NEWS NUGGETS
FULL THROTTLE TOP FUEL WORLD CHAMPION
Del Worsham
Al-Anabi Racing Dragster
Round Win/Loss Record: 53–14
No. 1 Qualifiers: 7
2011 Race Wins: 8
2011 Runner-up Finishes: 3
Season Summary: After competing 20 years in the Funny Car class, Worsham began his first full season in Top Fuel competition by racing to the win at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals and the points lead. From there, Worsham held the points lead throughout the regular season and entered the Countdown to the Championship at the top of the Top Fuel class. Back-to-back second-round losses in Charlotte and Dallas—the first two races of the Countdown—bumped Worsham down to third in the standings. But with a runner-up finish in Reading and a win in Las Vegas, Worsham clinched his first NHRA world championship with his semifinal round win over Spencer Massey at the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona. Worsham would go on to win the event—his eighth of the season.