- Duane Shields (4) – Much like Massey, Shields really has to win out most of the year to have a shot at the title. Has a car that’s capable, so we’re not ruling him out yet. On the national level, he has two semifinal appearances in three starts. Really needs to make all finals at very least to have a chance at his final five nationals. Has a strong divisional track record, with two wins and a runner up in six starts. Will need to win at his final two divisionals to keep his name in the hat.
TAFC
This Championship hunt is going to be a real dog fight. I’m giving eight different drivers a shot at the title.
- Jay Payne (2) – Right now, it looks like it finally may be Payne’s year. The former TAD Champ would love to be the first to win a Championship in both of the alcohol categories. If this were a year where one driver was racking up wins on both the national and divisional level, Payne might be in trouble, but nobody has really run away with it yet. Payne has two wins and a semifinal in five
national event starts. Scoring final round appearances in his final three races would go a long way to putting it away. Payne and his Valvoline Thunderslug team have enjoyed a strong divisional season with three wins and a runner up in five starts on the divisional level. Couple that total with one of his divisional events being a DNQ as the result of his accident in Las Vegas, and Payne is looking very strong. He has some tough competition breathing down his neck, though.
Frank Manzo (1) – Has the baddest hot rod in the country right now, but seems to be snake bit on the national level. With the performance advantage he has enjoyed at most of the events this year, I could be writing a story about the race for second place right now. So far, he only has one win and two semifinal appearances in six national event starts. Certainly has a car that can win at his next two, but will leave points on the table on the national side. His divisional strength this year has kept him in the race. So far he has three wins and a runner up in five divisional starts. Once again, the Lucas-backed team has a car that could easily win two out of his next three to have a perfect divisional record, but his national record will be his weakness. Despite having only two more races left to claim, if he shows up at the remaining races to block, there’s a good chance another car won’t win.
- Sean Bellemeur (8) – Sean Bellemeur and the Meer Homes-backed team has been on fire on the left coast. Has a strong race car and great points position to make a run at the Championship. In his only two national-event starts this season, he has two runner up finishes. His divisional track record has been equally as strong. In five divisional starts, he has three wins and a runner-up. The kid is one of the best leavers in the category in a fast hot rod. A strong Western Swing will put this Division 7 team right in the hunt.
Bob Tasca III (3) – Has the quickest hot rod in the history of the class after logging a monster 5.44 in Gainesville. Still a click behind Manzo at most events, he has been right there to pounce any time Manzo has slipped. In six national event starts, has two wins and a semifinal finish. Really needs to make the finals at his final two national events. Has good position to make a move on the divisional level as well, with one win and two runner-ups in four starts. Has the car to make the final anywhere he shows up, will need to follow through on that to keep his Championship hopes alive.
- Steve Harker (4) – The native Australian has made his presence felt in his second full year on the tour. The Aussie team has been a terror on the divisional level, but hasn’t performed on that level at the nationals. Has a fast hot rod and enough races to claim to have a shot at the title. In five national event starts, he has only one runner-up to show for his efforts, with a couple of second round efforts, a first rounder and a DNQ. Really needs at least two wins and a runner-up at his final three national events to have a shot. Has thecar to do it. His strength has been on the divisional level, with two wins and two runner-ups in five starts. A few more wins in his final three events
might shore up some of the points he’s left on the table on the national side. His hopes ride on how he fares on the national level.ADVERTISEMENT
Bob Newberry (5) – Like Manzo, his best-case scenario leaves a lot of national points on the table. He has already used seven of his eight national events. In those seven starts, he has a win and a runner-up with a semifinal. This puts him in a “must win” position at his final national event. On the divisional side, he has had a strong year, and has races left to claim. In three starts, he has a win and a runner-up. Really needs to win out the year to have a chance, but if anyone can do it, Newb can.
- Mickey Ferro (7) – Has been a terror at national events, but is having a lackluster divisional season. Ferro has jumped on the scene to be a threat to win anywhere he shows up. In five national event starts, he has two wins and three semifinal appearances. Has more than proven he can pick up a couple more wins in the final three nationals he has left. However, he hasn’t enjoyed near that success on the divisional level. In four starts, he has yet to make a final round, making it out of the first round only once. Really needs to win three out of his next four, if not all four of his final divisional events. Still has a shot.
Brian Hough (6) – Really has an outside shot, but has a car that is capable of winning out the year. In four national event starts, he has a win and a semifinal finish to show for. Really needs to go to all finals with at least a couple of wins in his final four national events. On the divisional side, he has one win and two runner-ups in five starts. Really needs to pick up a couple more wins on this side to have a shot at the title.