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  Charlotte: Saturday Results Charlotte, NC (September 23, 2023)
Top Fuel’s Mike Salinas became the first driver in NHRA history to go 300-mph in the 1/8-mile, setting both ends of the track record on Saturday at zMAX Dragway en route to qualifying No. 1 at the 15th annual betway NHRA Carolina Nationals. Robert Hight (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1 at the 17th of 21 races during the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, and the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Salinas powered to an epic blast of 3.647-seconds at 338.00 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Valley Services/Scrappers Racing dragster, earning his third No. 1 qualifier in 2023 and 14th in his career. He also went a whopping 300.80 mph to the 1/8-mile during the run, marking the first time in NHRA history a driver has reached 300-mph in the 1/8-mile and making him the first member of the “Phillips Connect 300 to the 1/8” club, which nets him a $30,000 bonus. It was also the fifth-fastest run in Top Fuel history, as Salinas aims to pick up his second win of the season on Sunday. “The track was amazing. (Crew chief) Rob (Flynn) and Arron (Cave) getting this thing ready for us – I never get involved with that, but I had this 'all or nothing' that we've been doing,” Salinas said. “We've been working on this for a while and our car has been close several times in testing. We knew we were going to do it, we just didn't know when. Tonight was the perfect time to do it. The car seemed to like what we're doing, and Rob and Aaron are amazing every run. we are a real team and I'm just happy to be part of what they've put together. “We’ve been close and to put together a run like this, it is awesome. These are the types of things we’re out here for and what it’s all about. What an amazing run.” Antron Brown took the second spot, going 3.655 at 332.75 – and 299.00 to the 1/8-mile – and Doug Kalitta, who won last weekend in Reading, qualified third with a 3.665 at 331.61. Funny Car points leader Robert Hight also put on an impressive show to close out the night, topping Matt Hagan’s spectacular run on Friday with a track-record performance of 3.824 at 330.15 in his 11,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools/AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS. A night after Hagan made the quickest run of the year in the class, Hight went even quicker to earn his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 82nd in his marvelous career. After suffering a huge explosion on the starting line during Friday’s qualifying session, Hight and his team rebounded in fine fashion on Saturday, making a pair of stellar runs, including the terrific blast to end the evening. Following his win at the playoff opener in Reading a week ago, Hight will look to keep rolling on Sunday at zMAX Dragway. “Sometimes when you really go up there and push and try really hard, it doesn't work out,” Hight said. “Everything has to come together, and there are a lot of variables. It's a science, but there is some luck with it. Everything has to come into place. But we were pushing, we wanted to go out there and get the No. 1 spot. I never get too hopeful, but to do it by .001, that tells you how close this racing is. “Matt Hagan and I had a race last weekend that was even closer, and that's pretty amazing. Hats off to my guys for rebounding from a tough go of it yesterday. I have a lot of confidence in this team. This is a great racetrack. We've had a lot of success here over the years, and it was cool to see records fall here tonight.” Hagan, who closed out the night with a strong 3.828, will take second with his 3.825 at 333.49 and Bob Tasca III moved to third with a career-best run of 3.836 at 331.94 Erica Enders has opened the Pro Stock playoffs with two straight No. 1 qualifiers thanks to Friday’s run of 6.509 at 210.18 in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance Camaro. It’s the fourth top spot of the season for the defending world champion and the 33rd in her career as she continues to build momentum in trying to earn her sixth world title. A win on Sunday in Charlotte would help the cause a great deal and she’ll open eliminations against Mason McGaha. “Today didn’t really go as planned but making that monster run yesterday was significant,” Enders said. “It showed that what we had in Reading, carried over here in Charlotte. We’ll make the adjustments accordingly. I’m proud for the No. 1 position. All of those points are going matter at the end of the game.” Camrie Caruso took the second spot with a 6.525 at 209.20 and defending event winner Aaron Stanfield qualified third with a 6.533 at 210.50. Points leader Matt Hartford, who won the last two races, qualified eighth with a 6.542. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera continued to cement his qualifying dominance, taking his 10th No. 1 spot of the year on his Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki on the strength of his 6.731 at 200.44 from Friday. On the weekend of Pro Stock Motorcycle’s 500th career event, Herrera hopes to pick up his seventh win this season and also his first career Countdown to the Championship victory. He’ll open eliminations against Jerry Savoie. and could move back into the points lead with a big day. “I feel really confident going into tomorrow. I have a really bad hot rod, it’s fast and has been all season,” Herrera said. “To be able to get 10 out of 11 No. 1 qualifiers, it's just remarkable. I give all the credit to the Vance & Hines Mission Suzuki team and all the guys at the shop for all their hard work. That run we did yesterday was really good for the conditions, and it wasn't the perfect run, but it was really good. Today we were trying a few little things, but we'll go back to what we basically ran Friday and be ready for tomorrow. “I missed out on a couple today as far as qualifying but at the end of the day, I think we're going to do good tomorrow and that's where you're going to get as many points as possible.” Eddie Krawiec jumped up to second on Saturday with a run of 6.766 at 200.00 and Angie Smith took third after going 6.805 at 197.48. Points leader Matt Smith qualified ninth. Eliminations for the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals begin at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday at zMAX Dragway. Charlotte Qualifying Results
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TOP FUEL
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Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type---------------Qual-ET--Qual-Spd-Top Spd
1 7211 Mike Salinas, San Jose CA, MLR-TFX 3.647 338.00 338.00
2 2 Antron Brown, Pittsboro IN, DSR-DSM 3.655 332.75 332.75
3 10 Doug Kalitta, Saline MI, Kalitta-AJPE 3.665 331.61 335.73
4 1 Brittany Force, Yorba Linda CA, JFR Fam-JFR 3.673 335.48 335.48
5 7 Josh Hart, Ocala FL, MLR-AJPE 3.680 332.59 332.59
6 356 Tony Schumacher, Lakeway TX, DSR-DSM 3.692 331.12 331.12
7 4 Justin Ashley, Farmingdale NY, DSR-AJPE 3.698 333.74 333.74
8 777 Leah Pruett, Lake Havasu City AZ, DSR-DSM 3.709 332.59 332.59
9 9 Shawn Langdon, Danville IN, Kalitta-AJPE 3.719 330.39 330.39
10 3 Austin Prock, Pittsboro IN, JFR Fam-JFR 3.725 325.53 328.30
11 51 Clay Millican, Drummonds TN, DSR-AJPE 3.725 317.64 317.64
12 6 Steve Torrence, Kilgore TX, MLR-TFX 3.726 328.70 328.70
13 421 Spencer Massey, Fort Worth TX, Kalitta-TFX 3.766 319.52 326.40
14 357 Mike Bucher, Columbia Station OH, Hadman-AJPE 8.073 75.01 75.01
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FUNNY CAR
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1 2 Robert Hight, Yorba Linda CA, '23 Camaro 3.824 330.15 330.15
2 14 Matt Hagan, Christiansburg VA, '23 Charger 3.825 333.49 333.91
3 4 Bob Tasca III, Cranston RI, '23 Mustang 3.836 331.94 331.94
4 5 John Force, Yorba Linda CA, '22 Camaro 3.861 329.02 329.02
5 1 Ron Capps, Carlsbad CA, '22 GR Supra 3.864 327.90 329.02
6 473 Chad Green, Midland TX, '19 Mustang 3.871 328.78 328.78
7 9 Tim Wilkerson, Springfield IL, '18 Mustang 3.876 325.06 325.06
8 373 J.R. Todd, Jupiter FL, '22 GR Supra 3.892 330.63 330.63
9 116 Paul Lee, Anaheim CA, '20 Charger 3.901 326.00 328.14
10 6 Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '22 Charger 3.937 327.59 327.59
11 121 Terry Haddock, Temple TX, '18 Mustang 4.016 309.98 309.98
12 139 Dave Richards, Wellington FL, '18 Mustang 4.135 256.11 257.63
13 40 Alex Laughlin, Bluff Dale TX, '22 Charger 4.594 190.22 190.22
14 7 Alexis DeJoria, Austin TX, '22 GR Supra 7.705 91.78 91.78
15 241 John Smith, Anderson SC, '21 Charger 7.896 91.19 91.19
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PRO STOCK
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1 1 Erica Enders, Houston TX, '21 Camaro 6.509 210.18 210.18
2 14 Camrie Caruso, Denver NC, '13 Camaro 6.525 209.20 209.20
3 3 Aaron Stanfield, Bossier City LA, '22 Camaro 6.533 210.50 210.50
4 9 Bo Butner, Floyd Knobs IN, '22 Camaro 6.535 210.41 210.41
5 2 Greg Anderson, Mooresville NC, '22 Camaro 6.535 209.30 209.30
6 4 Troy Coughlin Jr., Delaware OH, '22 Camaro 6.540 209.46 209.46
7 5 Kyle Koretsky, Fairless Hill PA, '22 Camaro 6.541 209.39 209.39
8 6 Matt Hartford, Phoenix AZ, '16 Camaro 6.542 207.50 209.49
9 406M Fernando Cuadra Jr., Leon MX, '21 Mustang 6.547 209.14 210.60
10 52 Deric Kramer, Parker CO, '20 Camaro 6.550 209.07 209.36
11 7 Dallas Glenn, Mooresville NC, '22 Camaro 6.550 208.75 209.10
12 494 Jerry Tucker, Lindsay OK, '20 Camaro 6.558 209.30 209.30
13 8 Cristian Cuadra, Leon MX, '23 Mustang 6.561 209.75 209.75
14 193 Eric Latino, Cornelius NC, '22 Camaro 6.573 209.01 209.01
15 4264 Chris McGaha, Odessa TX, '22 Camaro 6.582 210.41 210.41
16 400 Mason McGaha, Odessa TX, '22 Camaro 6.587 208.36 208.36
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 37 Larry Morgan, Newark OH, '19 Camaro 6.621 207.53 207.53
18 410M Fernando Cuadra, Leon MX, '21 Mustang 6.635 207.82 207.82
19 168 Brandon Miller, Canterbury CT, '17 Dart 6.654 206.23 206.23
20 106 Alan Prusiensky, Rockaway NJ, '16 Dart 8.804 100.40 100.40
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PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
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1 79 Gaige Herrera, DeMotte IN, Suzuki Hayabusa 6.731 200.41 200.62
2 7 Eddie Krawiec, Brownsburg IN, Suzuki Hayabusa 6.766 200.00 201.34
3 3 Angie Smith, King NC, EBR 1190RX 6.805 197.48 199.46
4 554 Chase Van Sant, Pella IA, Suzuki TL 6.806 198.06 198.06
5 200 Chip Ellis, Mocksville NC, EBR 6.817 199.05 199.05
6 300 Hector Arana Jr, East Northport NY, EBR 6.833 201.04 201.04
7 15 Jianna Evaristo, San Jose CA, Suzuki 6.835 196.19 196.19
8 8 Marc Ingwersen, Findlay OH, EBR 6.839 194.52 194.52
9 1 Matt Smith, King NC, Suzuki TL1000 6.840 196.39 198.67
10 1981 Kelly Clontz, Hughesville MD, Suzuki TL 6.843 195.17 195.17
11 5 Steve Johnson, Birmingham AL, Suzuki TL1000 6.890 192.17 192.17
12 1628 John Hall, Hamden CT, EBR 6.922 196.16 196.16
13 2 Joey Gladstone, Maidens VA, Suzuki Hayabusa 6.932 194.91 194.91
14 17 Chris Bostick, Mount Juliet TN, EBR 6.964 192.33 192.33
15 1138 Ron Tornow, Pittsburgh PA, Victory 7.000 191.95 191.95
16 4 Jerry Savoie, Cut Off LA, Suzuki 7.004 189.04 189.04
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 276 Marcus Hylton, Esen NC, Buell 7.226 189.55 189.55
18 7012 Lance Bonham, Covington LA, Buell 7.407 176.74 176.74
w/ NHRA Communications |
