NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The Countdown to the Championship will reach the midway point during this week’s NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, which means the pressure is on for anyone who is in contention for a NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Pro title.

Justin Ashley, Austin Prock, Dallas Glenn, and Gaige Herrera are the incoming favorites in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, respectively. Ashley, Prock, and Glenn are coming off wins at last week’s four-wide event in Charlotte, while Herrera is looking to shake off a rare early loss.

As part of PlayNHRA, fans have the opportunity to engage in fantasy games, gaming, and betting for this event. Betting markets feature Professional classes, where fans can wager on event winners, low elapsed time of the event, head-to-head matchups, and season champions.

Below are the opening odds as provided by Alt Sports Data.

(Note: In American sports betting, odds are typically expressed with a plus (+) or minus (–) symbol followed by a number. For example, +200 signifies the amount a bettor could win if wagering $100. If the bet works out, the player will receive a total payout of $300; $200 profit + $100 initial stake.)

TOP FUEL

Justin Ashley has won two of the last three events in Top Fuel, including the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, and he’s moved to within 38 points of leader Doug Kalitta, so his opening price of +500 appears to be justified. That means a $10 wager would return $60 with a victory. While Ashley is the opening favorite, he’s got plenty of company as the oddsmakers also have Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, and Brittany Force at +600. Regular-season champ Tony Stewart and Reading winner Shawn Reed are close behind at +700, while four-time champs Steve Torrence and Antron Brown are at +800.

Further down the order, Clay Millican represents a value pick at +900, and it’s worth noting that he has a win in three final-round appearances this season.

In the long shot department, T.J. Zizzo comes off at +1300, joined by eight-time champ Tony Schumacher at +1400 and Josh Hart at +1500.

FUNNY CAR

After winning his eighth event of the season, Austin Prock’s odds have plummeted to +180, making him a solid favorite in the Funny Car class. Teammate Jack Beckman is +500, a slight reduction from the +550 price he carried at the previous two events.

For all of his success, Prock hasn’t exactly cornered the market on Funny Car wins as eight drivers have claimed at least one Wally this season, and that does not include NHRA Rookie of the Year favorite Spencer Hyd,e who is +800. Paul Lee, Matt Hagan, Chad Green, J.R. Todd, Cruz Pedregon, and Ron Capps have each won at least one race, and they fall between +900 and +1200. Bob Tasca III is also at +1200, a further indication of the parity in the Funny Car class.

Blake Alexander went to the final round in Reading, and his opening price this week is +1600, while Alexis DeJoria is +1700, and Daniel Wilkerson, racing at his home event, represents a true long shot at +3000.

PRO STOCK

After winning the first two Countdown events, Dallas Glenn is in the driver’s seat when it comes to the Pro Stock championship, and that’s reflected in his opening price of +250, making him a slight favorite over teammate Greg Anderson, who is +300. Anderson has struggled at the first two Countdown events and needs a strong showing this weekend in order to stay in the fight.

Erica Enders has gotten a sizable bump from the oddsmakers, and the now-50-time national event winner is +650, while Matt Hartford is +900, a solid value for a team that often qualifies in the top five or six spots.

Also at +900 is Aaron Stanfield, a talented driver who has a vastly improved race car, while Jeg Coughlin Jr., Cory Reed, Cody Coughlin, and Greg Stanfield are priced between +1200 and +1500.

There are a host of Pro Stock racers between +1400 and +1800, including Cody Coughlin, Aaron Stanfield, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Greg Stanfield, Troy Coughlin Jr., and Cory Reed.

There are 21 Pro Stock cars on the entry list, which means qualifying, even for the top teams, is not a given. A few long shots to watch might include Erica Latino at +2000, Mason McGaha, also at +2000, and Troy Coughlin Jr. at +2500.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

Gaige Herrera suffered a rare early-round loss in Charlotte, and he currently finds himself in fourth place, 71 points behind his Vance & Hines teammate, Richard Gadson. Regardless, Herrera is the incoming favorite in St. Louis at -138, which means a $13.80 wager would net a $10 profit ($23.80 total).

Gadson, arguably the hottest rider in the class right now, can be had for +300, while six-time champion Matt Smith is +350. If anyone other than that trio can find the winner’s circle in St. Louis, there is a profit to be had as two-time winner John Hall is +1000 and impressive rookie Brayden Davis is +1500.

The rest of the field is full of double-digit underdogs, including Angie Smith at +2000, Chase Van Sant and Marc Ingwersen at +2500, and Jianna Evaristo at +4000.

 Opening odds provided by Alt Sports Data (Odds are subject to change). 

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