The latest update as of November 3, 2024
24 annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals - The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway - Las Vegas, NV
NOON UPDATE:
We're well into the final day of the Las Vegas event, with the first round of PRO eliminations complete, and the first two rounds of elimations for Pro Mod and Top Alcohol in the books. Anything to report? Yes, and Yes! The biggest news so far is the ascension of perennial contender Shawn Cowie, to the top of the standings in Top Alcohol Dragster. He's advanced to the semifinals and is now TEN points ahead of second place Hunter Green, who has been eliminated from contention as he's run out of points earning events for the season.
There are four other racers who could overtake Cowie for the championship, but only one, defending champion Julie Nataas, can do it today. She would have to win the event, and Cowie would have to lose in the semifinal round to make that happen. But she would only be FOUR points in front of Cowie going into the final two events of the 2024 season. Next week's West Regional at Las Vegas, and the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at Pomona in two weeks. Other racers with a chance to upend Cowie, are Jackie Fricke, who will have a final shot at Pomona, Matt Cummings, and Angelle Sampey. Fricke has the best chance of that trio, as she "only" has to win at Pomona and hope that Cowie doesn't win this event or go past the second round at Pomona.
Facing an even taller mountain to climb is Cummings, who not only needs to win Pomona, but has to also win at next week's regional at Las Vegas. In just as deep is Sampey, who also has to win both events. However, if Cowie wins this event later today, that would eliminate Cummings from contention, and Cowie would only need to get past the first round at Pomona to clinch the championship, even if Sampey can run the table by taking back-to-back regional and national event wins. Very long odds indeed.
More updates coming later today and all day tomorrow. Stay tuned!
4:00 PM UPDATE:
The finals are set for the Top Alcohol, Pro Mod, and Top Fuel classes. Unfortunately, due to a major oildown from the broken rear end in Doug Kalitta's Top Fuel car, it appears that racing will not resume until Monday morning. It's been a cool windy day at The Strip and with the time required to remove all the synthetic gear lube and re-prep an already cold track, the decision has been made to postpone the balance of eliminations until tomorrow, starting (hopefully) at 9:00 am.
We can report some big news from the Pro Mods, as Kelowna, BC's Jordan Lazic has won the Congruity Pro Mod World Championship for the 2024 season. He defeated former champion Kris Thorne with his quickest run of the weekend, a 5.759 - 247.57, while Thorne lost an engine at half track and coasted to a losing 6-second time. In the Top Alcohol Funny Car semifinals, already crowned champion Sean Bellemeur advanced to his eighth national event final of the season and only has to win the final to cap a "perfect" 850 point season. That's the maximum number of points possible to earn in the top alcohol categories. His last hurdle to that achievement is the #2 driver in the standings, young Maddi Gordon, who's had an awesome rookie season, with four national event finals under her belt, winning one, and three regional wins to her credit.
In the Top Alcohol Dragster category, Shawn Cowie has advanced to the final round and could have an almost insurmountable lead in the championship standings if he can get past defending champion Julie Nataas. That's no easy task as Nataas set low e.t. of the meet with a winning 5.211 in her semifinal win, while Cowie has posted back-to-back 5.26 times in the quarter and semi-finals. If Nataas turns on the winlight in the final, she'll only be SEVEN points behind Cowie, and within striking distance going into the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at Pomona.
While the distance between the contenders seems close, Cowie does hold an advantage as he can waive a first-round loss (Brainerd), and increase his point totals by simply winning his first round race at the finals. If he can, then Nataas would have to win Pomona to take the championship, or be runnerup if Cowie falls in the first round. Simply put, the odds greatly favour Cowie at this point.
In the pro categories, only the Top Fuel final is set, after a crazy match between Shawn Langdon and Doug Kalitta ended up putting the kibosh on the event today. Kalitta broke the rear end before half track and could only watch Langdon streak away toward an easy win. But Langdon was fighting the car as it kept heading for the centerline, finally taking out the finish line e.t. and speed timing blocks, and handing the win to the broken entry of Kalitta. Despite the "gift" round win, defending champion Kalitta is in fourth place in the standings, 85 points behind the leader, Justin Ashley. A miracle finish to Kalitta's season is improbable but never say never in drag racing. Facing Kalitta in the final is an even more improbable championship contender, Brittany Force, who is in eighth place, and 138 out of the top spot, an almost impossible task to catch Ashley.
Much, much more tomorrow. Stay tuned!