2022 NHRA Virginia Nationals Sportsman Preview
2022 NHRA Virginia Nationals Sportsman Preview from Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond, Virginia
Cover photo courtesy of NHRA.tv
RICHMOND – The NHRA traveling road show heads to Virginia Motorsports Park this week for the Virginia Nationals. VMP is a great facility and racers should compete in front of a jam packed crowd after the event was shuttered the last two seasons.
After correctly picking two winners and just missing with two runner-ups at the SpringNationals, we missed slightly at the Four-Wide Nationals. In Charlotte, we picked John Labbous to win Super Comp and Keith Mayers in Super Street but both came up short in the final round.
The NHRA Virginia Nationals will showcase over 145 Lucas Oil sportsman racers competing in six different classes. The schedule includes Competition Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Top Dragster.
Before we look ahead to the 2022 NHRA Virginia Nationals, let’s look back at the 2019 event champions.
2019 NHRA Virginia Nationals Champions
Super Stock – Joe Santangelo
Stock Eliminator – Wallace Dent
Super Comp – Chris Garretson
Super Gas – Tom Goldman
Top Dragster – Chad Traylor
2022 NHRA Virginia Nationals Predictions
With each NHRA national event DragChamp’s sportsman preview includes an overview of each class. In addition, we select the DragChamp Picks to win the race. Here are this week’s picks.
Comp Eliminator – 13 Car Field
Another light Comp field this week as the class struggles to attract more than low teen entries. Even with the low turnout, the entry list includes a number of hitters including world champ Bruno Massel, David Eaton, and John Frech. Bill Skillman, fresh off a runner-up at the Four-Wides, will try to go the distance this week.
DragChamp picks to win:
David Eaton – The fast altered runner won the Gators a couple of months ago, look for more of the same this week
Super Stock – 34 Car Field
Joe Santangelo was the class of the field the last time the NHRA visited VMP but he’s not on the entry list this week. Joe Lisa hopes to pull off the double after winning the Four-Wide Nationals two weeks ago while Jeff Longhany looks to improve on his runner-up showing in Charlotte.
DragChamp picks to win:
Nick Chiles – I love the modified Cobalt’s and Nick has enjoyed tons of success with his
Mark Alvey – Division 2 ace has a knack for making final round appearances
Stock Eliminator – 33 Car Field
Wallace Dent picked up his first NHRA Wally at the 2019 Virginia Nationals. I’m sure he’d love a repeat performance this week. To pull off the repeat, he’ll have to contend with a list of hitters including Matt Lisa, Jeff Strickland, Steve Foley, and Cody Phillips.
DragChamp picks to win:
Cody Phillips – For the second race in a row, I’m going to pick a Corvette for the win, Cody is due for a big win
Steve Foley – He’s been so close for the last year, he’s bound to hit the jackpot soon!
Super Comp – 27 Car Field
Chris Garretson outsmarted the field in 2019 with his low-mph top-end throttle stop but like Santangelo, he’s not on the entry list this week. That means the field will not have to deal with a 50+ mph difference at the finish line lol. John Labbous comes in hot after a runner-up at the Four-Wide Nationals, we’ll see if he can ride that momentum to the winners circle.
DragChamp picks to win:
Ken Moses – All this dude does is win, win, win!
Vincent Nobile – Former Pro Stock driver has the talent to get it done in the 8.90 index class
Super Gas – 30 Car Field
Like a number of the previous event winners, Tom Goldman is skipping this year’s event. That leaves the door open for someone new to hoist the Virginia Nationals Super Gas Wally on Sunday. Rusty Cook is riding high coming off a runner-up at the Four-Wide Nationals which could spell trouble for the rest of the class.
DragChamp picks to win:
Rusty Cook – Look for the veteran .90 racer to improve on his recent runner-up
Jason Kenny – This guy holds a ton and drives the stripe well, that tends to turn on a lot of win lights in Super Gas
Top Dragster – 10 Car Field
The Top Dragster class is extremely small this week with only ten racers on the entry list but don’t let that fool you. Every racer in attendance this week is a hitter and any one of them could be holding the Wally on Sunday. Chad Traylor returns to defend his 2019 title and try to extend his win streak at VMP.
DragChamp pick to win:
Alan Kenny – Kinda thinking it may be an all-Kenny winners circle on Sunday afternoon
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