NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

After a solid opening day of qualifying, the annual 4-Wide Nationals continues on Saturday at zMax Dragway with two more rounds of qualifying and the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.

Doug Kalitta, John Force, Greg Anderson, and Matt Smith, who have combined for 28 world championships, set the pace in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Kalitta, coming off a win in Las Vegas, wheeled his Mac Tools dragster to a 3.691 to take the top spot in Top Fuel. Kalitta edged Antro Brown, who also ran in the 3.6s with a 3.698 in his Matco dragster. Billy Torrence, Tony Stewart, Shawn Langdon, Clay Millican, Jasmine Salinas, and Shawn Reed make up the top half of the Top Fuel field.

Last night, ageless Force gave the zMax fans a show when he drove his Peak Camaro to a career best 3.820 to take the provisional pole in Funny Car. Force knocked Bob Tasca III from the top spot after Tasca had previously run 3.894 in his Motorcraft Ford Mustang.

A mere five hundredths of a second separates the entire Pro Stock field after two runs, from Greg Anderson’s 6.500 to the current bump of 6.553 by Fernando Cuadra Sr., who is participating in his final event as a pro driver. Cristian Cuadra, Aaron Stanfield, defending event winner Deric Kramer, Jerry Tucker, David Cuadra, Fernando Cuadra Jr., and Dallas Glenn make up the top half of the Pro Stock field.

Matt Smith tested his four V-twin bikes extensively after the Pro Stock Motorcycle season opener in Gainesville and it paid big dividends as the six-time world champion leads the way after two two runs with a 6.685 on his Denso Buell. Smith leads world champ Gaige Herrera, who has qualified in the top spot at 15 of the 16 previous events.

The top eight bikes are in the 6.7s including Steve Johnson, who is No. 8 at 6.790. LE Tonglet, Angie Smith, John Hall, Richard Gadson, and Hector Arana Jr. also enter Saturday as top-half qualifiers.

The highlight of Saturday’s show will be the continuation of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, which will utilize the four wide format. The eight quarterfinalists from Las Vegas in Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock will race for bonus points and extra money while the quarterfinalist from the Pro Stock Motorcycle opener in Gainesville will also return.

2023 EVENT WINNERS
Austin Prock, Top Fuel; Robert Hight, Funny Car; Deric Kramer, Pro Stock; Gaige Herrera, Pro Stock Motorcycle

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.647 seconds by Mike Salinas, Sept. '23; 338.00 mph by  Salinas, Sept., ‘23.
Funny Car - 3.820 seconds by John Force, April '24; 335.57 mph by Ron Capps, Sept. '23.
Pro Stock - 6.455 seconds by Jason Line, March '15; 215.48 mph by Greg Anderson, March '15.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.706 seconds by Gaige Herrera, Sept. ’23; 203.49 mph by Eddie Krawiec, May ’21.

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.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.627 sec. by Gaige Herrera, Oct. ’23, Ennis, Texas; 205.04 mph by Matt Smith, July ’21, Sonoma, Calif.

SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, April27: Lucas Oil Series eliminations at 8 a.m.; Pro Stock qualifying at noon and 2:15 p.m.; Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying at 12:45 p.m. and 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, April 14: Pre-race ceremony, 11 a.m.; eliminations begin at noon.

TELEVISION

SUNDAY, April 28: FS1 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 a.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, April 28: FS1 will televise three hours of final eliminations at 6 p.m. (ET)