²ÞËùÇ¿¼é

Excuse Tipster for a second while he savors last week’s Lucas Oil ²ÞËùÇ¿¼é Arizona Nationals, where he successfully picked Shawn Langdon and Austin Prock to win in Top Fuel and Funny Car, and also had Pro Stock winner Greg Anderson at a respectable 6-1.

Now, we move on to the famed Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the first of back-to-back four-wide events. We see few reasons to deviate from the script, especially in Top Fuel and Pro Stock, while we’re going to make a slight adjustment in Funny Car and give the nod to J.R. Todd as the pre-race favorite.

TOP FUEL

The favorite: Shawn Langdon is two for three on the young season, and one gets the feeling that new crew chief Brian Husen has only scratched the surface of what the Kalitta Air team is capable of.

Langdon has had arguably the best car at the first three events, and he’s certainly shown to be the best driver, or darn close to it. That combination lends itself well to success at four-wide events, where the driver typically plays a bigger role in the team’s success. As a sidenote, Langdon also played crew chief last week for Super Comp winner Madison Payne, so to suggest he’s rolling into Las Vegas on a hot streak would be a big understatement.

The contenders:Ìý Justin Ashley made headlines last week with two holeshot wins against eight-time world champ Tony Schumacher, and his worst light on Sunday was a respectable .060, so there’s every reason to think he’ll be right alongside Langdon when the final quad comes to the starting line.

Steve and Billy Torrence have yet to show their full potential this season, but they’re both in the top four in the points, so things aren’t too bad in Capco-land. We’re also waiting for the big awakening from reigning champ Doug Kalitta and Antron Brown, and while we’re at it, let’s see what Brittany Force and her team can do in Las Vegas.

The dark horse: Perhaps dark horse isn’t the best description for Tony Schumacher because he remains the sport’s most successful Top Fuel racer, and he’s actually off to a decent start this season with a runner-up in Pomona. Regardless, a pair of holeshot losses is tough for anyone to take, and the best medicine is a win light or two (or three). Schumacher will have a chance to do just that in Las Vegas, which has been the sight of some of his most memorable moments.

ODDS
Shawn LangdonÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Kalitta AirÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 3-1
Justin AshleyÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Scag Power EquipmentÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý4-1
Steve TorrenceÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Capco ContractorsÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌý 5-1
Billy TorrenceÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Capco ContractorsÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 6-1
Antron BrownÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Matco ToolsÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 7-1
Doug KalittaÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Mac ToolsÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 8-1
Brittany ForceÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Monster EnergyÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 9-1
Tony SchumacherÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Leatherwood DistilleriesÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý11-1
Tony StewartÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Mobil 1ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 12-1
Clay MillicanÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Parts PlusÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 14-1
FieldÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 19-1

FUNNY CAR

The favorite: We picked Austin Prock last weekend, and he came through in a big way, so why isn’t he the favorite this weekend? Well, one could easily make the case for the first-year Funny Car phenom, but four-wide racing usually hits different, and even though Prock has a bit of experience in four-wide events in Top Fuel, we’re gonna give a slight nod to J.R. Todd, who is the current points leader. We might regret this decision later, but it’s rarely a bad idea to put the DHL car at or near the top of the standings.

The contenders: We can go ahead and call Prock the co-favorite along with Todd, but that status can also apply to Matt Hagan, Bob Tasca III, and Ron Capps, all of whom are looking to bounce back after a less than memorable weekend in Phoenix. Hagan is the defending event winner, while Capps won this event in 2022 and Tasca scored here in 2021.

We cannot overlook the early season success of John Force, who didn’t just win the hail-delayed final round from Pomona but looked awfully good doing it. We’ve already had three different winners in the first three races in Funny Car, and Tipster has to think that number swells to eight or more by the end of the season.

The dark horse: There’s a number of ways we could go here, including Paul Lee, who has made great strides, or Blake Alexander, but fresh off a runner-up finish, we’re going with Alexis DeJoria, who has won a pair of events in Las Vegas and showed a dramatic improvement last weekend. Strange things happen in four-wide events, so a DeJoria victory would not be a huge surprise.

ODDS
J.R. ToddÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý DHL ToyotaÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 4-1
Austin ProckÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Cornwell Tools ChevyÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌý 5-1
Matt HaganÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Dodge Power Brokers DodgeÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 6-1
John ForceÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Peak/Blu Def ChevyÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý 7-1
Bob Tasca IIIÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Motorcraft FordÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 8-1
Ron CappsÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý NAPA ToyotaÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 9-1
Chad GreenÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Bondcoat FordÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 10-1ÌýÌý Ìý
Alexis DeJoriaÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Bandero ToyotaÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 12-1
Daniel WilkersonÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌý SCAG Mowers FordÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý12-1
Blake AlexanderÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Pronto/Head Inc. FordÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý 14-1
Cruz PedregonÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌý Snap-on DodgeÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 15-1
FieldÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 18-1

PRO STOCK

The favorite: We went into Phoenix thinking Erica Enders might sweep the entire weekend, including the Pomona final, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty ²ÞËùÇ¿¼é Challenge, and the reigning and six-time champ went 1-for-3. While the Elite team undoubtedly left Phoenix disappointed, they have much to look forward to because Las Vegas has been a virtual ATM for Enders during her career. Since 2014, Enders has bagged 10 wins in Las Vegas, including a sweep of both events in 2022.

The Phoenix event threw almost every ²ÞËùÇ¿¼é Pro team a curveball with some unusual weather, but that shouldn’t be an issue here. Look for a very tight field, and the driver who prevails on Sunday will be the one with the best use of the left (clutch) foot.

The contenders: Throughout his career, Dallas Glenn has shown that he can consistently cut lights with the best drivers in the class, including Enders. That was certainly the case last weekend when he won the Pomona final and thenscored a runner-up on Sunday. Glenn also has two Las Vegas titles to his credit, including last year’s four-wide race.

In addition to Glenn, we like veterans Greg Anderson, who appeared to find the Fountain of Youth in his Phoenix win last week, and Jeg Coughlin Jr., who apparently doesn’t need the Fountain of Youth because he appears to have lost nothing from his championship seasons and his recent time off. There are a lot of talented young drivers in the Pro Stock ranks, but their road to the top goes through the veterans in the class who are still more than competitive.

The dark horse: Is this the weekend where Cristian Cuadra finally gets it done? The Corral Boots driver has been close on numerous occasions, including the season opener in Gainesville earlier this year and the 2022 Las Vegas four-wide, where he dropped a tough race against Enders. There isn’t anyone in the Pro Stock pits who doesn’t think Cuadra will win races. His time is coming, and soon.

ODDS

Erica EndersÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý JHG/Elite CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 3-1
Dallas GlennÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌý RAD Torque Systems CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý 4-1
Greg AndersonÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý HendrickCars.com CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌý 5-1
Jeg Coughlin Jr.ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý SCAG Power Equipment CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌý 6-1
Aaron StanfieldÌýÌý ÌýÌý Janac Bros/J3 Energy CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý 7-1
Troy Coughlin Jr.ÌýÌý ÌýJEGS.com CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 7-1
Cristian Cuadra ÌýÌý ÌýCorral Boots MustangÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 9-1
Matt HartfordÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýTotal Seal CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 10-1
David CuadraÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý Ìý Corral Boots CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 11-1
Mason McGahaÌýÌý ÌýHarlow Sammons CamaroÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 12-1
FieldÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý 19-1