Throughout the week leading up to the 57th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, we'll be adding to this post, with stats and facts from previous years. We'll also add a Driver to Watch each day in both classes.
Previous Final Rounds
TAD
2010-Marty Thacker vs. Shawn Cowie
2009-Ken Perry vs. Michael Manners
2008-Bill Reichert vs. Duane Shields
2007-Marty Thacker vs. Dave Hirata
2006-Bill Reichert vs. Randy Meyer
2005-Steve Torrence vs. Hillary Will
2004-Ashley Force vs. Shelly Howard
2003-Morgan Lucas vs. Shelly Howard
2002-John Haley vs. Duane Shields
2001-Keith Stark vs. Bill Reichert
2000-Jay Meyer vs. Dave Hirata
1999-Rick
Santos vs. Darren Nicholson
TAFC
2010-Jay Payne vs. Tony Bartone
2009-Bobby Martin vs. Steve Harker
2008-Von Smith vs. Roger Bateman
2007-Frank Manzo vs. Bob Tasca III
2006-Frank Manzo vs. Bob Tasca III
2005-Frank Manzo vs. John Weaver
2004-Bob Newberry vs. Chuck Cheeseman
2003-Jeff Craig vs. Marc White
2002-Frank Manzo vs. Bob Newberry
2001-Frank Manzo vs. Jay Payne
2000-Frank Manzo vs. Tony Bartone
1999-Tony Bartone vs. Frank Manzo
2011 U.S. Nationals Facts
As of August 23rd, 2011, 14 of the 21 Top Alcohol Dragsters on the entry list are A/Fuel cars. That leaves only 7 blown cars with the chance to win; Chris Demke, Marty Thacker, Brandon Booher, Jerry Powell II, Brian Mans, Tom Pickett, and Matthew Cummings.
The TA classes will have drivers from 19 U.S. states, as well as one Canadian province. California (6), Indiana (6), and Illinois (5) will be well-represented.
Of the TAD/TAFC finalists from the past 12 years, 19 of them will be competing at Indy in one way or another. Marty Thacker, Bill Reichert, Duane Shields, Dave Hirata, Michael Manners, and Randy Meyer will be racing in TAD. Frank Manzo, Jay Payne, and Tony Bartone are entered in TAFC. Steve Torrence and Morgan Lucas will be competing in Top Fuel; Bob Tasca III in Fuel Funny Car. Von Smith and Chuck Cheeseman will be wheeling entries in Pro Mod, while Bob Newberry is tuning Leah Pruett-Leduc's Pro Mod.
Drivers to Watch
Frank Manzo (TAFC)- With the Indy record that Frank has, you just can't bet against him. 7 final round appearances in the last 12 years, with 6 of those ending in victories. Manzo is tied with Bob Glidden for the most U.S. Nationals wins, at 9. 3 national event wins, 3 Division 1 wins, and the points lead in both gives Manzo the #1 spot on our D2W list.
Marty Thacker (TAD)- The defending event champion, Marty Thacker is one of the 7 blown alcohol drivers with a shot to win. With a win on both the national and divisional tours this year, Marty has proven that he is a threat, especially in the Midwest. Thacker is also one of three TAD drivers to win Indy twice; Rick Santos and Bill Reichert being the other two. Will he break through this year to become the only to win it three times? We think so.
Tony Bartone (TAFC)- Runner-up at the 2010 U.S. Nationals, Bartone is having another stellar season. He has 4 national event wins this year, along with a divisional win. This has him in the lead of Division 4 points, in second place in points nationally, and gives him the #2 spot on our TAFC D2W list.
Duane Shields (TAD)- Driver of the Shortline Express A/Fuel rail, Duane has racked up a pair of national event wins this year, as well as three divisional wins. Despite his first round loss here last year, we think he has the car to beat this year.
Alexis DeJoria (TAFC)- This will be DeJoria's last race in Top Alcohol Funny Car until she moves up to the Nitro Funny Car at the Dallas event. Though she doesn't have as many wins as some of the other TAFC entrants at Indy, her breakthrough win at Seattle puts her on the radar, as well as our D2W list.
Bill Reichert (TAD)- Reichert is the reigning National champion, has 4 other national championships, and has 2 U.S. Nationals wins; you knew he was going on this list. Bill has a pair of Division 3 wins this year, along with a national event win at Chicago. As long as his driving doesn't put an end to his day like it did in the first round of the Brainerd event, the 5x champ has the car that can win the race.
John Lombardo Jr. (TAFC)- Though he has yet to net a national event win in 2011, John Lombardo Jr. collected a pair of wins in Division 7 competition so far this season. Those wins and a runner-up at the Las Vegas divisional earns him the #1 spot in Division 7 points, #5 nationally, and the #4 spot on our D2W Indy list. We think he has the "Napa Know How" to get it done at the Big Go.
Chris Demke (TAD)- Last year's national championship runner-up, Chris Demke has had another great year on tour, winning the prestigious Gatornationals. Combine that with 2 Division 7 wins and a runner-up finish at the Vegas divisional. Demke's efforts put him in 4th nationally and 1st in Division 7. The Peen-Rite team from California will be a threat in Indy.
Chris Foster (TAFC)- The leader in Division 3 Top Alcohol Funny Car points, Chris Foster is another driver looking for his first national event win in 2011. Foster has earned 2 divisional event wins this year, in Houston and Norwalk. That total could change after this weekend, as Chris is running for the Columbus and Bowling Green divisional wins at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Kentucky. Foster and the Will Hanna-tuned Mustang are the Division 3 points leaders. Update: Chris Foster is now the Division 3 champion.
Randy Meyer (TAD)- Meyer, the talented owner/tuner/driver, has been tearing up the divisional scene, winning the Great Bend and Cordova races and runner-up at the Cecil, Georgia event. At national events, he has 3 semi-final appearances and a runner-up finish. Kansas-based Meyer enters Indy with the Division 5 points lead and the 5th spot nationally.
Jay Payne (TAFC)- The defending event champion, Jay Payne has not had an exceptional year on the national event side, but he's done very well at divisionals. A pair of wins, at Las Vegas and Topeka, along with two runner-up finishes, has him 4th in national points heading into Indy.
Brandon Booher (TAD)- This former Jr. Dragster driver has proven to be one of the best, most consistent "leavers" in the class this year. Hoping for his first career win in Top Alcohol Dragster, Brandon has come close twice this year, taking runner-up at the Norwalk national event and the Cordova divisional. Due to Booher's starting line performances, this blown car can go rounds in a packed field of A/Fuel cars.
Steve Gasparrelli (TAFC)- California-based Gasparrelli has been running well in Division 6, winning Mission and Spokane and taking runner-up at Seattle. Entering his fourth national event of the year, Steve is just inside the Top 10 at #9. He can go into the late rounds at divisionals; can he do the same at Indy?
Karen Stalba (TAD)- Driving a former Morgan Lucas car, Karen has adapted to the A/Fuel car after running a blown alcohol entry for years. Stalba's 2011 record includes a win and 2 runner-up finishes in divisional competition, as well as a semi-final appearance at the Norwalk national.
Vern Moats (TAFC)- Veteran alcohol Funny Car pilot Vern Moats is waiting on his first national event win of the year, like many other TAFC drivers. He doesn't have a win on the divisional side either, yet he came close with a runner-up at the Cordova event. Though his odds aren't as good as Manzo or Bartone, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Vern in the finals.
Mike Manners (TAD)- This UK transplant might be the best thing to come from the other side of the pond since Susan Boyle.....that's a joke. Manners has a divisional win this year, but not a whole lot else worth noting on the NHRA side. Mike is the 2011 IHRA Pro Fuel Dragster champion, however. He's been to the finals here recently (2009), maybe he can improve his record and knock out a win at the Big Go.
