Competition Plus’ Water-Cooler Topics From The NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, NC.

Justin Ashley has harbored a love-hate relationship with four-wide drag racing.

He loves to race them, but he’s hated the results.

However, all of that changed Sunday when the Top Fuel phenom secured his inaugural victory in a race of that type at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals hosted at zMAX Dragway. The triumph marked a milestone in Ashley’s career, finally aligning his enjoyment of the format with a well-deserved taste of success.   

Rickie Smith has seen a lot in a lifetime of drag racing, but the one thing that transpired on Sunday he didn't see coming when he rolled through the gates at zMAX Dragway on Thursday. In fact, months ago, when he planned to run Competition Eliminator at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on an off-weekend, he had never thought it could happen in a million years. 

Smith has been drag racing for a long time, but Sunday marked a million years. 

"I can't believe this is happening," Smith said. "I came down here for Parkway Ford just to put on a show. I'm more excited doing this than racing Pro Modified. That's badass racing, ya'll."

From his earliest memories as a young boy, Matt Hagan still vividly recalls the awe-inspiring experience of attending his very first drag race in Bristol, Tennessee. The sights, sounds, and smells of the sport left an undeniable impression on him.

In that moment, Hagan could scarcely have imagined that he would one day ascend to the pinnacle of NHRA competition, piloting an 11,000-horsepower, nitro-burning Funny Car, let alone etching his name into the history books as one of the sport’s true legends.

Sunday, at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals held at zMAX Dragway, Hagan cemented his status as a member of an exclusive club, capturing his 50th tour victory. In doing so, he joined the ranks of 16 other pro drivers in NHRA history to reach that level.    

Make it 105 for Greg Anderson. 

Anderson increased his NHRA Pro Stock record of national-event wins to that number by capturing the 4-Wide Nationals on Sunday in Charlotte, N.C.

Anderson, who pilots the HendrickCars.com Chevy Camaro for KB Titan Racing, clocked a stout 6.502-second elapsed time at 210.77 mph to win the finals quad over Aaron Stanfield (6.551), Dallas Glenn (6.561) and Cristian Cuadra (6.549).

The unstoppable force that is Gaige Herrera in NHRA’s Pro Stock Motorcycle class keeps mowing down the competition.

Herrera, since joining the powerhouse Vance & Hines team in 2023, has now won 13 national events in 17 starts.

Herrera’s latest victory came Sunday when he took home the title at the 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, N.C.

Herrera clocked a 6.684-second lap at 202.73 mph in the finals quad to defeat John Hall (6.758), Richard Gadson, his Vance & Hines teammate, (6.767) and LE Tonglet, who had a redlight start.

There was a time when Matt Hagan was a wet-behind-the-ears Funny Car driver, having just graduated from being the NHRA’s Pro Modified Rookie of the Year.

It’s taken Hagan a little under two decades, but he has developed into one of the most seasoned drivers in the Funny Car class, and on Sunday 
 at the 14th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte he scored his milestone 50th win at zMaz Dragway.

Bob Tasca left no doubt about his intentions as he headed into the final round of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. It wasn’t just about racing against his three fellow competitors; it was about something deeper.

Following a contentious disqualification Friday, attributed to an intake manifold deemed illegal by the NHRA Tech Department, Tasca found himself feeling personally slighted by the decision. In response, he vowed to overcome the controversial decision, not just for himself, but for his dedicated crew chiefs who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

The outcome? Another triumph in the four-wide format, coupled with the fastest run ever recorded at zMAX Dragway.

Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 14th annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, the fifth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series

Final round-by-round results from the 14th annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, the fifth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series: