The Countdown to the Championship rules are simple: If you're in the top 10 after race 18, you're in the six-race playoff. The math is simple, but getting in is proving a lot more difficult for some of the preseason favorites.

Certainly chief among that group would be four-time NHRA POWERade champion Gary Scelzi, who still finds himself on the outside looking in. But after reaching the Funny Car semi's in Topeka and the quarterfinals in Chicago, the driver of the Mopar/Oakley Dodge finds himself just eight points behind rookie Bob Tasca III for the final playoff berth in Funny Car.

Another preseason favorite, Pro Stock racer Dave ConnoEy, suffered a setback in Chicago. Sponsorship ...

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