First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the Inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, the fourth of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.

Representatives of the ANDRA (Australian National Drag Racing Association) are attending the first ever NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway with one purpose in mind.

They are very interested in what it takes to run a four-wide event.

A facility similar in scope to zMax Dragway will be built in Melbourne Australia according to the representatives on site.

Four wide drag racing experienced its first multi-car explosion during the third Funny Car qualifying session during the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, NC.

One by one the competitors at zMax Dragway learned of the SFI decision to decertify certain products manufactured by Impact Racing.

Bob Tasca driver of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang, took a call from the manufacturer concerning their products in his use.

“They called me and told me my suit is safe,” revealed Tasca. “They have an issue with SFI that they are working on with their attorneys and that's the extent of my knowledge. I trust the product. I have used them for years and I have no apprehension at this time that it isn't what they say it is.”

The first round of pro qualifying at zMax Dragway on Friday brought a lot of firsts in official NHRA competition. But it also brought drag racing’s first blue light special.

The first four-wide qualifying sessions brought along a set of blue lights atop the NHRA’s christmas tree, adding to the confusion of many drivers here. With normal two-lane runs, staging is fairly simple. A driver focuses on the tree and the next lane.

But for four-wide racing, there is essentially another two-lane drag strip. NHRA added a tree to the second two lanes of track, and the blue lights indicate the pre-stage and stage progress of the two opposite lanes.

Even thought the drag strip includes two more lanes, Cory McLenathan is still comfortable at zMax Dragway.

McClenathan, the winner at zMax last September, roared to the top of Top Fuel the  ladder with a 3.790-second, 315.93 mph pass in Friday’s second round of qualifying.

Asked if he wanted to race at the Concord, N.C. track every weekend, McClenathan just smiled.

John Force Racing’s Robert Hight ripped down the zMax Dragway during the second round of qualifying for the 4-Wide Nationals, setting a track record and posting the third-quickest 1,000-foot time in NHRA history.

But Hight wants more. And, he knows he might need more. Hight said Friday that his 4.024-second, 314.24 mph run may not hold up in Saturday’s qualifying sessions.

“Yeah, I believe the conditions will be good enough tomorrow that if I don’t run better than a 4.02, that may not stay No. 1,” Hight said. “I’ve been in this position quite a few times, running these killer runs, and never backed it up for a national record. I’ve never got a record. I’ve made the quickest runs at quarter-mile and quickest runs at 1,000 feet, but never backed it up. Tomorrow, our goal is to back this thing up.”

  Two weeks ago in Gainesville, Fla., Jason Line was concerned with the condition of his right foot within his Pro Stock KB Racing Pontiac. To compensate for the weakness, he relied heavily on his left.

Line, of Mooresville, NC, wasn’t referring to an illness or an ache or pain to his person. His right foot was directly connected to his horsepower output while his left worked his clutch pedal near flawless.

Line was pleased to report on the first day of qualifying for the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, NC, his right foot was feeling fine. The past Pro Stock world champion holds the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot headed into Saturday qualifying with a 6.584 elapsed time at 210.50 miles per hour.

Two past Funny Car champions participated in Friday’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, one from inside of the cockpit and the other from outside.

Tony Pedregon was one of the 32 nitro racers who competed in  the first national event showcasing four cars racing to the finish line simultaneously.

Kenny Bernstein participated but in a different role. Bernstein, a four-time Funny Car champion with a Top Fuel title, took in Friday’s action from a team owner role.