NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The driving prowess of NHRA’s pro racers will once again be tested as the 4-Wide Nationals races to a conclusion on Sunday at zMax Dragway. The low qualifiers for the event include reigning world champs Doug Kalitta and Gaige Herrera, as well as John Force and Greg Anderson in  Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, respectively.

Kalitta, the winner of the recent four wide event in Las Vegas, secured the top spot on Friday with a 3.691 in his Mac Tools dragster and he’ll race in a quad that also features Cody Krohn, Shawn Reed, and Jasmine Salinas.

The only other car in the 3.6s is No. 2 qualifier Antron Brown, who also made his best run on Friday at 3.698. Brown will have a tough quad to start as he’s matched against Brittany Force, Steve Torrence, and Shawn Langdon in a quad that represents nine world titles.

Another tough quad will highlight Billy Torrence, Tony Schumacher, Josh Hart, and Clay Millican while the final quad includes Tony Stewart, Doug Foley, Dan Mercier, and current championship leader Justin Ashley, winner of Saturday’s Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.

John Force, who recently won his 156th career race in Funny Car, is the leader at 3.820-seconds, the quickest run of his long career. Force will take his Peak Camaro up against Cruz Pedregon, Chad Green, and John Smith.

Bob Tasca III won the Mission Challenge on Saturday and landed in the No. 2 spot with a 3.834 at 338 mph. Tasca will take on Paul Lee, Daniel Wilkerson and Jim Campbell on Sunday.

Alexis DeJoria, Buddy Hull, Ron Capps, and Gainesville winner J.R. Todd will make up another quad while the final foursome will include Austin Prock, Matt Hagan, Dave Richards, and Blake Alexander.

The Pro Stock field is extremely competitive with just .042-second separating the entire 16-car field. Anderson has the top spot with a 6.500, but his advantage over the rest of the field is negligible. Anderson’s day will begin against David Cuadra, Dallas Glenn, and Sienna Wildgust.

Cristian Cuadra, the No. 2 qualifier, has to race against his brother, Fernando Jr., Mason McGaha, as well as reigning champ and Mission Challenge winner Erica Enders.

Jeg Coughlin Jr., Troy Coughlin Jr., Deric Kramer, and Dave Connolly will race in a quad that will almost certainly feature some very competitive reaction times while the final quad includes Aaron Stanfield, Brandon Foster, Eric Latino, and Jerry Tucker.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera continued his domination of the class with a 6.671 to lead the field along with a win in Saturday’s Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Herrera, who has been the low qualifier in 16 of the last 17 events, does not have an easy path to the final as he’s got to race against Hector Arana Sr., Steve Johnson, and reigning rookie of the year Chase Van Sant.

Matt Smith made a strong bid for the top qualifying spot and the North Carolina native faces off against Kelly Clontz, Hector Arana Jr., and Ron Tornow.

The third quad highlights Smiths’ wife, Angie, teammate, John Hall,  Chris Bostick, and Marc Ingwersen while the final quartet features LE Tonglet, Richard Gadson, Jianna Evaristo, and Ryan Oehler.

Champions will also be crowned in Holley EFI Factory X, Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock, and a full roster of Lucas Oil Series sportsman classes.

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; 338.57 mph by Bob Tasca III, April  '24.
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

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)