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<\/a><\/p>\nThe six-race playoffs open next weekend with the 38th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway and also includes races in Charlotte, St. Louis, Dallas, Las Vegas and Pomona. The points reset for the Countdown to the Championship includes an added wrinkle in 2023 with the addition of bonus points earned during the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge.<\/p>\n
The specialty race took place on Saturdays at 12 races this season, adding a bonus purse and bonus points to the equation for the first time. Nobody took advantage more than Top Fuel points leader Justin Ashley, who won the bonus race six times. In all, he earned 21 bonus points \u2013 10 more than second-place Steve Torrence \u2013 and Ashley will open the playoffs with a 30-point advantage over the four-time world champ (2,121 to 2,091), looking to win his first world title.<\/p>\n
“We accomplished our goal. We’re going into the Countdown as the number one seed and we feel good about that,\u201d Ashley said. \u201cThere are no easy draws when it comes to the Countdown. Our team is really running well right now and everyone’s hitting their groove. We’re happy that we finished number one, it’s going to give us the best advantage that we could possibly ask for. However, it’s going to be tough out there. It’s going to be a grind. It’s going to be an absolute fight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indy winner Antron Brown is 44 points behind Ashley in third, while Leah Pruett and defending world champ Brittany Force round out the top five at 58 and 68 points behind Ashley, respectively. Doug Kalitta (2,046), Mike Salinas (2,033), Austin Prock (2,025), Clay Millican (2,013), Josh Hart (2,000), Shawn Langdon (1,992) and Tony Schumacher (1,982) round out the loaded Top Fuel playoff field.<\/p>\n
In Funny Car, Ron Capps finished the regular season on a huge high, winning the last two events to take the points lead into the Countdown to the Championship. That includes an incredible win on Monday at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals and Capps also gets a boost by earning a class-best 14 points in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge during the regular season.<\/p>\n
Going for a third straight Funny Car title \u2013 something that hasn\u2019t been done since John Force wrapped up 10 straight championships in 2002 \u2013 Capps will open the playoffs with a 24-point lead over Hagan (2,114 to 2,090), earning four more Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge points. Robert Hight will start 38 points behind Capps, with Bob Tasca III 48 points back in fourth and J.R. Todd 56 points from the lead in fifth. Alexis DeJoria (2,047), Chad Green (2,036), Tim Wilkerson (2,020), John Force (2,015), Cruz Pedregon (2,000) and Alex Laughlin (1,990) round out the field, and Capps knows the challenge ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so many good cars right now,\u201d Capps said. \u201cWe know the hitters, but you go down the list of everyone in the Countdown and it\u2019s a car that can win on any Sunday. Funny Car is unbelievable right now and we just hope to keep the momentum with our hot rod. It\u2019s going to be a throw down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dallas Glenn enjoyed a dominant regular season in Pro Stock, winning four times, a career-best for the former NHRA Rookie of the Year. He earned eight bonus points in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge \u2013 five more than second-place Matt Hartford \u2013 giving Glenn a 25-point lead (2,108 to 2,083) heading into the Countdown to the Championship.<\/p>\n
Hartford, meanwhile, has plenty of momentum after winning the U.S. Nationals and is confident he can compete for a championship.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone says that Dallas Glenn has had the best car this year but that\u2019s not true. He\u2019s been the best driver, but I\u2019ve got the best car,\u201d Hartford said. \u201cI just need to continue to focus and not make mistakes and you\u2019ll see that in the Countdown.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reigning world champion Erica Enders will start her quest for a sixth world championship 32 points behind Glenn, while Troy Coughlin Jr. is 41 points out of first. Deric Kramer rounds out of the top five, trailing Glenn by 52 points, and the rest of the playoff field includes Aaron Stanfield (2,048), Greg Anderson (2,035), Kyle Koretsky (2,024), Camrie Caruso (2,011), Cristian Cuadra (2,000), Bo Butner (1,990), Fernando Cuadra Jr. (1,980), Jerry Tucker (1,970), Mason McGaha (1,960), Chris McGaha (1,950) and Fernando Cuadra (1,940).<\/p>\n
Gaige Herrera\u2019s 2023 regular season in Pro Stock Motorcycle included an incredible six event wins and four victories in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, handing the talented rider 13 bonus points and nine more than second-place Matt Smith. He\u2019ll enter the postseason with 2,113 points, 29 more than Smith (2,084), who comes off a victory at the U.S. Nationals on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way I see it, this championship is Gaige\u2019s to lose,\u201d Herrera said. \u201cThe whole class gained on him (with the points reset). Now, we just need to get him out early. I wasn\u2019t sure if a seventh (championship) was possible this year, but now I know I can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hector Arana Jr. is 37 points back of Herrera, with Eddie Krawiec (2,062) and Angie Smith (2,056) rounding out the top five. The rest of the playoff field includes Steve Johnson (2,042), Chase Van Sant (2,032), Marc Ingwersen (2,020), Jianna Evaristo (2,010), Kelly Clontz (2,000), Ryan Oehler (1,990) and Chris Bostick (1,980).<\/p>\n