Whoever coined the phrase, “Once you race Top Fuel, there’s no going backward” obviously never met Spencer Massey. 

Massey is having the time of his life drag racing, and sometimes it’s behind the wheel of an 11,000-horse Top Fuel dragster. In Charlotte, Massey is making one of his infrequent appearances as driver of the Pat Dakin-owned Top Fuel dragster. 

“I'm always happy when I'm here at the racetrack,” Massey said, after procuring the No. 9 qualifying position at the DeWalt Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals. “It doesn't matter if I'm driving my Top Fuel car or Pat Dakin’s Top Fuel car, my alcohol dragster, I'm happy I'm at the racetrack. But definitely getting back inside one of these race cars is something way different than you could ever explain. I mean, heck, it's been a couple of years since I've been at a race. I've run this car at a match race to keep my license current. But when you’re at a race and your lined up against everybody, it's nothing like being out at an NHRA Top Fuel drag race. 

Consider Josh Hart to be the champion for the underdog. You can also consider him to be the underdog with the most vicious bite. 

Sunday at zMax Dragway, in the most improbable fashion, the soft-spoken Hart stepped up in the final round to beat the seemingly unstoppable Brittany Force in the Top Fuel final round at the DeWalt Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals. 

Maybe the reason Tim Wilkerson doesn’t seem fazed by the pressure lurking all around him is the veteran Funny Car driver keeps himself too busy to take notice.

Wilkerson, the Illinois-based driver, has longtime held the dual roles of crew chief and driver. Sunday at zMax Dragway, Wilkerson took his hectic pace right to the winner’s circle at the DeWalt Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals.

The emotion of the moment got the best of the kid.

When Kyle Koretsky exited his Lucas Oil-sponsored Camaro after successfully beating his team leader and horsepower supplier Greg Anderson to win the DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals, he went through his list of sponsors and concluded the top-end interview by holding up his trophy and saying, "This one's for my Dad."

​It was as if she was a reluctant winner.

But that's how iconic Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Angelle Sampey came across as she opened the press conference in the zMax Dragway media center following her 44th career victory at the DeWalt Tools NHRA Carolina Nationals.

During the second round of Pro Stock Motorcycle eliminations at the DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, Cory Reed’s motorcycle crossed the center line past the finish line and he was thrown from his motorcycle.

Point standings (top 10) following the 13th annual DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway, the 15th of 20 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series -

Final round-by-round results from the 13th annual DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway, the 15th of 20 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series: