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It’s crunch time in the battle for the 2023 ²ÞËùÇ¿¼é Camping World Drag Racing Series Pro titles as there are just two races and eight rounds of competition left in the season. The list of potential candidates has been narrowed in most classes, and in fact, two of the championships are nearly decided although no one has yet to clinch.

As we head to Nevada for the penultimate race of the season, and the ancestral home to Tricky Tipster, ²ÞËùÇ¿¼é’s resident odds-guru, favorites have emerged, and they include Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

TOP FUEL

The favorite: This is the time for the Capco team to remind everyone in Top Fuel what they’re made of. Over the last half-decade or so, Steve Torrence and his team have been thrust into just about every situation imaginable, and more often than not, they’ve come out on top. Torrence comes to Las Vegas in third place, but he’s just 13 points out of the lead, which means he could almost get there in qualifying. The Top Fuel class has never been tougher, but by a razor-thin margin, he’s our pre-race favorite.

The contenders: Leah Pruett, Doug Kalitta, and even Justin Ashley, Antron Brown, Mike Salinas, and Brittany Force are all alive in the title fight with Pruett the incoming leader and Kalitta a close second. Any one of them can win this race and would go a long way towards determining who wears the No. 1 next season.

Force has won two of the last three races here, and Brown won the springtime four-wide event held last April. Salinas has a win here in 2019, while Pruett was a runner-up in 2018. Ironically, the Strip hasn’t been particularly good to Kalitta as his lone victory came here in 2015.

The dark horse: Austin Prock is too far back to contend for a title, but this is still a very good team with a top notch driver, so they’re more than capable of hurting some feelings on race day. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Prock throw a few blocks on Sunday to help out teammate Force.

ODDS
Steve TorrenceÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Capco ContractorsÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý 4-1
Leah PruettÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Dodge Power BrokersÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý 5-1
Doug KalittaÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Mac ToolsÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 6-1
Antron BrownÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌý Matco ToolsÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 7-1
Justin AshleyÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Phillips ConnectÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 7-1
Clay MillicanÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Parts PlusÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 8-1
Mike SalinasÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ScrappersÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 9-1
Brittany ForceÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Monster EnergyÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 10-1
Austin ProckÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Montana BrandsÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 11-1
Shawn LangdonÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý DHL/Kalitta AirÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 13-1
FieldÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 19-1

FUNNY CAR

The favorite: After six wins, Matt Hagan finds himself in the top spot in Funny Car, largely because of a dominant performance two weeks ago in Dallas. The Funny Car battle has been a seesaw affair with no one able to maintain the advantage for long. Hagan has won the last two races here and has five Vegas wins overall. With a slim 36-point lead, he’s not able to clinch a title this weekend, but he can sure make things difficult for everyone behind him.

The contenders: It’s now or never time for contenders Bob Tasca III, Robert Hight, and Ron Capps, who are all within 99 points of Hagan in the close battle at the top. For each of them, Dallas was a missed opportunity that cannot be repeated. Capps and Tasca have recent wins here, while Hight was a runner-up to Hagan last season.

Outside of the four drivers mentioned, J.R. Todd, Tim Wilkerson, and even Dallas runner-up John Force would seem to have the best shot to pick up a late-season victory here.

The dark horse: We’re going to keep going with Chad Green because he’s long overdue to grab his first ²ÞËùÇ¿¼é Funny Car win. The Countdown to the Championship hasn’t been particularly kind to Green and his Bond Coat Ford team, but this is Las Vegas, a town that loves longshots.

ODDS:
Matt HaganÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌýÌýÌý Dodge Power Brokers DodgeÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý 4-1
Bob Tasca IIIÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌý Motorcraft FordÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 5-1
Robert HightÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌý Flav-R-Pak ChevyÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 6-1
Ron CappsÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌý NAPA ToyotaÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 6-1
J.R. ToddÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý DHL ToyotaÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 8-1
John ForceÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Peak/Blu Def ChevyÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 9-1
Chad GreenÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Bond Coat FordÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 10-1ÌýÌý Ìý
Tim WilkersonÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý SCAG Mowers FordÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 11-1
Alexis DeJoriaÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Bandero ToyotaÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 12-1
Cruz PedregonÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýSnap-on DodgeÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 14-1
Blake AlexanderÌýÌý ÌýÌý Pronto/Head Inc. FordÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 15-1
FieldÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 20-1

PRO STOCK

The favorite: Erica Enders doesn’t need to win in Las Vegas to successfully defend her 2022 Pro Stock championship, but there’s every reason to think she’s going to do it anyway. Enders is coming off what was easily her most impressive performance of the year in Dallas, and she’s headed to Las Vegas, a track that has been money for the Elite team for the better part of a decade. As for pressure, Enders shouldn’t be feeling too much of it. Sure, it’s not over until it’s over, but with an 85-point lead and a tremendous track record in Las Vegas, it will take a herculean effort to dislodge Enders from the top spot.

The contenders: The math is not in their favor, but for KB Titan drivers Greg Anderson, Dallas Glenn, and Matt Hartford, Las Vegas becomes nothing short of a must-win event. Even if one of them should win the race, they’ll be hoping to see someone other than Enders in the other lane for the final round.

Will the KB Titan team look to drop one, two, or possibly all three of their cars to the bottom of the ladder in order to secure an early match-up against Enders? At this point, desperate times call for desperate measures, so it’s likely that will happen. Sometimes, it works. Most times, it doesn’t.
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The dark horse: Let’s go with a real dark horse here and pick Jeg Coughlin Jr., who is returning to the sport after a three-year absence. Coughlin is easily one of the greatest drivers to ever strap into a Pro Stock car, and he’s kept his skills sharp by bracket racing. Nothing he does, including winning this race, would be a huge surprise.

ODDS

Erica EndersÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý JHG/Elite CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 2-1
Dallas GlennÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý RAD Torque Systems CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý 4-1
Matt HartfordÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Total Seal CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 5-1
Greg AndersonÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýHendrickCars.com CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý6-1
Aaron StanfieldÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýJanac Bros/J3 Energy CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý7-1
Troy Coughlin Jr.ÌýÌý ÌýÌý JEGS.com CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 8-1
Kyle KoretskyÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌý Lucas Oil/Nitro Fish CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý9-1
Deric KramerÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌý GetBioFuels CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 9-1
Camrie CarusoÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýTequila Comisario CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý 12-1
Cristian Cuadra ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Corral Boots MustangÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý 14-1
FieldÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 19-1

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

The favorite: Basically, the Las Vegas event will be a coronation for Gaige Herrera as the 2023 ²ÞËùÇ¿¼é Pro Stock Motorcycle champion as he’s got a huge lead in the standings and doesn’t need to do much more than qualify in order to win the title. Herrera already has nine wins this season, and his performance in Dallas was otherworldly with seven of eight runs in the 6.6s. He hasn’t seemed to respond to pressure this season anyway, and there isn’t much he’s going to feel this weekend. He’s as close to a sure thing as there is in drag racing.

The contenders: The battle between Eddie Krawiec and Matt Smith for the No. 2 spot is certainly worth watching, and should Herrera faulter, they should both be there to pick up the slack.

Also keep an eye on Hector Arana Jr., the defending Las Vegas winner, and Kelly Clontz, who made an insane 6.70 run in Dallas. It isn’t out of line to think either of them could win this race.

The dark horse: For what it’s worth, Steve Johnson won this race two years ago, and when things are just right, he’s got a bike that can get the job done. It’s been a rough year for the class’ most tenured rider, but from time to time, he’s still got the ability to surprise a few people.

ODDS

Gaige HerreraÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Vance & Hines/Mission SuzukiÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýEven
Eddie KrawiecÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌý Vance & Hines/Mission SuzukiÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý5-1
Matt SmithÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Denso SuzukiÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 6-1
Hector Arana Jr.ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý GETTRX BuellÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 7-1
Kelly ClontzÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Steamfitters UA 602 SuzukiÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý8-1
Joey GladstoneÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýPrecision Services SuzukiÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 7-1
Jianna EvaristoÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýScrappers SuzukiÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 10-1
Steve JohnsonÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý Mac Rak SuzukiÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 11-1
John HallÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý BRAKES SuzukiÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 14-1
FieldÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 19-1