Clear Cut Winner for NHRA Rookie of the Year
Written by David Lamm · November 2, 2005
This year much like last year will be a no brainer who should win the NHRA Auto Club Road to the Future Award, the NHRA’s version of the rookie of the year. Last year it was Jason Line taking the honors and the $20,000 check and this year the winner looks to be just as much of a lock.
NHRA.com: Beckman, Ellis, Enders, and Hight up for top rookie honors
Four rookies are eligible this year for the award but the favorite has to be Funny Car driver Robert Hight. Jack Beckman (Top Fuel), Chip Ellis (Pro Stock Motorcycle), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Robert Hight (Funny Car) all were nominated for the prestigious award, which annually recognizes the top rookie competitor in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. This year should be no contest seeing how two of the other three nominees haven’t even won a race all year. Ellis is the other rookie to have won two races (Chicago and Las Vegas) but we all know that nitro rules this sport and the voters would be crazy to vote for a motorcycle rider over a Funny Car driver. Enders has come on strong late in the season but it will not be enough to overtake Hight. Beckman is a part-time driver as it is so he has the smallest shot at the award.
Hight has the strongest case with two wins and four final rounds on the year. He has six No. 1 qualifying awards, participated in the Skoal Showdown despite missing all of last season where valuable qualifying points were applied. He even led the POWERade point standings for five races this year and is currently fourth in the Funny Car standings. The only thing that will hurt him is that he has struggled down the stretch. Three straight first round exists are not what you want when you are trying to impress the voters. Hight needs a strong showing this weekend in Pomona, Calif. if he wants his name to be engraved on that trophy.
It is not out of the realm of possibility that Ellis could surprise and win the award over Hight. I am just saying it is not likely. Hight’s resume is a little bit better and since this award is being decided by over 100 auto racing journalists, the nitro fumes will help blur their vision towards the Funny Car driver. Let’s not forget that this award is sponsored by the Automobile Club of Southern California. That’s the same company that also is a major sponsor for John Force Racing, providing primary sponsorship for the Ford Mustang driven by Hight. I am not saying that politics and sponsorships will play a role in the decision but at the same time it could help be a deciding factor. Ellis could win the award if he wins the race in Pomona and Hight goes out in the first round again. If Ellis has three wins on the season and Hight only two, then there will be a real argument. Sadly, some of the voters may have already submitted their ballot and even a win in Pomona might not help Ellis.
I could be wrong. Ellis could be the surprise of the awards ceremony but then again I correctly predicted Jason Line would win it last year. Maybe next year the rookies in the NHRA will have a tighter competition and then making a prediction will not be so easy.
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