CONCORD, N.C. – Sixteen-time world champ John Force added another win to his legendary Funny Car career on Sunday, clinching his 152nd victory at the 11th annual NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won in their respective categories at the fourth race of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
Force wrapped up a spectacular weekend at zMAX Dragway with a run of 3.916-seconds at 328.78 mph in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK/BlueDEF Platinum Chevrolet Camaro SS in the final round. He held off a standout final quad that also featured J.R. Todd, Cruz Pedregon and Alexis DeJoria, handing Force his first victory since winning the U.S. Nationals at Indy in 2019. The legendary Force, who was also the No. 1 qualifier, went as quick as 3.897 at 330.31 on Sunday, crediting a strong team and his love of racing at zMAX Dragway to earn his second four-wide win at Charlotte.
“Timing is everything,” Force said. “I won the inaugural (four-wide race) here (in 2010) and this makes me so proud. Don’t take the job you love for granted. I wanted to win for (track owner) Bruton (Smith), (crew chief) Daniel (Hood), but these kids are tough out here. Some days, things go right and our car was ready and prepared, and I halfway did my job. I’m excited and I get to send this (Wally trophy) to Bruton, a guy I really love.”
Gainesville winner Todd advanced to his second final round of the year and 37th overall, going 3.944 at 327.82. Pedregon appeared in his first final of the season, while DeJoria was also making her first appearance in the finals.
Torrence continued his four-wide dominance, winning for the sixth time in the last seven Top Fuel four-wide events, furthering the points lead for the reigning three-time world champ. Torrence went 3.716 at 329.10 in his 11,000-horsepower Capco Contractors dragster in the final round, knocking off a loaded final-round quad that also included No. 1 qualifier Brittany Force, Atlanta winner Antron Brown and Gainesville winner Josh Hart. Torrence won for the second time this season and earned his 42nd career victory, also picking up his fourth straight four-wide win at zMAX Dragway.
“At first, admittedly, I was not a fan of the four-wide but (track owner) Bruton Smith and Marcus, thank you guys, I love it,” said Torrence. “I mean, we do really well I don’t know why but I like to keep doing it. It’s the only thing that I’ve got a winning record, and so I’m proud of that. It makes us as a driver step up more, I think that it takes you out of your body, your wheelhouse of thinking makes you concentrate and focus a lot more.”
B. Force advanced to her first final this year and 24th overall, finishing as the runner-up with a run of 3.723 at 333.16 as she tried to join her father in the winner’s circle for the first time. It’s the third straight final for Brown, and second in just three races for rookie Hart.
The Pro Stock final quad featured four young drivers going for their first career victory, and it was Glenn who came out on top against Mason McGaha, Troy Coughlin Jr. and Fernando Cuadra Jr. Glenn went 6.540 at 210.80 in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro. In his first final round appearance in just his fourth career start, Glenn gave KB Racing its fourth win in as many races to open the 2021 season.
“To be honest, I don’t even think it’s hit me yet,” Glenn said. “I’m just trying to enjoy everything I can. I’ve never experienced it on this side. It’s super emotional. This is a whole new perspective for me and these cars are so much fun, but they’re hard to drive. The results just came a little sooner than we were expecting.”
Mason McGaha finished as the runner-up, advancing to the final quad at both four-wide races this year. Troy Coughlin advanced to his third career final round, while Cuadra was making his first final-round appearance.
It was a long time coming for Pro Stock Motorcycle veteran Steve Johnson, who picked up his first victory in more than seven years, going a track-record 6.729 at 198.03 in the final round on his Mac Rak Suzuki. It also gave Johnson the third-quickest pass in the history of the class and the quickest ever run in class history for a Suzuki. To win for the first time since Gainesville in 2014 and the seventh time in his career, Johnson had to beat defending world champ Matt Smith, Karen Stoffer and Joey Gladstone in the final round.
“When you have a career path and you reach a goal, it can be euphoric,” Johnson said. “We are committed to this sport and I’m so excited about the emotion of our sport. I feel like our sport is really doing well. This trophy is so cool and this is the most special (win).”
Points leader Smith finished as runner-up in advancing to his 60th final round in his career and third this season. It was just the second career final-round appearance for Gladstone and the first for Stoffer since 2019.
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action May 21-23 with the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil.
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CONCORD, N.C. — Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 11th annual NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway. The race is the fourth of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Steve Torrence; 2. Brittany Force; 3. Antron Brown; 4. Josh Hart; 5. Doug Foley; 6. Doug Kalitta; 7. Krista Baldwin; 8. Clay Millican; 9. Billy Torrence; 10. Mike Salinas; 11. Shawn Langdon; 12. Joe Morrison; 13. Justin Ashley; 14. Arthur Allen; 15. Kyle Wurtzel; 16. Leah Pruett.
FUNNY CAR:
1. John Force; 2. J.R. Todd; 3. Cruz Pedregon; 4. Alexis DeJoria; 5. Mike McIntire; 6. Matt Hagan; 7. Bob Tasca III; 8. Terry Haddock; 9. Ron Capps; 10. Dave Richards; 11. Jim Campbell; 12. Robert Hight; 13. Cory Lee; 14. Tim Wilkerson; 15. Blake Alexander; 16. Dale Creasy Jr..
PRO STOCK:
1. Dallas Glenn; 2. Mason McGaha; 3. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 4. Fernando Cuadra Jr.; 5. Greg Anderson; 6. Aaron Strong; 7. Aaron Stanfield; 8. Chris McGaha; 9. Kyle Koretsky; 10. Erica Enders; 11. Deric Kramer; 12. Matt Hartford; 13. Val Smeland; 14. Kenny Delco; 15. Fernando Cuadra; 16. Cristian Cuadra.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Steve Johnson; 2. Matt Smith; 3. Karen Stoffer; 4. Joey Gladstone; 5. Hector Arana Jr; 6. Eddie Krawiec; 7. Jim Underdahl; 8. Andrew Hines; 9. Angelle Sampey; 10. Cory Reed; 11. Chip Ellis; 12. Scotty Pollacheck; 13. Ryan Oehler; 14. Jerry Savoie; 15. Kelly Clontz; 16. Angie Smith.
CONCORD, N.C. — Sunday’s final results from the 11th annual NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway. The race is the fourth of 22 in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Steve Torrence, 3.716 seconds, 329.10 mph def. Brittany Force, 3.723 seconds, 333.16 mph and Antron Brown, 3.738 seconds, 327.03 mph and Josh Hart, 3.782 seconds, 325.61 mph;
Funny Car — John Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.916, 328.78 def. J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 3.944, 327.82 and Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 3.934, 326.87 and Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.057, 309.49;
Pro Stock — Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.540, 210.80 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.558, 209.23 and Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.545, 210.80 and Fernando Cuadra Jr., Ford Mustang, foul;
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.729, 198.03 def. Matt Smith, EBR, 6.744, 202.48 and Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.771, 198.64 and Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.773, 198.90;
Top Alcohol Dragster — Rachel Meyer, 5.141, 272.78 def. Karen Stalba, 5.199, 281.66 and Matthew Cummings, 5.177, 275.39 and Julie Nataas, 5.223, 273.27;
Top Alcohol Funny Car — Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.446, 267.06 def. Doug Gordon, Camaro, 5.460, 270.05 and Kris Hool, Camaro, 5.529, 266.58 and DJ Cox Jr., Camaro, 5.515, 268.49;
Competition Eliminator — David Barton, Chevy Camaro, 9.425, 100.39 def. Joel Warren, Pontiac G5, Foul – Red Light.
Super Stock — Peter D’Agnolo, chevy Camaro, 9.909, 109.95 def. Steve Comella, Dodge Dart, Foul – Red Light.
Stock Eliminator — Marion Stephenson, Chevy Camaro, 10.309, 123.24 def. Morgan Wilson, Chevy Nova, 11.010, 114.41.
Super Comp — Billy Upton, Dragster, 8.906, 175.27 def. Lauren Freer, Dragster, Foul – Red Light.
Super Gas — Jim Perry, Chevy S-10, 9.968, 166.58 def. Jeff Jensen, Chevy Corvette, 9.967, 166.85.
Top Sportsman presented by Vortech Superchargers — Ronnie Proctor, Ford Mustang, 6.625, 210.73 def. Lester Johnson, Chevy Corvette, Broke – No Show.
Top Fuel Harley — Jay Turner, JTR, 6.275, 222.73 def. Randal Andras, JTR, 6.400, 223.50.
Pro Modified — Steve Jackson, Chevy Camaro, 5.685, 253.75 def. Brandon Snider, Camaro, 5.717, 250.97 and Jeffery Barker, Toyota Camry, 9.984, 88.44 and Mike Castellana, Camaro, broke;
CONCORD, N.C. — Final round-by-round results from the 11th annual NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, the fourth of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Doug Kalitta, 3.726, 326.08 and Josh Hart, 3.744, 327.66 def. Billy Torrence, 3.751, 328.62 and Kyle Wurtzel, 3.898, 312.06; Antron Brown, 3.804, 315.56 and Krista Baldwin, 3.855, 319.52 def. Shawn Langdon, 3.947, 245.67 and Leah Pruett, 4.310, 193.32; Brittany Force, 3.719, 333.49 and Clay Millican, 3.755, 321.81 def. Joe Morrison, 8.353, 92.06 and Justin Ashley, 3.734, 321.73; Steve Torrence, 3.707, 326.71 and Doug Foley, 3.791, 322.96 def. Mike Salinas, 3.781, 324.67 and Arthur Allen, 3.892, 297.61;
SEMIFINALS — Force, 3.735, 328.38 and Hart, 3.810, 308.99 def. Kalitta, 4.468, 179.83 and Millican, broke; Brown, 3.743, 327.11 and S. Torrence, 3.786, 324.59 def. Foley, 3.778, 319.45 and Baldwin, 4.220, 228.38;
FINAL — S. Torrence, 3.716, 329.10 def. Force, 3.723, 333.16, Brown, 3.738, 327.03 and Hart, 3.782, 325.61.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 3.903, 325.45 and Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.955, 329.50 def. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 4.351, 271.13 and Blake Alexander, Mustang, 9.579, 71.56; John Force, Camaro, 3.926, 329.10 and Mike McIntire, Camry, 4.018, 317.19 def. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.146, 261.78 and Dale Creasy Jr., Dodge Charger, 12.453, 44.17; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.936, 325.06 and Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.032, 323.74 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 3.991, 273.88 and Cory Lee, Mustang, 4.392, 251.58; J.R. Todd, Camry, 3.952, 325.53 and Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.095, 305.63 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.194, 303.16 and Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.397, 220.37;
SEMIFINALS — DeJoria, 3.929, 320.13 and Pedregon, 3.971, 319.52 def. Hagan, 4.036, 307.51 and Tasca III, 4.559, 189.84; Force, 3.897, 330.31 and Todd, 3.977, 321.73 def. McIntire, 4.027, 316.52 and Haddock, broke;
FINAL — Force, 3.916, 328.78 def. Todd, 3.944, 327.82, Pedregon, 3.934, 326.87 and DeJoria, 4.057, 309.49.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Chris McGaha, Chevy Camaro, 6.568, 210.37 and Fernando Cuadra Jr., Ford Mustang, 6.583, 209.79 def. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.534, 209.56 and Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.583, 210.05; Aaron Strong, Camaro, 6.536, 210.24 and Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.568, 210.24 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.555, 211.00 and Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.598, 210.44; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.535, 210.64 and Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.544, 210.64 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.578, 210.11 and Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, 6.607, 210.11; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.534, 210.05 and Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.543, 210.24 def. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.561, 210.37 and Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.614, 209.79;
SEMIFINALS — Glenn, 6.547, 209.52 and M. McGaha, 6.568, 210.54 def. Strong, 6.554, 210.21 and Stanfield, 6.552, 210.01; Coughlin Jr., 6.549, 210.70 and Cuadra Jr., 6.575, 210.73 def. Anderson, 6.538, 210.28 and C. McGaha, 6.575, 210.60;
FINAL — Glenn, 6.540, 210.80 def. M. McGaha, 6.558, 209.23, Coughlin Jr., 6.545, 210.80 and Cuadra Jr., foul.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE — Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.771, 203.06 and Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.765, 200.29 def. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 6.766, 202.03 and Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.836, 199.20; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.756, 197.88 and Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 6.899, 195.76 def. Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 7.035, 166.13 and Angie Smith, EBR, 9.845, 85.76; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.783, 198.23 and Andrew Hines, Buell, 6.777, 200.71 def. Chip Ellis, EBR, 6.841, 197.94 and Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.873, 195.34; Eddie Krawiec, Buell, 6.774, 202.45 and Matt Smith, EBR, 6.781, 201.25 def. Cory Reed, Suzuki, 6.838, 197.10 and Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.847, 196.85;
SEMIFINALS — M. Smith, 6.760, 202.00 and Johnson, 6.767, 197.80 def. Krawiec, 6.860, 200.92 and Hines, 7.025, 200.38; Stoffer, 6.791, 197.68 and Gladstone, 6.791, 198.61 def. Arana Jr, 6.853, 200.80 and Underdahl, 6.932, 195.17;
FINAL — Johnson, 6.729, 198.03 def. M. Smith, 6.744, 202.48, Stoffer, 6.771, 198.64 and Gladstone, 6.773, 198.90.
CONCORD, N.C. — Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 11th annual NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, the fourth of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel
1. Steve Torrence, 408; 2. Antron Brown, 332; 3. Brittany Force, 274; 4. Shawn Langdon, 248; 5. Josh Hart, 245; 6. Billy Torrence, 215; 7. Doug Kalitta, 197; 8. Justin Ashley, 194; 9. Leah Pruett, 176; 10. Clay Millican, 164.
Funny Car
1. Bob Tasca III, 360; 2. J.R. Todd, 343; 3. John Force, 329; 4. Matt Hagan, 259; 5. Ron Capps, 235; 6. Alexis DeJoria, 228; 7. Tim Wilkerson, 218; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 216; 9. Robert Hight, 215; 10. Blake Alexander, 150.
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 377; 2. Erica Enders, 271; 3. Mason McGaha, 270; 4. Deric Kramer, 262; 5. Aaron Stanfield, 246; 6. Troy Coughlin Jr., 234; 7. Dallas Glenn, 228; 8. Kyle Koretsky, 203; 9. Matt Hartford, 185; 10. Chris McGaha, 177.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Matt Smith, 377; 2. Scotty Pollacheck, 316; 3. Steve Johnson, 303; 4. Ryan Oehler, 293; 5. Angelle Sampey, 230; 6. Karen Stoffer, 194; 7. Cory Reed, 187; 8. (tie) Joey Gladstone, 180; Angie Smith, 180; 10. (tie) Kelly Clontz, 127.
Eddie Krawiec, 127.