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Tricky Tipster picks Gatornationals favorites

16 Mar 2016
NHRA News
News

For more than five decades, National Dragster's famed Tricky Tipster has tested his (or is it her?) prognosticating skills prior to each national event, putting odds on the top eight racers he (or she?) thinks have the best shot at victory in Tricky Tipster. This week, Tricky Tipster handicaps the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.

TOP FUEL
Funny Car | Pro Stock | Pro Stock Motorcycle | Top Alcohol Dragster | Top Alcohol Funny Car | Pro Mod
  
Doug KalittaDoug Kalitta • Mac Tools
We’re siding with the driver who has had a combined losing margin of only .007-second over the first two races of the season in runner-up and semifinal finishes. His new car looked dominant at times during the Phoenix event.		3-1
  
Steve TorrenceSteve Torrence • Capco Contractors
First-round hiccup in Phoenix aside, the Pomona winner has one of the baddest hot rods on the block.		7-2
  
Tony SchumacherTony Schumacher • U.S. Army
The four-time winner of this event is focused on converting consistently quick qualifying performances into win lights.		4-1
  
Leah PritchettLeah Pritchett • Quaker State
The most recent winner on tour is going to show us whether she opened a door or a floodgate when she got the Wally in Phoenix.		5-1
  
Brittany ForceBrittany Force • Monster Energy
It didn’t take long for this team to start clicking. Her first win can’t be far away.		6-1
  
Antron BrownAntron Brown • Matco Tools
The two-time world champion will be inducting co-crew chief Mark Oswald into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame days before going for his second win at the Gators.		7-1
  
Clay MillicanClay Millican • Parts Plus/Great Clips
He has gotten out of the first round in his last five starts and reached the semi’s in three of them. This team is one break from racing for all the marbles.		8-1
  
Richie CramptonRichie Crampton • Lucas Oil
Aaron Brooks and company took the win here in 2012 with Morgan Lucas and will pose a double threat with Lucas and Crampton competing as teammates.		10-1
 
FUNNY CAR
Ron CappsRon Capps • NAPA Dodge
Started the year with a win and No. 1 start thanks to a very strong car that is consistently going downtrack. Add in the fact he is the defending event champ, and it’s hard to go against Capps right now.		3-1
  
Robert HightRobert Hight • Auto Club Chevy
Not only is he part of the revived JFR trio that we think is the group to watch right now, but Hight has a great history here. In the last four years, he has two wins and a semifinal showing at this event.		4-1
  
John ForceJohn Force • Peak Chevy
We’re not sure quiet and John Force belong in a sentence together, but here goes: Force has quietly strung together a very strong series of runs this year, including having the best average e.t. in Phoenix. If his team maintains that performance, he could easily better his Phoenix runner-up.		5-1
  
Del WorshamDel Worsham • DHL Toyota
The champ’s drop from No. 1 to No. 4 on our list really has nothing to do with our belief in him — we still think he has a great car — but rather with the fact others have risen up and made strong cases to be above him.		7-1
  
Tim WilkersonTim Wilkerson • Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford
Looked great en route to victory in Phoenix. However, as much as we liked what we saw there, we’ve watched Wilk rise before only to falter a race or two later, so we’re taking a cautious approach and putting him mid-pack, for now.		8-1
  
Courtney ForceCourtney Force • Traxxas Chevy
Came out of the gate swinging in Phoenix and continued to shine at various moments. There was still a bit of inconsistency, though, so while we are feeling optimistic about Force, we’re not quite ready to move her up in the rankings.		9-1
  
Jack BeckmanJack Beckman • Infinite Hero Dodge
Very quick at times but also fairly uneven thus far, so it has been hard to truly gauge where this team stands. What we do know is Jimmy Prock is still at the helm, and he can unleash big, crushing runs at any time.		11-1
  
Alexis DeJoriaAlexis DeJoria • Patron Toyota
Tipster agonized over this last spot and whether to go with DeJoria or Tommy Johnson Jr., both worthy of inclusion. With similar records at this event, we looked at performance this year. DeJoria has been just a tick better than T.J. thus far, so we are giving her the ever-so-slight edge.		12-1
 
PRO STOCK
Jason LineJason Line • Summit Camaro
It’s hard to choose which KB car to put in the top spot considering the team’s dominating performance so far this year. Line has momentum coming off of his win in Phoenix and has won here four times.		3-2
  
Greg AndersonGreg Anderson • Summit Camaro
Both KB cars were in the final here last year, and Anderson came out the winner. He has just as good of a chance as his teammate to win his second race this season.		2-1
  
Bo ButnerBo Butner • Jim Butner Auto Camaro
He has reached two semifinal rounds to start his first full season in Pro Stock, and after being the No. 1 qualifier in Phoenix, he is getting that much closer to his first Pro Stock win.		5-2
  
Chris McGahaChris McGaha • Harlow Sammons Camaro
He qualified in the top half of the field at both 2016 races and is the only non-KB driver to make it to a final round this year. He has also done well at this track, so he is a definite contender.		4-1
  
Drew SkillmanDrew Skillman • Ray Skillman Auto Camaro
One of the better non-KB drivers, Skillman is carrying the banner for Elite Motorsports right now. He started the year with a semifinal finish and made solid runs in Phoenix.		5-1
  
Allen JohnsonAllen Johnson • Marathon Petroleum Dart
Having faced a few issues with the new car, Johnson hasn’t been running as strong as he could be. Despite the troubles, he won a few rounds and qualified just below the KB cars at the last race.		7-1
  
Jeg Coughlin Jr.Jeg Coughlin Jr. • JEGS.com Dodge Dart
The five-time Pro Stock world champ may not have had the strongest start to the season, but he has proven that he can win rounds. The more experience he gets with the new car, the more of a threat he will become.		8-1
  
Shane GrayShane Gray • Gray Manufacturing Technologies Camaro
This final spot came down to Gray and Erica Enders. It may seem odd to leave out the world champ, but her performance so far has been lacking. After missing Phoenix, Gray is set to return in Gainesville and has been putting up some impressive numbers during his testing session.		10-1
 
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
Jerry SavoieJerry Savoie • White Alligator Suzuki
Could there possibly be anything more poetic than a real live alligator farmer winning the Gatornationals? Not out of the question that he will hammer out the first 200-mph speed, too.		4-1
  
Eddie KrawiecEddie Krawiec • Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
Went to three straight final rounds to start the 2015 season, and who can forget 2012, when he ran the table with a win, a record, and the No. 1 qualifying spot? Anything less than a semifinal would be a big disappointment.		5-1
  
Matt SmithMatt Smith • Victory Gunner
When he wins this race, and there’s a really good chance that will happen, it’s going to be the perfect opportunity to bust out a “Rags to Riches” headline. If you saw the Victory debut last season, that makes perfect sense.		6-1
  
Andrew HinesAndrew Hines • Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
He’ll be going for his third straight world championship (and sixth overall) this season. That’s a pretty mean feat. Historically, he’s better at midseason than the start, though.		8-1
  
Hector Arana Jr.Hector Arana Jr. • Lucas Oil Buell
There is no doubt he would like to make amends for last year’s Gainesville opener, where he didn’t get to run the first round. This team can often be hit or miss, but when it's on, it has the ability to win the whole thing.		9-1
  
Karen StofferKaren Stoffer • Big St. Charles/Skillman Auto Suzuki
Won this race last year on a shoestring budget, and now that they have some backing, it would be foolish to think that they’re not capable of an encore performance. Historically, she has done very well here.		11-1
  
LE TongletLE Tonglet • Nitro Fish Suzuki
He’s not the same lanky teen who won the world championship in his rookie season in 2010, but he’s still one of the class’ best young talents, and with the right bike underneath him, he could easily go the distance.		12-1
  
Angelle SampeyAngelle Sampey • Star Racing Buell
She hasn’t won in Gainesville since 2006 (when she defeated future two-time Top Fuel world champ Antron Brown in the final), and she’s on a new bike, but that doesn’t make the possibility of a comeback win any less likely.		15-1
 
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Duane Shields • Peak Antifreeze
His three wins here have him tied with the late Blaine Johnson for most in class history. He has already been in the 5.1-second range this season.		5-2
  
Mia Tedesco • CARS Protection Plus
Her win here at the East Region event last week might not have looked perfect in the early going, but her record is perfect so far in 2016.		3-1
  
Megan Meyer • Racers Evolved/Lucas Oil
Like father, like daughter? This might seem like a high ranking for someone in her national event debut, but father Randy won this race last year and has trained his daughter well.		4-1
  
Rich McPhillips • McPhillips Racing
The 2013 winner and 2014 runner-up knows how to go rounds at the East Coast opener.		6-1
  
Jeff Veale • Caledonia Tire
The Canadian driver reached the final round at the East Region event. His A/Fueler can run big speed.		7-1
  
John Finke • Finke Equipment/Lucas Oil
He and teammate Jackie Fricke made big strides with their new dragsters at the end of last season. He won this race in 2008.		8-1
  
Jake Allen • Allen Bros. Racing
The Jacksonville, Fla., resident nearly won his first national event at the Charlotte event last spring. It would be even sweeter to do it at home.		9-1
  
Buddy Domingue • Roll-Lift/Groves Equipment
The veteran driver has been on the verge of scoring his first win since 1982. He can certainly run the number.		10-1
 
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Jonnie Lindberg • Landmeco Chevy
The Swedish superstar will be running his new “Aussie” cylinder heads during his attempt to go 2-0 to start his title defense.		2-1
  
John Lombardo Jr. • NAPA Auto Parts/Lucas Oil Chevy
It’s going to make for an exciting season if the speed record holder keeps trading blows with Lindberg in side-by-side final rounds.		5-2
  
Doug Gordon • MB Cabinets Chevy
The West Coast racing family is experiencing the East Coast opener for the first time. He looked dominant at his last two LODRS outings.		3-1
  
Ulf Leanders • HAAS Automation Chevy
He won this event last season and scored here at the East Region opener last weekend. The three drivers who won this event before Leanders (Dan Pomponio Jr., Mickey Ferro, Frank Manzo) all won in back-to-back years.		5-1
  
Dan Pomponio Jr. • Pomponio Racing/Boninfante Chevy
Even the rowdiest University of Florida students don’t get as excited about spring break as Pomponio, who scored all four of his wins at spring events here and in Charlotte.		7-1
  
Kris Hool • SK Hand Tools Chevy
The Hool brothers always come prepared for battle. They’re getting a handle on their new Camaro.		8-1
  
DJ Cox Jr. • Dixie Construction/East Coast Auto Electric Chevy
Whether swapping feet or letting go of a button, it’s hard to find a better leaver than this young driver.		9-1
  
Tony Bartone • Bartone Bros. Chevy
His season may not have gotten off on the right foot, but he’s plenty capable of taking it out on the rest of the field.		10-1
 
PRO MOD
Bob Rahaim • TLC Waste Disposal Corvette
This class is so darned unpredictable, but this is the defending Gainesville champion, and he recently ran 5.7s in testing, so there is plenty of justification for the top billing.		4-1
  
Von Smith • AAP Corvette
This is a new driver combination, but it has the potential to be spectacular. Driver Smith is a consistent winner in Pro Mod and TAFC, and crew chief Frank Manzo is, well, Frank Manzo.		5-1
  
Troy Coughlin • JEGS.com Corvette
Strange that he won the championship last year without winning a race. That won’t happen again this season, and by that we mean the winless part. He may well end up a three-time champ.		6-1
  
Rickie Smith • IDG Camaro
Remember two years ago when he announced his retirement? Don’t be fooled; he still has enough fuel in the tank for another title run, and with a new turbo car waiting in the wings, he has multiple options this season.		7-1
  
Jonathan Gray • Precision Turbo Camaro
It took about one-and-a-half runs for him to make the adjustment from Pro Stock to Pro Mod, so there is every reason to think he’s going to jump in headfirst and become a contender on day one.		9-1
  
Steven Whiteley • J&A Service Chevelle
Forms a potent combination along with his father, former TAD champ Jim. He has already enjoyed a good weekend with a win at the preseason event in South Florida.		10-1
  
Danny Rowe • Agave Underground Corvette
Quite frankly, last year did not go according to plan, so it would be wise to expect a big rebound in 2016. A top-10 finish is nearly a given, and a championship shouldn’t surprise anyone.		12-1
  
Mike Janis • Jan-Cen Engines Camaro
In all honesty, he should probably be ranked higher than No. 8, but that’s just the nature of Pro Mod racing. With almost 30 drivers fighting for 16 spots, it’s an honor just to be around on race day, and this guy does it regularly.		15-1