With just one race remaining in the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series regular season, berths in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs are still not even three-fourths filled. With the conclusion of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, just 27 of the 40 spots have been clinched with just the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, to go.
With just one race remaining in the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series regular season, berths in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs are still not even three-fourths filled. With the conclusion of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, just 27 of the 40 spots have been clinched with just the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, to go.
Antron Brown in Top Fuel, along with Jack Beckman, J.R. Todd, and Tommy Johnson Jr., in Funny Car, Deric Kramer, Chris McGaha, Jason Line, and Drew Skillman in Pro Stock, and Matt Smith in Pro Stock Motorcycle all clinched their spots in Brainerd.
The regular season ends Labor Day weekend at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Only the top 10 points earned in each class are then eligible to take part in the six-race Countdown playoffs that begin Sept. 13-16 in Reading, Pa., and go through the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona in November.
The following drivers have clinched their spots in the Countdown to the Championship:
TOP FUEL: Terry McMillen, Brittany Force, Scott Palmer, and Mike Salinas are currently in the top 10, from which Richie Crampton and Blake Alexander will try to unseat them in Indy.
FUNNY CAR: John Force, Shawn Langdon, and Tim Wilkerson currently own spots 8-10 in the Countdown but Bob Tasca III, Cruz Pedregon, and Jonnie Lindberg all still have mathematical chances to join the Top 10 in Indy.
PRO STOCK: Reigning world champ Bo Butner currently owns the 10th and final spot, but will face a challenge from 11th-place Alex Laughlin at the season finale in Indy.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: Scotty Pollacheck, Angie Smith, Angelle Sampey, and Hector Arana Sr. own spots 7-10 in the Countdown but seven riders (Jim Underdahl, Steve Johnson, Joey Gladstone, Cory Reed, Ryah Oehler, Karen Stoffer, and Mark Paquette) still have a shot at making the Countdown.
