The final race of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series regular season has arrived with the series’ biggest race — the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway Indianapolis Raceway Park.
As if the event wasn’t already the most sought-after race on the schedule, it’ll be the 70th edition of the Big Go.
With the famed race concluding the regular season before the Countdown to the Championship begins, pressure is at an all-time high for drivers and teams.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this weekend’s event:
Adjusted Points For Indy
With the U.S. Nationals being NHRA’s biggest race, points are adjusted and can make a major difference in the standings:
Win: 150 points vs. 100 in non-Indy events
Runner-up: 120 points vs. 80
Third-round loser: 90 points vs. 60
Second-round loser: 60 points vs. 40
First-round loser: 30 points vs. 20
Two additional points are awarded in qualifying as well: (First earns 10 vs. 8 in non-Indy events, second earns nine vs. seven, third earns eight vs. six, etc.)
Points Watching
Aside from attempting to win the famed U.S. Nationals, numerous teams are eyeing the standings entering Indianapolis.
In Funny Car, seventh through 11th are separated by 88 points. Blake Alexander, fresh off a win at Brainerd (Minn.) Int’l Raceway, is seventh in the standings with a comfortable margin (+88) over Alexis DeJoria (11th), who’s the first driver out of the Countdown.
Daniel Wilkerson (+75) and Chad Green (+44) are fairly safe as well, but not secure.
Paul Lee, however, will need a solid outing this weekend as he’s only 16 points ahead of DeJoria for the final Countdown spot.
Notably, DeJoria is a former winner at the Big Go, which came 10 years ago.
In Top Fuel, the majority of the top 10 in the Countdown are solidified. However, two-time champion Brittany Force is 10th, a mere 55 markers ahead of Josh Hart. Shawn Reed is a distant 118 points behind Force.
Pro Stock is also close, with four spots still up for grabs entering Indy. Jerry Tucker is seventh, 179 points ahead of Mason McGaha, who’s the first driver out of the Countdown.
Eighth through 10th, however, are even closer as Cristian Cuadara (+43), Deric Kramer (+21) and Eric Latino (+18) hang around the bubble. A stout day for McGaha could mean one of those three drivers falls from the Countdown.
Four spots are still available in Pro Stock Motorcycle as well, as Jianna Evaristo is seventh, a comfortable 180 points ahead of L.E. Tonglet in 11th.
Behind Evaristo, Hector Arana Jr. (eighth) is also safe, 174 ahead of Tonglet.
The key riders to watch for are Steve Johnson (+52) and Chris Bostick (+21), who could drop out of the top 10, if Tonglet has a standout performance at Indy.
Three-Peat For Capps & Brown?
Ironically enough, after 27 tries at the Big Go, Ron Capps has won two consecutive U.S. Nationals in the Funny Car division.
Fellow Toyota driver and team owner Antron Brown also went back-to-back in Top Fuel the last two seasons and is aiming for three straight.
However, two seems to be the lucky number at the Big Go, as five drivers in Funny Car (J.R. Todd in 2017-’18, Mike Neff in 2011-’12, Ashley Force Hood in 2009-’10, Cruz Pedregon in 1994-’95 and Don Prudhomme in 1973-’74) have won back-to-back, but couldn’t win three in a row.
In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher went on two massive winning streaks, including four straight from 2006-’09 and three consecutive from 2002-’04.
Joe Amato (1987-’88), Don Garlits (1967-’68, 1984-’86), Gary Beck (1972-’73), Prudhomme (1699-’70) are the others in Top Fuel to repeat.
“Our team is peaking at the right time and we’d love to pull off the undeniable turkey here, so that’s what we’re going in to do; that’s our game plan,” Brown said. “We’ve won here the last two years and we’re going to try and continue that streak.
“All the points are really tight and we’re working hard to push to be into that top four going into the Countdown.”
Enders Aims For 50
Six-time Pro Stock champion Erica Enders has been on the hunt for a milestone 50th career victory for a few months, however, it’s been a struggle.
With adjusting to a new race car, it’s been a challenge, though Enders feels she’s finally comfortable despite her previous car, which she won four titles in, seemingly having everything she needed.
“That was like, that was my baby,” Enders said. “So, getting reacquainted with a new piece of equipment is definitely challenging. I’ve not fit real well. I’ve had a couple of seats poured, I’ve torn pedals out and the floorboard out, trying to configure everything to mimic what it was in my old car.”
While it may sound tedious, Enders knows the more comfortable she is in the car, the better off she’ll be.
“It’s a placebo effect,” Enders began. “If I get my head right and I feel better in the car, then it’s worth whatever we’ve done. I’ve been kind of nit-picking at that throughout this year.
“I finally feel like my trip to Rick Jones Race Cars before the Brainerd Nationals really changed everything around.”
Enders lost in the second round at Brainerd to eventual event winner Dallas Glenn. The three-time U.S. Nationals winner, however, snagged low E.T. of the weekend in Brainerd at 6.597 seconds.