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Following a memorable event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series moves eastward to zMax Dragway for the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, the second of three four-wide events this season.

Fans who came to zMax Dragway on Friday witnessed a large number of impressive performances including a record 341.59 mph blast by two-time Top Fuel world champion Brittany Force.

Saturday promises to deliver more of the same as qualifying will conclude in the four professional categories of Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Saturday will also feature the popular Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge where drivers who make the quarterfinals at the previous event will be matched-up with an opportunity to earn addition prize money and bonus points.

Everyone in Top Fuel wants to win at zMax Dragway, perhaps a bit more than usual this time as the event champion will earn a significant place in history as this is NHRA’s 1,000th Top Fuel race dating back to the category’s official debut at the 1963 Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. On Friday, NHRA unveiled a special trophy that is a replica of the first Top Fuel trophy awarded to “Big Daddy” Don Garlits at the 1963 Pomona event.

Kalitta Motorsports teammates Doug Kalitta and Shawn Langdon are among the favorites after they took the top two spots in qualifying on Friday. Kalitta ran 3.646 while Langdon is just a tick behind at 3.665. Brittany Force also found the 3.6s with a 3.667 on her historic run in her HendrickCars.com dragster.

In Funny Car, Paul Lee carried the momentum from his recent win in Phoenix into Charlotte where he ran 3.829 to lead the way after two of four qualifying runs. Behind Lee, there is a host of 3.8-second players including Austin Prock, Daniel Wilkerson, Spencer Hyde, Jack Beckman, Bob Tasca III, Ron Capps, and Matt Hagan who make up the top half of the field.

There are currently 14 Funny Cars I the three second zone raising hopes for the sport’s first all-three second field.

In Pro Stock, KB Titan teammates Dallas Glenn and Greg Anderson are continuing to lead the way. Glenn and Anderson recorded identical 6.502 second runs with Glenn taking the top spot due to a faster speed. The entire 16-car Pro Stock field is sandwiched between Glenn’s 6.502 and the 6.579 of Erica Enders, who currently sits on the bump spot. There are 23 cars attempting to qualify, which means there will be plenty of bumping on Saturday.

Reigning and two-time champ Gaige Herrera leads the way in Pro Stock Motorcycle after a stunning 6.67-second run that provides a seven hundredths cushion against the rest of the field. Herrera leads Vance & Hines teammate Richard Gadson, who ran a second-best 6.759.

This weekend’s event also features the Congruity Pro Mod series, Johnson’s Horsepowerd Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock, Holley EFI Factory X, and FlexJet Factory Showdown, as well as a full slate of Lucas Oil Drag Racing series sportsman categories.

2024 EVENT WINNERS
Justin Ashley, Top Fuel; Matt Hagan, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock; Gaige Herrera, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST EVENT VICTORIES
Antron Brown, 7 TF; Robert Hight, 7, FC; Greg Anderson, 5, PS; Andrew Hines, 8, PSM.

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.647 sec. by Mike Salinas, Sept. ’23; 341.59 mph by Brittany Force, April ’25.
Funny Car - 3.820 sec. by John Force, April ’24; 338.34 mph by Bob Tasca III, April ’24
Pro Stock - 6.4552 seconds by Jason Line, March '15; 215.48 mph by Greg Anderson, March '15.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6. 671 seconds by Gaige Herrera, April ‘24; 203 49 mph by Eddie Krawiec, May ‘21

NATIONAL RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. ‘19, Reading; 341.59 mph by Brittany Force, April ‘25, Charlotte
Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd; 341.68 mph by Austin Prock, Nov. ’24, Pomona
Pro Stock - 6.443 sec. by Greg Anderson, March ’25, Gainesville; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ’14, Englishtown

SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, April 26
Lucas Oil Series eliminations at 8:00 a.m.
Top Alcohol qualifying at 10:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
Mission Foods Series Pro Stock qualifying at 1:10 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Mission Foods Series Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, April 27
Pre-race ceremonies, 11:00 a.m.
Mission Foods Series eliminations begin at 12:00 p.m.

TELEVISION
SATURDAY, April 26, FS1 will televise one and half hours of qualifying highlights at 10 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, April 27, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 12:30 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, April 27, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 7 p.m. (ET)