NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

With just the U.S. Nationals to go, Countdown playoffs spots are filling up fast

With just the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals left on the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series regular season, just 15 guaranteed spots in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs remain open among four classes.
21 Aug 2023
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
News
Countdown to the Championship

With just the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals left on the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series regular season, just 15 guaranteed spots in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs remain open among four classes.

Fourteen more drivers — Antron Brown, Brittany Force, and Leah Pritchett in Top Fuel; Bob Tasca III, Chad Green, Alexis DeJoria, Tim Wilkerson, J.R. Todd, and John Force in Funny Car; and Matt Hartford, Deric Kramer, Troy Coughlin Jr., Erica Enders, and Greg Anderson in Pro Stock — punched their tickets for the six-race playoffs with their performances at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.

Five spots in the top 10 ranks that confer automatic Countdown eligibility remain open in Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle, four in Pro Stock, and just one in Funny Car.

The six-race Countdown to the Championship, which starts Sept. 14-17 at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, is open to the top 10 finishers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle as well as any participant who makes the minimum required number of qualifying runs at all regular-season races for their class.

Current 2023 Countdown to the Championship drivers:

Top Fuel
Justin Ashley
Steve Torrence
Antron Brown
Brittany Force
Leah Pruett

Funny Car
Matt Hagan
Ron Capps
Robert Hight
Bob Tasca III
Chad Green
Alexis DeJoria
Tim Wilkerson
JR Todd
John Force

Pro Stock 
Dallas Glenn
Matt Hartford
Deric Kramer
Troy Coughlin Jr
Erica Enders
Greg Anderson

Pro Stock Motorcycle
Gaige Herrera
Hector Arana Jr
Eddie Krawiec
Matt Smith
Angie Smith
 

In addition to the top 10 finishers, drivers in all four classes also can qualify for the Countdown by meeting the minimum qualifying-session participation requirements at all of their class' regular season events. Currently, there are 25 drivers not listed above who have so far met those requirements, including two drivers in Top Fuel, one in Funny Car, six in Pro Stock, and two in Pro Stock Motorcycle who are not currently among the top 10 in position.