From Pomona to Indy, revisiting the Road to the Countdown
Countdown to the Championship fields set in dramatic final eliminations at Indy
Indy qualifying fills more Countdown spots; Monday drama to decide the rest
Four more drivers clinch Countdown berths; battles set for regular-season finale in Indy
Who will make the Countdown to the Championship
Nine more drivers clinch Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship berths
Five drivers clinch Countdown berths in Sonoma
Hagan, Anderson, Tonglet clinch Countdown berths in Denver
Torrence, Pritchett, Brown, Capps, and Butner clinch Countdown playoff spots
Indy qualifying fills more Countdown spots; Monday drama to decide the rest
As qualifying concluded at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, the final event of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series regular season, more drivers have clinched berths in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
All 10 spots in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock have been filled while nine spots have been claimed in Funny Car
In Top Fuel, Terry McMillen, Scott Palmer, and Shawn Langdon added their names to the list while Tim Wilkerson and J.R. Todd also clinched their spots in Funny Car. Allen Johnson and Chris McGaha were the last two to lock in spots in Pro Stock while Andrew Hines and Scotty Pollacheck also clinched in Pro Stock Motorycle.
Going into Monday’s final eliminations, 10th place Alexis DeJoria will try to hold off Cruz Pedregon, Jim Campbell, Jonnie Lindberg, and Del Worsham for the final spot while six Pro Stock Motorcycle riders – Joey Gladstone, Karen Stoffer, Angie Smith, Steve Johnson, Angelle Sampey and Cory Reed -- will duel for the final three spots.
The top seeds in Finny Car (Ron Capps)< Pro Stock (Bo Butner), and Pro Stock Motorcycle (L.E. Tonglet) have also been decided. In Top Fuel, Antron brown will try to hold onto his points lead under assault by Steve Torrence.
The following drivers have clinched their spots in the 2017 Countdown to the Championship:
TOP FUEL
Steve Torrence
Leah Pritchett
Antron Brown
Tony Schumacher
Brittany Force
Doug Kalitta
Clay Millican
Terry McMillen
Scott Palmer
Shawn Langdon
FUNNY CAR
Ron Capps (clinched No. 1 spot)
Matt Hagan
Robert Hight
Jack Beckman
Tommy Johnson Jr.
Courtney Force
John Force
Tim Wilkerson
J.R. Todd
PRO STOCK
Bo Butner (clinched No. 1 spot)
Greg Anderson
Tanner Gray
Jason Line
Jeg Coughlin Jr.
Drew Skillman
Erica Enders
Vincent Nobile
Allen Johnson
Chris McGaha
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
LE Tonglet (clinched No. 1 spot)
Eddie Krawiec
Hector Arana Jr.
Jerry Savoie
Matt Smith
Andrew Hines
Scotty Pollacheck