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Tricky Tipster's Indy picks

01 Sep 2016
NHRA News
News

For more than five decades, NHRA National Dragster's famed Tricky Tipster has tested his prognosticating skills prior to each national event, putting odds on the top eight racers he thinks have the best shot at victory in Tricky Tipster. This week, Tricky Tipster handicaps the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.

TOP FUEL
Funny Car | Pro Stock | Pro Stock Motorcycle | Pro Mod
  
Antron BrownAntron Brown • Matco Tools
Indy-based reigning champ has been to the final round at three of the last four events and is having one of the best seasons of his career. An Indy win would be second only to a third championship.		3-1
  
Brittany ForceBrittany Force • Monster Energy
Cooled off a bit after her hot start but appeared to pick up steam again with impressive Brainerd win. Has a good shot to join dad John and sister Ashley as an Indy winner.		4-1
  
Tony SchumacherTony Schumacher • U.S. Army
When it comes to Indy, no one is better than the U.S. Army driver, who is chasing his 10th victory at NHRA’s showcase event. He’s also been in the 3.6s at the last two races.		5-1
  
Doug KalittaDoug Kalitta • Mac Tools
For all of his incredible success, the Mac Tools driver is still looking for his first Indy win. Should it happen this year, the starting-line mosh pit scene will be epic.		6-1
  
Steve TorrenceSteve Torrence • Capco Contractors
A good bet to qualify No. 1. The trouble is that the low qualifier in Top Fuel rarely wins Indy. That being said, he could be the exception to that rule.		8-1
  
Richie CramptonRichie Crampton • Lucas Oil Products
He was the star of last week’s pre-Indy test session, which should at least provide a nice confidence boost. He’s still seeking his first win of the season, and this would be the best place to get it.		10-1
  
Shawn LangdonShawn Langdon • Sandvik/Red Fuel
Probably a mistake to have him listed this low, especially considering his potential for great lights, but the top half of Top Fuel is ultra-competitive right now.		12-1
  
J.R. ToddJ.R. Todd • SealMaster
Another driver who is probably undervalued based on his potential, although he is coming off a tough outing in Brainerd. As an Indiana native, a win here would have an extra-special meaning.		14-1
 
FUNNY CAR
Ron CappsRon Capps • NAPA Dodge
OK, we know he’s never won Indy, but to be fair, he’s rarely had a car this good. A weekend sweep, including the Traxxas Shootout, isn’t out of the question.		2-1
  
Del WorshamDel Worsham • DHL Toyota
With a win, a runner-up, and two semifinals in his last four races, the reigning champ is peaking at the right time. His only Indy win came more than a decade ago in 2005, so a second one is overdue.		7-2
  
Matt HaganMatt Hagan • Mopar Express Lane/
Rocky Boots Dodge
A bit surprising that a car this good has only two wins this season, but once again, Funny Car 2016 is a tough racket. May be lacking a tad on the consistency side but fully capable of running the table.		4-1
  
Courtney ForceCourtney Force • Traxxas Camaro
Indy is big for everyone, but the Traxxas flagship probably has higher expectations than anyone else in the field. As a side note, an Indy win would be a great accompaniment to hubby Graham Rahal’s thrilling Indy Car victory last week.		6-1
  
John ForceJohn Force • Peak Camaro
Amazingly, the last of his four U.S. Nationals wins came in 2002. There shouldn’t be anyone out there who thinks the old man doesn’t have at least one more Big Go title left in him.		7-1
  
Tommy Johnson Jr.Tommy Johnson Jr. • Make-A-Wish Dodge
Comes into Indy as the No. 8 seed in the Countdown standings, so a few round-wins would be welcome. This is another team that should have more than one win this season.		9-1
  
Jack BeckmanJack Beckman • Infinite Hero Dodge
If the Jimmy Prock-led team goes out and wins Indy, which is entirely possible, it should set the stage for an epic comeback during the Countdown. The team is definitely better than it has shown this season.		11-1
  
Robert HightRobert Hight • Auto Club Camaro
He has three Indy wins, so Lucas Oil Raceway agrees with him. The Auto Club team has also qualified fifth or better in nine races this season, which means it has the power to compete with anyone in the class.		13-1
 
PRO STOCK
Greg AndersonGreg Anderson • Summit Camaro
In the last few weeks, the Summit cars have lost a bit of their invincibility, but this is still the team to beat. Anderson is seeking Indy title No. 7, and he’s a good bet to get it.		3-1
  
Jason LineJason Line • Summit Camaro
Given the huge points lead of the KB cars, people assume they are in test mode, but smart money says they’re in "Win Indy" mode for this event.		4-1
  
Shane GrayShane Gray • Gray Motorsports Camaro
Will this be the next Pro Stock driver to bag a victory this season? He should be the favorite, especially after engine customer Drew Skillman won in Brainerd.		6-1
  
Vincent NobileVincent Nobile • Mountain View Camaro
He has a rare chance for a double with the rain-delayed Seattle final being run here. Lately, this car has been good enough to run the table and win both races.		6-1
  
Drew SkillmanDrew Skillman • Skillman Auto Camaro
Indy native looking to go back to back after impressive Brainerd win, and if that happens, there will be one huge party at Lucas Oil Raceway.		8-1
  
Bo ButnerBo Butner • Butner Auto Camaro
No mystery here. This is a car that is fully capable of winning the race. The driver just needs to put all the pieces together. He will get his first win soon, and wouldn’t it be fitting if it comes on NHRA’s biggest stage?		10-1
  
Chris McGahaChris McGaha • Harlow Sammons Camaro
Struggled a bit this summer and slipped to No. 8 in the standings, but this is a team that could break through for a big win at any point.		12-1
  
Allen JohnsonAllen Johnson • Marathon Petroleum Dodge
The 2012 world champ has won a lot of races in his career but not this one. He’s also eager to prove that he has enough steam to win outside of Denver.		14-1
 
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
Andrew HinesAndrew Hines • Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
The reigning Mello Yello world champ is 24-5 this year and has been to five straight final rounds. And he insists he hasn’t peaked yet.		2-1
  
Eddie KrawiecEddie Krawiec • Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson
He has taken a back seat to teammate Hines at the last few races, but that could change quickly. He’s also eager to add another Indy title to his 2014 victory.		7-2
  
Matt SmithMatt Smith • Victory Gunner
More of a hunch here, but this bike has been so undervalued this season. He’s long overdue for some good luck, and what better place to get it than NHRA’s biggest stage		4-1
  
Angelle SampeyAngelle Sampey • Star/PSE Buell
Won back-to-back Indy titles in 2001-02, and there’s no reason to think she can’t add a third one this season. Lately, this has been the quickest bike in the field.		5-1
  
LE TongletLE Tonglet • Nitro Fish Suzuki
Given his recent results, there’s no reason to think the Nitro Fish team can’t make a deep run in the Countdown to the Championship. All the necessary elements seem to be there for a serious title bid.		6-1
  
Jerry SavoieJerry Savoie • White Alligator Suzuki
The defending Indy winner sometimes runs hot and cold, but the potential is certainly there for another trip to the Lucas Oil Raceway winner’s circle.		8-1
  
Hector Arana Jr.Hector Arana Jr. • Lucas Oil Buell
Recent success has helped the Lucas team secure its spot in the Countdown, so he shouldn’t be counting points. Fully capable of an encore performance of his 2011 Indy win.		10-1
  
Cory ReedCory Reed • Star/PSE Buell
Technically, he’s a rookie, but his riding skills have progressed quite a bit since Gainesville. He’s still figuring out how to win rounds, but a final-round finish here would not be a shock.		14-1
 
PRO MOD
Rickie Smith • IDG Camaro
Winning Indy is a dream for every racer, and in Rickie's case, there is a bonus because a victory here would just about put a lock on a third J&A Service Pro Mod championship.		7-2
  
Troy Coughlin Sr. • JEGS.com Corvette
The Coughlin family has a great tradition of success at the U.S. Nationals, including Troy’s first national event title, which came here in Super Gas in 1990. How many remember his 180-mph Olds Cutlass?		4-1
  
Bill Glidden • Precision Turbo Camaro
Beyond the fact that this is one of the best cars in the class is the historical significance that a Glidden could return to the winner’s circle in Indy. That would be very popular with the fans and media.		6-1
  
Bob Rahaim • TLC Waste Disposal Corvette
He’s hanging on by a thread in the championship battle, so this is crunch time. A victory here could vault him back into contention for the title, and even if it wasn’t enough, an Indy win salvages any season.		7-1
  
Von Smith • Al-Anabi Performance Corvette
Smith and crew chief Frank Manzo both have a pretty solid track record in Indy, and the normal Midwest weather conditions at this time of year could very well favor a supercharged engine combination. The AAP team should easily make the late rounds.		9-1
  
Danny Rowe • Agave Underground Corvette
He’s had two months to stew over a frustrating DNQ in Norwalk that pretty much ended any championship aspirations. That should be all the motivation he needs to go the distance at NHRA’s marquee event.		10-1
  
Jim Whiteley • J&A Service Chevelle
His victory in Houston was certainly earned in an unorthodox manner, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t find the winner’s circle in a more conventional manner: with dominating runs and smart driving.		12-1
  
Steve Matusek • Agave Underground Camaro
This is a very solid car/driver combination that can usually be counted on to qualify well and win a round or two. That means it won’t be a surprise if he gets over the hump and makes it to the final round.		14-1