2024 NHRA VEGAS 4-WIDE NATIONALS - EVENT RESULTS
SUNDAY FINAL - TASCA, KALITTA, COUGHLIN SCORE WINS IN VEGAS 4-WIDE
The third became the third in Las Vegas.
Bob Tasca III not only holeshot runner-up Austin Prock but also got the jump on reigning world champ Matt Hagan and Ron Capps to score his second four-wide victory during the 24th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. It was only the third time in four-wide drag racing history that a driver has recorded a triple holeshot victory.
Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) also won at the fourth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Tasca’s 3.915-second run at 329.75 mph was the slowest in his quad and resulted in his first win of the season and his 16th career win. He needed every bit of his starting-line advantage to pick up a memorable victory in an incredible final round, undoubtedly one of the most thrilling in four-wide history.
“When I’m sitting here in lane one and looking at those grandstands full of people, it gives you butterflies because that’s why we do it,” Tasca said. “I knew I hit it good. I didn’t know how good it was, but it was a great light, great car, great setup, and it’s exactly what we needed to do this weekend.
“When you put together a final round where there’s one Ford, one Dodge, one Toyota, one Chevy, that why we do it. It’s the only reason we come out here to win for all our Ford fans all around the world. That’s going to go down as one of the best final rounds in Funny Car history. We’ve got a team that can compete for the championship, and I promise you we will.”
Prock is a former NHRA Rookie of the Year, but his rookie Funny Car season is deja vu all over again. His runner-up marked his third trip to the finals this season, while Capps was third. Hagan, who posted the quickest run of the weekend in the category with a 3.895 at 328.54, was fourth.
Not only did the Top Fuel champ get his first No.. 1 qualifier of the season, he completed the sweep by going 3.715 at 333.58 in his Mac Tools dragster to drive past Tony Stewart, Justin Ashley and Steve Torrence. He also scored the quickest run in the three rounds, giving Kalitta 53 career victories and plenty of early-season momentum following his first championship. He picked up wins in the first two quads to advance to the loaded final round and, staying in the first lane all day, put together another great run to pick up another milestone first in his impressive career.
“That was a hell of a run, and I was really happy to see that win light come on,” Kalitta said. “Obviously, those other three teams are all hungry and all running pretty strong. It was a super close race for all our cars and the fans got their money’s worth, and we came out with a win.
“Getting the first four-wide was really special for me, because I’ve been really hungry to try to pull one of these off. My guys really had my car running strong. We qualified low and I think we have low [ET] of each of the sessions and it would have been a great shame to miss this opportunity.”
Ashley finished runner-up with his run of 3.745 at 333.82, Torrence took third, and Stewart was fourth in his first career final round. Ashley also moved into the Top Fuel points lead.
Coughlin did a bit of sweeping of his own by following up Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory with his first win in nearly four years, going 6.616 at 207.18 in his Scag Power Equipment car in the final quad. He had a .013 reaction time against a quartet that included Erica Enders, Jerry Tucker, and Brandon Foster. He never trailed en route to his 66th career victory, with his most recent coming in 2020. It was also his first four-wide victory in his terrific career, winning the first quad and finishing second to Enders to advance to the final round.
Coughlin, who qualified No. 1 in Phoenix, was stellar on the tree all weekend, going .014 in the opening round and .007 in the second quad as things came together in a special way for the entire Elite Motorsports team on Sunday.
“This was epic, the whole weekend,” Coughlin said. “Our car was great from Q1, where we had low E.T., and we almost maintained that pace throughout the rest of the event. Fast forward to today, and we had three good quads to traverse our way through. In all seven runs, I was in a groove as far as driving and getting the clutch out. After three years away, it was fantastic to see that blinking [win] light in the final.
“I’ve been to some finals in the four-wide, but I’ve never been able to close the deal, so this feels really good to get it done.”
Tucker, who picked up his first career No. 1 qualifier this weekend, was second to the finish line in the final quad, going 6.617 at 206.35, picking up his first Pro Stock runner-up in the process. Enders leaves the event as the points leader.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action with the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on April 26-28 at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte.
SATURDAY -
Austin Prock, who is only four races into his Funny Car driving career, continues to look like a seasoned veteran. The rookie flopper pilot picked up his third career No. 1 qualifier while competing at the 24th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Jerry Tucker (Pro Stock) will also head into Sunday as the No. 1 seeds in their respective divisions.
Qualifying was just one part of a weekend that has already yielded a
#2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge victory on Saturday, as he claimed the top spot on the strength of a 3.904-second elapsed time at 321.42 mph. He’ll be in an opening-round quad that features Jeff Diehl, Blake Alexander, and Alexis DeJoria a week after picking up his first Funny Car victory.
“That Tasca team, they do a great job. We’ve been duking it out all year, and he made a nice run in front of me today right before that last qualifying session,” Prock said. “I’m like, ‘Alright, well, the track’s pretty good,’ and along with my boss, John Force, running [3.]90, it showed there was some potential out there to make a really good run.
“My team has done a great job in these hot conditions. We’re really getting a handle on these hot weather conditions, and that was kind of our goal this year, to really dial that in because it’s typically really fast when it’s cool out. It’s going to cool down tomorrow so it’s definitely going to be the quickest runs you’ll see all weekend.”
Prock’s boss, John Force, took the second spot with a 3.908, 326.79, while points leader J.R. Todd moved up to third in the final session with a 3.930, 322.19.
The defending NHRA champion Kalitta maintained his top spot by improving with a pass of 3.738 at 336.82 in his Mac Tools dragster. It’s his first No. 1 spot of 2024 and the 54th in his career. He’ll open up raceday in a quad that includes teammate and points leader Shawn Langdon and four-time world champion Steve Torrence.
“The team it stepped it up to that 3.73 in that first session, so that was plenty strong for the conditions. I’m feeling really confident with what we got going on,” Kalitta said. “I think on that last run, we were maybe just pushing it a little, much just to see what we could do. But the track seems plenty good in all the lanes, and it should be a good day tomorrow. It’s going to be a little cooler, which should play into our hand performance-wise.”
Tony Schumacher was second quickest, with a 3.768 at 325.53, and Clay Millican’s 3.773 at 332.34 was good enough for third.
Tucker, in only his second season of Pro Stock, picked up his first No. 1 qualifying effort. His 6.612 elapsed time at 206.61 mph in his Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer/SCAG Power Equipment car got the job done. He was the quickest of the opening session on Friday and then stepped up again to start the day on Saturday, clinching his first top qualifier in the loaded Pro Stock ranks. He’ll open eliminations in a quad featuring Chris McGaha, defending event winner Dallas Glenn, and Elite Motorsports teammate Troy Coughlin Jr.
“I’m just trying to get my driving together, and I think it’s finally coming together. This is the car that Erica [Enders] drove last year and I managed to make three solid runs,” Tucker said. “It takes a year or so to learn how to drive [a Pro Stock car] properly. For the first five or six races, you’re just riding along. Then you start to get a feel for it, but it takes a while to really figure it out.
From 1 to 16, they are all tough. I really don’t see any difference between anyone in the field. It won’t be easy tomorrow.”
Jeg Coughlin Jr., who won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in Pro Stock, qualified second after going 6.625 at 206.64 and Greg Anderson is third thanks to his 6.625 at 206.32.
Eliminations for the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals begin at 12 p.m. PT on Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 24th annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the fourth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel -- 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.738 seconds, 336.82 mph vs. Bye vs. vs. 8. Shawn Langdon, 3.798, 319.29 vs. 9. Steve Torrence, 3.800, 332.75; 2. Tony Schumacher, 3.768, 325.53 vs. 15. Terry Totten, 4.092, 287.78 vs. 7. Shawn Reed, 3.793, 323.12 vs. 10. Justin Ashley, 3.800, 331.53; 3. Clay Millican, 3.773, 332.34 vs. 14. Krista Baldwin, 3.903, 316.38 vs. 6. Antron Brown, 3.792, 330.72 vs. 11. Tony Stewart, 3.807, 325.30; 4. Billy Torrence, 3.784, 332.26 vs. 13. Jasmine Salinas, 3.848, 326.32 vs. 5. Brittany Force, 3.787, 333.66 vs. 12. Josh Hart, 3.828, 324.59.
Funny Car -- 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.904, 326.95 vs. 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 4.117, 275.73 vs. 8. Blake Alexander, Ford Mustang, 3.963, 321.50 vs. 9. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 3.967, 319.98; 2. John Force, Camaro, 3.908, 327.74 vs. 15. Jason Rupert, Mustang, 4.056, 316.01 vs. 7. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 3.957, 319.14 vs. 10. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.972, 324.20; 3. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.930, 322.19 vs. 14. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.051, 312.64 vs. 6. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.943, 328.06 vs. 11. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.980, 324.67; 4. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.931, 332.02 vs. 13. Steven Densham, Mustang, 4.020, 308.78 vs. 5. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.939, 328.22 vs. 12. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.018, 323.50.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Terry Haddock, 4.150, 299.60; 18. Jim Campbell, 4.215, 284.27; 19. Buddy Hull, 4.236, 294.31; 20. Alex Miladinovich, 4.268, 285.17.
Pro Stock -- 1. Jerry Tucker, Chevy Camaro, 6.612, 206.61 vs. 16. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.683, 206.04 vs. 8. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.636, 205.57 vs. 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.640, 207.46; 2. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.625, 207.62 vs. 15. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.676, 206.76 vs. 7. David Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.636, 205.91 vs. 10. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.645, 205.16; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.625, 206.32 vs. 14. Sienna Wildgust, Camaro, 6.675, 204.88 vs. 6. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.635, 206.39 vs. 11. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.648, 207.37; 4. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.627, 206.16 vs. 13. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.660, 206.13 vs. 5. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.634, 205.19 vs. 12. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.657, 205.85.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Mason McGaha, 6.704, 207.08; 18. Matt Hartford, 6.719, 204.98; 19. Steve Graham, 6.727, 204.63; 20. Joey Grose, 6.791, 203.89.
FRIDAY - KALITTA ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH PROVISIONAL NO. 1, TASCA, JEGGIE SET THE PACE
Doug Kalitta is the defending NHRA Top Fuel champion, and for him, through no fault of his own his been the third fiddle of publicity within his own team.
Kalitta is not having a bad season by any means. It's just his teamates Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel) and J.R. Todd (Funny Car) have been on a tear.
Kalitta set the pace for the first day of competition at the 24th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in the Top Fuel division. He was joined at the top of the leaderboard by Bob Tasca (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock).
Kalitta's best run of the day came out of the box with a 3.779-second elapsed time at 332.02 mph in his Mac Tools dragster. If the run holds, it will be the first No. 1 qualifier he's earned thus far in 2024.
“That was a really nice run for us,” Kalitta said. “We just switched to that car (last week) in Phoenix, so we're just kind of trying to figure out a new car, which is much different than what we've been running. The conditions are probably going to be a little warm tomorrow, so we'll have the same opportunity tomorrow to see if we can run those numbers again, and we’re looking forward to it.
“We've been qualifying well, and for whatever reason, we got beat early in the rounds on Sunday, so we’re definitely looking for a good long day here (on Sunday).”
Steve Torrence was second quickest with a 3.800, 332.75 while defending race winner Antron Brown was third with his 3.803 at 329.99.
Tasca, who has become the 2024 speed merchant by eclipsing 340 miles per hour in February, established his Mustang as the Funny Car to beat with a 3.931 elapsed time at 332.02 mph to close out the day. If the run stands through Saturday's two sessions, Tasca would earn his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and 17th in his career.
“This morning, I told my crew chiefs [Aaron Brooks and Todd Okuhara] that I didn't want to be going quicker than 3.95 and do not want to break 330 mph,” Tasca said. “I wanted them to prove to me that they can go slow when the weather's hot. In the first round, and they were everything was good, they listened to me, we ran 3.96. Everything's beautiful.
“I told them the exact same thing, not to change anything for the second run, then Austin [Prock] goes 3.94 right in front of us. Aaron goes in the [tuning] box, he looks at me and says, 'I'm really sorry, but we're going to break out,' and it left and felt good and ran a huge speed. The number that impressed me the most was the 332. It was exactly what we needed to do after two very tough races for us."
Phoenix winner Austin Prock was second with a 3.947, 321.42, while John Force is third on the strength of his 3.962 at 313.73.
Jeg Coughlin Jr., who made his return last fall in Las Vegas, went to the provisional No. 1 spot with a run of 6.641 at 206.89 in his Scag Power Equipment Camaro. It puts the veteran in line for his second straight top spot as he looks to build on his Phoenix success.
The five-time champion said he's been impressed with how well his team has come together in such a short time. Coughlin has five career wins at Las Vegas but is looking for his first here in a four-wide format.
“This shows that our team is beginning to jell, from the crew chiefs to myself behind the wheel,” Coughlin said. “We’ve managed to make solid qualifying runs all season long. In Pomona, I had an unfortunate early exit and that stung a bit but we made a nice rebound in Phoenix.
“Now, here we are in Las Vegas, and I made a nice 6.64 run in Q1 and that held through Q2 after the heat set in. Tomorrow, the track should be a little better, and the weather might be better so that 6.64 might be in jeopardy. Hopefully, if that happens, it’s the SCAG-mobile that does it.”
Greg Anderson is second quickest with a 6.657 at 205.38, while Jerry Tucker is third with a pass of 6.670 at 206.16.
Qualifying continues at 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 24th annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, fourth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.779 seconds, 332.02 mph; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.800, 332.75; 3. Antron Brown, 3.803, 329.99; 4. Clay Millican, 3.820, 330.80; 5. Brittany Force, 3.820, 326.56; 6. Justin Ashley, 3.839, 320.66; 7. Jasmine Salinas, 3.848, 326.32; 8. Tony Stewart, 3.852, 323.50; 9. Shawn Reed, 3.863, 320.43; 10. Shawn Langdon, 3.954, 247.34; 11. Terry Totten, 4.092, 287.78; 12. Krista Baldwin, 4.329, 195.68; 13. Billy Torrence, 4.538, 178.24; 14. Josh Hart, 4.543, 180.19; 15. Tony Schumacher, 5.525, 121.44.
Funny Car -- 1. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.931, 332.02; 2. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.947, 321.42; 3. John Force, Camaro, 3.962, 313.73; 4. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.993, 323.27; 5. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 4.006, 313.37; 6. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.010, 323.12; 7. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 4.010, 318.09; 8. Steven Densham, Mustang, 4.020, 308.78; 9. Alexis DeJoria, GR Supra, 4.035, 319.98; 10. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 4.049, 315.05; 11. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.052, 311.05; 12. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 4.058, 307.79; 13. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.064, 312.57; 14. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.065, 314.31; 15. Jason Rupert, Mustang, 4.086, 312.64; 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 4.117, 275.73. Not Qualified: 17. Terry Haddock, 4.150, 299.60; 18. Jim Campbell, 4.215, 284.27; 19. Alex Miladinovich, 4.285, 281.07; 20. Buddy Hull, 4.310, 289.32.
Pro Stock -- 1. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Camaro, 6.641, 206.89; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.657, 205.38; 3. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.660, 206.16; 4. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.672, 206.13; 5. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.672, 204.70; 6. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.676, 206.16; 7. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.679, 204.63; 8. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.682, 204.82; 9. David Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.683, 205.91; 10. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.689, 205.16; 11. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.690, 205.72; 12. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.694, 205.26; 13. Sienna Wildgust, Camaro, 6.698, 204.88; 14. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.704, 203.71; 15. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.715, 205.60; 16. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.719, 204.98. Not Qualified: 17. Kenny Delco, 6.725, 203.55; 18. Steve Graham, 6.759, 203.80; 19. Aaron Stanfield, 6.783, 205.54; 20. Joey Grose, 13.051, 94.44.
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