Over the weekend, NHRA nitro and Pro Stock teams challenged the famed four lanes of The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This was the first of two four-wide racing events scheduled for the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, as well as the first of two NHRA nationals hosted at The Strip. Race fans will head to Charlotte NC for the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals (April 28-30) in two weeks for more side-by-side-by-side-by-side racing at zMAX Dragway, home of the first ever NHRA Four-Wide national back in 2010.
Four-wide racing changes a team’s strategy for elimination rounds at NHRA National events. Typically, after experiencing any kind of problem off the start, the driver shuts down the 11,000-horsepower nitro-powered engine and starts making plans for the next national event. But with two cars in each foursome advancing to the next round, you have to keep your foot in it. A driver has to do whatever it takes to get to the finish line, as there is no way you can see how competitors in the far lanes are doing.
Since opening in 1996, Las Vegas Motor Speedway has played host to some of the most exciting racing events, a place where world championships have been decided. As one of the most iconic drag strips in the country, The Strip was widened from two to four lanes where the world's best drag racers hit speeds in excess of 330 miles per hour racing four wide for each elimination round. The entire racing surface of the old track was removed and only the left wall of the original dragstrip remains. The enhanced track mirrored that of zMAX Dragway.
Tony Stewart Wins First Wally in NHRA Top Alcohol
Motorsports Hall of Fame member Tony Stewart added to his impressive achievements behind the wheel of the Mobil [1] Top Alcohol Dragster winning the first Wally of his short career at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals over the weekend. “Smoke” is the only driver to win championships in NASCAR, Indy Car, Midget, Sprint, and Silver Crown. Competing under the four-wide format, Stewart posted a 5.324 ET to finish ahead of Todd Bruce with a 5.332 ET, Mike Coughlin with a 5.351 ET and former world champion Chris Demke with a 5.355 ET.
Antron Brown Wins Top Fuel at The Strip
SEMIFINAL ROUND #1 – Rob Passey, Leah Pruett, Brittany Force and Antron Brown advanced to the first semi. Passey broke, Pruett fell behind early, and Force edged Brown by nine thousandths when the Matco driver lost a cylinder near the finish line. Pruett was fastest of three Top Fuel drivers but never made up time or distance.
SEMIFINAL ROUND #2 – Although the semi was loaded with Top Fuel talent, Shawn Langdon timed out in staging, Mike Salinas had the holeshot with a .186 reaction time. Steve Torrence got left at the line but claimed the runner-up spot when Mike Salinas smoked the tires and coasted to the finish. Based on ETs, Force has the lane choice in the final over Brown, Hart, and Torrence.
4-WIDE FINAL ROUND – The Top Fuel final included nine former world champions. Although Brown was runner-up to Brittany Force in the qualifying round, driver of the Matco Tools Toyota dragster claimed his first win of 2023 NHRA season and the 72nd Wally of his career. Steve Torrence finished in second ahead of Force and Josh Hart but takes over the points lead.
Matt Hagan Claims Third Win in Nitro Funny Car
SEMIFINAL ROUND #1 – Chad Green continued to prove that he means business in 2023 with a starting line advantage in semifinal #1. Cruz Pedregon broke lose off the line ending his run. Tim Wilkerson and Blake Alexander were off the tree together but Wilkerson pulled ahead of Alexander by the sixty-foot mark with Wilkerson taking the win over Green.
SEMIFINAL ROUND #2 – John Force was second off the line .003-seconds behind Tony Stewart Racing’s Matt Hagan. Jeff Diehl got away from the tree in a close third but let off when his Camaro moved toward the wall. It wasn’t Alexis Dejoria’s day as both Hagan and Force maintained their commanding leads as the winner and runner-up in semifinal round #2.
4-WIDE FINAL ROUND – Tony Stewart Racing doubled up on Smoke’s Top Alcohol win at The Strip when Matt Hagan claimed the win in the four-wide Funny Car final. Hagan hasn’t looked forward to four-wide events in the past but was dominate winning all rounds of Funny Car eliminations on Sunday. The victory at Las Vegas allowed Hagan to increase his seasonal points lead.
Dallas Glenn Gets Redemption at Las Vegas 4-Wide
SEMIFINAL ROUND #1 – In the first Pro Stock semi, Deric Kramer nailed a near perfect light with .006 reaction time and never looked back. Aaron Stanfield and Dallas Glenn were off the start together but Glenn posted the quickest pass with 5.564-second elapsed time to close within less than a foot of Kramer at the finish line and a dozen feet ahead of Stanfield.
SEMIFINAL ROUND #2 – Cristian Cuadra has been fast all season and was first off the tree with a .018 reaction time. Troy Coughlin Jr was a tick behind Cuadra with .027 RT. Matt Hartford and multi-time Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders couldn’t make up the difference. Glenn’s Winternationals victory at Pomona Dragstrip put the RAD Torque Systems team in position for back-to-back wins.
4-WIDE FINAL ROUND – Last year Dallas Glenn lost at The Strip in the final but got redemption at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with his second straight and sixth career Pro Stock Wally. Glenn’s .039-second reaction time topped Troy Coughlin Jr’s quicker and faster pass in the final that included Cristian Cuadra and Deric Kramer.
artwork courtesy of National Hot Rod Association
UP COMING:
Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals
Both NHRA nitro divisions (Top Fuel & Funny Car) and both NHRA pro stock divisions (Pro Stock & Pro Stock Motorcycles) will again compete side-by-side-by-side-by-side for precious Countdown to the Championship points on April 28-30 at zMAX Dragway in Concord, NC.
