Volume X, Issue 6, Page 84
  1. 3. Spencer Massey (Current Rank: 1, Points: 424, Events (4 nat., 4 div.) Points per event: 53) – Current points leader has one national event win and three divisional runner-ups.  Has been to a lot of races, so his time is running out to make a late push in the points.  However, it’s way to count Spencer out. 
  3. 4. John Finke (Current Rank: 2, Points: 392, Events (4 nat., 4 div.) Points per event: 49) – Currently second in points on the strength of a national event win and a divisional win.  One of the more consistent  A/Fuel cars out there.  Much like Massey, with eight races to his credit already, needs to start going rounds.  How he fares in Division 1 will determine if he remains a legitimate championship contender in November.
  5. 5. Morgan Lucas (Current Rank: 11, Points: 275, Events: (4 nat., 2 div.) Points per event: 46) – With the way he started the year, it really looked like this may be Morgan’s year.  Much like Reichert and Whiteley, appears to have a dominant car until an off run ends his weekend during eliminations.  However, with the Lucas war chest behind them, and a blocker driver to throw in the seat when conditions aren’t the most favorable, Lucas still has a legit chance to make a run.  With only two divisional events under his belt, including a win, has a lot of room to gain points.
  7. 6. Aaron Tatum (Current Rank: 5, Points: 328, Events: (3 nat., 3 div.) Points per event: 55) – Homebuilder turned Super Gas racer turned A/Fuel racer got off to a strong start with divisional wins in Dallas and Great Bend, Ks.  Has run respectable on the National level, but will need to step up a click to make a championship run.  Make no mistake, this is a strong team lead up by Joe Monden, and with their strong start, they have a good foundation to make a solid points run.  Definitely a team on the rise within the category.
  9. 7. Duane Shields (Current Rank: 4, Points: 340, Events: (4 nat., 3 div.) Points per event: 46) – If this were a baseball team, we would definitely want him batting in the middle of the order.  He’s a bona fide power hitter with A/Fuel guru Dana Hopewell turning the wrenches.  Has qualified No. 1 at Pomona, Houston and recently Chicago.  Has a national win and runner-up to his credit thus far, but needs to start going rounds on the divisional level if he is going to keep his hat in the championship hunt.  Certainly has the performance, but the keyword this year seems to be consistency.
  11. 8. Dan Mercier (Current Rank: 14, Points: 234, Events (0 nat., 4 div.) Points per event: 59) – We’re giving Mercier the nod because of the strong foundation he has for a late season points run.  While he hasn’t attended a national event this season, has three divisional runner-ups to his credit.  It will be interesting to see how he performs in national event competition and if he takes his show on the road to chase the title.  An outside shot at this point, but has a chance.  Our ‘Dark Horse’ pick.

TAFC

2007 Champ: Frank Manzo – Points per event: 79
No. 5 Points per event: 64
No. 10 Points per event: 55

With Frank Manzo’s amazing run of 47 straight rounds of competition, TAFC has pretty much become a race for second place.  It would take an equally as impressive streak by another competitor, and while it’s not impossible, let’s just say any bets at this point against Manzo would pay really, really good odds.

The race for second so far has been between Jay Payne and Steve Harker.  Harker has been one of the most consistent cars on the tour this year, while Payne has shown over the past few years he can run within a few clicks of Manzo.

  1. 1. Frank Manzo (Current Rank: 3, Points: 510, Events (4 nat., 2 div.) Points per event: 85) – 47 straight round wins dating back to Norwalk last year.  Would have to just about go out in early rounds the rest of the year to open the  door for anyone else, which isn’t very likely at all.
  3. 2. Steve Harker (Current Rank: 2, Points: 520, Events (5 nat., 3 div.) Points per event: 65)  As good a year as he’s had, he picked a bad year to do it.  Has dominated in Div. 4 competition.  Other than a stumble at this past weekend’s Chicago event, has ran well at national events.  Currently has the advantage in the race for second.
  5. 3. Jay Payne (Current Rank: 1, Points: 521, Events (5 nat., 3 div.) Points per event: 65) Has changed his approach from ‘all out all the time’ to more of a consistency approach.  It has paid off with two national event wins and a divisional win, but much like Harker, he picked a bad year to have a strong performance.  Locked in a tight race with Harker for second.  If anyone can put together a run, Payne is certainly a candidate.  Don’t think for a minute Manzo is taking him lightly, and we’re not either.
  7. 4. Von Smith (Current Rank: 7, Points: 287, Events (4 nat., 2 div.) Points per event: 48) Steve Boggs tuned machine is one of the few cars that can run 5.50’s at will, and Smith is usually one of the better leavers in the category.  With a national event runner-up and semifinal to their credit this year, they’re a better car than their track record shows.  If they can finish the year the way they did last year, look for them to be a solid contender for a top five finish.
  9. 5. Mickey Ferro (Current Rank: 4, Points: 340, Events (3 nat., 4 div.) Points per event: 49) – Ferro started the year on a tear, collecting a win on the divisional level and a runner-up in Houston.  However, has fallen into a bit of a slump due to some poor performances on the divisional level.  Certainly has the car and team to bounce back.
  11. 6. Sean O’Bannon (Current Rank: 6, Points: 307, Events (4 nat., 3 div.) Points per event: 44) – Easily a candidate for this year’s most improved team.  The O’Bannon team has continually improved to the point where they have reached the final of their past two events.  Team always runs big mph, which always shows potential.  With a virtually unlimited budget and talented team, could make a late season run to mix it up at the top of the points standings.
  13. 7. Doug Gordon (Current Rank: 8, Points: 265, Events (3 nat., 2 div.) Points per event: 53) – Multi-time Div. 7 Champ done something nobody has done for a while: beat Manzo, and that says volumes about this team.  Gordon also gave him a run for the money in the final of the regular event.  Consistently at the top of the speed list, could be on the verge of making a summer run on the top runners.
  15. 8. Paul Anderson (Current Rank: 5, Points: 327, Events (4 nat., 3 div.) Points per event: 47) – Defending Div. 5 Champ can run strong at times, then has events where he is not so strong.  Always a threat to win at Div. 5 events, and when he’s on, he can mix it up with the best on the national level.