Tricky Tipster: Pomona, it all comes down to this
Tricky Tipster is determined to end the season on a strong note so this week, he’s got title hopefuls Steve Torrence, Matt Hagan, Greg Anderson, and Matt Smith listed as the favorites.
It’s rare to know before an event that you’re going to witness history, but that’s clearly going to be the case this weekend as the Camping World NHRA tour heads to Pomona for the Auto Club 91°µÍř Finals, the last event of the 2021 season.
None of…
Tricky Tipster: What happens in Vegas determines championships
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Well, maybe not as far as the Camping World NHRA championship battles are concerned. What happens in Vegas, particularly during this weekend’s Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil, could have a profound effect on what happens two weeks from now when the season concludes in Pomona.
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Well, maybe not as far as the Camping World NHRA championship battles are concerned. What happens in Vegas, particularly during this weekend’s Dodge//SRT NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil, could have a…
Tricky Tipster: Looking for some late-season mountain magic in Bristol
Tricky Tipster, NHRA’s resident wizard of odds, has gone with points leaders Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) as the favorites for this weeks' Bristol event.
Denver’s Bandimere Speedway isn’t the only NHRA national event facility that is surrounded by mountains and features a breathtaking view. Bristol Dragway also fits that bill and it’s the site of this week’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
The…
Tricky Tipster: Handicapping the Dallas pro fields
NHRA National Dragster’s in-house odds-maker, Tricky Tipster, is once again going to anoint Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) as the favorites along with Matt Smith in Pro Stock Motorcycle for this week's Texas 91°µÍř Fall Nationals.
The Countdown to the Championship moves to the Lonestar State this weekend with the annual Texas 91°µÍř Fall Nationals from the Texas Motorplex outside of Dallas. The event marks the fourth event in the NHRA playoffs, meaning the battles for Camping…
Tricky Tipster: Gateway to greatness
For this week's NHRA Gateway Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, Tricky Tipster is going to lead off with the usual suspects and give the early nod to Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) as the pre-race favorites.
With two races in the books during the 2021 Countdown to the Championship, the points battles in each NHRA pro category are beginning to take shape. Or are they?
So far, no one in any class has been able to establish anything the resembles…
Tricky Tipster: Our best bets for zMax Dragway
This week, when it comes to our best bets, we’re going to continue to play the hot hand and go with Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
As the Countdown to the Championship heats up, so does the pressure on Tricky Tipster to accurately predict winners. We laid an egg last week in Reading although we did rank Pro Stock winner Greg Anderson and Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Steve…
Countdown time: Now it gets serious
Tricky Tipster went two-for-five at Indy when we correctly picked Steve Torrence and Erica Enders to win in Top Fuel and Pro Stock, respectively. Now, it’s time for the start of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs which means there’s little room for error and even the smallest mistake can have dire consequences.
Tricky Tipster went two-for-five at Indy when we correctly picked Steve Torrence and Erica Enders to win in Top Fuel and Pro Stock, respectively. Now, it’s time for the start of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs which means there’s little…
Tricky Tipster: Everyone wants to win Indy, but how many can actually do it?
As he’s done every year for more than a half-century, NHRA’s Tricky Tipster has carefully analyzed the professional fields and his predictions for Indy glory include Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle), and Jose Gonzalez (Pro Mod).
It's often been said that no career in drag racing is complete if it doesn’t include a win at Indy, and even those drivers who are fortunate enough to win the sports marquee event once are likely to want to do it again and again. Winning at Indy isn…
Tricky Tipster: Our best bets from Brainerd
With two races remaining before the Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin, it’s officially crunch time in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. This weekend’s Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd will go a long way towards determining the final seeding for the seven-race playoffs, which kick off next month in Reading.
With two races remaining before the Countdown to the Championship playoffs begins, it’s officially crunch time in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. This weekend’s Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd will go a long way…
Tricky Tipster: Heartfelt predictions from America’s heartland
In NHRA's long-awaited return to Topeka, Steve Torrence, Robert Hight, and Greg Anderson land the favorites roles for this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor.
It’s been a long two years, but the Camping World NHRA Drag Racing tour is finally headed back to middle America for this weekend’s Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor. The event marks the first time NHRA pros have visited Heartland…
Tricky Tipster: A change of seasons
It's almost August which means its time for the Lucas Oil Winternationals. Yes, that's strange but what isn't strange is Tricky Tipster's picks for this week's Pomona event.
Add this to things you never thought you’d read but after two-thirds of the annual NHRA Western Swing, we’re headed to Auto Club Pomona Raceway for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by Protect the Harvest. Odd as that may seem, it’s where…
Tricky Tipster: The grapes of wrath
It's hard to find a more perfect setting for a Camping World NHRA Series event than Sonoma Raceway and it's lush vineyards and rolling hills. That's especially true for Steve Torrence, Matt Hagan, Greg Anderson, and Matt Smith, this week's favorites.
Stop us if you’ve heard this before but you can’t sweep the Western Swing unless you win the first race. Yeah, we know it’s an old quote but it’s entirely true which means that heading into this weekend’s NHRA Sonoma Nationals, only Steve Torrence…
Tricky Tipster: The Rocky Mountain Way
The variables that define Bandimere Speedway often make for some interesting outcomes and the track has been the site of some of NHRA’s biggest upsets. Then again, those who have their act together tend to do very well in Denver which helps explain why Steve Torrence once again gets our top billing. Torrence is joined at the top by Robert Hight (Funny Car), Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) and Jose Gonzales (Pro Mod).
The variables that define Bandimere Speedway often make for some interesting outcomes and the track has been the site of some of NHRA’s biggest upsets. Then again, those who have their act together tend to do very well in Denver which helps explain…
Tricky Tipster: Who wants ice cream?
NHRA's resident oddsmaker, Tricky Tipster, has given the nod to Steve Torrence, Bob Tasca III, Greg Anderson, Matt Smith, and Justin Bond as the pre-race favorites for this week's Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.
There’s a lot to like about Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, including the neatly manicured grounds, the enthusiastic fan base, and, of course, the ice cream that’s available for just $1 per pound. Moreover, each of the champions crowned at…
Tricky Tipster: A lot of history on the line at New England Dragway
The favorites to make history in Epping include Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). Torrence and Hight are coming off wins in Houston while Anderson has been the Pro Stock points leader for much of the young season.
With the possible exception of Pomona and the surrounding areas of Southern California, there isn’t a track on the NHRA tour that celebrates the heritage of NHRA racing better than New England Dragway. The host of a Camping World NHRA series event…
Tricky Tipster: Who wants to be the biggest star in the Lone Star State?
The Camping World NHRA Tour heads West for this weeks' Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil and National Dragster's own Tricky Tipster has offered up the following picks to win in Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock.
There is a semi-famous quote that says, “There’s no better place than Texas to start over.” and maybe that's good advice for Tricky Tipster after a tough outing last weekend at the Charlotte Four-Wide race. Sure, he pegged Top Fuel winner…
Tricky Tipster: Rating the contenders from the Bellagio of Dragstrips
It’s been a while since we visited zMax Dragway for the good old NGK NTK Four-Wide NHRA Nationals, but three races into the 2021 season and the Las Vegas four-wide still fresh in his mind, tipster is prepared to offer his selections for this week’s contest.
It’s been a while since we visited zMax Dragway for the good old NGK NTK 91°µÍř Four-Wide Nationals, but three races into the 2021 season and the Las Vegas four-wide still fresh in his mind, Tipster is prepared to offer his selections for this week’s…
Tricky Tipster: The night the lights went out in Georgia
All good things must come to an end including the Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. On the eve of the final NHRA national event here, Tricky Tipster has issued his predictions and has given the final nod to Steve Torrence, Bob Tasca III, Erica Enders, Matt Smith, and Jose Gonzalez as the favorites.
Your old pal Tricky Tipster doesn’t often get emotional, but this week is different. On the eve of the final NHRA Southern Nationals, he can’t help but think of all the good times and exciting memories provided by Atlanta Dragway in the last 40…
Tricky Tipster: It's time to go four-wide racing in Las Vegas
With just one event in the books, we’ve seen just a random sampling from NHRA’s Pro racers. To that end, here are Tricky Tipster’s best bets for this weekend's Denso Spark Plugs 91°µÍř Four-Wide Nationals.
Racing in the thin desert air of Las Vegas presents its own set of unique challenges to NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Pros, but when combined with the unpredictable nature of the four-wide format, the Denso Spark Plugs 91°µÍř Four-…
Gainesville Tricky Tipster: Let’s get this party started
Among the things that did not change last season was the success of several NHRA pros including world champions Steve Torrence, Matt Hagan, Erica Enders, Matt Smith, and Steve Jackson. They will each begin the season as the top picks of National Dragster's Tricky Tipster.
It’s hard to put into words all that’s happened since last March when we were all anticipating the initial running of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. We made it through a trying 2020 season and optimism is the keyword as we return to…
Tricky Tipster: Leaving Las Vegas (but not until we crown champions)
So how did Tricky Tipster fare in Houston? How about a big fat donut as he went 0-for-5 picking winners at last week’s Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals. Oh well, you’ve have those days and fortunately, we’ve got one last chance to make amends…
Tricky Tipster: Down to the wire in Baytown
As the Camping World NHRA tour heads Southward (slightly) to Houston Raceway Park, Tricky Tipster is sticking with Dallas winner Steve Torrence in Top Fuel and he'll share the top billing with Dallas winner Jack Beckman, and points leaders Erica Enders, Matt Smith, and Steve Jackson.
Last week in Dallas, Tipster correctly picked Steve Torrence to walk away with the Top Fuel title, but whiffed on the other four winners in Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, and Pro Mod. Somedays, you’ll have weeks like that where the…
Tricky Tipster: Who are going to be the stars in the Lone Star State?
This week, Tricky Tipster, NHRA’s in-house oddsmaker for more than four decades, give the nod to native Texans Steve Torrence and Erica Enders in Top Fuel and Pro Stock, and also labels Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle), and Steve Jackson (Pro Mod) as the favorites.
If you ask a Texan, they’ll gladly tell you that everything is bigger and better in Texas and that logic almost certainly applies to this week’s AAA Texas 91°µÍř FallNationals. The site of many of drag racing’s most historic moments, the historic…
Tricky Tipster: Gateway to greatness
Last week, Tipster had a decent showing when he correctly picked Steve Torrence and Matt Smith to win in Gainesville so as the tour heads westward to St. Louis for the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Pennzoil, he’s feeling pretty good about his chances to keep the ball rolling.
Last week, Tipster had a decent showing when he correctly picked Steve Torrence and Matt Smith to win in Gainesville so as the tour heads westward to St. Louis for the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Pennzoil, he’s feeling…
Tricky Tipster: Gainesville predictions, take two
As the NHRA tour moves to Gainesville Raceway for a second attempt at the Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals, Tricky Tipster has chosen Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock), Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle), and Stevie Jackson (Pro Mod) as his pre-race favorites.
After four races at Lucas Oil Raceway Indianapolis, the NHRA Mello Yello tour takes a much-needed road trip to Gainesville Raceway for the resumption of the Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals, an event previously scheduled for mid-March. When it comes…
It’s time for The Big Go!
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock), Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle), and Jonathan Gray (Pro Mod) are Tricky Tipster's favorites to capture glory at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals.
Let’s face it, the 2020 season has been like nothing anyone has ever seen but through all the turmoil, NHRA drag racing has survived and now it’s time to celebrate the biggest, most important, and most prestigious event of the season, the Denso…
Tricky Tipster: The third time is the charm
Last month, NHRA hosted a pair of Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events at historic Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and even though the final rounds of the second event were delayed by rain, it would be reasonable enough to assume that Tricky Tipster, NHRA’s longtime resident oddsmaker, has collected enough data to accurately handicap any pro class.
Last month, NHRA hosted a pair of Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events at historic Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and even though the final rounds of the second event were delayed by rain, it would be reasonable enough to assume that Tricky…
Tricky Tipster: So nice, let’s do it twice
Following last week’s Indy race, Tricky Tipster has tabbed Doug Kalitta and Hagan as the favorites in Top Fuel and Funny Car, respectively, while defending series champ Stevie Jackson gets the nod in Pro Mod.
Last weekend, the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour returned to action for the first time in nearly five months with the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals in Indianapolis. The event was by all accounts a success especially for pro winners Billy…
The wait is over; let's go racing
It’s been more than four months since the COVID-19 pandemic halted the 2020 NHRA season but the wheels are once again turning for Mello Yello Series pros with this weekend’s E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals in Indianapolis.
It’s been more than four months since the Covid-19 pandemic halted the 2020 NHRA season but the wheels are once again turning for Mello Yello Series pros with this weekend’s E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals in Indianapolis. The first two events in…
NHRA Arizona Nationals Tricky Tipster: Desert Storming
Tricky Tipster, NHRA National Dragster magazine's resident Wizard of Odds, has labeled Pomona winners Doug Kalitta, Jack Beckman, and Jeg Coughlin Jr., as his pre-race picks for this weekend's NHRA Arizona Nationals in Phoenix.
There is something peaceful and tranquil about the Arizona desert unless of course, one takes into account the oasis that is Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park just outside of Phoenix. The words “peaceful” and “tranquil” are rarely used to describe…