Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Jimmy Alund (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won their respective classes in Sunday’s finals of the fifth-annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C.
In the unique four-car, side-by-side format, Brown (3.800 seconds, 317.42 mph) held off No. 1 qualifier Shawn Langdon (3.800 seconds, 322.11 mph), J.R. Todd (3.799, 318.32) and Doug Kalitta (4.587, 172.04).
Even though Langdon had a higher mph, a great jump at the starting line by Brown earned him his second race of the season, 27th Top Fuel win, 43rd overall NHRA win and his first-ever four-wide victory.
“When you go into a final and there’s two Kalitta cars and an Al-Anabi car, it’s pretty much stacked against you because the Kalitta team and Alan [Johnson]‘s team work together,” said Brown, who races for Don Schumacher Racing. “It’s like running three teammates’ car against one, so they definitely had the advantage, but you go out there and do what you do. We just keep our head down and keep it to the grind, and we put our best foot forward today, and we were able to edge out and become the victors.”
In Funny Car, Hight (4.074 seconds, 311.34 mph) won his second race (in four final round appearances) of the season and also his second career four-wide triumph.
He defeated teammate, father-in-law and team president John Force (4.132 seconds, 307.51), Alexis DeJoria (4.098, 301.67) and Tim Wilkerson (6.631, 98.01).
Hight’s winning margin over Force was about 24 feet. He becomes the first two-time Funny Car winner at the Four-Wide event.
“This has been a great weekend,” Hight said. “We love coming to zMAX Dragway. What a better place to bring potential sponsors than this facility. John and I getting to the final made it that much more special. It’s my fourth final in a row and we’ve only missed two rounds in Pomona to start the season.
“You would think three Ford Funny Cars in the final would be pretty good odds. With the way (DeJoria has) been running and winning races it’s no gimme. That was a big one.”
It was the 31st win of Hight’s career. During the week, he serves as president of John Force Racing and is the husband of Force’s daughter, Ashley, who recently renewed her racing license to perhaps return to competition after a three-year absence to get married and start a family.
John Force earned his 89th runner-up finish and is seeking a record 17th Funny Car championship in the final year that he’ll be sponsored by Castrol Oil and Ford Motor Company.
In Pro Stock, series newcomer Alund rallied from a bad start in his first final round to also earn his first career NHRA win.
Alund (6.562 seconds, 211.59 mph) defeated Shane Gray (6.563, 211.69), Vincent Nobile (6.667 209.46) and Erica Enders-Stevens (11.719, 79.19).
Alund’s winning margin was about 14 feet in front of Gray. A native of Sweden, he becomes the first European winner and only the fourth non-American winner in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series history.
An eight-time FIA European Drag Racing Pro Stock champ, Alund is filling in this season for four-time NHRA Pro Stock champ Greg Anderson, who is recovering from heart surgery and isn’t expected to return to racing until next month, at the earliest.
“Since I got here (in the U.S.) the very first time I didn’t feel pressure,” Alund said. “I knew if I did my best that I could do much more. They’re [KB Racing] professionals and they gave me a great race car. I think we work well together.”
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hines (6.859 seconds, 196.10 mph) defeated Eddie Krawiec (6.874, 196.13), Scotty Pollacheck (6.966, 191.73) and John Hall (7.547, 133.32).
It was Hines’ first win of the season and his first-ever Four-Wide triumph. He won by less than five feet over Krawiec in capturing his 33rd career NHRA victory.
“This does a lot for my confidence because I’ve never had a round win here [at the Four-Wide],” Hines said. “In fact, Charlotte was bad to me. It took four races before I broke through for a win at the two-wide race in the fall. At this race there is so much going on that you never know what’s going to happen. Some guys take a long time to stage and some guys want to get up there as quickly as they can. You have to be prepared for anything.”
Coming into the weekend offered the possibility that a significant milestone may be reached, but it did not occur, that of 100 all-time pro event wins by female drivers.
The amount heading into the Four-Wide Nationals was 98, and it remains that number afterward. The next chance to get closer to, if not achieve that milestone, will be in two weeks in the NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts SpringNationals, April 25-27, at Royal Purple Racway in Baytown, Texas.
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Here are the final statistics for professional categories at the fifth-annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, the fifth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
FINAL FINISHING ORDER (1-16):
TOP FUEL: 1. Antron Brown; 2. Shawn Langdon; 3. J.R. Todd; 4. Doug Kalitta; 5. Tony Schumacher; 6. Spencer Massey; 7. Khalid alBalooshi; 8. Brittany Force; 9. Steve Torrence; 10. Clay Millican; 11. Bob Vandergriff; 12. Richie Crampton; 13. Leah Pritchett; 14. Terry McMillen; 15. Sidnei Frigo; 16. Pat Dakin.
FUNNY CAR: 1. Robert Hight; 2. John Force; 3. Alexis DeJoria; 4. Tim Wilkerson; 5. Del Worsham; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 7. Blake Alexander; 8. Matt Hagan; 9. Courtney Force; 10. Ron Capps; 11. Jack Beckman; 12. Bob Tasca III; 13. Chad Head; 14. Tony Pedregon; 15. Jeff Arend; 16. Cruz Pedregon.
PRO STOCK: 1. Jimmy Alund; 2. Shane Gray; 3. Vincent Nobile; 4. Erica Enders-Stevens; 5. Jason Line; 6. Chris McGaha; 7. Jeg Coughlin; 8. Allen Johnson; 9. V. Gaines; 10. Dave Connolly; 11. Rodger Brogdon; 12. Jonathan Gray; 13. Larry Morgan; 14. Justin Humphreys; 15. Robert Patrick.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. Andrew Hines; 2. Eddie Krawiec; 3. Scotty Pollacheck; 4. John Hall; 5. Hector Arana Jr; 6. Chaz Kennedy; 7. Mike Berry; 8. Hector Arana; 9. Jerry Savoie; 10. Shawn Gann; 11. Angie Smith; 12. Michael Ray; 13. Matt Smith; 14. Adam Arana; 15. Jim Underdahl; 16. Katie Sullivan.
FINAL ROUND RESULTS:
Top Fuel — Antron Brown, 3.800 seconds, 317.42 mph def. Shawn Langdon, 3.800 seconds, 322.11 mph and J.R. Todd, 3.799 seconds, 318.32 mph and Doug Kalitta, 4.587 seconds, 172.04 mph
Funny Car — Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.074, 311.34 def. John Force, Mustang, 4.132, 307.51 and Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Camry, 4.098, 301.67 and Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 6.631, 98.01
Pro Stock — Jimmy Alund, Chevy Camaro, 6.562, 211.59 def. Shane Gray, Camaro, 6.563, 211.69 and Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.667, 209.46 and Erica Enders-Stevens, Camaro, 11.719, 79.19
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.859, 196.10 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.874, 196.13 and Scotty Pollacheck, Buell, 6.966, 191.73 and John Hall, Buell, 7.547, 133.32
FINAL ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Antron Brown, 3.801, 323.04 and Brittany Force, 3.814, 323.19 def. Clay Millican, 3.983, 285.05 and Leah Pritchett, 4.537, 194.83; Tony Schumacher, 3.815, 324.12 and Khalid alBalooshi, 3.926, 289.88 def. Richie Crampton, 4.517, 237.00 and Sidnei Frigo, 4.970, 148.46; J.R. Todd, 3.783, 324.51 and Doug Kalitta, 3.795, 325.69 def. Bob Vandergriff, 4.173, 89.05 and Pat Dakin, 6.779, 97.50; Shawn Langdon, 3.791, 321.27 and Spencer Massey, 3.840, 322.65 def. Steve Torrence, 3.860, 315.27 and Terry McMillen, 4.621, 170.62;
SEMIFINALS — Langdon, 3.821, 315.86 and Brown, 3.988, 280.84 def. Massey, 4.066, 238.34 and Force, 5.802, 145.50; Todd, 3.822, 322.73 and Kalitta, 3.847, 323.81 def. Schumacher, 3.847, 317.94 and alBalooshi, 4.154, 254.71;
FINAL — Brown, 3.800, 317.42 def. Langdon, 3.800, 322.11, Todd, 3.799, 318.32 and Kalitta, 4.587, 172.04.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.109, 311.70 and Blake Alexander, Dodge Charger, 4.137, 304.25 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.310, 256.36 and Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, broke; John Force, Mustang, 4.046, 312.71 and Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 4.113, 312.57 def. Courtney Force, Mustang, 4.104, 315.12 and Jeff Arend, Charger, 5.068, 151.75; Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 4.089, 307.72 and Del Worsham, Camry, 4.096, 311.34 def. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.125, 309.98 and Chad Head, Camry, 4.146, 304.25; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.087, 314.75 and Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.115, 311.34 def. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.138, 310.41 and Tony Pedregon, Camry, 4.436, 97.55;
SEMIFINALS — DeJoria, 4.087, 310.84 and Wilkerson, 4.125, 308.21 def. Worsham, 4.128, 308.14 and Alexander, 4.151, 299.20; J. Force, 4.123, 309.63 and Hight, 4.139, 305.98 def. Johnson Jr., 4.164, 289.14 and Hagan, DQ;
FINAL — Hight, 4.074, 311.34 def. J. Force, 4.132, 307.51, DeJoria, 4.098, 301.67 and Wilkerson, 6.631, 98.01.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Jeg Coughlin, Dodge Dart, 6.681, 210.28 and Shane Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.566, 211.69 def. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.947, 165.56 and Robert Patrick, Ford Mustang, DQ; Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.579, 210.70 and Jason Line, Camaro, 6.560, 211.76 def. Dave Connolly, Camaro, 6.650, 211.76 and Justin Humphreys, Mustang, 6.679, 207.05; Erica Enders-Stevens, Camaro, 6.546, 212.33 and Allen Johnson, Dart, 6.554, 211.46 def. Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 6.598, 210.77; Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.545, 212.56 and Jimmy Alund, Camaro, 6.554, 211.53 def. V. Gaines, Dodge Avenger, 6.606, 210.57 and Larry Morgan, Mustang, 6.641, 208.62;
SEMIFINALS — Enders-Stevens, 6.559, 211.30 and Nobile, 6.603, 210.21 def. Line, 7.482, 141.71 and Johnson, 17.414, 49.25; Alund, 6.563, 211.43 and S. Gray, 6.555, 211.96 def. McGaha, 19.450, 43.54 and Coughlin, 6.542, 211.63;
FINAL — Alund, 6.562, 211.59 def. S. Gray, 6.563, 211.69, Nobile, 6.667, 209.46 and Enders-Stevens, 11.719, 79.19.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE — Scotty Pollacheck, Buell XB12R, 6.885, 193.46 and John Hall, Buell XB9R, 6.835, 195.96 def. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki TL1000, 6.899, 193.88 and Adam Arana, XB9R, 6.943, 192.08; Andrew Hines, Harley V-Rod, 6.820, 196.27 and Hector Arana, XB9R, 6.933, 196.70 def. Shawn Gann, XB9R, 6.927, 193.29 and Matt Smith, XB9R, 6.831, 196.85; Chaz Kennedy, XB9R, 6.903, 192.33 and Mike Berry, XB9R, 6.928, 192.22 def. Michael Ray, XB9R, 10.233, 80.79 and Katie Sullivan, TL1000, DQ; Hector Arana Jr, XB9R, 6.805, 196.22 and Eddie Krawiec, V-Rod, 6.817, 196.53 def. Angie Smith, XB9R, 6.943, 192.52 and Jim Underdahl, Suzuki GSXR, 8.632, 111.13;
SEMIFINALS — Hall, 6.869, 193.38 and Pollacheck, 6.901, 193.43 def. Kennedy, 6.920, 190.35 and Berry, 6.968, 191.16; Krawiec, 6.840, 194.91 and Hines, 6.851, 194.83 def. Arana Jr, 6.879, 195.14 and H. Arana, 6.980, 195.28;
FINAL — Hines, 6.859, 196.10 def. Krawiec, 6.874, 196.13, Pollacheck, 6.966, 191.73 and Hall, 7.547, 133.32.
OVERALL POINTS STANDINGS:
Top Fuel: 1. Doug Kalitta, 485; 2. Antron Brown, 460; 3. Steve Torrence, 347; 4. Shawn Langdon, 330; 5. Tony Schumacher, 316; 6. Khalid alBalooshi, 290; 7. Spencer Massey, 288; 8. Brittany Force, 246; 9. Richie Crampton, 189; 10. J.R. Todd, 183.
Funny Car: 1. Robert Hight, 488; 2. John Force, 453; 3. Alexis DeJoria, 375; 4. Ron Capps, 282; 5. Del Worsham, 277; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 264; 7. Matt Hagan, 257; 8. (tie) Courtney Force, 244; Tim Wilkerson, 244; 10. Jack Beckman, 234.
Pro Stock: 1. Erica Enders-Stevens, 426; 2. Jason Line, 384; 3. Allen Johnson, 370; 4. Vincent Nobile, 339; 5. Shane Gray, 334; 6. (tie) Dave Connolly, 308; V. Gaines, 308; 8. Jimmy Alund, 282; 9. Jeg Coughlin, 270; 10. Chris McGaha, 258.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Andrew Hines, 180; 2. Scotty Pollacheck, 169; 3. John Hall, 152; 4. Eddie Krawiec, 151; 5. Hector Arana Jr, 145; 6. Steve Johnson, 124; 7. Michael Ray, 107; 8. Matt Smith, 97; 9. (tie) Hector Arana, 83; Chaz Kennedy, 83.
Article source: http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/13/brown-tf-hight-fc-alund-ps-and-hines-psm-rule-finals-of-nhra-four-wide-nationals/