NHRA's Competition Eliminator is often referred to as complicated eliminator. However, as sixteen of the best Comp racers suit up Thursday afternoon to compete for the largest purse in the history during the first day of the NHRA Nevada Nationals, there's nothing complicated about the monumental challenge those racers face in the RoofTec Las Vegas Cash Clash. 

There's a purse of $75,000 on the line, with the winner taking home $50,000 of the massive purse. Add in a Calcutta-style auction that delivered over $100,000 in additional bonus purse, and the winner will take home an additional $50,000 to the winner. 

The shootout-style event marks the division's second specialty. In September, its winner received $80.000 at the RoofTec Comp Cash Clash at the NHRA U.S. Nationals. The Rooftec Competition Eliminator Bonus Fund will pay out $750,000 in this year's program. 

Rodger Brogdon, the driving force behind the investment that has resurrected Competition Eliminator, believes the cash and 

"It's as tough as racing as you will ever see," Brogdon said. "Back when I started racing in Comp, there would be about 40 cars in Division 4. The class is undoubtedly expensive to run, and it fell off, but it's grown back."

Don Thomas is the NHRA Competition Eliminator racer who stands to benefit the most this weekend. 

Thomas, who races a B/Econo Dragster, won the inaugural RoofTec Comp Cash Clash in 2023 in Indianapolis and enters the event as the top seed. If he can win the RoofTec Las Vegas Cash Clash and clinch the  Competition Eliminator Bonus Fund championship, he could leave with a hearty $350,000 for his efforts. 

It's only fitting that Thomas is in this position, considering he is the only driver in the series three years to win two RoofTec Competition Eliminator Bonus Fund Series events in one season. 

"I couldn't have dreamed it, honestly, at the beginning of the year," said Thomas, who won last year's inaugural RoofTec Comp Cash Clash at the 2023 NHRA U.S. Nationals. "I was hoping just to be able to drive out here with a chance. So to be in first place, I don't know, it comes with, I guess, a certain amount of pressure, but it feels real good. I can't believe it, honestly.

"It's hard to really wrap your mind around, honestly. To think about being able to win that much money drag racing on a sportsman level, but that's thanks to Rodger Brogdon and his team. Everybody that's worked hard to put this deal together deserves a lot of credit."

The first-round pairings were determined by a chip draw, and being the first seed, Thomas drew No. 4 ranked Taylor Chomiski. 

"There are definitely no easy draws, that's for sure," Thomas said. "You look around for a slow car, but there isn't one out there. And where's the bad driver? There ain't one. It's all battle royale. It's really good. I think it's pretty neat that Comp has got a really big spotlight on it for this, and I really think all of us as a whole have really done a good job of making Comp look good, in my opinion. All of them. There's been some great racing. I talk to people all over the country that, man, we're tuning in because it's great racing. So it's fun."

Bear in mind that for the last two seasons, since Brogdon's RoofTec brand got involved in boosting Competition Eliminator, every Competition Eliminator Bonus Fund Series event has required the winning driver to compete in five rounds of competition, both on the national and divisional levels. 

Rick Brown, the second-seeded driver, led the points chase for most of the season. His work will be cut out for him, considering his B/Truck Automatic entry has one of the slower indexes in the division. Brown's head will have to be on swivel at all times to judge the finish line so as not to lose a race or take a hit to his index, which will affect future races. 

"The biggest part is doing your job starting line, which I always try to do, and then watching the other end," Brown said. "Watching the other end, because the way the weather is this weekend, that's the intimidating part, how much are we going to lose? I'm getting chased all the time. There's only one other car slower than me

"Being chased and the weather this weekend and how fast this thing could possibly go, and personal index and the actual permanent index for the whole class, that's the big intimidating factor, is how much is each one of us going to lose here? Because I think the potential is for all 16 cars in the top to lose some here. Not during the Cash Clash, but during the eliminator easily."

For Brown, the 72-year-old drag racer from Weatherford, Tex., a $100,000 payday, coupled with a mathematical chance to secure the $250,000 series championship, could help the bottom line. 

"We need to win this race for our retirement," Brown said with his trademark smile. "We're not broke by any means, but we don't travel or do luxurious things, and we might have an opportunity to do something after this. That's our goal. I need Don to lose first round and I need to win the the race. Basically, that's the whole story."

Series sponsor Brogdon ended up seeded third heading into the RoofTec Las Vegas Cash Clash. While he's created something incredible for the class, he's created a monster that's been tough for the defending NHRA Division 4 Comp champion to tackle.

"It was easy; everybody would be doing it," Brogdon said. "If you go out there and do something easy every weekend. What have you accomplished if you go out there and you win a race with six people showing up? To me, you ain't done nothing. Not being disrespectful to the guys who choose to race that way. But you notice those guys who race that way don't come race in my program, do they?"

Brogdon's investment into Comp has raised the participation level by at least 75-percent and 100-percent or more at other races.

"I've told Rodger, I think you've made a bigger impact than you think," Thomas added. "I said, 'But we're sportsmen racers. We have jobs. People from Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan can't just take off and come down here every time we race. So you've made a huge impact. You may not have drawn them, but I just don't think it's possible for them." 

"And consider St. Louis, there were 36 cars, and within 24 hours, when the race was moved to Dallas, they ended up with 11. I texted him, I said, 'You don't think you're making a difference, but you're making a hell of a difference."

Racers in Competition Eliminator will receive two qualifying runs on Thursday. Then, those in the RoofTec Vegas Comp Cash Clash will race the first two rounds. The final two rounds will be contested on Friday. 

Other first-round pairings include David Triplett vs. Jeff Taylor, Jason Grima vs. Scott Linder, Glen Treadwell vs. Kayla Mozeris, defending series champion Chase Williams vs. Clint Neff, and 2022 Series Champion Adam Hickey vs. Cali Neff.