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  Charlotte: Saturday Results Charlotte, NC (April 27, 2024) 
Defending Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta enjoyed his second straight No. 1 qualifier, cementing the top spot on Saturday at zMAX Dragway at the 14th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte. John Force (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1 at the fifth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Kalitta’s run of 3.691-seconds at 337.92 mph from Friday in his 11,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster held up through two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, handing the reigning world champion his second straight No. 1 spot and the 55th in his career. The result of taking the top position worked well in Las Vegas for Kalitta, as he claimed his first career four-wide win and he’ll look to replicate that on Sunday in Charlotte, also finishing qualifying with a strong 3.710 at 332.18. "We kind of struggled a little bit today. We put this other blower on and just had a little bit too much power in that first run and smoked the tires, and then that last run, we got right to the finish line and kind of took care of that blower, unfortunately,” Kalitta said. “So we're going to have to start from scratch again. But now that we've got our setup that we've been running, we're going to be in good shape for tomorrow.” Antron Brown clinched the second spot thanks to his 3.698 at 332.18, while points leader Justin Ashley’s 3.701 at 334.32, which happened during his winning run in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, sent him to the third spot. In Funny Car, John Force stayed in the top spot thanks to Friday’s track E.T. record of 3.820 at 330.96 in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Performance Chevrolet Camaro SS. It gives the legendary 16-time world champion his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 167th in his iconic career, putting him in a strong position for eliminations on Sunday. Force is aiming for his second win this season, closing out qualifying with a solid pass as well. “I’ve got a real good Camaro and I'm learning how to drive it,” Force said. “It was a good day for my good chiefs. We tried to run it hard earlier [in the third qualifying session] and had a problem then came back and got cloud cover and ran [3.]85. Now we've got to race tomorrow, and that's a whole new baby. So we'll see what happens but I'm having fun with my teams and my sponsors.” Bob Tasca, who won the 4-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas two weeks ago, took second with a 3.834 at 338.34, setting the track speed record and also claiming the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win. Points leader Austin Prock is third with a 3.852 at 333.58. Pro Stock’s Greg Anderson finished as the No. 1 qualifier on the strength of Friday’s run of 6.500 at 210.90 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro, but Saturday certainly featured plenty of other headlines. His qualifying run in the third session – as part of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge – was disqualified due to a technical violation after bypassing a safety device. It eliminated that pass and took Anderson out of the specialty event, as his replacement, Erica Enders, went on to win the Challenge. But Anderson still has momentum as the No. 1 qualifier at the home track for KB Titan Racing. He’s after his second victory this season after picking up his first top spot of 2024 and the remarkable 125th in his standout career. “I’m not sure where to start but yesterday in Q2 we had an issue with our ECU [Electronic Control Unit] where the engine wasn’t getting a spark,” Anderson said. “We had a mad thrash in the pits and in the process, one of my guys disconnected a wire that goes to the system that deploys the parachutes in the event of low air pressure. In the process, he forgot to plug that wire back in so our win in the (Mission) #2Fast2Tasty Challenge was disallowed. “I beat Jeg and Erica and David Cuadra, and then the bottom fell out. It was a simple mistake, but we lost the run and lost the win. Otherwise, the car ran great. It was just a crazy day but it’s over now and I’m ready for race day. Tomorrow, we’re going to make damn sure all the wires are where they should be. I’ve got a really good race car and we’re going to give it all we’ve got.” Cristian Cuadra qualified second with a 6.507 at 210.18 and Aaron Stanfield took third thanks to a 6.508 at 209.92. Gaige Herrera’s qualifying dominance in Pro Stock Motorcycle continued on Saturday in Charlotte, but it took until the final session when the defending world champ put together a track-record run of 6.671 at 202.70 on his RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki. It’s the quickest run in zMAX Dragway history and also hands Herrera his 11th straight No. 1 qualifier dating back to last season. It’s already the 16th career top spot for the young phenom, who will look to stay perfect this season on Sunday. “Yesterday, we had a malfunction on the first run that set us back, and then we ran 6.68 on the second and that was a good run,” Herrera said. “Today, I ran a 6.70 and then that 6.67 and that’s just our team learning how to fine-tune the new fuel. There was not much left on my bike. It went straight and required very little correction. Tomorrow will be a lot of fun.” Matt Smith’s 6.685 at 201.61 from Friday qualified him in the second spot, while LE Tonglet is third after his 6.703 at 200.77 from Friday as well. Eliminations for the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals begin at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte. Qualifying Results Summary: Top Fuel -- Doug Kalitta, Antron Brown, Justin Ashley, Clay Millican, Billy Torrence, Tony Stewart, Shawn Langdon, Shawn Reed, Jasmine Salinas, Steve Torrence, Doug Foley, Josh Hart, Tony Schumacher, Dan Mercier, Brittany Force, Cody Krohn, Not Qualified: Mike Bucher Funny Car -- John Force, Bob Tasca III, Austin Prock, Alexis DeJoria, Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, Paul Lee, Chad Green, Cruz Pedregon, Daniel Wilkerson, Blake Alexander, J.R. Todd, Buddy Hull, Dave Richards, Jim Campbell, John Smith Pro Stock -- Greg Anderson, Cristian Cuadra, Aaron Stanfield, Jeg Coughlin, Deric Kramer, Jerry Tucker, Erica Enders, David Cuadra, Dallas Glenn, Fernando Cuadra Jr., Eric Latino, Troy Coughlin Jr., Dave Connolly, Brandon Foster, Mason McGaha, Sienna Wildgust, Not Qualified: Larry Morgan, Fernando Cuadra, Chris McGaha, Kenny Delco, Matt Hartford, Brandon Miller Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Gaige Herrera, Matt Smith, LE Tonglet, Angie Smith, John Hall, Richard Gadson, Hector Arana Jr, Steve Johnson, Chase Van Sant, Kelly Clontz, Jianna Evaristo, Marc Ingwersen, Chris Bostick, Ryan Oehler, Ron Tornow, Hector Arana Charlotte Saturday 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 1 Doug Kalitta, Saline MI, Bounty Hunter-AJPE 3.691 337.92 337.92
2 6 Antron Brown, Pittsboro IN, PBRC-DSM 3.698 332.18 332.18
3 4 Justin Ashley, Farmingdale NY, DSR-JFR 3.701 334.32 334.32
4 51 Clay Millican, Drummonds TN, DSR-DSR 3.715 330.72 333.41
5 474 Billy Torrence, Kilgore TX, MLR-AJPE 3.716 329.34 334.07
6 14 Tony Stewart, Columbus IN, PBRC-DSM 3.716 320.05 324.90
7 333 Shawn Langdon, Danville IN, PBRC-AJPE 3.719 334.32 334.32
8 716 Shawn Reed, Defiance MO, MLR-AJPE 3.732 327.19 328.70
9 7015 Jasmine Salinas, Brownsburg IN, MLR-AJPE 3.738 331.61 331.61
10 2 Steve Torrence, Kilgore TX, MLR-TFX 3.740 332.43 332.43
11 1301 Doug Foley, Mooresville NC, MLR-AJPE 3.755 319.98 319.98
12 77 Josh Hart, Ocala FL, MLR-DSM 3.766 327.82 327.82
13 9 Tony Schumacher, Lakeway TX, DSM-DSM 3.766 320.89 325.30
14 182 Dan Mercier, St-Michel PQ, DSR-AJPE 3.783 324.67 324.67
15 7 Brittany Force, Yorba Linda CA, JFR-JFR 3.807 314.02 314.02
16 211X Cody Krohn, Englewood FL, DSR-AJPE 3.832 319.90 320.43
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 357 Mike Bucher, Columbia Station OH, MLR-AJPE 4.554 171.29 171.29
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FUNNY CAR
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1 7 John Force, Yorba Linda CA, '23 Camaro 3.820 330.96 334.07
2 3 Bob Tasca III, Cranston RI, '23 Mustang 3.834 338.34 338.34
3 374 Austin Prock, Brownsburg IN, '23 Camaro 3.852 333.58 333.58
4 771 Alexis DeJoria, Austin TX, '24 GR Supra 3.859 331.69 331.69
5 4 Ron Capps, Carlsbad CA, '23 GR Supra 3.877 335.40 335.40
6 14 Matt Hagan, Christiansburg VA, '24 Charger 3.880 331.04 331.04
7 116 Paul Lee, Anaheim CA, '20 Charger 3.880 330.80 330.80
8 5 Chad Green, Midland TX, '24 Mustang 3.891 329.42 329.42
9 71 Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg IN, '22 Charger 3.904 324.05 324.05
10 348 Daniel Wilkerson, Springfield IL, '24 Mustang 3.910 325.06 333.16
11 256 Blake Alexander, Charlotte NC, '22 Mustang 3.923 323.74 323.74
12 8 J.R. Todd, Jupiter FL, '22 GR Supra 3.932 296.50 313.73
13 10 Buddy Hull, Dallas TX, '24 Charger 4.010 315.12 315.12
14 139 Dave Richards, Wellington FL, '18 Mustang 4.035 285.65 305.63
15 703 Jim Campbell, Long Beach CA, '17 Monte Carlo 4.238 239.87 239.87
16 241 John Smith, Anderson SC, '21 Charger 5.425 139.16 139.16
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PRO STOCK
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1 2 Greg Anderson, Mooresville NC, '22 Camaro 6.500 210.90 210.90
2 10 Cristian Cuadra, Leon MX, '23 Mustang 6.507 210.18 210.34
3 4 Aaron Stanfield, Bossier City LA, '23 Camaro 6.508 209.92 210.05
4 25 Jeg Coughlin, Delaware OH, '23 Camaro 6.509 209.98 210.47
5 52 Deric Kramer, Parker CO, '20 Camaro 6.510 210.24 210.24
6 494 Jerry Tucker, Lindsay OK, '22 Camaro 6.511 210.87 210.87
7 1 Erica Enders, Houston TX, '24 Camaro 6.516 210.73 211.56
8 411M David Cuadra, Leon MX, '20 Mustang 6.517 210.80 210.80
9 6 Dallas Glenn, Mooresville NC, '22 Camaro 6.518 210.50 210.60
10 406M Fernando Cuadra Jr., Leon MX, '21 Camaro 6.519 209.10 210.64
11 193 Eric Latino, Cornelius NC, '22 Camaro 6.525 210.47 210.47
12 5 Troy Coughlin Jr., Delaware OH, '22 Camaro 6.533 210.57 210.93
13 51 Dave Connolly, Mooresville NC, '24 Camaro 6.536 209.49 210.47
14 23 Brandon Foster, Owasso OK, '22 Camaro 6.540 210.01 210.01
15 400 Mason McGaha, Odessa TX, '22 Camaro 6.542 210.21 210.21
16 68 Sienna Wildgust, Sebringville ON, '13 Camaro 6.542 209.98 210.28
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 37 Larry Morgan, Newark OH, '19 Camaro 6.544 210.34 210.34
18 410M Fernando Cuadra, Leon MX, '21 Mustang 6.544 210.05 211.39
19 4264 Chris McGaha, Odessa TX, '22 Camaro 6.546 210.28 210.28
20 150 Kenny Delco, E. Setauket NY, '20 Camaro 6.550 210.57 210.57
21 3 Matt Hartford, Phoenix AZ, '16 Camaro 6.552 210.97 210.97
22 168 Brandon Miller, Canterbury CT, '17 Dart 6.637 206.89 206.89
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PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
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1 1 Gaige Herrera, DeMotte IN, Suzuki Hayabusa 6.671 202.70 202.70
2 4 Matt Smith, King NC, Buell 1190RX 6.685 201.61 202.12
3 473 LE Tonglet, Metairie LA, Suzuki Hayabusa 6.703 200.77 201.37
4 8 Angie Smith, King NC, Buell 1190RX 6.718 202.82 202.82
5 1628 John Hall, Hamden CT, Beull 1190RX 6.728 202.36 202.36
6 23 Richard Gadson, Avon IN, Suzuki Hayabusa 6.729 201.55 201.55
7 3 Hector Arana Jr, East Northport NY, EBR 6.742 201.22 201.22
8 6 Steve Johnson, Birmingham AL, Suzuki Hayabusa 6.780 197.08 197.91
9 9 Chase Van Sant, Pella IA, Suzuki TL 6.809 199.46 199.46
10 10 Kelly Clontz, Hughesville MD, Suzuki TL 6.812 199.05 199.05
11 5 Jianna Evaristo, San Jose CA, Buell 1190RX 6.815 194.32 199.88
12 7 Marc Ingwersen, Findlay OH, EBR 6.863 194.52 195.25
13 17 Chris Bostick, Mount Juliet TN, Suzuki Hayabusa 6.909 195.36 195.36
14 3284 Ryan Oehler, Bloomington IL, EBR 6.929 195.76 195.76
15 1138 Ron Tornow, Pittsburgh PA, Victory 6.975 195.03 196.93
16 235 Hector Arana, Corydon IN, EBR 7.537 193.60 193.85
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 859 Eiji Kawakami, Toyama City JP, EBR 9.337 148.64 148.64
w/ NHRA Communications |