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The latest update as of November 14, 2021


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11:00 AM UPDATE


The first round of nitro eliminations are in the books now and the Top Fuel championship went, as expected, to Steve Torrence as he outran Brandon Welch in a good side-by-side battle. Putting a final exclamation mark on Torrence's win was Brittany Force going into heavy and instant tire smoke as she fell to Steve's father in her first round race. Number three in the points, Mike Salina continued his string of good runs, advancing to the second round and closing the gap to Force to just 18 points. If he can get past Tripp Tatum - no small task - in the second round, he will finish #2 in Top Fuel for 2021.

NEWS FLASH

The tuner for Mike Salinas' "Scrappers Racing" team for the past two seasons is moving to the Connie Kalitta conglomerate in 2022, heading up the Top Fuel and (presumably) the Funny Car teams of Shawn Langdon and J.R. Todd. Big changes in the Kalitta operation have been rumoured for some time, mainly due to the poor performances they've had this season, but last night the announcement was made and it's official. It could be just one of many "game changers" coming for the sport next season. Stay tuned for more news of changes as they happen.


10:00 AM UPDATE


At the close of qualifying yesterday, the championship chase(s) in the four PRO categories came into sharper focus. Coming into the final race of the 2021 season, three drivers had at least a mathematical chance of taking the championship, but that was quickly reduced to two, defending champion Steve Torrence and former (2017) champion Brittany Force, after Friday's first qualifying session.

It's almost a foregone conclusion that Torrence will end the battle in the first round, as he faces nitro newbie Brandon Welch in the first round. In contrast, Force has a big mountian to climb due to her uncharacteristically poor qualifying position (#13), and she has to race Billy Torrence in the first round. And that's never an easy race against a very tough opponent.

Despite a valiant late-season charge, Mike Salinas was dropped from contention, but has a chance to finish second in the standings if Force goes out early in today's eliminations, as he's only 48 points behind her before racing gets underway this morning. Here's the chart showing the respective points totals for all of the Top Ten Countdown racer.

Top Fuel Countdown Points November 13, 2021

While the Top Fuel battle is all but over, there are some seriously dramatic scenarios playing out in the other three classes, starting with Funny Car.



Funny Car Countdown Points November 13, 2021

Pro Stock Countdown Points November 13, 2021

Pro Stock Motorcycle Countdown Points November 13, 
2021