John Force, the 17-time Funny Car champion, built a legend out of creating impact moments. Friday night at zMAX Dragway during the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, he only solidified his iconic status by setting a new track record en route to the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot. 

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the fifth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Force said he could feel the car pulling on a good run as he stopped the timers with a 3.820-second elapsed time at 330.96 mph in his PEAK Performance Chevrolet Camaro SS. His new track record replaced the one previously held by teammate Robert Hight last September. 

If his run holds, Force would pick up his 167th career No. 1 qualifier and first in 2024. He could pick up his fifth career victory at zMAX Dragway this weekend if he wins on Sunday.

“It ran .89 the run before, and they said they were going to lean on it because conditions were getting better,” Force said. “They leaned on it and ‘Hang on,’ and it ran quicker than they thought. It moved me, and I thought I was going to lose it, but I feel really good about it, and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.

“I’m having a lot of fun going down the track. I’m here, and I’ve got a bad hot rod right now. Luck is a big part of this game, and I’m not done yet.”

Recent NHRA winner Bob Tasca sits second after going 3.849 at 335.32 and Alexis DeJoria went 3.859 at 331.69 to move into third. Ron Capps went 335.40 earlier in the day to set the track speed record.

Kalitta showed in two qualifying sessions why he is the defending NHRA Top Fuel champion by recording the quickest run in each session. It was a 3.691 at 337.92 in the Q2 session that made him the provisional No. 1. If it holds he could pick up his second straight No. 1 qualifier and 55th in his career, as he continues to ride an impressive wave of momentum. 

“This is exciting for all my guys. AJ [crew chief Alan Johnson] looked happy, and it’s always good to keep him happy,” Kalitta said. “The guys are working their tails off, and it shows. The car left strong and stayed straight. I’ve run this car for a couple of races. This is a new chassis and it drives really nice -- right down the middle of the track.”

Antron Brown was second quickest with a 3.698 at 332.18, and Billy Torrence’s 3.716 at 329.34 was third quickest.

Anderson needed only one run to establish himself as the driver to beat in Pro Stock qualifying. He ran 6.500 seconds at 210.90 to take the provisional top spot during the first session. His evening run was aborted due to a faulty ECU unit. 

Pro Stock’s winningest driver in line for his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 125th in his career. Anderson, a 104-time event winner, is currently third in points. 

“Our run in Q1 was great,” Anderson said. “When you get conditions like this where it’s cool, that’s what Pro Stock cars love. You’ve got to come prepared. You can’t be shy. You’ve got to run what you brung and we used everything we brought. The track is great, and it holds everything. 
 
“Tonight [Q2] we had a computer problem and I’m still not sure what it was. I hope that’s it for the weekend as far as bad luck. I’m shocked that no one was able to get around me. Tomorrow should be good and I figure we’ll have to improve to keep it.”

Cristian Cuadra is is currently second with a 6.507 at 210.18, while Aaron Stanfield’s 6.508 at 209.92 puts him third after the first day.

Former Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Smith showed no signs of rust despite having not raced since March. He established a new track record of 6.685 at 201.61 for No. 1 and stands in line for his first No. 1 qualifier since 2022 and the 53rd in his career. 

If Smith’s run holds, it will be the first top qualifier for anyone other than Gaige Herrera since last July.

“We’ve done a lot of testing since Gainesville,” Smith said. “We’ve been to three different tracks four times and made a lot of runs. We gained a lot, but it didn’t show today. I was shaking the tire through low gear, so we’re not reaping the benefits of testing. I know there is more there, maybe a 6.66 or 6.65. Gaige went 6.69, so we’re right there with him. If we’re running within two or three-hundredths of the fastest bike, we have a shot. 
 
“Tomorrow is the Mission [#2Fast2Tasty] Challenge, and we want to get the points and the money. I think we can run faster. This bike is mean.”

Herrera jumped to the second spot under the lights with a run of 6.696 at 201.79 and LE Tonglet grabbed the third position thanks to a run of 6.703 at 200.77.

Qualifying continues at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte.

Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 14th annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, the fifth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel -- 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.691 seconds, 337.92 mph; 2. Antron Brown, 3.698, 332.18; 3. Billy Torrence, 3.716, 331.61; 4. Tony Stewart, 3.716, 324.90; 5. Shawn Langdon, 3.719, 334.32; 6. Clay Millican, 3.735, 333.41; 7. Jasmine Salinas, 3.738, 331.61; 8. Shawn Reed, 3.738, 328.06; 9. Doug Foley, 3.755, 319.98; 10. Justin Ashley, 3.763, 327.66; 11. Josh Hart, 3.773, 324.36; 12. Brittany Force, 3.807, 314.02; 13. Cody Krohn, 3.887, 298.67; 14. Steve Torrence, 4.516, 171.58; 15. Mike Bucher, 4.755, 154.65; 16. Tony Schumacher, 4.845, 146.61. 
Not Qualified: 17. Dan Mercier, 7.776, 78.72.

Funny Car -- 1. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.820, 330.96; 2. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.849, 335.32; 3. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 3.859, 331.69; 4. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.877, 335.40; 5. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.909, 327.11; 6. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.914, 321.81; 7. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.918, 333.16; 8. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.923, 326.95; 9. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.958, 309.77; 10. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.010, 315.12; 11. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.038, 305.63; 12. Cruz Pedregon,
Charger, 4.080, 298.80; 13. Jim Campbell, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.238, 239.87; 14. Austin Prock, Camaro, 4.541, 180.77; 15. John Smith, Charger, 5.425, 139.16; 16. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 7.561, 93.23.

Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.500, 210.90; 2. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.507, 210.21; 3. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.508, 209.92; 4. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.510, 210.24; 5. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.511, 210.87; 6. David Cuadra, Mustang, 6.517, 210.80; 7. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.519, 210.64; 8. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.521, 210.60; 9. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.523, 211.56; 10. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.532, 210.37; 11. Dave Connolly, Camaro, 6.536, 210.47; 12. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.540, 210.01; 13. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.542, 210.21; 14. Larry Morgan, Camaro,
6.544, 210.34; 15. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.552, 210.97; 16. Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, 6.553, 211.39.
Not Qualified: 17. Sienna Wildgust, 6.555, 210.28; 18. Troy Coughlin Jr., 6.556, 210.93; 19. Chris McGaha, 6.558, 209.52; 20. Brandon Miller, 6.637, 206.89; 21. Jeg Coughlin, 7.414, 137.34; 22. Kenny Delco, 7.652, 128.08.

Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.685, 202.12; 2. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.696, 201.79; 3. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.703, 201.37; 4. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.718, 202.82; 5. John Hall, Beull, 6.728, 202.36; 6. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.729, 201.55; 7. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.742, 201.22; 8. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.790, 197.91; 9. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.812, 199.05; 10. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.815, 197.80; 11. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.815, 194.32; 12. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.863, 194.52; 13. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.912, 194.10; 14. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.929, 195.76; 15. Hector Arana, EBR, 7.678, 193.85; 16. Ron Tornow, Victory, 10.785, 76.56.