A recent online poll of avid NHRA fans presented the following statement and question: "Only four Funny Car drivers have qualified at all seven events this season. Who will miss next?"

The choices were Ron Capps, Gary Scelzi, Tony Pedregon, and Checker, Schuck's, Kragen blue team driver Jeff Arend. Throughout the course of the online voting, the "turnout" at the polls was enormous, as more than 19,000 fans cast their votes to show their opinion on the subject. In the end, the consensus was overwhelming, as 60 percent of the vote went for Arend to be the next to fall. A recent online poll of avid NHRA fans presented the following statement and question: "Only four Funny Car drivers have qualified at all seven events this season. Who will miss next?"

The choices were Ron Capps, Gary Scelzi, Tony Pedregon, and Checker, Schuck's, Kragen blue team driver Jeff Arend. Throughout the course of the online voting, the "turnout" at the polls was enormous, as more than 19,000 fans cast their votes to show their opinion on the subject. In the end, the consensus was overwhelming, as 60 percent of the vote went for Arend to be the next to fall.

The fact 11,503 people voted for him to make the next misstep did not escape Arend and his team, and they used the stat as "bulletin board material" in their transporter.

As it turned out in Topeka, Arend made it 8-for-8 by qualifying in the No. 8 spot. Big hitters Capps and Pedregon failed to make the field, thereby proving more than 11,000 “experts” wrong.

"We all thought it was kind of funny, and I really wasn't surprised, because those three guys are superstars," Arend said. "But we also took it to heart, and our mantra has been to prove more than 11,000 people wrong. I think we did that. I wouldn't have thought both Ronny and Tony would miss the field here, but this is what it's been about all season. Big names are going to miss the show every week, because the math says it has to be that way.

"The poll was a bit of a motivator, there's no doubt about that, but you can't just get all pumped up to be good out here. You have to be calm and methodical. But you know, if it wasn't in our minds, I don't think we would have all been talking about it today,” Arend said. “And I have to say that this isn't about anything other than trying to prove people wrong. I respect Ron and Tony immensely, but this was about how people perceive of us, and it mattered to a group of guys wearing blue CSK shirts. I'm really proud of this team."