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J. FORCE, ASHLEY AND JOHNSON POWER TO PROVISIONAL NO. 1s AT CHARLOTTE FOUR-WIDE NATS

John Force set both ends of the track record at zMAX Dragway on Friday, making the fastest run ever at the facility to power to the Funny Car provisional No. 1 position at the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.
 
Justin Ashley (Top Fuel) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the sixth of 22 races during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

PRUETT TURNS ANGER INTO PRODUCTIVE PASSION

Leah Pruett was angry, and nothing was going to console her. 

Her debut with Tony Stewart Racing, at her home track at Pomona, Calif., had been deflating. She was peeved by her sluggish .118-second reaction time and an annoying 17th loss to Antron Brown as they lined up in the season’s first elimination pass, but she shrugged it off and headed to Phoenix. She had enjoyed success there: two victories, including her first in Top Fuel, and one runner-up finish. Moreover, she had set her career-best speed (334.15 mph) there.

HAGAN DISCUSSES THE MOMENT INSIDE A RACER’S MIND

Racers often field questions about whether a particular race weekend adds pressure. But for Matt Hagan, it’s something he said he lives with constantly. 

“The way I look at it is basically every race there’s so much pressure. I mean, on the minimum it costs about $150,000 per weekend to put that sticker on the side of the car and cover that car up. That's a small haul for someone every weekend that we go out there and race as far as what a sponsorship commitment looks like and takes,” he said. 

TOYOTA PARTNERS WITH RON CAPPS BEGINNING WITH CHARLOTTE 4-WIDE NATIONALS

​Toyota announced that Ron Capps and his newly formed race team of Ron Capps Motorsports will begin fielding the Toyota GR Supra Funny Car at this weekend’s 4-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C. The addition of Ron Capps Motorsports will expand the footprint of Toyota Gazoo Racing North America (TGRNA) to three GR Supra Funny Cars competing for the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series championship.

“Ron Capps is a proven champion in NHRA competition and all around one of the truly entertaining and engaging personalities in the pit area,” said Paul Doleshal, Group Manager, Motorsports, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). “The drivers that pilot not only our GR Supra Funny Cars, but all of our TGRNA vehicles in NHRA competition are not only talented behind the wheel, but also as ambassadors for our brand on and off the race track. And we couldn’t be happier to welcome Ron and his team to the family.”

UPDATED: NOSTALGIA TF TEAMS THREATEN BOYCOTT OF UPCOMING BOWLING GREEN NHRA HERITAGE SERIES EVENT

 

There’s a storm brewing ahead of the NHRA’s Holley Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, Ky., the likes of which hasn’t been seen since the 1981 NHRA Cajun Nationals when the Funny car teams unanimously boycotted for a purse increase. 

This time is different, kinda-sorta. 

According to the All American Fuel Dragsters Association, the group representing the class, the problem is not with the purse offered. 

CAMERON FERRÉ RETURNS TO DRIVE FOR PATON RACING IN CHARLOTTE THIS WEEKEND

 

Cameron Ferré is back in the driver’s seat of the Paton Racing Top Fuel Dragster.

Ferré will be driving for the family-owned operation at the NHRA Circle K Four-Wide Nationals this weekend at Zmax Dragway in Charlotte, N.C.

After some sponsor issues to start the year, the team postponed its 2022 NHRA Top Fuel debut with Ferré.

KAMPLAIN'S COMP STRATEGY PAYS OFF WITH BIG WIN IN HOUSTON

 

Competition Eliminator is all about strategy. No one understands that better than current NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Comp Eliminator points leader Greg Kamplain. The Brownsburg, Ind. resident and his wife Judy approach everything with a strategic eye. Hence the reason that he’s competing primarily in Division 4 this year instead of his native Division 3. 

“Are you familiar with the deal that Rodger Brogdon is doing?” he asked at the beginning of our recent chat after he won the NHRA SpringNationals in Houston. Yes, all of us at Competition Plus are quite familiar with the Comp Eliminator Bonus Fund, started by Brogdon and featuring a host of additional sponsors this year. 

With four different winners over four different events in Division 4, it’s pretty impossible to FORget what’s at stake. (See what I did there?)

EXPLAINING THE TITAN RACING ENGINES INTAKE ISSUE

 

Had the letter from the NHRA not been posted on social media, there might not have been a story to write. 

The letter, sent to the team by NHRA Glen Gray on Saturday evening, informed them of their need to correct their intake manifold, the same one they were running last weekend in Houston. The timing couldn't have been worse following the shutdown snafu between driver Camrie Caruso and Erica Enders.

“The NHRA Pro Stock rules committee has met and has voted not to accept your request to continue to use the Titan Engines Pro Stock intake manifold,” the letter read. “Please let this letter serve as [the] NHRA official rejection of your request. The NHRA Pro Stock rules committee did, however, vote to allow you to continue to use the intake manifold in question until June 1, 2022. At any NHRA event occurring after June 1, 2022, you must use an intake manifold that meets NHRA rules as defined in the NHRA Pro Stock electronic fuel injection requirements found on nhraracer.com.”

BATTERY FIRE A SETBACK FOR 'BIG DADDY'

 

Plans for Palm Beach International Raceway to go out in a blaze of glory didn’t include Don Garlits’ electric dragster going up in flames.

Yet that’s what happened Saturday at the 58-year-old facility’s scheduled final event. A malfunction of some battery cells caused a fire that Garlits said will set back the development of his 'Swamp Rat 38' dragster “probably a couple of months, at least.”

It’s the latest disappointment with the project for Garlits, a 17-time national champion in Top Fuel competition. He fell short in his bid to become the first racer to crack the 200-mph barrier with an electric car when Steve Huff beat him to it in May 2020. Now Garlits’ dragster, which he recently revamped to try to top Huff’s mark, is sidelined while he ponders his next move.

HULL HAS WELL-THOUGHT-OUT PLAN

 

Buddy Hull doesn’t make haphazard moves. His steps are deliberate and thoughtful. Maybe some don’t understand why the Top Fuel newcomer competed in the season opener at Pomona, then sat out the next three events and is returning now with his sharp-looking, newly wrapped VertexRoofers.com Dragster.

It’s because he has a carefully crafted plan. And things aren’t always what they appear to be. 

Take, for example, Hull’s Friday qualifying pass. He didn’t reach the finish line under full power. But that was exactly what he had planned to do, even though it left him outside the field of 16, along with Cam Ferré. That was a planned shutoff, mentor and tuner (and Funny Car owner-driver-crew chief) Tim Wilkerson said. Hull knew he had two more chances Saturday to qualify and favorable weather conditions to help. 

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