325 Countdown to the Championship T he Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s playoff system, reached maturity in its fourth year of existence in 2010. From drivers to crew chiefs to ESPN to, especially, the fans – for everyone in the NHRA community – the Countdown became a household name in 2010. Everyone understood the format and everyone was dialed into it from the first staging of cars at the season-opening 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals to the dramatic finish at the 46th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals. All of which helped to contribute to a 51 percent spike in ‘fan avidity’ for NHRA in the 2010 ESPN Sports Poll. It was the largest move by any one of the 31 Major Sports in the poll and it vaulted NHRA all the way up to 11th overall and just a tenth of a percentage point behind the NHL in the poll that asked ‘avid sports fans’ which sports they were ‘very interested’ in. On the track, drivers began talking about Countdown strategy early in the year – do you keep the pedal down and create a winning culture in your pits or do you stalk the lead and pounce during the six-race playoff? Some (Larry Dixon) effectively implemented the former strategy while others (Greg Anderson and LE Tonglet) effectively implemented the latter strategy. In between was Funny Car icon John Force, who had an up-and-down year that he was either lucky enough or good enough to time just right. After his lowest low at Reading, a first-round failure to stage in Race 4 in the six-race playoff, Force rebounded with back-to-back wins at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals and the Auto Club NHRA Finals to win his NHRA-record 15th championship. While Force did lead the Funny Car class with six wins, his slip-up at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Reading culminated a nine-race winless stretch that ended with falling out of first place for only the second time all season. While he was sidelined, 27-year-old Matt Hagan powered his DieHard Dodge Charger into the finals and into first place. Hagan reached the final at Las Vegas to keep the pressure – and a 37-point lead – on Force heading into the finale, but Force and the veteran Castrol GTX High-Mileage team proved too much. Hagan spun the wheels just enough to allow longtime Force ally Bob Tasca to upset him in the first round at the Finals and that proved to be more than enough of an opening for Force, who proceeded to put an exclamation point on the championship by doubling up and winning the race. The ending was not quite so dramatic for Dixon and the Al-Anabi team led by manager Alan Johnson and crew chief Jason McCulloch as they dominated the sport from the first green light to the last to end Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army team’s reign on the Top Fuel class at six years. 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship
Transcript
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Countdown to the Championship
The Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s playoff system, reached maturity in its fourth year of existence in 2010.
From drivers to crew chiefs to ESPN to, especially, the fans – for everyone in the NHRA community – the Countdown became a household name in 2010. Everyone understood the format and everyone was dialed into it from the first staging of cars at the season-opening 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals to the dramatic finish at the 46th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals. All of which helped to contribute to a 51 percent spike in ‘fan avidity’ for NHRA in the 2010 ESPN Sports Poll. It was the largest move by any one of the 31 Major Sports in the poll and it vaulted NHRA all the way up to 11th overall and just a tenth of a percentage point behind the NHL in the poll that asked ‘avid sports fans’ which sports they were ‘very interested’ in. On the track, drivers began talking about Countdown strategy early in the year – do you keep the pedal down and create a winning culture in your pits or do you stalk the lead and pounce during the six-race playoff? Some (Larry Dixon) effectively implemented the former strategy while others (Greg Anderson and LE Tonglet) effectively implemented the latter strategy. In between was Funny Car icon John Force, who had an up-and-down year that he was either lucky enough or good enough to time just right. After his lowest low at Reading, a first-round failure to stage in Race 4 in the six-race playoff, Force rebounded with back-to-back wins at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals and the Auto Club NHRA Finals to win his NHRA-record 15th championship. While Force did lead the Funny Car class with six wins, his slip-up at the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Reading culminated a nine-race winless stretch that ended with falling out of first place for only the second time all season. While he was sidelined, 27-year-old Matt Hagan powered his DieHard Dodge Charger into the finals and into first place. Hagan reached the final at Las Vegas to keep the pressure – and a 37-point lead – on Force heading into the finale, but Force and the veteran Castrol GTX High-Mileage team proved too much.Hagan spun the wheels just enough to allow longtime Force ally Bob Tasca to upset him in the first round at the Finals and that proved to be more than enough of an opening for Force, who proceeded to put an exclamation point on the championship by doubling up and winning the race. The ending was not quite so dramatic for Dixon and the Al-Anabi team led by manager Alan Johnson and crew chief Jason McCulloch as they dominated the sport from the first green light to the last to end Tony Schumacher and the U.S. Army team’s reign on the Top Fuel class at six years.
2011 NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship
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Countdown to the Championship
In 2010, the Al-Anabi team led all of NHRA in: • Wins (12) • Round wins (62) • Winning percentage (.849) • Average qualifying position (2.52) • Points (2,684) Dixon was a perfect 12-for-12 in final rounds, including nine regular season wins and three in the Countdown and while Schumacher and Cory McClenathan kept him honest, he was simply too consistent to be caught. In Pro Stock, defending champion Mike Edwards seemed to be on a similar path as Dixon throughout most of the regular season, but something happened in the Summer. After winning eight of the first 12 events, including Chicago, Englishtown and Bristol in succession, Edwards didn’t win again the rest of the season. He still finished the regular season in first place, but a guy who had been bitten by the Countdown more than once – Greg Anderson – was suddenly gaining steam. Anderson won two of the last five events in the regular season, and three of the six in the playoffs, to catch and pass Edwards and win his fourth championship and first since winning back-to-back-to-back titles from 2003-05. For Anderson, it snapped a four-year streak – including the first three years of the Countdown era – in which he had finished second in the final point standings. And in two of those first three years in the Countdown era he had finished the regular season in first place; this year, he finished the regular season in fourth place. Coming from off the pack has become a theme in Pro Stock where in the four-year history of the Countdown no driver has been able to finish the regular season in first place (or second place, for that matter) and go on to win a championship. The Pro Stock Motorcycle season saw the biggest move from off the pack as 20-year-old LE Tonglet, the Auto Club Road to the Future winner, won four races in the six-race Countdown to move up from seventh place to win the championship, his first. So on its fourth birthday, the NHRA Countdown to the Championship saw three repeat champions and for the first time more than one regular season points leader (Dixon and Force) was able to go on to celebrate a Series championship. What does that mean for 2011, Year 5 of the Countdown? Stay tuned.
Historic Change The historic change in the NHRA championship point structure made its debut in 2007 and it created significantly increased excitement for fans and media not only at the end of the season when championships are decided, but particularly in the mid-to-late summer as drivers competed for the last playoff spots. It’s a move that was precipitated by the overwhelming response from fans and media to the thrilling Funny Car race of 2005 and the historic ending to the 2006 Top Fuel season, which saw Tony Schumacher win and set a national record on that memorable Sunday at the Auto Club Finals to pass Doug Kalitta and win what was then his third straight world championship. Viewing the enormous fan interest sparked by those two finishes against the backdrop of the historical unlikelihood of it occurring, the dramatic endings in 2005 and 2006 made a strong argument for altering the points system to ensure that those incredible finishes would be the rule rather than the exception. To illustrate that point, consider that the average margins of victory in the NHRA Full Throttle Series’ three classes that ran full schedules from 2000-06: Top Fuel, 256.5; Funny Car, 221.3; Pro Stock, 378.7.The NHRA Full Throttle Series world champion in Top Fuel and Funny Car will earn $500,000 each; the Pro Stock world champion will earn $250,000; and the Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion will earn $75,000.
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NHRA Full Throttle Series: Earning Points The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series consists of races run from February through November. Contestants compete for NHRA Full Throttle Series world championships on the basis of total points earned during 16 “Regular Season” races plus six “Playoff” races (PS Motorcycle competes at 10 plus 6). Points at individual races are awarded as follows: Winner 100 Runner-up 80 Third-round loser 60 Second-round loser 40 First-round loser 20Additional points are awarded at races as follows: 10 points to all entrants (one qualifying run required) 20 points for establishing an official ET record. Points for qualifying position: 1st 8 2nd 7 3rd 6 4th 5 5th & 6th 4 7th & 8th 3 9th thru 12th 2 13th thru 16th 1Points for quickest ETs in each of the four qualifying sessions: 1st 3 2nd 2 3rd 1
Regular Season The regular season is made up of the first 16 races in the 22-race schedule, beginning with the 51st annual Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals and concluding at the world’s most prestigious drag race, the 57th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. At the conclusion of the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the top 10 drivers in each class will have their accumulated aggregate points total reset in 10-point increments from 2,090 to 2,000 with the regular season champion being awarded an additional 20-point bonus:
Countdown to the Championship Playoffs The playoffs are made up of the final six races in the 22-race schedule, beginning with the Fourth annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Concord, N.C. Sept. 15-18 and culminating at the 47th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Nov. 10-13. The top 10 drivers in each category will accumulate points throughout the six-race playoff and the points leaders at the conclusion of the Auto Club NHRA Finals will be crowned 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Series world champions.
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NHRA Sweep Bonus The NHRA will award lucrative bonuses to the racers in Pro Stock who can sweep the bonus event and national event titles during their special bonus race weekend. Pro Stock competitors will race for the K&N Horsepower Challenge title during the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. Pro Stock competitors can earn a $25,000 bonus for sweeping both events in the same weekend.
Past K&N Horespower Challenege Sweep Bonus WinnersGreg Anderson, 2004, 2010
Warren Johnson, 1993Darrell Alderman, 1991
Larry Morgan, 1989Bob Glidden, 1987, 1988
NHRA Bonus Event Point System
A separate qualifying point system is used to determine the eight-competitor field for the K&N Horsepower Challenge for Pro Stock in Norwalk, Ohio. Pro Stock competitors earn points for qualifying
at national events leading up to the national event at which the special event takes place. The point system is:
Earning points at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals: · Qualifying and record bonus points for this event will remain the same as a traditional two-lane race · The eight first round losers will earn 20 points · The four second round losers will earn 40 points · The third and fourth finishers in the final round will earn 60 points · The runner-up in the final round will earn 80 points · The winner of the final round will earn 100 points
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K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE
M ore than just bragging rights are up for grabs when the top eight Pro Stock drivers face off in the 27th annual
K&N Horsepower Challenge, a lucrative race-within-a-race bonus event scheduled during the fourth annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. The eight drivers who accumulate the most points in qualifying during the bonus event series earn their place in the $76,000 K&N Horsepower Challenge. Drivers started earning points for the 2010 K&N Horsepower Challenge at the 2010 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals and continue to accumulate points through the 2011 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The winner of the bonus event earns $50,000, and the runner-up takes home $10,000. The two semifinalists receive $3,000 each, and the four first-round finishers each earn $2,500.K&N is providing Pro Stock drivers with $145,000 in bonus money. In addition to the $76,000 available in the K&N Horsepower Challenge, K&N will also award $69,000 in bonuses to the top Pro Stock qualifiers throughout the K&N Horsepower Challenge series. The No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock at each of the 22 events which comprise the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series will earn a $3,000 bonus. Greg Anderson won his third K&N Horsepower Challenge in eight career appearances when he drove his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP to a 6.685 at 206.23 over Mike Edwards on a holeshot (6.677, 207.11). It was Edwards’ seventh career appearance in the bonus event.
2010 K&N Horsepower Challenge Round-by-RoundRound One
2010 Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP 6.685 206.23 R/U Mike Edwards, Pontiac GXP 6.677 207.11 2009 Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt 6.675 207.05 R/U Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP 7.322 161.69 2008 Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus 6.725 204.91 Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP 6.717 204.91 2007 Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt 6.692 207.15 R/U Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GTO 6.729 206.26 2006 Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO 6.620 208.20 R/U Jason Line, Pontiac GTO 6.637 207.53 2005 Dave Connolly, Chevrolet Cobalt 6.823 202.55 R/U Jason Line, Pontiac Grand Am (foul) 2004 Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am 6.907 198.93 R/U Dave Connolly, Chevy Cavalier 6.964 198.64 2003 Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cavalier 6.753 205.60 R/U Greg Anderson, Pontiac Grand Am 7.631 135.04 2002 Warren Johnson, Pontiac Grand Am 6.827 202.43 R/U Mike Edwards, Pontiac Grand Am 8.981 99.55 2001 Jim Yates, Pontiac Grand Am 6.899 200.41 R/U Mark Pawuk, Pontiac Grand Am 6.911 199.88 2000 Jeg Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass 6.941 198.20 R/U Troy Coughlin, Oldsmobile Cutlass 6.972 197.13 1999 Jeg Coughlin, Oldsmobile, Cutlass 6.925 198.00 R/U Warren Johnson, Pontiac Firebird (foul) 1998 Kurt Johnson, Chevrolet Camaro 6.970 198.00 R/U Steve Schmidt, Pontiac Firebird 7.001 198.41 1997 Jim Yates, Pontiac Firebird 6.972 196.97 R/U Mike Edwards, Pontiac Firebird 7.355 148.46 1996 Bob Glidden, Ford Probe 7.202 179.53 R/U Warren Johnson, Pontiac Firebird 7.322 175.19 1995 Warren Johnson, Oldsmobile Cutlass 7.033 196.33 R/U Larry Morgan, Oldsmobile Cutlass 9.988 93.56 1994 Kurt Johnson, Oldsmobile Cutlass 7.030 196.12 R/U Mark Osborne, Oldsmobile Cutlass 7.190 193.67 1993 Warren Johnson, Oldsmobile Cutlass 7.076 195.56 R/U Larry Morgan, Oldsmobile Cutlass 8.202 125.54 1992 Larry Morgan, Oldsmobile Cutlass 7.284 190.30 R/U Bruce Allen, Chevrolet Lumina 9.266 102.52 1991 Darrell Alderman, Dodge Daytona 7.280 188.91 R/U Bruce Allen, Chevrolet Baretta 7.309 189.71 1990 Larry Morgan, Oldsmobile Cutlass 13.543 73.57 R/U Warren Johnson, Oldsmobile Cutlass (foul) 1989 Larry Morgan, Oldsmobile Cutlass 7.366 186.29 R/U Warren Johnson, Oldsmobile Cutlass 7.394 186.02 1988 Bob Glidden, Ford Thunderbird 7.375 187.81 R/U Bruce Allen, Chevrolet Baretta 7.478 186.29 1987 Bob Glidden, Ford Thunderbird 7.454 188.16 R/U Bruce Allen, Chevrolet Baretta 7.643 184.99 1986 Bruce Allen, Chevrolet Camaro 7.497 186.33 R/U Butch Leal, Pontiac Trans Am 7.563 183.89 1985 Bruce Allen, Chevrolet Camaro 7.602 181.52 R/U Butch Leal, Pontiac Trans Am 7.676 183.67
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Driver appearances in the K&N Horsepower Challenge
Name Times Competed Years Competed Darrell Alderman 3 1989, 90, 91 Bruce Allen 14 1985, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 98, 00, 01, 02, 04 Greg Anderson 8 2003, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 Don Beverlee 1 1989 Rodger Brogdon 1 2010 Gary Brown 1 1987 Don Campanello 1 1985 Tony Christian 1 1988 Dave Connolly 4 2004, 05, 07, 08 Don Coonce 2 1986, 87 Jeg Coughlin 9 1999, 00, 01, 03, 04, 05, 08, 09, 10 Troy Coughlin 2 1997, 00 Lee Dean 1 1987 Kenny Delco 1 1988 Jerry Eckman 9 1986, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 96, 97 Mike Edwards 7 1997, 02, 04, 05, 07, 09, 10 Erica Enders 1 2006 V Gaines 2 2006, 07 Scott Geoffrion 5 1991, 92, 93, 94, 98 Bob Glidden 12 1985, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96 Chuck Harris 1 1996 David Hutchens 1 1985 Frank Iaconio 2 1985, 89 Allen Johnson 7 2003, 04, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 Kurt Johnson 16 1994, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09 Warren Johnson 24 1985, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 06, 08, 09, 10 Morris Johnson Jr. 1 1988 Kenny Koretsky 1 2005 Ron Krisher 6 2001, 02, 03, 08, 09, 10 Butch Leal 4 1985, 86, 87, 88 Joe Lepone 2 1986, 90 Jason Line 6 2005, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 George Marnell 3 1996, 98, 02 Larry Morgan 8 1989, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 2005 Mark Osborne 3 1994, 95, 02 Mark Pawuk 9 1990, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99, 00, 01 Gordie Rivera 2 1985, 86 Steve Schmidt 6 1994, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 Greg Stanfield 1 2007 Richie Stevens 4 1999, 00, 01, 06 Mike Thomas 2 1998, 99 Mark Whisnant 1 2003 Reid Whisnant 1 1988 Pete Williams 1 1997 Jim Yates 11 1992, 93, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03
*Years in bold represent NHRA K&N Horsepower Challenge victories.
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NHRA Full Throttle Hard-Working Crew Award
The NHRA Full Throttle Hard Working Crew Award is an innovative bonus award program
developed by Full Throttle and NHRA that recognizes the season’s hardest working crews. Teams in all four NHRA Full Throttle Series categories are eligible for the bonus award, which recognizes the single hardest working crew in each class from all 22 events during the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season. At the season-ending awards ceremony, one hardest working crew from each category is declared the best of the season. This innovative program makes more than $250,000 in bonus awards available to NHRA professional teams during the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season. The hardest working crews in Top Fuel and Funny Car will earn $3,000 per race, while the hardest working crews in Pro Stock earn $1,000 at each event and $750 will be awarded to the hardest working crew in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Season winners of The NHRA Full Throttle Hard Working Crew Award in Top Fuel and Funny Car earn $25,000 each, while Pro Stock earns $15,000 and the Pro Stock Motorcycle winner receives $5,000. Dominick Lagana’s Big O Tires dragster crew in Top Fuel took home the $25,000 award for advancing to the final round at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, while Ashley Force Hood’s Castrol GTX Ford Mustang crew took the award and $25,000 check for winning the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals for a second consecutive year. The entire Summit Racing crew won the award in Pro Stock ($15,000) for putting both cars in the final round at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals and rookie LE Tonglet’s NitroFish Suzuki crew took home the award in Pro Stock Motorcycle ($5,000) for racing to victory at the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. ESPN’s NHRA telecast team, led by race analyst Mike Dunn, determine the hardest working crew from each class at each NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event. After the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals in October, the top four hardest working crews of the year in each of the four categories are posted on NHRA.com where fans can vote for The NHRA Full Throttle Hard Working Crew Award. Voting takes place until the Monday after the Auto Club NHRA Finals. The results of the fan vote are tabulated and the winner will be announced at the season-ending NHRA Full Throttle Awards Ceremony. Due to the timing of the voting process the winning crews in each pro category from the Auto Club NHRA Finals are not included among the crews eligible for the season award.
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Location Date TF moment FC moment PS moment PSM momentPomona 1 Feb. 14 Doug Kalitta crew Ron Capps crew Larry Morgan crew not contestedPhoenix Feb. 21 Steve Torrence crew Tony Pedregon crew Greg Stanfield crew not contestedGainesville March 14 Antron Brown crew Matt Hagan crew Vinnie Deceglie crew Karen Stoffer crewCharlotte 1 March 29 Cory McClenathan crew Matt Hagan crew Erica Enders crew Matt Smith crewHouston April 11 Larry Dixon crew Tony Pedregon crew Allen Johnson crew Angie Smith crewLas Vegas 1 April 18 Brandon Bernstein crew Tony Pedregon crew Greg Stanfield crew not contestedSt. Louis May 2 Doug Kalitta crew Robert Hight crew Warren Johnson crew Michael Phillips crewAtlanta May 16 Larry Dixon crew A. Force Hood crew Rickie Jones crew David Hope crewTopeka May 23 Terry McMillen crew Jeff Arend crew Allen Johnson crew not contestedChicago June 6 Steve Torrence crew Jack Beckman crew Shane Gray crew Angie Smith crewEnglishtown June 14 Cory Mclenathan crew Bob Tasca crew Mike Edwards crew Michael Phillips crewBristol June 20 Tony Schumacher crew Tim Wilkerson crew Rickie Jones crew not contestedNorwalk June 27 Larry Dixon crew John Force crew Greg Anderson crew Steve Johnson crewSeattle July 11 David Grubnic crew Ron Capps crew Kurt Johnson crew not contestedSonoma July 18 Terry McMillen crew Jack Beckman crew Jason Line crew Michael Phillips crewDenver July 25 David Grubnic crew Cruz Pedregon crew Allen Johnson crew Karen Stoffer crewBrainerd Aug. 15 David Grubnic crew Bob Bode crew Jeg Coughlin crew Jim Underdahl crewIndianapolis Sept. 6 Cory McClenathan crew A. Force Hood crew Greg Stanfield crew LE Tonglet crewCharlotte 2 Sept. 19 Doug Kalitta crew Cruz Pedregon crew Greg Anderson crew Angie Smith crewDallas Sept. 26 Brandon Bernstein crew Matt Hagan crew Allen Johnson crew LE Tonglet crewReading Oct. 10 Antron Brown crew Matt Hagan crew Dave Connolly crew LE Tonglet crewLas Vegas 2 Oct. 31 Dom Lagana crew Matt Hagan crew Greg Anderson crew Matt Smith crewPomona 2 Nov. 14 Morgan Lucas crew Bob Tasca crew Shane Gray crew Hector Arana crew
2010 Full Throttle Hard-Working Crew Event Winners
NHRA teams put in long hours at the track to claim the Full Throttle Hard-Working Crew Award.
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NHRA Manufacturers Cup
Chevrolet emerged as the winner of the 2010 NHRA Manufacturers Cup for an NHRA record 19th time, with Jeg Coughlin and Dave Connolly spearheading the winning effort.
In 2010, Coughlin earned an impressive four wins in seven final-round appearances. He also finished the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season in the Top 10 point standings. Connolly raced to a win in Reading after just his second start in 2010, to seal the deal for Chevrolet. The automobile manufacturer whose 2011 models earn the most points for qualifying and category victories at NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series national and divisional events will be awarded the NHRA Manufacturers Cup for performance at the end of the season.Points are awarded to entries in Pro Stock, Super Stock and Stock as follows: 60 points for an elimination victory, 40 points for an eliminator runner-up and 20 points for an eliminator qualification
2010 Chevrolet 2,6102009 Chevrolet 5,0602008 Chevrolet 6,6002007 Chevrolet 6,2402006 Pontiac 4,2802005 Pontiac 3,4002004 Pontiac 4,4202003 Pontiac 3,6202002 Chevrolet 4,4402001 Pontiac 5,7602000 Pontiac 6,1801999 Pontiac 7,3201998 Pontiac 87,0401997 Pontiac 13,4001996 Pontiac 7,7601995 Oldsmobile 8,3201994 Oldsmobile 64,2001993 Oldsmobile 76,0001992 Oldsmobile 56,8001991 Oldsmobile 96,4001990 Oldsmobile 84,2001989 Oldsmobile 53,2001988 Oldsmobile 73,2001987 Oldsmobile 75,800
1986 Oldsmobile 70,6001985 Oldsmobile 47,6001984 Oldsmobile 18,8001983 Chevrolet 17,0001982 Ford 2,5001981 Chevrolet 14,1001980 Chevrolet 26,7001979 Chevrolet 21,9001978 Chevrolet 23,7001977 Chevrolet 23,3001976 Chevrolet 18,7001975 Chevrolet 9,2001974 Chevrolet 10,5001973 Chevrolet 12,3001972 Oldsmobile 16,4001971 Oldsmobile 14,9001970 Plymouth 21,3001969 Chevrolet N/A1968 Chevrolet N/A1967 Chevrolet N/A1966 Chevrolet N/A1965 Ford N/A1964 Ford N/A
Year Winner Points Year Winner Points
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Automobile Club of Southern California
Road to the Future Award
Pro Stock Motorcycle rider LE Tonglet was presented the $20,000 Automobile Club of Southern California
Road to the Future Award in 2010, which recognizes NHRA’s rookie of the year. Many of the nation’s most prominent motorsports journalists selected Tonglet, who raced to five victories in seven final rounds on his Nitro Fish Suzuki en route to his first NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship. Tonglet had an impressive regular season, picking up his first career win in Chicago, but it was his performance in the Countdown to the Championship that secured his place in history. Tonglet raced to four wins in five final round appearances, including the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis to secure his first career world championship. Each of the nominees for the prestigious award received multiple votes this year. The other candidates in the all-star rookie class were Jeff Diehl in Funny Car and Shane Gray in Pro Stock.
YEAR COMPETITOR CATEGORY 2010 LE Tonglet Pro Stock Motorcycle 2009 Spencer Massey Top Fuel 2008 Mike Neff Funny Car 2007 Ashley Force Funny Car 2006 J.R. Todd Top Fuel 2005 Robert Hight Funny Car 2004 Jason Line Pro Stock 2003 Brandon Bernstein Top Fuel 2002 Gene Wilson Pro Stock 2001 Darrell Russell Top Fuel *GT Tonglet Pro Stock Motorcycle 2000 Don Lampus Top Fuel *Melanie Troxel Top Fuel 1999 Scotty Cannon Funny Car *Antron Brown Pro Stock Motorcycle 1998 Jeg Coughlin Pro Stock *Doug Kalitta Top Fuel 1997 Gary Scelzi Top Fuel *Ron Capps Funny Car 1996 Mike Edwards Pro Stock Matt Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle *Tony Pedregon Funny Car 1995 Larry Dixon Top Fuel 1994 Bob Vandergriff Jr. Top Fuel 1993 Kurt Johnson Pro Stock 1992 Dannielle DePorter Top Fuel 1991 Del Worsham Funny Car 1990 K.C. Spurlock Funny Car
* Between 1996-2001, the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award recognized the future stars of the sport. In 2002 it became the official award recognizing the NHRA’s top rookie performer.
