2015 5th Annual FABO NHRA "Pick 'Em" Game - Are You Ready To Make Your Picks???

[ocdart]

There were some interesting changes that showed up at the Midwest Nationals!
* Alan Johnson is working with the Torrence Top Fuel cars for the remainder of the season and his influence showed immediately
* Vincent Nobile is no longer part of the KB Racing team, but is now part of Elite Motorsports and was driving the same Camaro that Jeg Coughlin Jr. drove at the U.S. Nationals a couple of events ago. The announcers made a comment during the telecast today that there were words between Greg Anderson and Vincent Nobile after Nobile beat Anderson in the 2nd round of eliminations at the Carolina Nationals last weekend. Gee, do you think "team orders" were ignored?

Here are the results and point standings after the second race of the "countdown" following completion of the Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park:

Congratulations to '71dartswinger' (FABO) for again being the top picker - 2nd week in a row - with an outstanding point total of 153.5 points. He picked the class winner in Top Fuel, both his Funny Car and Pro Stock went to the final round of eliminations before losing, and his Pro Stock Motorcycle pick lost in the opening round of eliminations. His point total was helped with both Speed and E.T. bonus points, and Matt Hagan's new National Speed Record in Funny Car.
Great job!
'SSG Karg' (FABO) was the event runner-up with a very nice total of 144.5 points. He picked the Pro Stock Motorcycle class winner, his Funny Car pick went to the finals before losing, his Pro Stock pick went to the semi-finals before losing, and his Top Fuel pick lost in the opening round. He was also helped by E.T. and Speed bonus points, and Matt Hagan's new National Speed Record in Funny Car.
'Nick2317' was the top FBBO picker, for the second consecutive week, with 121.5 points.
Great picking all!

Here's where the bonus points were earned if you picked the right drivers:

Top Fuel
E.T. - Steve Torrence, 3.718 during qualifying
Speed - Dave Connelly, 329.99 during Round 3 of eliminations

Funny Car
E.T. - Matt Hagan, 3.883 during qualifying, but was not backed up within 1% or it would have been a new National E.T. Record. Del Worsham's 3.899 during qualifying was backed up and is the new National E.T. Record
Speed - Matt Hagan, 330.47 during qualifying established a new National Speed Record for Funny Car

Pro Stock
E.T. - Greg Anderson, 6.492 during qualifying
Speed - Greg Anderson, 213.27 during qualifying

Pro Stock Motorcycle
E.T. - Jerry Savoie, 6.832 during qualifying
Speed - Jerry Savoie, 196.50 during qualifying, and Hector Arana Jr., 196.50 while winning the event during the final round of eliminations

Here are the game point standings after the 20th event of the 2015 season, and the second event of the "Countdown":

2225.0 - 71dartswinger (FABO) +3
2179.5 - GPuller (FBBO) +1
2161.0 - OldmanRick (FABO) -1
2136.0 - alsant (FBBO) -3
2117.5 - IEduster (FABO) +1
2106.0 - Back in Time (FABO) +1
2105.5 - Duster79 (FABO) -2
2098.5 - Budnicks (FBBO) no change
2098.5 - SSG Karg (FABO) +5
2090.0 - ocdart (FABO) +1
2087.5 - memike (FABO) +1
2083.0 - 6pk2goDemon (FABO) -3
2073.5 - Nick2317 (FBBO) +3
2052.5 - 64BEL (FBBO) -1
2023.0 - 67cudafb (FABO) no change
2022.0 - cuda20 (FABO) -6
1960.0 - tqfastfish (FABO) +1
1942.0 - stroked340 (FABO) -1
1910.0 - socaldart (FABO) +2
1879.5 - johnnycuda (FABO) -1
1855.5 - super-bee_ski (FBBO) -1
1845.5 - bobtile (FBBO) no change
1819.5 - bvt69dart (FABO) no change
1779.5 - YoungGun74 (FABO) no change

super-bee_ski, bobtile, bvt69dart and YoungGun74 did not post any picks for the 2nd consecutive "Countdown" event, so they have now "lost their sponsors" and are parked for the remainder of the 2015 NHRA season. I hope they all return for the 2016 season.

Still no rest because the 21st race of the 2015 season, the 31st annual Keystone NHRA Nationals, is next weekend, October 2-4 at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, PA.
As always, your picks need to be posted before Pro Qualifying starts on Friday, October 2 in order to qualify for all event bonus points. Pro qualifying is scheduled to start at 1:15PM EDT (10:15AM PDT).
The Keystone Nationals entry list is posted on NHRA.com and currently shows 15 Top Fuel, 16 Funny Car, 17 Pro Stock and 15 Pro Stock Motorcycle entries. As always, the class counts are subject to change.
PLEASE keep checking http://www.nhra.com/events/entrylist21.aspx for an updated entry list.

Get your picks posted and GOOD LUCK!

 

[Budnicks]

congrats to nick2317

 

[64BEL]

Nice work, Nick!

 

[ocdart]

Here's your usual Tuesday-before-the-event reminder to get your picks posted before the start of qualifying for the 31st annual NHRA Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, PA. This is the third race of the six-race Countdown to the championship.
The first round of Pro Qualifying is scheduled to start at 2:45PM EDT (11:45AM PDT) on Friday, Oct. 2.

As always, PLEASE check to make sure your driver is participating at the Keystone Nationals.

PLEASE check http://www.nhra.com/events/entrylist21.aspx for an updated entry list.
NHRA.com currently shows 16 Top Fuel, 16 Funny Car, 17 Pro Stock and 15 Pro Stock Motorcycle entries, but those counts can still change.

Remember, the "carryover" feature from the earlier events this season is no longer in effect. No event bonus points if your picks are not posted prior to the start of qualifying; and no points for the event if your picks are not posted before the start of Sunday eliminations! If you miss posting picks for two consecutive events during the Countdown, or do not have "locked in" picks, you will be dropped from the game for the remainder of the season. We lost four players following the Gateway Nationals because they hadn't posted picks for two consecutive events during the Countdown.

Post 'em up and good luck!

 

[Budnicks]

Maple Grove race picks

TF Antron Brown

FC Jack Beckman

PS Erica Enders-Stevens

PSM Jerry Savoie

good luck all

 

[ocdart]

Rumor posted on CompetitionPlus.com: AJ Hanging It Up?

The following was posted as a rumor on the CompetitionPlus.com website earlier today:

"While there certainly were rumors floating around in St. Louis regarding the future of Mopar's flagship Pro Stocker driven by Allen Johnson, a source close to the situation tells us the Greeneville, Tenn.-based driver, is ready to call it a career, thus leaving the Mopar sponsorship open for another team. Johnson isn't talking but others are, and signalling there could be a two-car Mopar Pro Stock effort next season. Now if what we hear pans out, there could be two manufacturers in one camp and this will be an interesting scenario to watch play out. Additionally, we can tell you there will possibly be more announcements similar to this coming out as a thinning of the herd is forthcoming in Pro Stock."

 

[Budnicks]

Too bad, I'll miss him in P/S he's been a staple there for a while now...

I wish him & his family all the best...
Sometimes it's just time...

Too bad Mopar/Dodge/SRT doesn't step up more, get some more representation out there...

It's all about the exorbitant costs to run any Pro Class in the NHRA,
never break even without, crappy purses don't come close to covering costs,
a big $$$ sponsorship/marketing play a big part in the deal today,
I'm pretty damn sure, that $$$ & his fathers health has allot to do with it too...

 

[Nick2317]

wow thanks guys Ill go with

TF-- Tony Schumacher
FC-- Matt Hagan
PS-- Greg Anderson
PSM-- Hector Arana Jr

 

[ocdart]

The September 25 issue of National Dragster has a filler article on pg. 12 announcing DSR's multimillion-dollar expansion of the Brownsburg, IN, race shop.
If nothing else the numbers are impressive:
* DSR is adding on to their already 120,000 sq. ft. headquarters that they built in 2005
* The first phase of the expansion is to their machine shop for four state-of-the-art CNC units, including an Okuma MA-6-HB II that is capable of machining six engine blocks out of billet aluminum in a continuous run.
* DSR already has 12 CNC machines and 125 full-time employees
* When DSR heads out to one of the 24 Mello Yello events, its convoy includes at least 19 18-wheelers, seven SUVs, and a traveling staff of nearly 100.
* The article also states that Schumacher said last March that he'd like to add a fourth Top Fuel team (is anybody else thinking the names Alan Johnson and Shawn Langdon fit in here?).

...and I've been saving and buying parts for eight years to try to finish my '69 Dart.

 

[64BEL]

I agree - if AJ is hanging it up it could have something to do with Rooster's health. Anyone else wonder about the possibility of DSR jumping back into PS with the possibility of the Mopar sponsorship coming open?

My picks for this week:

TF Antron Brown
FC Matt Hagan
PS Allen Johnson
PSM Hector Arana Sr.

Good luck all!

 

[ocdart]

Due to weather concerns, Pro qualifying for the NHRA Keystone Nationals will start at 11:15AM EDT (8:15AM PDT).
Please post your driver picks before the rescheduled start of Pro qualifying.

Any players who don't see this message in time and miss getting their picks posted in time will have their picks from the last event carried over to the Keystone Nationals.

 

[alsant]

TF- Antron Brown
FC- John Force
PS- Greg Anderson
PSM-Eddie Kreiwic


Good luck all!

 

[Budnicks]

...and I've been saving and buying parts for eight years to try to finish my '69 Dart.

Yeah I've been saving & scrimping "extra $$$" on/for my parts,
for 10 year in Dec. now on my current 68 RR project...

Albeit I built & had to sell a couple other cars, just to fund this car too...

Good luck eveyone
Big $$$ operation Big $$$ sponsorships funding it too, allot of employees,
truly a "NHRA super-team"...

 

[Gpuller]

Yikes! Its Friday already hope I'm not too late. Thanks for the PM OC!

TF Brown
FC Hagen
PS Enders
PSM Jerry Savoie

Did you know Jerry is an alligator farmer from FL? He was on an early episode of "Dirty Jobs" with Mike Rowe.
That class is your history lesson for today.

Good luck!

 

[ocdart]

NHRA Keystone Nationals qualifying leaders:

Q1
Weather: 56F, 71% relative humidity, barometer 29.63", adjusted altitude 674', track temp 60F

TF: Brittany Force, 3.725 @ 331.53
FC: Robert Hight, 3.922 @329.34
PS: Drew SKillman, 6.509; Greg Anderson & Jason Line @ 213.23
PSM: Eddie Krawiec, 6.802; Scotty Pollacheck @ 194.21

 

[ocdart]

Only one round of qualifying determined the ladders for the Pro classes at the 2015 NHRA Keystone Nationals.
Congrats to both 'stroked340' (FABO) for snagging the Top Qualifier title with an outstanding total of 28.0 bonus points. He picked #1 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcycle, the #3 qualifier in Pro Stock and the #4 qualifier in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.
'Duster79' (FABO) took the runner-up spot with 27.0 bonus points.
'Nick2317' was the top FBBO picker with 22.0 points
Great picks!

19 active players this week so far. We might get 20 if 'johnnycuda' (FABO) posts late picks before eliminations start.

18 different driver combos this week made up of:
* 6 different Top Fuel drivers. No Round 1 head-to-head matchups, but a possibility of two head-to-head matchup in Round 2 of eliminations.
* 6 different Funny Car drivers with one Round 1 head-to-head matchup between #6 qualifier Del Worsham (2 picks) and #11 qualifier Tommy Johnson Jr. (1 pick). There is also a possibility of one head-to-head matchup in Round 2 of eliminations.
* 4 different Pro Stock drivers picked this week. No Round 1 head-to-head matchups and no possibility of a 2nd Round matchup.
* 6 different Pro Stock Motorcycle riders picked with one Round 1 head-to-head matchup between #6 qualifier Jerry Savoie (7 picks) and #11 qualifier Hector Arana Jr. (3 picks). There is also a possibility of two head-to-head matchups in Round 2 of eliminations.
Good luck all!

 

[Budnicks]

Good luck guys

 

[ocdart]

Mother Nature sure wasn't a drag racing fan this past weekend. Not only did she limit the Pro qualifying to only one round, but the elimination round racing was just plain UGLY on the most part.

Here are the results and point standings after the third race of the "countdown" following completion of the Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway:

Congratulations to 'stroked340' (FABO) for being the top picker this week with an outstanding point total of 173.0 points. He picked the class winner in Top Fuel, both his Funny Car and Pro Stock went to the final round of eliminations before losing, and his Pro Stock Motorcycle pick went to the semi-finals before losing. His point total was helped with both Speed and E.T. bonus points, and Jack Beckman's new National E.T. Record in Funny Car.
Truly outstanding considering what the weather was like for this event job!
'Duster79' (FABO) was the event runner-up with a very nice total of 147.0 points. He picked the Funny Car class winner, his Top Fuel pick went to the finals before losing, his Pro Stock Motorcycle pick went to the semi-finals before losing, and his Pro Stock pick lost in the second round of eliminations. He was also helped by E.T. bonus points, and Jack Beckman's new National E.T. Record in Funny Car.
'Budnicks' was the top FBBO picker with 140.5 points.
Great picking all!

Here's where the bonus points were earned if you picked the right drivers:

Top Fuel
E.T. - Brittany Force, 3.707 during Round 1 of eliminations
Speed - Brittany Force, 331.53 during qualifying

Funny Car
E.T. - Jack Beckman, 3.897, a new Funny Car National E.T. Record, during Round 3 of eliminations
Speed - Robert Hight, 329.34 during qualifying

Pro Stock
E.T. - Jason Line, 6.477 during Round 1 of eliminations
Speed - Greg Anderson, 214.38 during Round 3 of eliminations

Pro Stock Motorcycle
E.T. - Chip Ellis, 6.775 during Round 3 of eliminations
Speed - Andrew Hines, 197.25 while winning the event during the final round of eliminations

Here are the game point standings after with only 3 events left in the 2015 season:

2317.0 - 71dartswinger (FABO) no change in the standings
2301-5 - OldmanRick (FABO) +1
2259.0 - GPuller (FBBO) -1
2257.5 - IEduster (FABO) +1
2252.5 - alsant (FBBO) -1
2252.5 - Duster79 (FABO) +1
2239.0 - Budnicks (FBBO) +1
2231.5 - Back in Time (FABO) -2
2189.5 - ocdart (FABO) +1
2179.0 - memike (FABO) +1
2170.5 - Nick2317 (FBBO) -2
2162.0 - 6pk2goDemon (FABO) no change
2145.5 - SSG Karg (FABO) -4
2128.5 - cuda20 (FABO) +2
2115.0 - stroked340 (FABO) +3
2108.5 - 64BEL (FBBO) -2
2107.5 - 67cudafb (FABO) -2
2034.0 - tqfastfish (FABO) -1
1969.0 - socaldart (FABO) no change

johnnycuda did not post any picks for the 2nd consecutive "Countdown" event, so he has now "lost his sponsor" and is parked for the remainder of the 2015 NHRA season. I hope he returns for the 2016 season.

Now we get a week off to rest up before the 22nd race of the 2015 season, the 30th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, October 15-18 at the all-concrete Texas Motorplex in Ennis, TX.
As always, your picks need to be posted before Pro Qualifying starts on Friday, October 16 in order to qualify for all event bonus points. Pro qualifying is scheduled to start at 2:45PM CDT (12:45PM PDT).
The Keystone Nationals entry list is posted on NHRA.com and currently shows 19 Top Fuel, 18 Funny Car, 16 Pro Stock and 17 Pro Stock Motorcycle entries. As always, the class counts are subject to change.
PLEASE keep checking http://www.nhra.com/events/entrylist22.aspx for an updated entry list.

Get your picks posted and GOOD LUCK!

 

[Gpuller]

Congrats Bud!

 

[Budnicks]

Yea Me...
It seems Even an old blind squirrel, finds a nut every once in a while...LOL

Thanks guys

Nick did well in qualifying pt.'s too..