Finally it’s here. The biggest drag race on the NHRA schedule and in the world. It’s U.S. Nationals weekend and it’s full of excitement this year.
In the four professional categories, storylines can be found all over the pit area. From Top Fuel where the field is trying to catch one man to Pro Stock where it’s a familiar rivalry brewing. So many things to look at heading into the biggest drag race of the year and in the past we have seen tempers flare.
Those who follow NHRA drag racing know what happened in 2009 between Funny Car legend and 16-time champion John Force and his former driver Tony Pedregon. A heated argument at the top end of the track. A confrontation that nearly ended in a fist fight between the two. There is an immense amount of pressure on these drivers at this race.
Obviously, it’s the biggest event of the year and the most prestigious to win. Yet, there are so many other things from this race that make or break a year. Including punching tickets into NHRA’s version of the Playoffs. Drivers are still vying for the final spots in the Countdown to the Championship and it all ends at the “Big Go.”
With stories all over the pits, this year’s version of the U.S. Nationals has to potential to be the best in recent years. Looking at all four NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series categories, there are some big stories across the board but probably none bigger than in Funny Car.
Can Capps Do It?
The 2016 NHRA Funny Car Champion Ron Capps has won nearly every race in his career. He won his first and only championship thus far in 2016 and has had so much success. Yet there is one event that seems to elude him. In similar fashion to Dale Earnhardt at the Daytona 500 and never able to win it until his 20th try, Capps has yet to win NHRA’s biggest of the crown jewels. With 67 career wins under his belt, one this season, and 128 final round appearances, Capps has one more race to cross off the win list.
He has won at every track including at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis. That accomplishment he achieved last year but it wasn’t for the Big Go. This year with only one win under his belt, he may not be the favorite going in for Funny Car but he certainly could be the guy to come away with the trophy at the end of the day.
Capps has a goal of winning the largest race in NHRA’s history. At the age of 56, Capps has a few more chances and he certainly could do it this season. He’ll have to challenge with the best there ever has been in drag racing, though, and that is John Force.
Taking Another Record with Force
John Force has broken every record in NHRA drag racing or it seems. The living legend has the most wins of anyone and still counting. He has the most final round appearances of anyone and still counting and now he is looking to become the winningest driver at the U.S. Nationals in Funny Car history.
Force is sitting at a tie with five event wins along with Ed ‘The Ace’ McCollough. This weekend, Force goes for No. 6 and is about as hot as he could be entering the event. With three wins on the season and only 16 points out of first place in the Funny Car standings, John Force is having a resurgent year at the wheel of his Camaro. Momentum only goes so far in NHRA racing but if there is anyone having some momentum it would by the 16-time champ.
The loud voice that is Force lives for this event. He won it in 2019 breaking his 17 year drought from finding the winner’s circle in Indy. After sitting out last season due to funding concerns in the pandemic, Force has come back and better than ever.
It has that feeling that 2010 did when Force returned after his nasty crash in 2007 and sat out the rest of the season. Then struggled in 2008 and 2009 before winning his 15th title in 2010. For some weird feeling this year seems similar.
For everyone else in the Funny Car field, a resurgence of John Force is the worst thing they possibly could have seen. This weekend at Indy Force goes in as one of the drivers to watch in the Funny Car class and should be a pick to win on Sunday afternoon. Others to watch in the Funny Car class include JR Todd, Robert Hight and last race’s winner Matt Hagan.
All are former champions and all are capable of winning at Indy. Who has the upper hand this weekend?
Will Anyone Catch Steve?
Steve Torrence is the three-time defending Top Fuel champion and has showed no signs of slowing down. This year, Torrence has already won eight times in the 12 races that have been contested. It is insane what the CAPCO boys have done this year. He has won three straight championships and leads the points by 383 points over Brittany Force.
When things reset at the end of Sunday’s U.S. Nationals things could look different but don’t hold your breath. Torrence won the U.S. Nationals in 2017 and it’s his only triumph in the race. Despite the one win, he comes in with the best car, the best team and the best driver right now. Motorsports fans really need to pay attention to what he is doing in that Top Fuel car. It’s almost becoming too easy for him.
As far as if there is anyone in Top Fuel that can slow him down? Probably not but here are a few names to keep an eye on in Indy.
Brittany Force who runs second in the points is surging at the right time. She picked up a win at Topeka with her father, John, to become the first Father-Daughter duo to sweep a weekend. Five top qualifiers in a row heading into Indy is also a good thing. A fast car is always good to have especially when it comes to the biggest race of the year.
Her biggest problem this season has been later in the rounds smoking the tires and losing traction. That could play havoc once again especially if conditions get to be warm and crew chiefs are having to battle the track.
Another name to watch is Shawn Langdon. He won this race last year and has done so two years in a row. Sure this hasn’t been the best year for his Kalitta Motorsports team but this could be the turn they need. He and teammate Doug Kalitta have struggled this year but one race could be the change they need. Add Antron Brown into the mix as well.
Brown announced last week that he will officially break away from Don Schumacher Racing next year and start his own team. He sits third in the points and is looking for a bit of a good note heading into 2022.
Enders vs. Anderson
It’s a story we have seen before. Erica Enders vs. Greg Anderson battling each other for the Pro Stock title. Now if you look at the points standings it will show Anderson as the leader and Enders in third but don’t leave her out of the conversation. This is a race that Enders has had recent success at. She is the defending winner of this race in her class and also won in 2015. Both wins propelled her onto championships.
However, Anderson is just as good in Indy and at this event. A six-time winner of the U.S. Nationals, Greg Anderson is going for No. 7 Sunday and try to cut the gap between him and legendary Bob Glidden, who holds the class record at nine wins.
Both have very capable cars of winning, with Anderson holding a bit of an advantage right now. His HendrickCars.com Chevy has been more consistent than that of Enders and he looks to be the guy to beat heading into Indy.
Aaron Stanfield would like to have a say in this race as well. Stanfield sits second in points and has been very solid this season across the board. May not be winning every race but he’s been competitive and right there when given the chance. Thus has led to a second place points standing right now.
Mix rookie Dallas Glenn into the battle as well. A longtime crew member for Jason Line and Anderson, Glenn has the same power that Anderson has and really has shown that he too can drive one of these things. Others like Chris McGaha, who won this race in 2016, and Kyle Koretsky look to leave their mark on the race and season as well.
Smith’s Race to Lose
Last year, Matt Smith won the Pro Stock Motorcycle title. In 2021, he’s well on his way again with a 200-plus points cushion over second place Steve Johnson. It’s like we are in 2007 all over again as well. Smith won his first title back then with Johnson in his prime and Angelle Sampey being one of the toughest competitors on the track. Yet here we are with all three in the top four in PSM points entering the Big Go.
Smith didn’t win the U.S. Nationals last year, in fact, it’s a race he hasn’t won since 2006. It still hasn’t stopped him from being successful in the points and he’s been there with a chance. Right now, the way things have gone this year, it’s his race to lose on the PSM level.
There are others who might come and knock him off in that sense and you look no further than the returns of Eddie Krawiec and Andrew Hines. Two of the best riders in series history didn’t have rides at the beginning of the year due to Harley Davidson pulling their partnership. Since then they have gotten on bikes and rode their way back into form. Both have won the U.S. Nationals twice and both looking for win three at the event.
Johnson and Sampey will be big time challengers for the win as well in the class. Out of the four professional classes, despite the stranglehold of Matt Smith, this is the most wide open class. There is so many things that can happen in this class from mechanical failures to the slimmest red light possible, it’s truly unpredictable.
The NHRA U.S.Nationals begin with qualifying on Friday and conclude with Sunday eliminations on FOX and FS1 all weekend long.
