Defending NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car world champ Robert Hight clinched his berth in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, and reigning Pro Stock king Mike Edwards locked up the No. 1 seed as the result of qualifying at the Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals in Sonoma.

Hight was the final of the four defending series champs to secure his reservation for the NHRA Full Throttle playoffs that begin at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil Sept. 1-6 and conclude at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals Nov. 11-14.

On Sunday, Matt Hagan, Jack Beckman, Tim Wilkerson, and Ron Capps also locked up their positions in the Funny Car playoffs, bringing to six the number of spots clinched in that class. Matt Smith, Andrew Hines, and Michael Phillips clinched their berths in Pro Stock Motorcycle, and Jason Line qualified in Pro Stock.

The 17-race regular season of the Countdown to the Championship runs through the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd Aug. 12-15 and sets 10-driver fields for the six-race Countdown to 1.

Clinched spots (in order of clinch)
Top Fuel
1. Larry Dixon
2. Tony Schumacher
3. Cory McClenathan
4. Doug Kalitta
5. Antron Brown
6. Brandon Bernstein

Funny Car
1. John Force
2. Robert Hight
3. Matt Hagan
4. Jack Beckman
5. Tim Wilkerson
6. Ron Capps

Pro Stock
1. Mike Edwards*
2. Allen Johnson
3. Greg Anderson
4. Jeg Coughlin Jr.
5. Jason Line

Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Hector Arana
2. Matt Smith
3. Andrew Hines
4. Michael Phillips

* Clinched No. 1 seed