Hart, DeJoria, C. Cuadra and Herrera Race to Provisional No.1 Spots at Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

CONCORD, NC – April 29, 2023 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Josh Hart put himself in position for his first career No. 1 qualifier, powering to the provisional top spot in Top Fuel on Friday at the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car), Cristian Cuadra (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the fifth of 21 races during the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

Hart delivered a run of 3.689-seconds at 328.38 mph in his 11,000-horsepower R&L Carriers dragster, putting together two strong runs as he aims for the first No. 1 in his career and making the only run in the 3.60s on Friday. His second career win in Top Fuel also came at the Charlotte fall race during his rookie season in 2021, and Hart has done well in the four-wide setting, advancing to the final quad the last two years in Charlotte.

“The team deserves it. (Crew chief) Ron Douglas and the crew always give me a great car,” Hart said. “We’ve been learning a lot about each other and gelling properly, and it’s nice to hit that milestone and show what we’re capable of.

It was never a car problem, it was a driver problem, I’ll openly admit that. I can make a bunch of excuses, but I just didn’t get the job done. I learned a lot the last race in Vegas. Overall, you watch these guys busting their butts every single weekend and you just have to focus and do your job. Every day is a new start, but we’ve got a great car and a great team. A lot of good morale over there, and it’s just about surrounding yourself with good people.”

Austin Prock’s 3.707 at 328.70 during the second session gave him the second spot, while points leader Steve Torrence had two strong runs, including a 3.708 at 330.55 that puts him in the third spot.

DeJoria’s stellar start to the 2023 season in Funny Car continued, as she raced to the No. 1 spot to close out qualifying, going 3.876 at 333.08 in her 11,000-horsepower Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra. If it holds, it would give DeJoria her first No. 1 qualifier this season and seventh in her career. She’s qualified second the past three races, putting together a series of consistent results that currently has the standout third in points. The only thing missing thus far is her first victory of the season, something DeJoria looks to change this weekend.

“I have yet to win a four-wide so it’s exciting to be number one right now,”…