Two weeks ago, Doug Kalitta checked a major item off of his drag racing bucket list by winning a four-wide drag race. Now, the reigning Top Fuel world champion has  a chance to realize yet another goal by achieving back-to-back wins in that same format.

On Friday, Kalitta got that quest off to a good start by taking the provisional top spot at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

John Force boasts an unparalleled career spanning over 850 races, with an impressive tally of over 2,100 competitive laps under his belt. Renowned for his mastery behind the wheel, Force holds the distinction of having logged more runs  in a nitro-burning Funny Car than anyone.

Remarkably, at the age of 74, Force continues to set new benchmarks by clocking the quickest lap of his illustrious drag racing career Friday.

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. 

Icons attract icons, and at this weekend’s Charlotte four-wide event, two of them are paired together for what they hope is a grand presentation. 

HendrickCars.com, the online brand for NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick’s automotive retail enterprise, and John Force Racing partnered for a four-race, primary sponsorship of Brittany Force and her Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster.

Nothing says love like a pair of his/her Mountain Motor Pro Stockers. 

For the first time in a national competition since the Mountain Motor Pro Stock style of drag racing began in 1977 at the IHRA Winter Nationals in Darlington, SC, a husband and wife will attempt to race in the large displacement factory hot rod division. 

Bo Butner, a past world champion in the 500-inch Pro Stock arena, and his wife Randi Lyn [RL] Butner, a Stock Eliminator standout herself, will make history at this weekend's NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Charlotte's zMAX Dragway driving twin JHG Chevrolet Camaros.

Buddy Hull’s dream of becoming a professional drag racer began in Charlotte four years ago at zMax Dragway, the palatial dragstrip built on the hallowed grounds of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Hully was definitely in another place in his nitro racing life. 

Today, Hull is a Funny Car driver, piloting a Funny Car for drag racing icon Jim Dunn. 

Larry Dixon Jr., the three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion and 62-time race winner, was irritated, and as he sees it with good reason. The source of his ire was something others might have found humorous as it was a back-handed compliment delivered by his dad, Larry Sr.

The elder Dixon would sign autographs as "Larry Dixon's Dad."

The simple act of a father respecting his son irritated Dixon wasn't in the spirit it was intended.

Apparently, the experience of watching drag racing from outside the car is better for Fernando Cuadra Sr. 

The Mexican drag racing champion has announced this weekend’s NHRA Fout-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, NC., will be his final event as he plans to retire. The elder Cuadra has been waiting on a new car, which he will race this weekend. 

“It’s all perfect timing. With the businesses, it’s in the by-laws. It’s no surprise; we’ve been preparing. My boys will be taking over,” said Fernando Sr. of his sons taking over the responsibility of 34 factories and 12,000 employees as well as partnerships around the globe. “Each of the boys will have equal say in the company. They will have to unanimously agree on decisions. They’ve been involved for a long time; this is just the next step.”

One cannot easily put a price on supporting a good cause, but Pro Stock Motorcycle racer John Hall has. 

Hall has confirmed he will donate signage on his Buel Pro Stock Motorcycle to B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe), Doug Herbert’s national proactive teen defensive driving program.

Hall runs under the Matt Smith Racing banner and says B.R.A.K.E.S. aligns with his deep passion for the life-saving program established by Herbert, a multi-time Top Fuel champion.
 

When it comes to making the most of opportunities, JCM Racing team owner Joe Maynard has learned to be efficient. 

Maynard revealed he has acquired an ownership stake in Michael Waltrip Brewing Co., ensuring Michael Waltrip Brewing Co.’s presence expands on JCM Racing’s Top Fuel dragsters driven by NHRA star Tony Schumacher and upcoming talent Ida Zetterström.