2025 15th Annual FABO NHRA "Pick 'Em" Game - I Can't Wait!!!

[ocdart]

Since we are now 25% through the 2025 NHRA schedule, here is a little information about how many different drivers have competed in each of the professional classes so far:

26 Top Fuel
26 Funny Car
26 Pro Stock
19 Pro Stock Motorcycle

 

[Budnicks]

Congrats to @GTXDAN nice picks for qualifying

 

[Budnicks]

Another "blind squirrel" episode for 'ocdart'?! 144.5 points for the 2025 15th annual American Rebel Light NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Concord, NC. Whether it was the "blind squirrel" or a crystal ball, he ended up with the class winners of Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. His Top Fuel pick finished 4th in the final Quad of eliminations.
'johnnycuda' (FABO) was right behind with 144.0 points.
The top FBBO player was 'Budnicks' with 138.0 points
Way to go!

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

Top Fuel
E.T. - Doug Kalitta, 3.646 during qualifying
Speed - Brittany Force, 341.59 (new National Record) during qualifying

Funny Car
E.T. - Paul Lee, 3.829 during qualifying
Speed - Austin Prock, 336.49 during qualifying

Pro Stock
E.T. - Greg Anderson, 6.472 during the final Quad of eliminations
Speed - Matt Hartford, 213.23 during Round 2 of eliminations

Pro Stock Motorcycle
E.T. - Gaige Herrera, 6.680 during qualifying
Speed - Matt Smith, 203.16 during Round 2 of eliminations

Here are the game point standings after the 5th event of the 2025 season:
606.5 - ocdart (FABO) no change in the point standings
581.0 - Budnicks (FBBO) no change
567.0 - TT5.9mag (FABO) +1
560.5 - stroked340 (FABO) -1
558.0 - GTXDAN (FBBO) no change
548.0 - alsant (FBBO) no change
465.5 - johnnycuda (FABO) +2
460.0 - Yunick13 (FABO) no change
445.5 - 64BEL (FBBO) -2
413.5 - Back in Time (FABO) no change
373.5 - cuda20 (FABO) +1
372.0 - memike (FABO) -1
322.0 - Outlawd (FBBO) no change
256.5 - Nick2317 (FBBO) +1
223.0 - MomsDuster (FABO) -1

Now we get a 3-week break before the 65th annual Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Elwood, IL, scheduled for May 15-18.

As of this morning, nhra.com currently shows the following entries:
15 Top Fuel
17 Funny Car
Pro Stock will not compete at this event
12 Pro Stock Motorcycle

With three weeks until this race the entry counts are almost guaranteed to change.
As always, please check to verify your picks are participating before posting your picks.

GOOD LUCK!

I'm still in 2nd 25.5 pts back of @ocdart nice picks
yea ha' congrats

 

[GTXDAN]

Way to go Budnicks we're still hanging in there.

 

[64BEL]

Nice job oc and Bud!

 

[alsant]

Way to go Bud

 

[ocdart]

Here some eye candy for your viewing pleasure while waiting for the upcoming NHRA Route 66 Nationals...

Dale Jr.'s very first drag racing experience and Tony Stewart's open invitation to Dale Jr. ....

 

[Budnicks]

Dale couldn't keep it floored, truck looked quick...

Here some eye candy for your viewing pleasure while waiting for the upcoming NHRA Route 66 Nationals...

Dale Jr.'s very first drag racing experience and Tony Stewart's open invitation to Dale Jr. ....

 

[ocdart]

Here's your 'Tuesday before the race' notice for the 65th annual Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK, May 15-18, at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL.
Please check the driver entries and post your picks before Pro Stock and Nitro qualifying starts so you will be eligible for all event bonus points. The first of the scheduled four rounds of Pro qualifying is scheduled to start at 3:00pm EDT (12:00pm PDT) on Friday.
As of this morning nhra.com currently shows the following entries:
17 Top Fuel
19 Funny Car
15 Pro Stock Motorcycle

Pro Stock will not compete at this event.

I suggest you double-check to make sure your drivers are racing since there were some no-shows at each of the first three events of the season. If your posted driver skips the event and you do not select a replacement prior to the start of eliminations, I will use your posted driver from the most recent completed event. Unfortunately, any replacement driver after the start of qualifying will not be eligible for any event bonus points.

In addition:
3 Top Fuel entries are making their season debut at this event
2 Funny Car entries are making their season debut at this event
1 Pro Stock Motorcycle entry is making their season debut at this event


The current weekend weather forecast shows:
* The start of qualifying on Friday should be mostly sunny with a forecast high of 87F. The forecast shows a 37% of some rain from 8pm until midnight local time.
* The start of qualifying on Saturday should be sunny with a high of 77F
* The start of eliminations on Sunday should be mostly sunny with a forecast high of 73F

The current television schedule for the Vegas Four-Wide Nationals...
* Qualifying Show 1: 9:30-11:00pm EDT (6:30-8:00pm PDT), Friday, May 16 on FS1
* Qualifying Show 2: 11:00am-Noon EDT (8:00-9:00am PDT), Sunday, May 18 on FS1
* Final eliminations: 2:00-5:00pm EDT (11:00am-2:00pm PDT), Sunday, May 18 on FS1
All television coverage will also re-air at later times. Check www.nhra.com.
Don't miss out!

 

[Budnicks]

@ocdart thanks,
Chitown picks
I'll stick with my "locked in picks" for now

good luck everyone

 

[GTXDAN]

Went to this race in 99 or 00 and it was scorching hot, I think it was 99. Race was in June or July. They had trouble getting down the track. Never know what the weather will be there in IL.

TF Kalitta
FC Prock
PSM M Smith

Good luck everyone!!!

 

[64BEL]

Been there a few times. It's a very nice facility. Good luck everyone!

 

[Nick2317]

Ill go with
TF Force
FC Hagan
PSM M Smith

 

[Outlawd]

Route 66 nats

TF=Smoke
FC=Fast Jack
PSM=Matt Smith

Good luck everyone!!

 

[ocdart]

2025 65th annual Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK qualifying leaders (per nhra.com event 'Detailed Results'):

Q1
Weather: 83F, 29% relative humidity, barometer 29.47", adjusted altitude 3,120', track temp. 124F
TF: Tony Stewart, 3.847; Clay Millican @ 325.61
FC: Bobby Bode, 4.005; Daniel Wilkerson @ 314.90
PSM: Angie Smith, 6.797; Richard Gadson @ 199.52

Q2
Weather: 80F, 35% relative humidity, barometer 29.38", adjusted altitude 3,113', track temp. n/a
TF: Doug Kalitta, 3.788; T.J. Zizzo @ 330.72
FC: J.R. Todd, 3.982 @ 326.71
PSM: Angie Smith, 6.797; Richard Gadson @ 199.52

Notes:
* Pro Stock Motorcycle Q2 happened Saturday morning due to high winds Friday evening
* At the close of Q2, Shawn Langdon is not yet qualified at #17 in Top Fuel; Spencer Hyde (#17), Dale Creasy Jr. (#18), and Justin Schreifer (#19) are not yet qualified in Funny Car
* Big change in the weather as Saturday forecast is for mostly cloudy with a high of 67F

Q3
Weather: 60F, 57% relative humidity, barometer 29.70", adjusted altitude 1,407', track temp. 83F
TF: Doug Kalitta, 3.661; Justin Ashley @ 337.50
FC: Jack Beckman, 3.859; J.R. Todd @ 336.40
PSM: Gaige Herrera, 6.717; Matt Smith @ 204.26

Q4
Weather: 66F, 46% relative humidity, barometer 29.70", adjusted altitude 1,809', track temp. 99F
TF: Doug Kalitta, 3.661; Antron Brown @ 338.09
FC: Jack Beckman, 3.859; J.R. Todd @ 336.40
PSM: Gaige Herrera, 6.717; Matt Smith @ 204.26

 

[alsant]

Good to see the track open again !

 

[Budnicks]

Good to see the track open again !

Green track, but not much been down it for a year, not much rubber "yet"...
May be a drivers/tuners race, or the guy in the clutch can, more likely...

 

[GTXDAN]

I think that track needs new ownership, as NASCAR can barely manage stock car racing.

 

[ocdart]

Congratulations to 'Outlawd' (FBBO) for winning the 2025 Gerber Glass and Collision NHRA Route 66 Nationals Top Qualifier title with an outstanding total of 23.0 bonus points. He correctly picked the #1 qualifier in Funny Car and the #2 qualifiers in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle.
'64BEL' (FBBO) and 'TT5.9mag' (FABO) were right behind with 22.5 bonus points each.

More great picks!

We have 15 players again this week and 14 different driver combos made up of:
* 7 different Top Fuel drivers with one Round 1 head-to-head matchup between #5 qualifier Justin Ashley (1 pick) and #12 qualifier Brittany Force (2 picks). There is also a possibility of two head-to-head matchups in Round 2 if all drivers survive.
* 5 different Funny Car drivers with no Round 1 head-to-head matchups. There is a possibility of two head-to head matchups in Round 2 if all drivers survive.
* 2 different Pro Stock Motorcycle riders. The earliest possibility of a head-to-head matchup is the Final Round of eliminations if both riders survive until then.
Good luck all!

 

[alsant]

Nice job Outlawd and Bel !
Bel how is your recovery going ? Hope all is good.