Bet On Neff as 2008 Rookie of the Year
Written by David Lamm · October 31, 2008
I’ve been writing for Fastmachines.com for about five years now (wow, has it really been five years?) and each year I try my hand at predicting the NHRA’s Rookie of the Year. The official award is called the Auto Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award (what would motorsports be without sponsorship) and I can say with confidence that I have successfully predicted the past four winners. This year it is not as cut and dried as in years past but I’ll stand by my prediction that Funny Car driver Mike Neff will be the 2008 NHRA Rookie of the Year.
NHRA.com: Five rookies headline nominees for ‘08 Auto Club Road to the Future Award
Last month the NHRA announced that five rookies were finalists for the award; Rickie Jones (Pro Stock); Mike Neff (Funny Car, pictured); Junior Pippin (Pro Stock Motorcycle); Bob Tasca III (Funny Car) and Steve Torrence (Top Fuel). Of those five rookies, Neff was the only one to qualify to the Countdown to the Championship. By virtue of being the only one in a position to possibly win a championship, that should wrap it up for Neff. Then again, let’s look a little more closely at all five and hash it out.
Junior Pippin, although he is a nice story, we all know by virtue of the class that he races in, Pro Stock Motorcycle, he would have to have dominated the competition to be in the conversation. The fact that Pro Stock Motorcycle runs less races than the other pro classes, that’s less chances to make a case for your candidacy. Pippin has never qualified in the top half of the field, failed to qualify three times and has yet to advance past first round. Not a strong case for Rookie of the Year honors. Thanks for playing Junior, we have some nice parting gifts for you.
Steve Torrence is also a nice story but he did not start racing Top Fuel this season until Englishtown. He missed the first 10 races of the season and could never dig himself out of that hole. His main argument can come from just two races, Sonoma and Brainerd where he advanced to the semi-finals at both races. Since Brainerd he has two first round loses and four DNS heading into this weekend in Las Vegas. Steve, you could have had a shot if you showed up to more races but alas, 15th in the points with two races to go is not quite cutting it.
Rickie Jones’ case is a little stronger than the previous two rookies but still not impressive. Jones has failed to make the Sunday show nine times by virtue of DNQs or DNS. He has advanced to the semi-finals once and the quarter-finals twice but more often than not he has been easy pickings for the Pro Stockers in the first round. Dallas, his best race where he advanced to the semis, was the only event where he qualified in the top half of the field coming in at the sixth position. Rickie, you are a nice kid but this year was not your year to win the Auto Club Road to the Future Award.
Now it comes down to the two Funny Car drivers, Mike Neff and and Bob Tasca III. Both drivers are equal on the DNQ list; both failing to make the show twice this year. Heading into the Las Vegas event, looking at the win/loss totals makes it a no contest. Tasca comes in at a paltry 8-20 record with only one semi-final to his credit. Neff on the other hand registered a 17-20 record with three runners-up and two semi-final appearances. Before you even look at the qualifying records, (Neff qualifying in the top half of the field 13 times to Tasca’s seven) Neff wins this one going away.
So there you have it. Mike Neff will be your 2008 Auto Club Road to the Future Award winner. Of course, if any of the other drivers tear off back-to-back wins in Las Vegas and Pomona and Neff DNQs at both this couldf be a different story. Given the track records of all five drivers this is Neff’s award to lose. I am willing to bet my past reputation of correctly predicting Jason Line in 2004, Robert Hight in 2005, J.R. Todd in 2006 and Ashley Force last year, on the line when I predict Mike Neff this year. If Neff does in fact win the award, that means three John Force Racing drivers will have been named the Rookie of the Year three of the last four years. If the Las Vegas casinos are taking any action on the Rookie of the Year Award, you can bet with confidence that this year it will be Mike Neff.
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