J. Force, Kalitta, Anderson and M. Smith Race to Provisional No.1 Spots at NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte

CONCORD, NC – April 27, 2024 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Funny Car legend John Force set a new zMAX Dragway track record on Friday, powering to the provisional No. 1 spot at the 14th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the fifth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

In the final Funny Car quad of the night, Force went an impressive 3.820-seconds at 330.96 mph in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Performance Chevrolet Camaro SS, setting a track record previously set by teammate Robert Hight last September. If that holds, Force, who won the Winternationals earlier this year in Phoenix, would pick up his 167th career No. 1 qualifier and first in 2024. It’s been a strong season thus far for Force, who looks to pick up his fifth career victory at zMAX Dragway this weekend after making the 10th-quickest run in Funny Car history on Friday.

“It ran .89 the run before and they said they were going to lean on it because conditions were getting better,” Force said. “They leaned on it and ‘Hang on,’ and it ran quicker than they thought. It moved on me and I thought I was going to lose it, but I feel really good about it and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.

“I’m having a lot of fun going down the track. I’m here and I’ve got a bad hot rod right now. Luck is a big part of this game and I’m not done yet.”

Bob Tasca, who won the 4-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas two weeks ago, is currently second after going 3.849 at 335.32 and Alexis DeJoria went 3.859 at 331.69 to move into third. Ron Capps went 335.40 earlier in the day to set the track speed record.

Two weeks after winning his first career four-wide race, reigning Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta enjoyed a terrific start on Friday in Charlotte, making the quickest run in each session, including a 3.691 at 337.92 in his 11,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster to close out the evening. The run also puts Kalitta in position to pick up his second straight No. 1 qualifier and 55th in his career, as he continues to ride an impressive wave of momentum. He was the quickest in each round of eliminations in Las Vegas to take the four-wide victory for the first time and Kalitta seemed to pick up right where he left off two weeks ago.

“This is exciting for all my guys. AJ [crew chief Alan Johnson] looked happy, and it’s…