Stump Bob: Which drivers have scored their first round-wins against world champs?
NHRA historian and statistician Bob Frey cannot be stumped!
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OK ... so, here goes.Ìý
When Chad Green beat Matt Hagan in Las Vegas in 2021, Hagan was the reigning champion (Hagan won in 2020), and it was the first round-win for Green. And, to date, his only round-win.
Including Green, there have been 14 drivers who won their first round against the reigning world champion: four in Funny Car, seven in Pro Stock, and three in Pro Stock Motorcycle. I haven’t found any in the Top Fuel class. Here's the complete list:
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FUNNY CAR | |
Terry Haddock beat John Force | Reading, 2003 |
Blake Alexander beat Jack Beckman | Bristol, 2013 |
John Bojec beat Matt Hagan | Reading, 201 |
Chad Green beat Matt Hagan (1) | Las Vegas, 2021 |
Ìý | |
PRO STOCK | |
Aaron Stanfield beat Jeg Coughlin Jr. (1) | Indy, 2014 |
Alan Prusiensky beat Erica Enders | Englishtown, 2015 |
Chris McGaha beat Greg Anderson | Dallas, 2011 |
Dave Northrop beat Greg Anderson | Dallas, 2006 |
Tommy Lee beat Warren Johnson | St. Louis, 2002 |
Justin Humphrey beat Jason Line | St. Louis, 2007 |
Mark Martino beat Jason Line | Gainesville, 2012 |
Ìý | |
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE | |
Chris Reuter beat Matt Hines | Brainerd, 1999 |
Matt Smith beat Angelle Sampey | Atlanta, 2003 |
Scott Lewis beat Angelle Sampey (2) | Pomona-2, 2002 |
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(1) First round-win in Pro Stock | |
(2) Only career round-win | |
NOTE: These do not include four-wide events. |
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