NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

A sizable crowd made their way to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday for the opening day of the 4 Wide Nationals. After a pair of mid-day qualifying runs, Doug Kalitta, Bob Tasca III, and Jeg Coughlin Jr., and the provisional low qualifiers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock, respectively.

Kalitta, the reigning world champ, has quickly adapted to his new two-race old Mac Tools dragster with a 3.779 in Q1 that held as the quickest pass of the day. Steve Torrence currently sits in the No. 2 spot with a 3.800 in his Capco Contractors entry while Antron Brown’s 3.803 is good for the No. 3 spot after two of four runs.

Bob Tasca III made what was arguably the best run of the day in any class when he clocked a 3.931 in his Mustang, which is wearing yellow and black BG colors this weekend. Tasca is one of four Funny Car drivers in the threes including Phoenix winner Austin Prock (3.947), Pomona winner John Force (3.962) and Daniel Wilkerson (3.993). After two runs, the Funny Car bump is a very respectable 4.117 by Jeff Diehl.

To no one’s surprise, the Pro Stock field is right with all 16 current qualifiers sandwiched between Coughlin’s 6.641 and the current bump of 6.719 held by Matt Hartford’s GETTRX Camaro. Coughlin is being pursued by Greg Anderosn, Jerry Tucker, Troy Coughlin Jr., Dallas Glenn, Fernando Cuada Jr., Brandon Foster, and Eric Latino who are each qualified in the quick half of the field.

Saturday’s packed scheduled includes not only the final two rounds of professional qualifying, but also the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. The Top Fuel class includes the semifinal finishers from last week’s race in Phoenix including Justin Ashley, Tony Stewart, Steve Torrence, and Shawn Langdon.

In Funny Car, Austin Prock, Blake Alexander, Alexis DeJoria, and J.R. Todd will battle for the Misison bonus cash and points while the Pro Stock field will consist of Jeg Coughlin Jr., Greg Anderson, Dallas Glenn, and Aaron Stanfield.

Saturday will also feature the final qualifying rounds in the Holley EFI Factory X class, which is making its debut as a championship category this weekend. After one run, Aaron Stanfield is he provisional polesitter with a 7.14 run in his Janac Bros. Camaro.

2023 EVENT WINNERS
Antron Brown, Top Fuel; Matt Hagan, Funny Car; Dallas Glenn, Pro Stock

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.652 seconds by Brittany Force, Nov. '19; 338.17 mph by  Force, Nov., ‘19.
Funny Car - 3.816 seconds by Robert Hight, Nov. '23; 335.90 mph by Jack Beckman, Nov. '19.
Pro Stock - 6.552 seconds by Kyle Koretsky, Oct. '23; 210.28 mph by Erica Enders, Oct. '10.

NATIONAL RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. ‘19, Reading, Pa.; 338.94 mph by B. Force, Nov. ‘22, Pomona.
Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd, Minn.; 339.87 mph by Hight, July ’17, Sonoma, Calif.
Pro Stock - 6.450 sec. by Erica Enders, Mar. ’22, Gainesville, Fla.; 215.55 mph by Enders, May ’14, Englishtown N.J.

SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, April13: Lucas Oil Series eliminations at 8 a.m.; Pro Stock qualifying at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying at noon and 2:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, April 14: Pre-race ceremony, 10 a.m.; eliminations begin at noon.

TELEVISION

SUNDAY, April 14: FS1 will televise one hours of qualifying highlights at 11:00 a.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, April 14:  FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 7:00 p.m. (ET).