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
Nine more drivers clinch Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship berths
As a result of racing at the NHRA Northwest Nationals, nine more drivers clinched their berths in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship.
Brittany Force, Doug Kalitta, and Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Tommy Johnson Jr. and Courtney Force (Funny Car), and Jeg Coughlin Jr., Drew Skillman, Erica Enders, and Vincent Nobile (Pro Stock) all punched their tickets to the NHRA's post-season. Force, Kalitta, Johnson, Coughlin, Skillman, and Enders clinched their spots at the close of qualifying while Millican, Force, and Nobile locked up their spots as a result of Sunday's eliminations.
Just two events — Brainerd and Indianapolis — remain for drivers to earn positions in the top 10 standings of their respective classes.
The Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend is the last place for drivers to earn points. After that event, the points will be reset, and only the top 10 drivers in each class will be eligible to compete for NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series championships in the Countdown.
The six-race Countdown to the Championship begins Sept. 15 with the NHRA Carolina Nationals in Charlotte and comes to a climactic conclusion Nov. 9-12 at the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona.
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
FUNNY CAR
Ron Capps
Matt Hagan
Robert Hight
Jack Beckman
Tommy Johnson Jr.
Courtney Force
PRO STOCK
Bo Butner
Greg Anderson
Tanner Gray
Jason Line
Jeg Coughlin Jr.
Drew Skillman
Erica Enders
Vincent Nobile
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
LE Tonglet
Eddie Krawiec