There will be two prizes on the line for Pro Stock drivers during NHRA’s return to Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., this weekend.
Along with a traditional Wally, which will be handed to the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 Nationals event winner, there is a $40,000 bonus in store for those involved in the Pro Stock All-Star Callout.
The eight-car field, set by qualifying performance, includes point leader Dallas Glenn, Matt Hartford, Kyle Koretsky, Aaron Stanfield, Troy Coughlin Jr., Cristian Cuadra, defending champion Erica Enders and Camrie Caruso. The unique format of the specialty event requires drivers to “call out” an opponent, starting with the No. 1 seed and moving down the lineup until each car has a match.
As Glenn leads the field, he will draw first blood.
“I don’t think we’re 100 percent decided on who yet, but we’re really excited to do this extra deal,” said the KB Titan Racing driver. “We’ve got a fun chance to put a big chunk of money in our pocket. Not only that, but it’ll be a good race day tune-up for Sunday.”
Having never raced a Pro Stock car at this track, Glenn feels he might be at a slight disadvantage to some of the more seasoned drivers who have previously raced at Chicago — such as Enders, who also won her first national event there in 2012. But as the No. 7 seed, Enders will have plenty of challenges to face that will require her to rely on more than just her past luck and experience at the track.
“Being on the bottom side where you’re going to be the one who gets called out, maybe there’s a slight feeling of offense, but at the same time, we hope to be able to battle back and come out with a win,” Enders said.
For the five-time Pro Stock champion, there’s more on the line than the winner’s check — there’s also bragging rights from a team perspective.
Enders, Coughlin Jr., Stanfield and Cuadra all race under the Elite Motorsports banner. Meanwhile, Glenn, Hartford, Koretsky and Caruso represent KB Titan Racing. Both Glenn and Enders admitted there would undoubtedly be a certain level of pride to take in seeing their respective teams overpower the other.
“It’s no secret we got kind of smacked around a little bit last year, so this year, it’s definitely been a good feeling,” Glenn said. “It’s been a good start to the season for us to do some smacking around of our own.”
But for other drivers, like Hartford, the callout might simply come down to a personal rivalry.
“If Dallas wants to call me out, I say, ‘bring it on, let’s go.’ We’ve got a little revenge that’s coming his way at some point this season. Him and I have been battling it out at quite a few races and he’s come out on top so far,” Hartford said. “He’s got two Wallys sitting up on his mantel that we don’t have this year.”
Though he would welcome a chance to face off to Glenn, Hartford suspects that the points leader will pick an Elite Motorsports driver. And while Hartford technically represents KB Titan Racing, he admits that his own decision wouldn’t be based on team loyalty.
“I’m calling out whoever I think I have the best chance winning against in first round,” Hartford said.