Recognized for years as one of the elite drivers in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Del Worsham had an opportunity on the biggest of stages in 2011 to prove it and he came through in impressive fashion. The performance earned him the acknowledgement of the NHRA fans as the 2011 Fan Choice Awards’ Driver of the Year.

After leading the Top Fuel category for most of the regular season, he slipped up a bit at the start of the Countdown and entered the season’s penultimate race in fourth place. He had no room for error and indeed he did not err.

He advanced through to the finals at the Big O Tires NHRA Nationals, but was matched up against points-leader Spencer Massey. He was trailing at the time by 22 points so the race meant he would enter the finals either trailing by two points or 42 points.

His .061 reaction time was .013 better than his season average (.074) and he needed every last bit of that improved performance as he clipped Massey by just .001-second at the stripe.

It was déjà vu all over again two weeks later in Pomona, except this time Worsham and Massey met in the semifinals. Worsham was even better on the tree in Pomona, leaving with a .050 reaction time, and once again he needed it all as he beat Massey to the finish line by .004-second this time.

Overall during the Countdown, Worsham was better than his .074 average in 13 of his 17 passes, including all four at the Auto Club NHRA finals.

And it wasn’t just in the Countdown: Worsham was, from the start of the season, best-in-class. He reached the final round at 11 of 22 races – winning eight times – and he earned seven No. 1 qualifiers.