2014 4th Annual FABO NHRA "Pick 'Em" Game - Make Your Picks and Light 'Em Up!

[bobtile]

Ok, Here we go!

Antron
Robert Hight
Jason line
Andrew Hines

Good luck all.

 

[ocdart]

Ok, Here we go!

Antron
Robert Hight
Jason line
Andrew Hines

Good luck all.

Updated your "locked-in" picks to those shown above.

 

[ocdart]

Less than one hour to the scheduled start of Pro qualifying at the Carolina Nationals and still no picks posted by super-bee_ski.
I sent him a reminder PM last night.
Does anybody know how to contact him? If you do, remind him to post his picks today before 12:45PM EDT (9:45AM PDT).
Thanks!

 

[super-bee_ski]

Kalitta in Top Fuel
John Force in Funny Car
Jeg Coughlin in Pro Stock
Andrew Hines in Pro bike

I might have missed the dead line..it's 0948 on my Computer...
Sorry guys..

 

[ocdart]

Kalitta in Top Fuel
John Force in Funny Car
Jeg Coughlin in Pro Stock
Andrew Hines in Pro bike

I might have missed the dead line..it's 0948 on my Computer...
Sorry guys..

You got them posted in time...I just checked NHRA.com and Countdown introductions are happening right now. Q1 has not yet started.

 

[ocdart]

SPOILER ALERT!

I will be updating the Pro Qualifying all the way through Q4 as information is posted on NHRA.com. Q3 and Q4 television coverage will be shown late on Saturday on ESPN2 so don't check here if you want to watch it on TV without knowing the results.





4th Annual Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals qualifying leaders:

At the start of Q1: air temperature 86 degrees, relative humidity 59 percent, barometer 29.35 inches, adjusted altitude 3,375 feet, track temperature 124 degrees.

Q1 Results
TF: Billy Torrence, 3.846; Steve Torrence @ 320.58
FC: Courtney Force, 4.155; Tommy Johnson Jr. @ 292.77
PS: Erica Enders-Stevens, 6.591 @ 210.11
PSM: Eddie Krawiec, 6.904; Hector Arana Jr. @ 193.93


At the start of Q2: air temperature 86 degrees, relative humidity 59 percent, barometer 29.29 inches, adjusted altitude 3,428 feet, track temperature 114 degrees.

Q2 Results
TF: J.R. Todd, 3.828; Steve Torrence @ 320.58
FC: Matt Hagan, 4.114; Del Worsham @ 306.46
PS: Erica Enders-Stevens, 6.591 @ 210.11
PSM: Hector Arana Jr., 6.876 @ 195.48


Weather forecast shows 70% chance of thundershowers all day tomorrow in the Charlotte area. Qualifying may be problematic tomorrow. They'll use todays results if they can't get qualifying in on Saturday.

 

[ocdart]

Anybody else catch the announcement from Adam Arana during the ESPN3 qualifying coverage that he's joined the U.S. Coast Guard? Looks like there may only be two PSM rides from the Arana stable in 2015 - unless Adam can get some weekends off.

Thank you Adam for your upcoming service!

- - - Updated - - -

So you say you wanna go Pro Stock racing? Did you hear the statement during the ESPN3 Q2 coverage that Larry Morgan has spent $50,000 on valve springs alone for the 2014 season to date?

 

[Budnicks]

Anybody else catch the announcement from Adam Arana during the ESPN3 qualifying coverage that he's joined the U.S. Coast Guard? Looks like there may only be two PSM rides from the Arana stable in 2015 - unless Adam can get some weekends off.

Thank you Adam for your upcoming service!

- - - Updated - - -

So you say you wanna go Pro Stock racing? Did you hear the statement during the ESPN3 Q2 coverage that Larry Morgan has spent $50,000 on valve springs alone for the 2014 season to date?

didn't see the espn3 showing, I hope Adam has great & hopefully safe Coast Guard career

I ain't cheap to race Pro-stock & Larry Morgan is not even one of the front runners/faster cars...
Fords pulling out too...

IMHFO the P/S purses are way too low too, they always have been, even the other pro classes are way to low payouts,
the tow rig/trailer, spare parts & travel/fuel/food team lodging tab etc., has to be picked up by sponsorship $$$ too,
which is getting much harder to get a big $$$ sponsorship/marketing deals,
not just car-stuff, especially when your not a super team like DSR & JFR etc.,
even new ones like P/S Gray Racing, Summit or Mopar/Jegs, unless you or your family owns an oil company or self-funded...
I use to spend as much getting there, as I did racing sometimes...

Even John Force's JFR is having funding issues now, he's a 16 time F/C champ {leading the points},
Roberts a multiple champ too, Courtney is a multiple National Event winner also...

Part of the problem is lack of proper TV coverage & airtime for the percentage of $$$ spent,
compared to other forms of auto racing, that have hr's of coverage seeing their rolling advert./bilboards...

 

[alsant]

I read Angelle Sampey will be back racing soon, that's good to hear .

 

[ocdart]

Congrats to bvt69dart (FABO) for winning the Top Qualifier title at the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway with a total of 28.5 bonus points! He picked the #1 qualifier in Pro Stock, the #2 qualifier in Funny Car, the #3 qualifier in Top Fuel and the #5 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Way to go!
tqfastfish (FABO) is the #2 qualifier with a total of 27.0 bonus points. He picked the #1 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcycle, the #3 qualifier in Top Fuel, the #5 qualifiers in both Funny Car and Pro Stock.
GPuller is the top FBBO qualifier with 24.0 points.
Way to go all!

Very interesting picks this week from our 25 current game players going into the first event of the Countdown. 25 players picked 22 different driver combinations!
This week players picked:
* 5 different Top Fuel drivers. No Round 1 head-to-head matchups and only one possible head-to-head matchup in Round 2 of eliminations.
* 6 different Funny Car drivers with one Round 1 head-to-head matchups between #8 qualifier Courtney Force (2 picks) and #9 qualifier John Force (14 picks). There is also a potential of 1 head-to-head matchup in Round 2 between the winner of the Courtney/John Round 1 race and #1 qualifier Alexis DeJoria (1 pick).
* 5 different Pro Stock drivers but no Round 1 head-to-head matchups. There is a possibility of 1 head-to-head matchup in Round 2 of eliminations.
* Only 3 different Pro Stock Motorcycle riders and, again, no Round 1 head-to-head matchups. Their is a possibility of 1 head-to-head matchup in Round 2 of eliminations.


Addendum:
After watching most of the ESPN2 race coverage, it appears the biggest problem is with the track surface. It sounds like the track surface is being pulled up and causing big problems - did you see V. Gaines' terrifying crash? They were also attempting to patch the track where his car dug in after it decided to stop flying. I believe it will be in everyone's best interest if they finish this event at Dallas on the all-concrete dragstrip surface.
Another big question I have is what are the racers going to do because some of them that already won in Top Fuel and Funny Car, and some that haven't yet raced in either Pro Stock or Pro Stock Motorcycle did not enter to race at Dallas. The names that I see are:
* Top Fuel: Leah Pritchett and Morgan Lucas. Both won first round at Charlotte but neither are currently entered in Dallas
* Funny Car: Dave Richards
* Pro Stock: John Gaydosh Jr., Richie Stevens and Shane Tucker
* Pro Stock Motorcycle: Brian Pretzal and Jim Underdahl

Some interesting things happened today for our game players:
* Top Fuel: The only players still alive in Top Fuel are 67cudafb (FABO), Gpuller (FBBO), memike (FABO) and ocdart (FABO) because they picked Tony Schumacher. All the other picks lost in Round 1.
* Funny Car: Alexis DeJoria and Courtney Force both lost in Round 1 which took out 71dartswinger (FABO), DustedOff (FABO) and IEduster (FABO)
* Pro Stock: Although V. Gaines crashed, he was still credited with a victory over Allen Johnson who crossed the centerline before the finish line. Allen Johnson's Round 1 loss took out 67cudafb (FABO), DustedOff (FABO), Gpuller (FBBO), Jacob Delling, socaldart (FABO), StarGazer (FABO) and tqfastfish (FABO).

 

[alsant]

V Gaines had a very interesting run , good to see he is ok .

 

[Budnicks]

yea DSR's Antron Brown sucked... yet another 1st round loss & weak 9th in qualifying...

carry over to Dallas/Ennis next week,
a few pro racers won't be going a couple P/S, a couple P/SM, a F/C driver {rd 2 race with John Force} & a couple T/F drivers
pretty messed up...

a few have said "wasn't going to Dallas",
financial reasons or scheduling issues or crew members not available, multiple reasons

freebie/by runs for those that are opponents, that are still in the ladders,
to races but not traveling to Dallas I guess, not sure how many there still are

I know it doesn't have anything to do with the game here, but the sportsman categories/classes,
get screwed over too... make it up at another points race maybe

- - - Updated - - -

V Gaines had a very interesting run , good to see he is ok .

Glad to see he was OK & talking right away to the ESPN2 guys,
V. Gains is bringing out the old Avenger P/S again he said...

- - - Updated - - -

NHRA needs to give P/S some much needed down-force,
more wicker & wing, front splitter, wheel lips & rear wings
& allow weight to be moved around more,
instead of the current 1090#'s over the rear tires "mandatory rules"
{way too light asses/less than 50% of the weight over the rear}
rules changes to be much safer IMHFO anyway...
makes no common sense to me

 

[bobtile]

yea DSR's Antron Brown sucked... yet another 1st round loss & weak 9th in qualifying...

carry over to Dallas/Ennis next week,
a few pro racers won't be going a couple P/S, a couple P/SM, a F/C driver {rd 2 race with John Force} & a couple T/F drivers
pretty messed up...

a few have said "wasn't going to Dallas",
financial reasons or scheduling issues or crew members not available, multiple reasons

freebie/by runs for those that are opponents, that are still in the ladders,
to races but not traveling to Dallas I guess, not sure how many there still are

I know it doesn't have anything to do with the game here, but the sportsman categories/classes,
get screwed over too... make it up at another points race maybe

- - - Updated - - -



Glad to see he was OK & talking right away to the ESPN2 guys,
V. Gains is bringing out the old Avenger P/S again he said...

- - - Updated - - -

NHRA needs to give P/S some much needed down-force,
more wicker & wing, front splitter, wheel lips & rear wings
& allow weight to be moved around more,
instead of the current 1090#'s over the rear tires "mandatory rules"
{way too light asses/less than 50% of the weight over the rear}
rules changes to be much safer IMHFO anyway...
makes no common sense to me

You don't see too many issues with the Prostock cars. I don't know iff downforce was the issue or not. seemed more of a track condition problem.

 

[alsant]

Good job on qualifying G!!!


Yeah I agree that track did not look very good, that was one scary ride!


What everyone think of Angelle Sampey coming back ? I thought she was one hell of a racer and she made any bike look real nice!!!

 

[64BEL]

Nice job, Reed!

I'm glad to see Angelle coming back. She's a champ and good for the sport. I miss Karen Stoffer being out there - she's very fan friendly and seems like a quality person.

 

[Budnicks]

I'm glad to see Angelle comeback,
she's was {probably still is} way too good to not be out there racing

- - - Updated - - -

You don't see too many issues with the Prostock cars. I don't know iff downforce was the issue or not. seemed more of a track condition problem.

actually it's a big issue with P/S is lack of down-force, that's why they are skating around on top end so much,
has been for a while now, since they started going over 180mph...

the T/F & F/C's have 5000#+ as much as 7000#'s on a fueler wings way up in clean air,
with the big wings at the proper angles of down-force,
that's why they get down some of the slicker top ends on some marginal tracks... they wouldn't otherwise

I think the NHRA doesn't prep the track right/correctly for all categories,
it's been a contention for years now in P/S especially...

they {NHRA} prep for the T/F & F/C's, who need more compound in the 1st 660-1000ft
& don't really spray the last 320-500 ft of the track allot !!, P/S has been complaining about it for years...

T/F & F/C who don't want or need traction compound {allegedly aids in or helps chunks tires at over 300mph}
they don't need the traction compounds as badly as the P/S on the big end {like the P/S cars do need},
because they {T/F & F/C even Pro-Mod & TA Classes} have so much added down-force already...

Down-force helps the issue of a greasy big end {plant the tires much better} & aid to control on the track...

 

[ocdart]

actually it's a big issue with P/S is lack of down-force, that's why they are skating around on top end so much,
has been for a while now, since they started going over 180mph...

the T/F & F/C's have 5000#+ as much as 7000#'s on a fueler wings way up in clean air,
with the big wings at the proper angles of down-force,
that's why they get down some of the slicker top ends on some marginal tracks... they wouldn't otherwise

I think the NHRA doesn't prep the track right/correctly for all categories,
it's been a contention for years now in P/S especially...

they {NHRA} prep for the T/F & F/C's, who need more compound in the 1st 660-1000ft
& don't really spray the last 320-500 ft of the track allot !!, P/S has been complaining about it for years...

T/F & F/C who don't want or need traction compound {allegedly aids in or helps chunks tires at over 300mph}
they don't need the traction compounds as badly as the P/S on the big end {like the P/S cars do need},
because they {T/F & F/C even Pro-Mod & TA Classes} have so much added down-force already...

Down-force helps the issue of a greasy big end {plant the tires much better} & aid to control on the track...

In reality, this should not have been an issue at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte since they had all four lanes available for this event if they'd chosen to use them. NHRA could prep one pair of lanes for the classes needing top end downforce and the other pair of lanes for the classes with the big downforce-generating wings. Problem solved! At this track anyway. Still have the same problem at all the other two-lane only tracks.

 

[Budnicks]

In reality, this should not have been an issue at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte since they had all four lanes available for this event if they'd chosen to use them. NHRA could prep one pair of lanes for the classes needing top end downforce and the other pair of lanes for the classes with the big downforce-generating wings. Problem solved! At this track anyway. Still have the same problem at all the other two-lane only tracks.

I kind of wondered why, when on side wasn't doing it ??
they didn't use the other 2 lanes available too

ZMax/Charlotte is such a nice facility,
Gruden Smith is suck a great owner, no $$$ limits
I was 1/2 surprised something wasn't done for the race to be held in completion there @ ZMax the next day/Monday...

 

[Gpuller]

I'm staying with my Charlotte picks for Dallas.

TF T Shumacher
FC J Force
PS A Johnson
PSM E Krawiec

Going to be a lot of action this weekend, should be exciting. Good luck to all!

 

[Budnicks]

My Dallas picks I'm going with

T/F Tony Schumacher {as much as I hate to, Antron Browns let me down}
F/C John Force
P/S Allen Johnson
P/SM Eddie Krawiec

hopefully my other picks that are still in for Charlotte carry over,
will all do well too

good luck everybody