdown. The Western Swing was a struggle so it’s hard to saw which version of “Hulk Hagan” will show up.
Odds: 10-1

Bob Tasca III
Motorcraft Quick Lane Ford

This team is going to be fun to watch at Indy. Coming into the regular season finale in 11th place, they’ve got to win at least one round, possibly more. Indy has a long history of storybook finishes. Let’s see of the Ford team can pull one off here.
Odds: 13-1

PRO STOCK

Tanner Gray
Gray Manufacturing Technologies Camaro

Yes, he’s just 19 but that’s plenty old enough to grasp the importance of an Indy victory, especially after your dad and grandfather have already won here. He’s driving like a machine and this car is easily good enough to get the job done. That makes him an ever-so-slight favorite over a tough field.
Odds: 3-1

Greg Anderson
Summit Racing Camaro

He’s got six Indy wins as a driver but his most recent memory from the “Big Go” is a painful final round loss to Drew Skillman last year. That should provide just a touch of extra motivation to finish the job this time around.
Odds: 4-1

Jeg Coughlin Jr.
JEGS.com/Elite Camaro

The Coughlin family wins almost everywhere but they do some of their best work at Indy with a combined nine wins in a variety of pro and sportsman classes. This has been an incredible comeback season for Jeggie and another Indy title would be the icing on the cake.
Odds: 5-1

Deric Kramer
American Ethanol Camaro

He entered the season with six-career round wins and now he’s arguably the hottest driver in the class right now. He’s got two national event wins and he cuts lights with the best of them. Would anyone be surprised if he wins Indy and/or the Mello Yello championship?
Odds: 6-1

Jason Line
Summit Racing Camaro

Suddenly, things are looking up for the Summit blue team with eight of his 19 round wins coming since Denver. Perhaps the testing phase of the season is over. He’s also going to take a run at another class win in Stock with his ’72 Buick Grand Sport.
Odds: 8-1

Erica Enders
Melling/Elite Camaro

Another driver who is pulling double-duty at Indy. She’s looking for her second U.S. Nationals Pro Stock title and also figures to be in the mix in a stacked Pro Mod field with her turbocharged Elite Motorsports entry.
Odds: 9-1

Drew Skillman
Skillman Auto Camaro

Hard to believe that his last Pro Stock win came here a year ago. Also hard to believe that he’ll go much longer without getting a win. He could stand to step up qualifying game a notch or two. Starting from the 8-10 spots makes for an awfully tough race day.
Odds 11-1

Chris McGaha
Harlow Sammons Racing Camaro

Tipster has him slotted in the top eight because he’s a former Indy winner who knows how to get the job done on the big stage. Lately, his qualifying efforts have been solid but round wins have been elusive. Interesting to see what he’s got after a week or so home in the shop.
Odds: 14-1

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

Eddie Krawiec
Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson

He didn’t’ have the best bike in Brainerd but found a way to get the job done which is exactly what good racers do. He’s also bagged two Indy wins in the last four years including last year’s title. That also counts for something.
Odds: 3-1

Matt Smith
Smith Racing EBR

The only thing keeping him out of the winner’s circle is luck. This bike is arguably the best in the class, especially since the switch to the swoopy EBR body. He’s seen the best and worst of Indy, but the general direction here seems to be trending upwards.
Odds: 4-1

Andrew Hines
Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson

Winless heading into Indy is uncharted territory for the five-time world champ. Then again, there is precedent in the Vance & Hines camp for winning a championship without winning a national event. He is the points leader and he’s got more than enough power to win so why not do it here?
Odds: 5-1

Hector Arana Jr.
Lucas Oil EBR

A winner at Indy in 2011, but a runner-up here the last two years he’s got to be encouraged by his recent success at the Big Go. There is no question this bike can get the job done. They just need to string together four nice runs on Monday.
Odds: 7-1

LE Tonglet
Nitro Fish Suzuki

Was uber-impressive during Sonoma win and then had a big let-down in Brainerd with a rare first round loss. He always seems to have something extra in the tank for Indy so it’s fair to expect a quick rebound.
Odds: 8-1

Jerry Savoie
White Alligator Suzuki

White Alligator rider won here three years ago so we can put a check mark in the box marked experience. Historically, this team seems to turn up the heat in the last quarter of the season so there’s no reason not to think he’ll be in the thick of the battle throughout the grueling Indy week.
Odds: 10-1

Chip Ellis
Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson

The Harley team will expand to three bikes with the addition of veteran rider Ellis. He hasn’t been on a bike all year but that shouldn’t be a worry. He needs to get his starting line routine down and he’ll be just fine.
Odds: 11-1

Angelle Sampey
Team Liberty Buell

So many ups and downs this season it’s hard to tell exactly what the Liberty squad will bring to the table at Indy. On the good days, they’ll have a bike capable of contending for the title. The reality is that’s only happened once or twice this season so far.
Odds: 14-1

PRO MOD

Rickie Smith
Smith Racing Camaro

Not that he ever needs additional motivation to win a race but he can just about put the final touches on another championship should he win here. He’s so good because he makes fewer mistakes than his opponents. It’s really that simple.
Odds: 3-1

Mike Castellana
AAP Camaro

Testing extensively during the pre-Indy session and the car seemed to run quite well. If nothing else, the AAP team has given itself every chance to succeed at the sport’s marquee event.
Odds: 4-1

Mike Janis
Jan-Cen Racing Camaro

Now or never for upstate New York’s finest. With a win here, he’s still very much in the running for the E3 Pro Mod series title. If nothing else, he needs to win one more round than Smith to keep it competitive.
Odds: 5-1

Troy Coughlin
JEGS.com Mustang

Hasn’t hit his stride yet since making his return to the class three races ago. Got to figure the month off after Norwalk was beneficial to every team including this one. Oh, and he’s also got an Indy win on his resumé.
Odds: 6-1

Chad Green
Bond Coat Camaro

Two crashes this season weren’t enough to discourage him. He’s qualified for every race (a rarity) and he enters the Big Go in third place in the points, with a shot at catching the leaders. Needs to make a move here, though.
Odds: 8-1

Rick Hord
Maximum Effort Corvette

In his last two appearances in NHRA competition, he’s qualified first and second and won rounds at both races. Had an excellent shot to win Norwalk and he’s got an excellent shot to win here as well.
Odds: 10-1

Jeremy Ray
J4 Racing Corvette

He’s been a pleasant surprise this year in the world of NHRA Pro Mods. His drive to the final in Norwalk was not a fluke. Neither was his low qualifying effort in Bristol. Only thing left is to get his first NHRA victory.
Odds: 12-1

Danny Rowe
Rowe Racing Camaro

Objective one is to win Indy, but he’s also got to be keeping an eye on the points standings. Currently tenth, he needs to have a solid outing in order to stay there. Qualifying will be critical for the Jimmy Rector-tuned blown car.
Odds: 14-1