Stump Bob: Which drivers have scored their first round-wins against world champs?
NHRA historian and statistician Bob Frey cannot be stumped!
OK ... so, here goes.
When Chad Green beat Matt Hagan in Las Vegas in 2021, Hagan was the reigning champion (Hagan won in 2020), and it was the first round-win for Green. And, to date, his only round-win.
Including Green, there have been 14 drivers who won their first round against the reigning world champion: four in Funny Car, seven in Pro Stock, and three in Pro Stock Motorcycle. I haven’t found any in the Top Fuel class. Here's the complete list:
FUNNY CAR | |
Terry Haddock beat John Force | Reading, 2003 |
Blake Alexander beat Jack Beckman | Bristol, 2013 |
John Bojec beat Matt Hagan | Reading, 201 |
Chad Green beat Matt Hagan (1) | Las Vegas, 2021 |
PRO STOCK | |
Aaron Stanfield beat Jeg Coughlin Jr. (1) | Indy, 2014 |
Alan Prusiensky beat Erica Enders | Englishtown, 2015 |
Chris McGaha beat Greg Anderson | Dallas, 2011 |
Dave Northrop beat Greg Anderson | Dallas, 2006 |
Tommy Lee beat Warren Johnson | St. Louis, 2002 |
Justin Humphrey beat Jason Line | St. Louis, 2007 |
Mark Martino beat Jason Line | Gainesville, 2012 |
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE | |
Chris Reuter beat Matt Hines | Brainerd, 1999 |
Matt Smith beat Angelle Sampey | Atlanta, 2003 |
Scott Lewis beat Angelle Sampey (2) | Pomona-2, 2002 |
(1) First round-win in Pro Stock | |
(2) Only career round-win | |
NOTE: These do not include four-wide events. |
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