For the first time in NHRA history, the Countdown to the Championship will feature a four-wide race. The NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals will take place Sept. 19-21, 2025, at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina.
This event will serve as the second of six playoff races and the 16th of 20 during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Previously held in a two-wide format, the four-wide race promises to add a unique element to the championship weekend.
“Creating remarkable events is at the core of what we strive to do every day, and a four-wide Countdown race is the next in a long line of firsts we’re proud to be part of in motorsports,” said Greg Walter, president, and general manager at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “We’ve seen the popularity of four-wide racing with fans for years at our spring event, but with championship implications on the line, next year’s showcase of speed promises to be our best yet.”
Last year’s Carolina Nationals winners included Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock), and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle). Both Brown and Prock finished the season as world champions in their classes.
The 2025 season will also feature the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals on April 25-27, marking the 1,000th race in the Top Fuel category. Bringing four-wide racing to the playoffs is aimed at increasing attendance and excitement.
“I think it’s positive. You have to go as many rounds as you can in those six (Countdown) races no matter what, and I think it’ll be good,” Mac Tools Top Fuel driver Doug Kalitta said. “If it helps the attendance, that’ll be a double bonus, and I’m totally down with it. People can be pretty opinionated about the four-wide races, but Bruton Smith stepped up like he did his whole life, building these beautiful facilities and trying to grow the sport.
“If somebody’s willing to spend the money to build a four-wide track to try to improve the sport, I’m definitely down with supporting people and efforts like that. I like the four-wide, and I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. Just like with NASCAR and what they do with the road courses and the Roval, we’re mixing it up. I’m for doing whatever it takes to promote our sport and get the most fans at the events.”
Funny Car driver Bob Tasca III praised the fan engagement of four-wide events.
“We race for the fans, and the engagement for the four-wide races is off the charts,” Tasca said. “The track thought it would be a great addition to the Countdown, so why not? Four-wide racing pushes some drivers out of their comfort zone, but I’ve had great success in this format. It’s an intense, electrifying experience that the fans absolutely love, so I say give the fans what they want and make it part of the Countdown.”
NHRA President Glen Cromwell expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with zMAX Dragway.
“We’re excited to team up with the incredible team at zMAX Dragway and have our first-ever four-wide drag racing in the Countdown to the Championship,” Cromwell said. “The Smith family and everyone at zMAX Dragway have always been eager to bring new and innovative ideas to the table, and it was great to see the support from our race teams and partners. We wanted to try something different for our fall race in Charlotte, and this marks a thrilling new challenge full of playoff intensity, one we think our fans will be eager to see next fall.”
