NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season is heading down the homestretch, and with just two events remaining on the calendar, the pressure is on for those still in contention for one of the world championships in the four Professional classes, as well as those who would like to end the season on a high and head into next season with momentum. Just eight rounds of racing are left and precious few “little points” and regular qualifying points, putting a premium on every run this weekend for drivers who want to head to Pomona with a shot at a championship. That means the real winners this weekend will be the Las Vegas fans, who will be treated to great racing, high drama, and even perhaps a championship crowning, something that happens often at the penultimate event of the season.

At last year’s event, Antron Brown (Top Fuel) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) wrapped up their second world championships thanks to a semifinal finish and win, respectively. Enders was joined in the event winner’s circle by Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

Here’s a look at some of this year's major storylines:

Another championship weekend for Brown?
It could be a bit of déjà vu for Brown this weekend if he can put together another solid showing with his Matco Tools entry. Brown, who clinched the Top Fuel title at this race last year, enters the event with a sizable 150-point advantage over second-place Kalitta and is 172 in front of Shawn Langdon and nearly 200 ahead of Brittany Force and Steve Torrence. Though the championship is not mathematically out of reach of the others, it would take an enormous misstep by Brown and his talented team in the form of a DNQ, no bonus points, a low starting spot, and/or an early exit Sunday for the others to get back into contention. With the way Brown’s car has been running as of late, that is highly unlikely. Brown has three wins in the first four Countdown to the Championship events, and he has qualified first or second at the last two. Also playing in Brown’s favor is success at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway already this season. At the spring event, Brown defeated Troy Buff to pick up the first of his seven wins in 2016. If Brown leaves Las Vegas with a lead of 131 or more points, he will be the 2016 Top Fuel world champion.

A DSR shootout in Funny Car
The Funny Car world championship very likely will not be decided this weekend, but Ron Capps could put it out of reach with a win or late-round appearance; to do so, he has to hold off his teammates Tommy Johnson Jr. and Matt Hagan, who are second and third, respectively, in points. Capps has been incredibly strong in the Countdown, earning 14 qualifying bonus points vs. the seven and eight of Johnson and Hagan, and he has a pair of semifinal finishes and two runner-ups in the first four events. If he maintains that performance, it will be hard for anyone to pass him. If Capps slips up, however, Johnson and Hagan will be there to pounce. They, too, have been strong in the playoffs. Johnson opened with two runner-up finishes and a win, and Hagan won the most recent event in Dallas.

Funny Car fever
The NHRA Toyota Nationals will feature one of the best Funny Car shows of the season, with nitro Funny Car and Top Alcohol Funny Car combining to feature more than 50 entries. The nitro ranks have 24 teams on the entry list, including the debut of Paul Lee in a Kalitta entry and the NHRA debut of Australian Anthony Begley. The battle for the 16 starting spots in Alcohol Funny Car will be even more intense with 28 entries in that category.

Two-wheel turmoil
Perhaps the best points battle right now is in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, which has four riders within 60 points, or three rounds, of each other and a fifth who is less than 100 points out of the lead. Eddie Krawiec (pictured) took over the top spot with his back-to-back wins in Reading and Dallas, but his advantage is less than a round over teammate Andrew Hines. Jerry Savoie, who has two runner-up finishes at this event in the last three years, sits 49 points behind Krawiec in third, and three-time world champ Angelle Sampey is in fourth, 60 points out of the lead. All four bikes and riders have proven capable of running well and winning this season, so though the Harleys of Hines and Krawiec have dominated the season, winning all but four of this year’s events thus far, this is far from over and could come down to the late rounds in Pomona, and all will be fighting to put themselves in the best position heading into the finale. Also potentially in the running is Charlotte winner Chip Ellis, who is 97 points out of first, but he will need to not only solve the recent problems that have plagued his Buell but also count on the four ahead of him to have early exits.

Pro Mod title decision
Though there are no guarantees of a champion being crowned in the NHRA Mello Yello Series, one will definitely be determined in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, which is making its final appearance of the season. Rickie Smith is in the catbird seat, holding a 93-point edge entering the event. If Smith qualifies, he will lock up another Pro Mod championship. If he does not, that opens the door for another former champ, Troy Coughlin, to try to overtake him, though it would take a win on Coughlin’s part to do so.

Track records
Top Fuel
3.722 seconds by Antron Brown, October 2015
332.67 mph by Shawn Langdon, October 2015

Funny Car
3.916 seconds by Jack Beckman, April 2016
326.71 mph by Del Worsham, April 2016

Pro Stock
6.559 seconds by Erica Enders, October 2015
210.28 mph by Enders, October 2015

Pro Stock Motorcycle
6.852 seconds by Jerry Savoie, October 2015
196.56 mph by Eddie Krawiec, October 2011

Schedule
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 11:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 11:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30.

Tickets
Call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.

Television
Friday, Oct. 28, FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 30, FS1 will air one hour of qualifying coverage at 10 a.m. ET
Sunday, Oct. 30, FS1 will televise three hours of live finals coverage starting at 4 p.m. ET