NHRA Midwest Nationals 2015: Start Time, Drivers, TV Schedule and More
The second of six races in the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series playoffs takes center stage at Gateway Motorsports Park just outside of St. Louis this weekend. All signs point to plenty of drama-filled moments down the stretch with a couple of razor-thin margins in the top divisions.
The closest race is in the Funny Car class. Del Worsham won the Carolina Nationals last week and now leads Tommy Johnson by just six points. It's only slightly smaller than the gap in Top Fuel, where Antron Brown holds a nine-point edge over Tony Schumacher.
Furthermore, there are still enough competitions left on the schedule for other drivers lower in the standings to make a charge toward the top. Let's check out all of the key information for the next stop on the schedule, the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals.
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Event Details
Where: Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois
When: Friday, Sept. 25, to Sunday, Sept. 27
Drivers: Entry Lists
Schedule: Full Listing
TV Details
| Sept. 27 | 3 - 4:30 a.m. | Qualifying | ESPN2 |
| Sept. 27 | 12 - 6 p.m. | Eliminations | ESPN3 |
| Sept. 27 | 2 - 3 p.m. | Qualifying | ESPN2 |
| Sept. 27 | 8:30 p.m. - 12 a.m. | Eliminations | ESPN2 |
Preview
As mentioned, there's still time for drivers lower in the playoff standings to make a move. The margin for error is beginning to shrink, however, which is why so many of the contenders are looking to bolster their outlook this weekend.
Funny Car driver Matt Hagan, who currently sits fourth in the standings, knows getting hot at the right time can make all the difference. He's hoping this week can be the start of something big for his team, per Paddock Talk.
"I'd love to get a win in St. Louis," Hagan said. "It's a crucial race. You have to go rounds. That's where we are at in the season right now. You have to have a win or two to seal the deal in Pomona. I have all the confidence in the world that this team can get the job done."
A victory would certainly go a long way in helping him chase down Worsham and Johnson.
There are several Top Fuel drivers—Larry Dixon, J.R. Todd and Richie Crampton among them—in a similar position. They are all more than 80 points behind Brown. While not ideal, it's not insurmountable if they can get things going with some strong finishes starting this week.
Erica Enders-Stevens isn't being challenged quite as much in the Pro Stock. She holds an 83-point edge over second-place Greg Anderson thanks to a dominant stretch of three consecutive wins, giving her seven for the season.
Her win at the Carolina Nationals also resulted in a notable move up the all-time wins list, as noted by Terry Blount of NHRA:
If Enders-Stevens and her team can maintain this form, there will be a few more wins down the stretch and a championship waiting for them at the Finals.
Finally, Andrew Hines moved to the top of the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings after taking first place at the Carolina Nationals. That dropped Eddie Krawiec into second after a dip in results following a trio of wins, including the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.
Just 81 points separate the top five contenders, though, so expect plenty of movement over the remaining events before a champion is crowed.
All told, all four divisions are still up for grabs with five competitions to go. That means regardless of what's happened to this point in the campaign, a strong finish will be necessary in order to emerge with one of the coveted titles.
That sense of urgency should lead to an unforgettable edition of the Midwest Nationals starting Friday.
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