After a career-best fourth-place finish in the in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle points standings last year, Scotty Pollacheck is back in the mix in the Countdown to the Championship in 2018.

Pollacheck, who rides for the Underdahl-Stoffer Pro Stock Motorcycle team with backing from Suzuki Extended Protection, enters the Countdown in the No. 7 points.

The first race of the six-race Countdown is Sept. 13-16 at the Dodge Nationals in Reading, Pa.

Pollacheck’s 2017 season was highlighted by eight semifinal finishes. He also captured his first career No. 1 qualifying position with a 6.822-second run at 196.76 mph Sept. 23 at the Dodge Nationals in Reading, Pa.

“It’s always a huge ordeal to make it into the top 10 because after Indy (the U.S. Nationals, which concluded Sept. 3), once you’re in the top 10 you can’t fall out of the top 10,” Pollacheck said. “So, you know for next year you’re going to get one of those single-digit numbers or possibly the No. 10, but it’s definitely a huge deal because there’s a lot of competitive motorcycles and riders out here and that’s what everybody is trying to do is get in that top 10, so yeah it’s huge.”

The veteran Pollacheck is still search for his first NHRA national event Wally. He has competed in 107 races and has six runner-up finishes, including this season in Atlanta when he lost to reigning world champion Harley-Davidson rider Eddie Krawiec in the finals.

It looks like Jerry Savoie is up on the tire. What's your take? https://t.co/9HQRTO4wgq

— Competition Plus (@competitionplus) September 13, 2018

Pollacheck lost in the first round of the U.S. Nationals to fellow Harley-Davidson rider Chip Ellis.

“We lost something and we’re looking for it still,” Pollacheck said with a laugh. “We’ve been struggling, but we’re making little steps of progress here and there. You can’t give up. We’re just going to keep fighting. We know there are only six races left and you have to make those counts and it makes it really fun.”

Pollacheck is thrilled to be a part of the Underdahl-Stoffer team.

“This team is awesome,” he said. “Everybody on the team, Gary and Karen (Stoffer), Greg, Jim and Jimmy (Underdahl), it is a great group of people and good equipment. It’s a great place to be.”