NHRA 4-Wide Nationals Final Rounds End Great Racing Weekend

(CONCORD, NC – APRIL 13, 2014 – RIS) A gorgeous warm Spring day for the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals saw a big crowd of fans treated to four lanes of Pro classes. When all the smoke and fumes cleared, Antron Brown, Robert Hight, Jimmy Alund and Andrew Hines carried home the Wallies - NHRA's coveted trophies for winners.

Round One for Top Fuel had Shawn Langdon break the finish line lightbeam quickest, with a 3.791 second pass at 321.27 mph in the trap. Moving on to the second round with Langdon in his 'foursome' was Spencer Massey, with a 3.840/322.65 lap. Terry McMillen and Steve Torrence both fell by the wayside. The other drivers advancing to the second round were Antron Brown with a 3.801/323.04 pass and Brittany Force with her 3.814/323.19 lap to set up one second round matchup.

The other quads saw JR Todd and Doug Kalitta advance in their group, with 3.783/324.51 and 3.795/325.69 passes. Khalid alBalooshi and Tony Schumacher moved on in their quad, clocking passes of 3.926/289.88 and 3.815/324.12 to send Sidnei Frigo and Richard Crampton home early.

Funny Car saw Alexis DeJoria with low ET in her quad move on, along with Del Worsham, eliminating Ron Capps and Chad Head. DeJoria's pass of 4.089/307.72 just beat out Worsham's 4.096/311.34 in ET.

In the next quad, Tim Wilkerson and Blake Alexander advanced, with passes of 4.109/311.70 and 4.137/304.25 beating out Bob Tasca III and Cruz Pedregon. The third quad had Matt Hagan and Robert Hight move on to the next round in the closes result of the first round. Hagan's time was 4.087/314.75 to Hight's 4.115/311.34. Jack Beckman's 4.138/310.41 and Tony Pedregon's 4.436/97.55 just couldn't make the field.

In the final Funny Car match, Tommy Johnson Jr and John Force advanced, with Force's 4.046/312.71 the best pass of the four. Johnson's 4.113/312.57 was just enough to beat out Courtney Force's quicker 4.104/315.12 on a hole shot. Jeff Arend could only muster a pass of 5.068/151.75.

Pro Stock had Chris McGaha set quick ET of the round at 6.545/212.56, just quicker than Jimmy Alund's 6.554/211.53 sent them to the second round, matched against Shane Gray and Jeg Coughlin Jr. Erica Enders-Stevens and Allen Johnson advanced from their quad, beating out John Gaydosh and non-starter John Gray. Jason Line and Vincent Nobile parlayed their 6.560/211.76 and 6.579/210.70 passes into the next round, as Dave Connoly and Justin Humphreys fell barely short. Nobile beat Humphreys on a hole shot with better reaction time.

Pro Stock Motorcycle  first round advancers were Mike Berry and Charles Kennedy in their quad, joined by Scotty Pollachek and John Hall. The second next round quad was composed of Hector Arana Jr, Eddie Krawiec, Andrew Hines and Hector Arana.

Second round Top Fuel runs saw Shawn Langdon and Antron Brown advance with passes of 3.821/315.86 and 3.988/280.84 against troubled passes from Spencer Massey and Brittany Force. The second quad had J.R. Todd and Doug Kalitta advance, with Todd's 3.822/322.73 best of the quad and Kalitta's 3.847/323.81 besting Tony Schumacher's identical ET by virtue of a quicker reaction time.

Funny Car second round had Alexis DeJoria and Tim Wilkerson advance from their quad with 4.087/310.84 and 4.125/308.21, beating Del Worsham and Blake Alexander to the finish line.

The other quad sent Robert Hight and John Force to the final round, when they beat out Matt Hagan and Tommy Johnson Jr. This set up a final round pitting DeJoria, Wilkerson, Hight and Force against each other for the class win.

Pro Stock had Jimmy Alund and Shane Gray advance to the finals, joined by Erica Enders-Stevens and Vincent Nobile. Allen Johnson and Jason Line fell to 'EES' and Nobile while McGaha and Coughlin fell in the other quad.

The PSM final round consisted of Scotty Pollachek and John Hall after the beat out Kennedy and Berry. The two meet Eddie Krawiec and Andrew Hines after the latter pair bested Hector Arana Jr and Hector Arana.

The Top Fuel final round was decided by a double hole shot with honors going to Antron Brown at a 3.800/317.42 over Shawn Langdon and JR Todd. Todd's ET was the best of the four, but his reaction of .072 left him behind both Langdon and Brown at the line. Langdon's reaction of .057 was enough to let Brown's .042 hold at the finish as both turned identical 3.800 laps. Brown's trap speed was 317.42, vs. Langdon's 322.11. Class low ET for the meet went to Shawn Langdon's 3.753 The top speed mark went to Brittany Force's 325.61.

In the Funny Car final round, Robert Hight beat his boss, John Force, to the line with a pass of 4.074/311.34 to Force's 4.132/307.51. Alexis DeJoria was a tick behind Force at the line, in spite of a quicker ET of 4.098/301.67 due to a slower reaction time of .105. Funny Car low ET honors went to Ron Capps' 4.059 while the top speed went to Courtney Force's 316.01.

Pro Stock had the first international class winner in Jimmy Alund. The Swedish driver, European Pro Stock champion, overcame a quicker reaction by Vincent Nobile to parlay a 6.562/211.59 and .029 reaction pass into the class win. Shane Gray scored second-place points with a 6.563/211.69 and a .073 reaction. Vincent Nobile scored the best reaction of the weekend in class with a .006, but his 6.667/209.46 could not overcome the speed of Alund's Camaro. Erica Enders-Stevens' car made a left turn off the line and she pushed in the clutch to abort the run. Pro Stock low ET was set by Chris McGaha at 6.523 and the top speed for doorslammers was set by Erica Enders-Stevens at 213.13.

Pro Stock Motorcycle class winner was Andrew Hines on his V-Rod, with a pass of 6.859/196.10, beating out Eddie Krawiec's 6.874/196.13. Meet low ET honors belonged to Michael Ray at 6.816 while top speed was set by local rider Matt Smith at 198.32.

Strapping into his Camaro, Jimmy Alund was told by Jason Line that "only winners stay in this house." As Alund was a guest of Line for the week, he had an extra incentive to win.

CONCORD, N.C. -- Sunday's final results from the Fifth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway. The race is the fifth of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Antron Brown, 3.800 seconds, 317.42 mph def. Shawn Langdon, 3.800 seconds, 322.11 mph and J.R. Todd, 3.799 seconds, 318.32 mph and Doug Kalitta, 4.587 seconds, 172.04 mph;

Funny Car -- Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.074, 311.34 def. John Force, Mustang, 4.132, 307.51 and Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 4.098, 301.67 and Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 6.631, 98.01;

Pro Stock -- Jimmy Alund, Chevy Camaro, 6.562, 211.59 def. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.563, 211.69 and Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.667, 209.46 and Erica Enders-Stevens, Camaro, 11.719, 79.19;

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.859, 196.10 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.874, 196.13 and Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.966, 191.73 and John Hall, Buell, 7.547, 133.32;

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Corey Michalek, 5.428, 264.55  def. Brandon Booher, broke.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Dan Pomponio, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.120, 249.81  def. Jonnie Lindberg, Monte Carlo, 15.758, 31.56.

Competition Eliminator -- Scotty Richardson, Chevy, 8.645, 119.16  def. Russell Joly, Chevy Cobalt, foul.

Stock Eliminator -- Greg Rowe, Pontiac Firebird, 10.552, 118.98  def. Jeff Hairrington, Ford Mustang, 10.266, 129.11.

Super Comp -- Brad Plourd, Dragster, 8.957, 160.38  def. Alan Kenny, Dragster, 8.921, 181.45.

Super Gas -- Ray Sawyer, Chevy Camaro, 9.893, 168.68  def. Jeremy Jensen, Chevy Corvette, 9.891, 147.84.

Top Sportsman -- Marco Abruzzi, Chevy Camaro, 6.890, 192.30  def. Marc Caruso, Chevy Cobalt, 7.043, 188.46

CONCORD, N.C. -- Final round-by-round results from the Fifth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, the fifth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL: ROUND ONE -- Antron Brown, 3.801, 323.04 and Brittany Force, 3.814, 323.19 def. Clay Millican, 3.983, 285.05 and Leah Pritchett, 4.537, 194.83; Tony Schumacher, 3.815, 324.12 and Khalid alBalooshi, 3.926, 289.88 def. Richie Crampton, 4.517, 237.00 and Sidnei Frigo, 4.970, 148.46; J.R. Todd, 3.783, 324.51 and Doug Kalitta, 3.795, 325.69 def. Bob Vandergriff, 4.173, 89.05 and Pat Dakin, 6.779, 97.50; Shawn Langdon, 3.791, 321.27 and Spencer Massey, 3.840, 322.65 def. Steve Torrence, 3.860, 315.27 and Terry McMillen, 4.621, 170.62;

SEMIFINALS -- Langdon, 3.821, 315.86 and Brown, 3.988, 280.84 def. Massey, 4.066, 238.34 and Force, 5.802, 145.50; Todd, 3.822, 322.73 and Kalitta, 3.847, 323.81 def. Schumacher, 3.847, 317.94 and alBalooshi, 4.154, 254.71;

FINAL -- Brown, 3.800, 317.42 def. Langdon, 3.800, 322.11, Todd, 3.799, 318.32 and Kalitta, 4.587, 172.04.

FUNNY CAR: ROUND ONE -- Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.109, 311.70 and Blake Alexander, Dodge Charger, 4.137, 304.25 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.310, 256.36 and Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, broke; John Force, Mustang, 4.046, 312.71 and Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.113, 312.57 def. Courtney Force, Mustang, 4.104, 315.12 and Jeff Arend, Charger, 5.068, 151.75; Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.089, 307.72 and Del Worsham, Camry, 4.096, 311.34 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.125, 309.98 and Chad Head, Camry, 4.146, 304.25; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.087, 314.75 and Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.115, 311.34 def. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.138, 310.41 and Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.436, 97.55;

SEMIFINALS -- DeJoria, 4.087, 310.84 and Wilkerson, 4.125, 308.21 def. Worsham, 4.128, 308.14 and Alexander, 4.151, 299.20; J. Force, 4.123, 309.63 and Hight, 4.139, 305.98 def. Johnson Jr., 4.164, 289.14 and Hagan, DQ;

FINAL -- Hight, 4.074, 311.34 def. J. Force, 4.132, 307.51, DeJoria, 4.098, 301.67 and Wilkerson, 6.631, 98.01.

PRO STOCK: ROUND ONE -- Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Dart, 6.681, 210.28 and Shane Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.566, 211.69 def. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.947, 165.56 and Robert Patrick, Ford Mustang, DQ; Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.579, 210.70 and Jason Line, Camaro, 6.560, 211.76 def. Dave Connolly, Camaro, 6.650, 211.76 and Justin Humphreys, Mustang, 6.679, 207.05; Erica Enders-Stevens, Camaro, 6.546, 212.33 and Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.554, 211.46 def. Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.598, 210.77; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.545, 212.56 and Jimmy Alund, Camaro, 6.554, 211.53 def. V. Gaines, Dodge Avenger, 6.606, 210.57 and Larry Morgan, Mustang, 6.641, 208.62;

SEMIFINALS -- Enders-Stevens, 6.559, 211.30 and Nobile, 6.603, 210.21 def. Line, 7.482, 141.71 and Johnson, 17.414, 49.25; Alund, 6.563, 211.43 and S. Gray, 6.555, 211.96 def. McGaha, 19.450, 43.54 and Coughlin, 6.542, 211.63;

FINAL -- Alund, 6.562, 211.59 def. S. Gray, 6.563, 211.69, Nobile, 6.667, 209.46 and Enders-Stevens, 11.719, 79.19.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: ROUND ONE -- Scotty Pollacheck, Buell XB12R, 6.885, 193.46 and John Hall, Buell XB9R, 6.835, 195.96 def. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki TL1000, 6.899, 193.88 and Adam Arana, XB9R, 6.943, 192.08; Andrew Hines, Harley V-Rod, 6.820, 196.27 and Hector Arana, XB9R, 6.933, 196.70 def. Shawn Gann, XB9R, 6.927, 193.29 and Matt Smith, XB9R, 6.831, 196.85; Chaz Kennedy, XB9R, 6.903, 192.33 and Mike Berry, XB9R, 6.928, 192.22 def. Michael Ray, XB9R, 10.233, 80.79 and Katie Sullivan, TL1000, DQ; Hector Arana Jr, XB9R, 6.805, 196.22 and Eddie Krawiec, V-Rod, 6.817, 196.53 def. Angie Smith, XB9R, 6.943, 192.52 and Jim Underdahl, Suzuki GSXR, 8.632, 111.13;

SEMIFINALS -- Hall, 6.869, 193.38 and Pollacheck, 6.901, 193.43 def. Kennedy, 6.920, 190.35 and Berry, 6.968, 191.16; Krawiec, 6.840, 194.91 and Hines, 6.851, 194.83 def. Arana Jr, 6.879, 195.14 and H. Arana, 6.980, 195.28;

FINAL -- Hines, 6.859, 196.10 def. Krawiec, 6.874, 196.13, Pollacheck, 6.966, 191.73 and Hall, 7.547, 133.32.

CONCORD, N.C. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the Fifth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, the fifth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series -

Top Fuel

1.  Doug Kalitta, 485; 2.  Antron Brown, 460; 3.  Steve Torrence, 347; 4.  Shawn Langdon, 330; 5.  Tony Schumacher, 316; 6.  Khalid alBalooshi, 290; 7.  Spencer Massey, 288; 8.  Brittany Force, 246; 9.  Richie Crampton, 189; 10.  J.R. Todd, 183.

Funny Car

1.  Robert Hight, 488; 2.  John Force, 453; 3.  Alexis DeJoria, 375; 4.  Ron Capps, 282; 5.  Del Worsham, 277; 6.  Tommy Johnson Jr., 264; 7.  Matt Hagan, 257; 8.  (tie) Courtney Force, 244; Tim Wilkerson, 244; 10.  Jack Beckman, 234.

Pro Stock

1.  Erica Enders-Stevens, 426; 2.  Jason Line, 384; 3.  Allen Johnson, 370; 4.  Vincent Nobile, 339; 5.  Shane Gray, 334; 6.  (tie) Dave Connolly, 308; V. Gaines, 308; 8.  Jimmy Alund, 282; 9.  Jeg Coughlin, 270; 10.  Chris McGaha, 258.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1.  Andrew Hines, 180; 2.  Scotty Pollacheck, 169; 3.  John Hall, 152; 4.  Eddie Krawiec, 151; 5.  Hector Arana Jr, 145; 6.  Steve Johnson, 124; 7.  Michael Ray, 107; 8.  Matt Smith, 97; 9.  (tie) Hector Arana, 83; Chaz Kennedy, 83.

 We'll be back with photos later.