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Keeping NHRA Fans Up to Date

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Ron Capps and the NAPA team make a change for the better

Down to their last qualifying run, Ron Capps and crew chief Rahn Tobler make a bold move by changing cars.
28 Apr 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
capps
Being bashful is not a trait that’s ingrained in many NHRA crew chiefs so it shouldn’t be surprising that Rahn Tobler barely flinches when asked about his decision to change cars prior to yesterday’s fourth and final qualifying run. Tobler and…
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What, me worry? Despite winless season to date, Torrence remains confident

After finishing the 2018 season with an unprecedented six-race win-streak sweep of the Countdown to the Championship, world champ Steve Torrence is winless through five Top Fuel races this season. Is he worried? Hardly.
28 Apr 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Race coverage
Steve Torrence
After finishing the 2018 season with an unprecedented six-race win-streak sweep of the Countdown to the Championship, world champ Steve Torrence is winless through five Top Fuel races this season. Is he worried? Hardly. “Honestly, you look at the…
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Who's next? How about Cory Reed or Joey Gladstone?

Is the Reed Motorsports team preparing for a breakthrough first victory? Cory Reed certainly seems to think so.
28 Apr 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
reed
Now that Mike Salinas has his first Top Fuel victory who will be NHRA’s next first-time pro winner? Some worthy candidates include nitro rookies Jordan Vandergriff and Austin Prock, or perhaps Scott Palmer, Jonnie Lindberg, Fernando Cuadra, or even…
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NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Sunday preview

Welcome to raceday at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. After two days of qualifying, Sunday promises to be a real four-wide shootout.
28 Apr 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
Charlotte
Welcome to raceday at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. After two days of qualifying, Sunday promises to be a real four-wide shootout among the three Mello Yello classes as well as the E3 Pro Mods and Mountain Motor Pro…
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Charlotte Funny Car Saturday results: Q4

Robert Hight earned his fourth No. 1 start in six events this season by stealing the pole from Friday leader Jack Beckman with a 3.883.
27 Apr 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
Race coverage
Robert Hight
Robert Hight earned his fourth No. 1 start in six events this season by stealing the pole from Friday leader Jack Beckman with a 3.883. Hight's Auto Club Chevy had the best run of a strong session in which his boss, John Force, was next quickest…
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Charlotte Top Fuel Saturday results: Q3

Incoming qualifying leader Mike Salinas didn’t better his 3.68 Friday field leader, but the Scrappers Racing pilot let everyone know he was ready for Sunday eliminations with a best-of-session 3.728.
27 Apr 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Race coverage
Mike Salinas
Incoming qualifying leader Mike Salinas didn’t better his 3.68 Friday field leader, but the Scrappers Racing pilot let everyone know he was ready for Sunday eliminations with a best-of-session 3.728. The fuel dragsters seemed to finally find…
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Mike Salinas, Robert Hight, Karen Stoffer claim top qualifying spots in Charlotte

Mike Salinas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the top qualifiers for the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway and will lead their respective fields into eliminations Sunday.
27 Apr 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
hight1
Mike Salinas, Robert Hight, and Karen Stoffer ended Friday's qualifying as the leaders in Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock Motorcycle respectively, and both managed to hang on to their positions following both of Saturday's qualifying rounds…
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Charlotte Saturday Photo Gallery

Photo highlights from the second day of the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
27 Apr 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
Photo Gallery
Photo highlights from the second day of the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. North Carolina race fans packed the pits at zMAX Dragway, eager to check out the stars and cars of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag…
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Charlotte Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying results: Q3

Karen Stoffer captured the fourth pole of her career, and her first since the 2015 season at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.
27 Apr 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
stoffer1
Karen Stoffer captured the fourth pole of her career, and her first since the 2015 season at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Stoffer's 6.793 from Saturday's first session withstood a barrage of strong runs in Q3 but held up for the top…
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Antron Brown: Looking back while still looking ahead

The day before he saddled up in the Matco Tools dragster for his first qualifying run of the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals marked the 20-year anniversary of Antron Brown’s first career win. He still looks back on those formative days that made him what he is and helps him get through the rough patches.
27 Apr 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Race coverage
Antron Brown
The day before he saddled up in the Matco Tools dragster for his first qualifying run of the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals marked the 20-year anniversary of Antron Brown’s first career win. Brown’s breakthrough win came April 25,…
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Charlotte Top Fuel Saturday results: Q2

Reigning world champ Steve Torrence had the best run of the second Top Fuel session, racing his Capco Contractors dragster to a 3.756. Friday leader Mike Salinas stayed atop the pack with his 3.687.
27 Apr 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Race coverage
Steve Torrence
Reigning world champ Steve Torrence had the best run of the second Top Fuel session, racing his Capco Contractors dragster to a 3.756. Doug Kalitta backed up his Friday pass of 3.733 with a solid 3.779 as did Terry McMillen, whose 3.794 was a nice…
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Charlotte Funny Car qualifying results: Q3

Robert Hight, Jack Beckman, and Tommy Johnson Jr. were the quickest drivers in the third Funny Car qualifying session.
27 Apr 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
hight
Robert Hight, Jack Beckman, and Tommy Johnson Jr. were the quickest drivers in the third Funny Car qualifying session. Hight, the current points leader and winner of three of the first five events of the season, backed up last night's 3.93-second…
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Charlotte Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying results: Q2

Karen Stoffer betters Friday's run to lead Q2 while teammates Joey Gladstone and Cory Reed make big gains at zMax Dragway.
27 Apr 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
gladstone
Karen Stoffer's Friday run at zMax Dragway was obviously no fluke after she rode Jerry Savoie's Suzuki to a 6.793 to lead Q2. Stoffer picked up an additional three bonus points after making the best run of her long career. She held off four-time…
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Stoffer quickly adjusts to life with the WAR team

Karen Stoffer has big expectations for her first season as a member of Jerry Savoie’s White Alligator Suzuki team.
27 Apr 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
stoffer2
Every year since her debut in 1996, Karen Stoffer has got to the starting line with the comfort that comes with knowing her husbang, Gary, has her back. Gary Stoffer is still Karen’s biggest supporter, and she’s still and integral part of the team…
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Don Schumacher Racing, Okuma expand partnership to include racecar sponsorships

Don Schumacher Racing has expanded the team’s ongoing partnership with Okuma to include a primary sponsorship of Leah Pritchett’s Top Fuel dragster at three NHRA events in 2019, and associate support of Tommy Johnson Jr.’s Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Funny Car.
27 Apr 2019
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
DSR
Don Schumacher Racing has expanded the team’s ongoing partnership with Okuma, a leading machine tool manufacturer, to include a primary sponsorship of Leah Pritchett’s Top Fuel dragster at three NHRA events in 2019, and associate support of Tommy…
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What drives Mike Salinas?

Mike Salinas didn't ponder long after his breakthrough win in Las Vegas. After a celebratory ice cream, for him it was a simple as, "OK, now that I've proven I can win, let's go win again." He makes no bones about it: He expects success. He's a goal setter and a problem solver, whether it's in his business or his racing.
27 Apr 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Race coverage
Mike Salinas
Three weeks ago in Las Vegas, Mike Salinas realized a dream years in the making when he hoisted the Wally trophy after winning NHRA’s four-wide event in Las Vegas.  Of course he got congratulatory calls and texts from a lot of his racing…
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Confidence and experience have Clontz optimistic about year two

Second-year Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Kelly Clontz has become a consistent qualifier on her Steamfitters Union Local 602 Suzuki.
27 Apr 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
clontz
Kelly Clontz ran all 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle events last season and she experienced a lot of memorable moments including her first professional round win in Dallas. Armed with a full-year's experience, and a new sponsor, the Steamfitters Union Local…
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NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Saturday preview

The second of two four-wide races of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues today with two qualifying sessions at zMAX Dragway outside of Charlotte, N.C.
27 Apr 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
charlotte
NHRA teams faced adversity yesterday after rain and high winds interrputed the opening day of the NGK Spark Plugs Four-Wide Nationals but Mike Salinas, Jack Beckman, and Karen Stoffer managed to adapt to the changes and head into Saturday's final…
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Gilbertson gives North Carolina nitro fans a favorite to cheer for

North Carolina fans have learned to love their nitro like they love their NASCAR, and this weekend they have a homestate favorite to cheer for in veteran Bob Gilbertson.
27 Apr 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Race coverage
Bob Gilbertson
North Carolina fans have learned to love their nitro like they love their NASCAR, and this weekend they have a homestate favorite to cheer for in veteran Bob Gilbertson. For the last seven years, the Gastonia, N.C., racer, once a tour…
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Charlotte Friday Photo Gallery

Photo highlights from the opening day of the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
26 Apr 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
Photo Gallery
Photo highlights from the opening day of the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. It was a challenging opening day at the track with rain hitting twice, leading to some yeoman's work by the NHRA Safety Safari…
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Salinas, Beckman, and Stoffer take early qualifying leads in Charlotte

Mike Salinas, Jack Beckman, and Karen Stoffer are the early leaders after and abbreviated day of qualifying at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway.
26 Apr 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
friday hero
Mike Salinas, Jack Beckman, and Karen Stoffer are the early leaders after and abbreviated day of qualifying at zMax Dragway. Salinas, coming off his first national event win three weeks ago in Las Vegas, set the zMax Dragway track record with a 3.…
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Charlotte Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying results: Q1

Karen Stoffer rode Jerry Savoie’s Suzuki to the top spot during Friday’s Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying in Charlotte.
26 Apr 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
stoffer
Karen Stoffer rode Jerry Savoie’s Suzuki to the top spot during Friday’s Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying. Stoffer, who joined Savoie’s White Alligator team this season, rode to a 6.864 to take the early lead. Stoffer is riding the same bike that LE…
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Charlotte Top Fuel Friday results: Q1

Mike Salinas set a new zMAX Dragway track record, blasting his Scrappers Racing dragster to a 3.687, breaking the 3.689 mark set last year by Brittany Force.
26 Apr 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Race coverage
Mike Salinas
Mike Salinas set a new zMAX Dragway track record, blasting his Scrappers Racing dragster to a 3.687, breaking the 3.689 mark set last year by Brittany Force. Fresh off of his runner-up two weeks ago in Houston, Antron Brown raced to a 3.725 for…
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Charlotte Funny Car Friday results: Q2

Jack Beckman has the lead halfway through Funny Car qualifying after powering his Infinite Hero Dodge to a 3.891 under the lights at zMAX Dragway.
26 Apr 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Race coverage
Jack Beckman
Jack Beckman has the lead halfway through Funny Car qualifying after powering his Infinite Hero Dodge to a 3.891 under the lights at zMAX Dragway. Points leader Robert Hight had the only other three-second pass, a 3.935 that could have been…
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Charlotte Funny Car Friday results: Q1

After what is undoubtedly the combined shortest and weirdest Funny Car qualifying session in history, Dale Creasy Jr. is the low qualifier with a 7.713-second elapsed time.
26 Apr 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Race coverage
Dale Creasy Jr.
After what is undoubtedly the combined shortest and weirdest Funny Car qualifying session in history, Dale Creasy Jr. is the low qualifier with a 7.713-second elapsed time. Only one grouping of three Funny Cars made it off the starting line after…
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Smith willing to let his bike do the talking, sometimes

Pro Stock Motorcycle champ Matt Smith believes his win at all costs mentality is perfectly suited for four-wide racing.
26 Apr 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
smith
Matt Smith is a lot of things but shy isn’t one of them. Whether he’s playing a staging game with the intention of throwing his opponents out of rhythm or publicly calling most of his Pro Stock Motorcycle rivals “hobby racers”, he often boldly goes…
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Rookie Austin Prock is not only learning the lessons, he's acing them

It’s his rookie year, and Austin Prock is learning his lessons at a fast clip. Pedalfests. Rivalry races. Going four-wide. And he's crushing it.
26 Apr 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Race coverage
Austin Prock
It’s his rookie year, and Austin Prock is learning his lessons at a fast clip. Within a matter of days he went from just getting his Top Fuel license to a surprise entrant at the season-opening Winternationals. His first head-to-head race was…
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For Jack Beckman, fast cars are a way of life

From his vintage '68 El Camino to his 330-mph Infinite Hero Dodge Funny Car, Jack Beckman's life is consumed by fast automobiles.
26 Apr 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
beckman
Jack Beckman likes to joke that because he lives 2,000 miles away from the Schumacher Racing headquarters in Brownsburg, Ind., he is able to resist his temptation to spend countless hours at the shop. That doesn’t mean that Beckman isn’t able to…
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Four-wide Charlotte surprise: The Return of Spencer Massey

Former NHRA rookie of the year Spencer Massey will make his return to Top Fuel racing at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals this weekend after a near-four-year absence, driving Pat Dakin’s Commercial Metal Fabrication dragster.
26 Apr 2019
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
Race coverage
Spencer Massey
Former NHRA rookie of the year Spencer Massey will make his return to Top Fuel racing at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals this weekend after a near-four-year absence, driving Pat Dakin’s Commercial Metal Fabrication dragster. Massey,…
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Andrew Hines shares his secret for four-wide success

When it comes to four-wide Pro Stock Motorcycle racing, Andrew Hines is nearly in a class by himself with three wins in four finals.
26 Apr 2019
Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Race coverage
hines
When you have a Pro Stock Motorcycle that can run 6.72, you probably don’t need much of an edge but Andrew Hines believes the four-wide format affords himself a significant advantage over most of his competitors. It’s hard to argue with Hines’…
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