With three races remaining in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, the time is now for any driver hoping to close in on the championship.
But it’s become increasingly difficult to determine who the title favorites are, with tight point battles stretching across the Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock categories.
Ahead of the Texas NHRA FallNationals this weekend at the Texas Motorplex, here’s a look at who to watch and why.
‘The Big Four’
Bob Tasca III. Robert Hight. Matt Hagan. Ron Capps.
These four Funny Car veterans have been the talk of the town throughout the NHRA season, as they’ve each taken their turn on top of the charts, trading hot streaks and round wins.
Of the 18 national events this season, 14 Wallys belong to these four drivers.
And to no one’s surprise, they run 1-2-3-4 in the standings with three races to go. Tasca and Hight are separated by a mere six points at the top of the board, while Hagan is 13 points behind and Capps is 33 in the rears.
“I think (the championship) is going to come down to a few teams rolling into Pomona that are going to have a shot at it,” Capps said.
“It would be nice to gain some more coming out of Dallas but I really see it just continuing to tighten up because there are so many good cars that can make a run the last three races.”
The ever-cautious Hight agrees.
“This Funny Car field is so competitive. These top cars, all of them are championship caliber. It’s really going to take the right combination of driver, crew chiefs, crews and a little luck to get the job done,” said the three-time Funny Car champion.
Tasca is the only one of the four who has not won a Funny Car championship.
Don’t Underestimate Kalitta
Doug Kalitta can’t pinpoint what it is that finally clicked and allowed him to capture his elusive 50th career win on Sept. 18 at Pennsylvania’s Maple Grove Raceway. He’s not even sure how the team was able to back it up the next week and secure win No. 51.
But then again, “they probably wouldn’t tell me even if I asked,” Kalitta joked.
He attributes his recent success to the “sheer will” of everyone on his Mac Tools-sponsored crew, including world-champion tuners Alan Johnson and Brian Husen, who have helped him collect 23 round wins this year.
But Kalitta can’t help but be a bit on edge from the haunting memory of the six seasons where he finished runner-up in the championship.
As the Kalitta Motorsports driver leads the Top Fuel standings — 47 points over Leah Pruett — it seems there may be another title run in his future. But he knows better than to get ahead of himself.
“We’re just going to the starting line with the best car we can put together,” Kalitta said. “A lot years, I’ve been second, but having Alan (Johnson) and Brian (Husen) there now is exciting.”
Though he finished in the quarterfinals at the Midwest Nationals two weeks ago, Kalitta’s recent hot streak is something to keep in mind.
It’s Enders Vs. Anderson, Again
It’s a tale as old as time — sort of.
The rivalry of Erica Enders between Greg Anderson has returned, as the two Pro Stock veterans are atop the class standings, with Enders leading Anderson by 25 points. With each driver having won five world championships, it’s a race to six between the two.
“He’s obviously one of the greats, a legend in Pro Stock, but he’s also the guy I got my first win against,” Enders said. “If I had to bet my own money, I’d bet it’s going to come down to me and him at the wire.”
The two finished first and second in the championship last year, with Enders reigning supreme.
But this season has thrown a curveball at both drivers, as neither Enders nor Anderson had the best start to the year. Halfway through the regular season, the Elite Motorsports driver was ranked 14th, while Anderson was seventh.
“The more we get pushed into a corner, the harder we fight and the more we want to prove that we are capable and deserving of winning,” Enders said, explaining her late-season surge.
However, while she holds the points lead, Anderson is the only one of the two who has picked up a national event victory during the playoffs.