Saturday News & Notes from the NHRA Carolina Nationals
News, notes, quotes, and photos from the second day of Pro qualifying at the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
Pro Stock Q3
The temperature is 83 degrees and headed to a high of 85 as we kicked off Pro Stock at 1 p.m., and most of the teams admitted that they'll be working on tune-ups for Sunday, when the temperatures could reach 89 degrees…
Austin Prock closing on two of John Force's single-season Funny Car records
There may only be one John Force, but his young protégé, Austin Prock, is closing in on some of the GOAT’s single-season Funny Car class records.
There may only be one John Force, but his young protégé, Austin Prock, is closing in on some of the GOAT’s Funny Car class records.
It may be his first season in Funny Car, but Prock is already on the verge of breaking two of Force’s 30-year-old…
NHRA Carolina Nationals Saturday preview
The opening day of qualifying Friday at the NHRA Carolina Nationals was a get-well kind of day for the No. 1 qualifiers who plan to use Saturday’s warmer conditions as raceday tune-ups for Sunday.
The opening day of qualifying Friday at the NHRA Carolina Nationals was a get-well kind of day for the No. 1 qualifiers who plan to use Saturday’s warmer conditions as raceday tune-ups for Sunday.
Brittany Force, who hasn’t failed to make at…
Will this be the weekend that Erica Enders finally gets her 50th career win?
When Erica Enders rolled to her 49th career win to start the season in Gainesville, few doubted that her milestone 50th win was right around the corner. Fourteen races and three runner-ups later, she’s still looking for the big 5-0.
When Erica Enders rolled to her 49th career win to start the season in Gainesville, few doubted that her milestone 50th win was right around the corner. Fourteen races and three runner-ups later, she’s still looking for the big 5-0, and…
Force, Hagan, Enders, and Smith lead after opening qualifying day in Charlotte
Two-time Top Fuel world champion Brittany Force made the quickest runs in both qualifying sessions on Friday at zMAX Dragway, powering to the provisional No. 1 position at the NHRA Carolina Nationals. Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers.
Two-time Top Fuel world champion Brittany Force made the quickest runs in both qualifying sessions on Friday at zMAX Dragway, powering to the provisional No. 1 position at the 16th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals.
Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Erica…
NHRA Carolina Nationals Friday photo gallery
The NHRA National Dragster photographers were all over zMAX Dragway on the opening day of qualifying at the NHRA Carolina Nationals, capturing all of the action on and off the racetrack.
Friday News & Notes from the NHRA Carolina Nationals
News, notes, quotes, and photos from the first day of Pro qualifying at the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway. (Updated throughout the day)
UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Pro Stock Motorcycle Q1
Matt Smith dominated the opening session of Pro Stock Motorcycle, gapping the field by seven-hundredths with his Denso Buell. Smith’s 6.803 pass alongside points leader…
Randy Meyer Racing adds INA Towing Network for 2025
NHRA world champion team owner Randy Meyer has announced the addition of a multi-faceted marketing partnership with the INA Towing Network highlighted by a “Slow Down Move Over” national awareness campaign and a branded dragster at the 2025 NHRA Gatornationals.
NHRA world champion team owner Randy Meyer has announced the addition of a multi-faceted marketing partnership with the INA Towing Network, the nation’s leading provider of emergency roadside services for truck fleets and the transportation fleet…
Josh Hart to promote Technet, Brakes For Breasts at Carolina Nationals
For the fourth consecutive season NHRA Top Fuel championship contender Josh Hart will be racing pink in support of the Brakes for Breasts charity campaign aligned with his primary sponsor TechNet Professional. During the NHRA Carolina Nationals.
For the fourth consecutive season NHRA Top Fuel championship contender Josh Hart will be racing pink in support of the Brakes for Breasts charity campaign aligned with his primary sponsor TechNet Professional. During the NHRA Carolina Nationals this…
Sill, Innes, Hastings, Drnach, and Sheppeard win Division 3 E.T. crowns
Scott Sill, Andrew Innes, Nick Hastings, Jason Drnach, and Scott Sheppeard earned berths in the National Championship event with their victories at the Division 3 Summit Series Finals.
The following are Wednesday's final results from the 2024 NHRA Summit Racing Series North Central Division Finals:
SUPER PRO
Scott Sill, Montville, Ohio, '07 Diamond, 4.818, 140.24 def. Adam Cline, Franklin, Ky., '78…
Vaughn, Milton, Quinn, Fangmeyer, and Larson win Division 5 E.T. titles
Tyler Vaughn, Jean Milton, Andrew Quinn, Gordon Fangmeyer, and Todd Larson scored wins at the Division 5 Summit Series Finals to earn their spots in the National Championship in October in Las Vegas.
The following are Wednesday's final results from the 2024 NHRA Summit Racing Series West Central Division Finals:
SUPER PRO
Tyler Vaughn, Minden, Neb., '10 Dragster, 7.610, 177.30 def. Zach Halverson, Earlville, Iowa, '…
Matt Hagan knows more Charlotte success bodes well for title chances
Reigning Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan enjoyed a memorable weekend at zMAX Dragway earlier this year, picking up his 50th career Funny Car victory during the four-wide race in April, and knows he'll need more of the same in pursuit of a fifth world championship.
Reigning Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan enjoyed a memorable weekend at zMAX Dragway earlier this year, picking up his 50th career Funny Car victory during the four-wide race in April.
Heading back to Charlotte for this weekend’s 16th…
NHRA Carolina Nationals Friday preview
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship continues at this weekend’s 16th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway for the second event of the six-race NHRA playoffs.
As the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship playoffs continue, drivers and teams will be laser-focused on an NHRA world championship at this weekend’s 16th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals, which takes place on Sept. 20-…
Pro Stock standout Aaron Stanfield looks to continue Countdown momentum
Following the first race of the 2024 NHRA Countdown to the Championship, Pro Stock has a new points leader in Aaron Stanfield, who will look to increase his lead in Charlotte as he continues to enjoy a career-best season.
Following the first race of the 2024 NHRA Countdown to the Championship, the Pro Stock division has a new points leader in Aaron Stanfield. As teams head south to zMAX Dragway for this weekend’s 16th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals, Stanfield will…
Congruity Pro Mod Series features huge field in Charlotte as title race heats up
The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ “Road to the Championship” continues this weekend as part of the NHRA Carolina Nationals, and with 27 cars slated to participate, the event will undoubtedly mark one of the toughest races of the season.
The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ “Road to the Championship” continues this weekend as part of the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway, and with 27 cars slated to participate, the event will undoubtedly mark one…
Tricky Tipster, NHRA Carolina Nationals
The experts at Alt Sports Data have set the opening lines for this week’s event at zaMax Dragway, and they have chosen Doug Kalitta, Austin Prock, Erica Enders, and Gaige Herrera as the pre-race favorites.
The Countdown to the Championship playoffs kicked off last week in Reading, where Antron Brown, Austin Prock, Aaron Stanfield, and Hector Arana Jr. scored wins in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, respectively.
There is no…
Watch the Division 4 Lucas Oil Series event from Tulsa free on NHRA.tv
NHRA fans can watch the Division 4 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series doubleheader event from Tulsa Raceway Park for free starting Thursday on NHRA.tv.
NHRA fans can watch the Division 4 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series doubleheader event from Tulsa Raceway Park for free starting Thursday on NHRA.tv.
Presenting sponsors of NHRA.tv Sportsman coverage from Tulsa, Okla., are Moser, Comp…
Mitch Brown fighting for Top Fuel Motorcycle championship at season finale
In the comic books, Spiderman’s nemeses include Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus, but for Larry “Spiderman” McBride, it’s Mitch Brown who has his attention as the inaugural four-race Pingel NHRA Top Fuel Motorcycle Series rides to its conclusion this weekend at the NHRA Carolina Nationals.
In the comic books, Spiderman’s nemeses include Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus, but for Larry “Spiderman” McBride, the face of the Top Fuel Motorcycle class for four decades, it’s Mitch Brown who has his attention as the inaugural four-race Pingel…
Behind the Scenes with the winners of the 2024 Pep Boys NHRA Nationals
Go behind the scenes with the winners of the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals as they celebrate with their teams and accept congratulations from their defeated final-round opponents.
Johnny Pluchino wins Mountain Motor Pro Stock at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals
Johnny Pluchino will take the points lead into the final event of the season in the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock class following his narrow 6.325 to 6.236 win against John Montecalvo in the final round.
NHRA vs. the World! The unmatched thrill of acceleration in drag racing
Force = mass x acceleration: The science of acceleration drives the heart-pounding thrills of NHRA Drag Racing — see just how much more intense this sport is — even compared to a rocket launch!
Acceleration is the heartbeat of NHRA Drag Racing – it's what forms the emotional bond between the race and its fans. The raw power that pins you to your seat, the earth-shaking launch off the starting line, and the adrenaline that…
Top Fuel points leader Justin Ashley looks for first NHRA Carolina Nationals win
Justin Ashley is the Top Fuel points leader heading into this weekend’s NHRA Carolina Nationals, but it’s hardly a huge advantage, as Ashley leads by just a single point over Reading winner Antron Brown and has never won this event.
This season marks the fourth year in the Countdown to the Championship for 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year Justin Ashley and the third time he’s led at some point during the playoffs in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
He’s the…
Weekend Rewind: 2024 Pep Boys NHRA Nationals
The Pep Boys NHRA Nationals kicked off the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Countdown to the Championship at Maple Grove Raceway with a wild weekend of racing. Enjoy this video look back at the event.
What happens 60 seconds before the fastest motorsport on Earth fires off!
Not a rocket launch, not the Times Square ball drop, not even the start of a Taylor Swift concert — nothing compares to the kickoff of an NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event.
All the energy, all the preparation, and all the commitment lead to one breathtaking moment – NHRA Drag Racing. This is the grandest spectacle in motorsports, where every fraction of a second counts. The NHRA was born to host this jaw-dropping…
Smax Smith’s spectacular engine explosion secured race-day spot
A thrilling qualifying run secured Smith's spot despite a fiery setback at the 2024 Pep Boys NHRA Nationals
NHRA Top Fuel racer Smax Smith experienced a dramatic engine explosion during qualifying at the 2024 Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading. The run was nothing short of spectacular, as the dragster exploded gloriously, sending…
Pruett: New policy should have 'a positive impact on women in motorsports as a whole'
NHRA Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett, who with husband Tony Stewart is expecting their first child in November, played a pivotal role in pushing for an amendment to the NHRA’s Driver Replacement Policy. This new policy addresses the challenges…
NHRA unveils new driver replacement policy amendment for female racers
For more than seven decades, the NHRA has been at the forefront of championing women in motorsports, and that mission continues with the introduction of a groundbreaking policy — the first of its kind in motor racing — designed to support female racers who are starting a family.
For more than seven decades, the NHRA has been at the forefront of championing women in motorsports, and that mission continues with the introduction of a groundbreaking policy — the first of its kind in motor racing — designed to support female…
How Jack Beckman advanced to round 2 with a stroke of John Force luck!
A centerline infraction by Joe Morrison helped Beckman move forward to the Funny Car final against teammate Austin Prock
Jack Beckman found himself with a bit of racing luck at the 2024 Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Dragstrip. In round 1, his opponent, Joe Morrison, committed a centerline infraction, handing Beckman the win despite his own struggles on the…
5 Things We Learned in Reading
The first race of the Countdown featured everything one would hope for: an indisputably intense energy, points shakeups, stoked rivalries, and a bright glimmer of the future. Here are five takeaways from the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.
The first race of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship featured everything one would hope for: an indisputably intense energy, points shakeups, stoked rivalries, and a bright glimmer of the future. Here are…
Three mind-blowing things that happen in under 4 seconds to a Top Fuel dragster
From leaping off the track to knocking moisture out of the air, Top Fuel dragsters push the limits of physics. See how in this NHRA On FOX slow-motion
Top Fuel dragsters are engineering marvels, creating countless astonishing physical events in mere seconds. One of the most mind-blowing is Steve Torrence’s dragster literally jumping on and off the track, perfectly synced with his throttle foot,…