NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

With the completion of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, race 17 of the 18-race NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series regular season, 29 of the 40 spots in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs have been clinched.

Only the top-10 drivers in each of the four Mello Yello classes will earn berths to compete in the six-race playoffs that begin after the Labor Day weekend Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis that marks the end of the regular season. Nine spots are spoken for in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, six in Pro Stock, and five in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Tommy Johnson Jr. (Funny Car), Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock), and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all clinched based on their qualifying efforts in Brainerd, and Richie Crampton and Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Drew Skillman (Pro Stock), and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle) locked up their spots based on their efforts in eliminations.

Current Countdown clinches:

TOP FUEL
1. Antron Brown
2. Doug Kalitta
3. Steve Torrence
4. Brittany Force
5. Tony Schumacher
6. J.R. Todd
7. Shawn Langdon
8. Richie Crampton
9. Clay Millican

Top Fuel still in contention:
Leah Pritchett
Terry McMillen

FUNNY CAR
1. Ron Capps
2. Courtney Force
3. Jack Beckman
4. Del Worsham
5. Matt Hagan
6. Robert Hight
7. John Force
8. Tommy Johnson Jr.
9. Tim Wilkerson

Funny Car still in contention:
Alexis DeJoria
Chad Head
Cruz Pedregon

PRO STOCK
1. Jason Line
2. Greg Anderson
3. Bo Butner
4. Allen Johnson
5. Vincent Nobile
6. Drew Skillman

Pro Stock still in contention:
Shane Gray
Chris McGaha
Erica Enders
Jeg Coughlin
Alex Laughlin

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
1. Eddie Krawiec
2. Andrew Hines
3. Angelle Sampey
4. Jerry Savoie
5. LE Tonglet

Pro Stock Motorcycle still in contention:
Hector Arana Sr.
Chip Ellis
Matt Smith
Hector Arana Jr.
Steve Johnson
Michael Ray
Karen Stoffer
Cory Reed
Scotty Pollacheck
Jim Underdahl
Mellissa Surber
Angie Smith
Michael Phillips