Salinas, Beckman and Stoffer Top Qualifiers at NGK Spark Plugs Four Wide

Mike Salinas - Top Fuel number one qualifier in the first day's action

(Concord, NC – April 26, 2019 – RIS) Mike Salinas, off of a win at the Las Vegas Four-Wide NHRA drag race, goes into the second day of qualifying for the NGK Spark Plugs Four Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway at the head of the Top Fuel field after only a single round of qualifying.

Rain storms, hail and strong winds interrupted the day's runs, with only a single round of qualifying registered in the books.

Here's the NHRA official release for the day's activity, with outstanding weather forecast for the remainder of the weekend:

CONCORD, N.C. – NHRA’s Friday Prime Time inspired Jack Beckman as he raced to the provisional No. 1 position on Friday at the 10th annual NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

Mike Salinas (Top Fuel) and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also provisional qualifying leaders in their respective categories at the sixth of 24 events of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

Beckman powered his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to the top of the Funny Car category with his run of 3.891-seconds at 321.42 mph during NHRA’s Friday Prime Time Night Of Fire, featuring pyrotechnics and special music for each driver.

“I forgot about the fire. And I found myself having a very ‘fan’ moment in the race car,” said Beckman. “This is just one of those moments. I thought, this is my job. I get strapped into a nitro Funny Car and they’re making a big deal out of this. They’re playing my song. They’re putting fireworks out there. And then we’re going to fire the car up. And you don’t want to go through all that and be lackluster. The icing on the cake was to have the car run as good as it did. I don’t know if the 3.89 will hold, but it gives the other teams something to shoot for. And more importantly, it gives us something to shoot for.”

Salinas, who won his first Wally in Top Fuel at the Four-Wide event in Las Vegas earlier this month, sits atop the Top Fuel category after setting the track E.T. record of 3.687 at a speed of 327.43 in his Scrappers Racing Dragster.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Stoffer ran a 6.864 at 195.17 to take the top spot in her Stoffer Enterprises Suzuki. She is in search of her first No. 1 qualifier since Atlanta 2015 and her first at zMAX Dragway.

NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying action will continue Saturday at 2:00 PM ET.

***

CONCORD, N.C. -- Results Friday after Friday qualifying for the 10th annual NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, sixth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.

Top Fuel-- 1. Mike Salinas, 3.687 seconds, 327.43 mph
2. Antron Brown, 3.725, 327.03
3. Terry McMillen, 3.728, 320.36
4. Doug Kalitta, 3.733, 324.36
5. Austin Prock, 5.286, 133.72
6. Audrey Worm, 7.420, 96.15
7. Brittany Force, 7.460, 82.72
8. Scott Palmer, 7.876, 95.54
9. Leah Pritchett, 8.253, 84.65
10. Spencer Massey, 8.271, 77.18
11. Clay Millican, 8.275, 75.15
12.Steve Torrence, 9.044, 81.13
13. Cameron Ferre, 10.640, 42.54
14. Dom Lagana, 12.849, 77.73
15. Lex Joon, 12.850, 37.71
16. Richie Crampton, 13.346, 80.04. 

Funny Car-- 1. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 3.891, 321.42
2. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.935, 285.11
3. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 4.426, 216.00
4. Dave Richards, Ford Mustang, 5.202, 148.01
5. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 6.564, 98.16
6. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 7.520, 95.51
7. Dale Creasy Jr., Dodge Stratus, 7.711, 86.30
8. Tommy Johnson Jr., Charger, 7.978, 89.94
9. Matt Hagan, Charger, 8.233, 122.09
10. John Force, Camaro, 8.714, 76.99
11. Shawn Langdon, Camry, 8.950, 73.04
12. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 8.966, 83.02
13. Jonnie Lindberg, Mustang, 9.198, 68.19
14. Jim Campbell, Charger, 10.064, 62.98
15. J.R. Todd, Camry, 14.099, 70.50
16. Ron Capps, Charger, 15.585, 62.61.
Not Qualified: 17. Bob Bode, broke
18. Bob Gilbertson, broke
19. Terry Haddock, broke. 

Pro Stock Motorcycle-- 1. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.864, 195.17
2. Angie Smith, EBR, 6.867, 196.13
3. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.894, 196.02
4. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.902, 193.02
5. Cory Reed, EBR, 6.931, 192.55
6. Ryan Oehler, Buell, 6.946, 194.63
7. Angelle Sampey, Harley-Davidson, 6.953, 194.58
8. Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.961, 189.92
9. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.998, 194.24
10. Joey Gladstone, EBR, 7.029, 192.47
11. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 7.091, 160.81
12. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.100, 169.87
13. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 7.141, 188.83
14. Jianna Salinas, Suzuki, 7.342, 177.86
15. Marc Ingwersen, Buell, 7.400, 191.51
16. Matt Smith, EBR, 7.416, 149.15.
Not Qualified: 17. Hector Arana, 7.457, 189.98
18. Steve Johnson, broke.

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John Davison

Long-time RIS staffer, beginning in the mid-80s. Charlotte, NC area local contact.

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Volume 2019, Issue 4, Posted 10:36 PM, 04.26.2019