Terry McMillen and his Amalie Oil Top Fuel team headed into the NHRA 4 Wide Nationals full of hope and optimism on the heels of a career best performance just two weeks earlier at the Gator Nationals in Gainesville. While zMax Dragway provided his first round win last season, this trip to Charlotte wouldn't be as kind.

ESPN2's continuation of coverage of the rain-delayed NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway has been scheduled for Monday at 12:30 p.m. (ET). The 30-min. show will feature the final rounds in Top Fuel and Funny Car and the second round and final of Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle competition at the first NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event to feature racing in four lanes instead of two.
 
NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD, Monday, March 29, 12:30-1 p.m. (ET)

Persistent rain showers and a forecast for more severe weather throughout the evening Sunday forced NHRA officials to postpone the completion of the inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals to Monday at zMAX Dragway.

Top Fuel and Funny Car competitors completed two rounds of racing before the rain started to fall just past 2 p.m. (ET) at the first NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event to feature racing in four lanes instead of the traditional two. One round of racing was completed in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

UPDATE: 4:15 PM, EST. - Nearly 30 minutes from a re-start, the skies opened up and rain began to fall. There's no word on the schedule.

3:40 PM,  - Race officials estimate competition could resume within an hour, and will open with the final round of the nitrous divisions, followed by Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Climbing back behind the wheel of an NHRA Top Fuel car after taking four years off is nerve-racking enough. However, attempting to return to competition at the inaugural NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway is enough to make even the most seasoned competitor a little wary.
 
“We were really excited about the prospect of being a part of this historical 4-wide event,” said Rhonda Hartman-Smith. “We have been trying to put something together with Hartley Racing since Pomona, so when this opportunity came along, it just all came together.”

During the first round of NHRA Four-Wide Nationals first round eliminations, NHRA Top Fuel driver Cory McClenathan suffered what appeared to be a tire explosion.

McClenathan, running from the No. 2 lane, skidded to a stop and he emerged from the car on his own. Had he not have been as fortunate, the veteran Top Fuel could have rested well knowing the safety teams were on the job.

Saturday afternoon, McClenathan watched from the shutdown area, as the rescue team rushed to the aid his Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan.

The streak is over. Long live the next streak?    

Jeg Coughlin broke Mike Edwards’ stranglehold on Pro Stock qualifying on Saturday, earning the No. 1 spot for Sunday’s 4-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, ending a streak of 12 consecutive races where Edwards had qualified first in Pro Stock.

But lest you think Edwards is going away, Coughlin warned against it.

Top Fuel racer Cory McClenathan failed to improve on his Friday No. 1 effort during the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Saturday’s qualifying. Having a pair of former Funny Car tuners in charge of his Fram-sponsored dragster, the failure wasn’t for lack of effort.

McClenathan missed the mark in the first session of the day but his low elapsed time of the final session with a 3.810, 319.82 sent a message.

“I think we have a car that they’re going to have to step up to beat us,” said McClenathan. “It’s one of those things were we’ve had that same car all year long, we’ve either gone out and really shined or we’ve taken something for granted that we shouldn’t have and it bit us. So it’s one of those things where the car ran really good and just now Todd [Okuhara] looked at me and said we’re going to try to run .79. I thought that was a little gutsy but he laughed and said if it doesn’t feel right shut it off.”

Ford Racing conducted a press conference on Saturday at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals detailing their new alliance, a collaboration of all of their Ford teams. Headlining those at the media gathering included members of the Ford Racing management team and driver/team owners John Force and Bob Tasca III.

All were represented from the Ford family except for one.

What about Tim Wilkerson?

While Sergeant First Class Wesley Catoe, Pageland, SC, has seen his share of conflict during his nearly 11 years in the Army, he was working a plumb assignment Saturday morning at zMax Dragway.

Sergeant Catoe was all smiles as he answered questions from young and old alike about what it is like to be a member of the Army family. In addition, Catoe is this week's “Hometown Hero” being honored by the US Army Top Fuel dragster team.

Just as the ARMY sponsorship is a perfect fit for Tony Schumacher, joining the Army was the perfect move for Catoe.