Prock, Hight, Kramer And Herrera Pick Up Wins At Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

(CONCORD, N.C. April 30, 2023 - NHRA) – John Force Racing swept the nitro classes on Sunday at zMAX Dragway, as Austin Prock and Robert Hight rolled to wins in Top Fuel and Funny Car, respectively, at the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

Deric Kramer (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the fifth of 21 races during the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

In the Top Fuel final quad, Prock went 3.684-seconds at 330.88 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Montana Brands/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster, beating a group that also included points leader Steve Torrence, Josh Hart and Leah Pruett. It gives Prock his first win this season and fourth in his career, along with his first-early season victory, which could bode well for season-long momentum.

He finished first in all three quads, posting a 3.686 in the opening quad and then making the quickest run of eliminations in the final round. After struggling at the four-wide race in Las Vegas, Prock enjoyed a strong bounce back weekend in Charlotte, moving to fourth in points.

"It was a great weekend overall, Prock said. “To rebound like we did after an awful weekend in Vegas shows how strong this team is. I've never had any success in Charlotte, so I'm super proud of my team. This category is just booming right now, so this is extra special.

"All my wins have come pretty late in the season, so it feels really good to get a win early like this. It sets us up to do our part at JFR and give ourselves a chance at the championship. This is just the start. Now that I'm comfortable going four-wide, it's going to feel weird going back to two-wide.”

Pruett finished as the runner-up with her run of 3.708 at 329.99, with Hart taking third. Torrence maintains his points lead in the class.

In Funny Car, Hight powered to a 3.888 at 328.30 in his 11,000-horsepower Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Camaro SS to beat John Force, defending world champ Ron Capps and Alexis DeJoria. It’s the second win this season for Hight and helped give John Force Racing its 13th overall win in Charlotte. Before this weekend, Hight had endured a rare slump, suffering back-to-back first-round losses.

But the multi-time champ and his team didn’t disappoint in Charlotte, rolling to the win in every quad as he collected his 63rd career Wally. It’s also his seventh career win at zMAX Dragway, which is the most for anyone in Funny Car.

"I love this place. Everybody always asks me my favorite racetrack, and without a doubt, it's this place. This facility is like none other;
it's amazing, the fans are great, and luckily, we get to come here twice a year,” Hight said.

"We did change our car around, we stayed and tested Monday after Vegas. We had some ignition problems and I was thinking, ‘Oh man, we're not going to get the data we need.’ But Jimmy (Prock, crew chief) said, 'Nope, we're going to be fine.' To come here and make seven respectable runs, you can see it in his eyes;
he's excited. I'm proud of him for not overdoing it and giving me a chance to win. That was a big, big deal." 

DeJoria finished as the runner-up as she continued her solid season, while Capps was third. Despite a first-round exit, Hagan maintained the points lead in Funny Car over DeJoria.

Kramer enjoyed a huge turnaround in Charlotte, driving to his first win in nearly four years by going 6.555 at 208.88 in his Get BioFuel Chevrolet Camaro in the championship round. Kramer ousted the likes of points leader Dallas Glenn, who was after his third straight win, No. 1 qualifier Matt Hartford and Fernando Cuadra Jr. to earn his fifth career victory. But it was also Kramer’s first win since earning the Wally at the fall race in Charlotte in 2019, which left the veteran plenty excited on Sunday.

“The Get BioFuel Chevy Camaro is a fun car to drive, first and foremost, and that right there is enough to keep someone wanting to be out here. Once you hoist that Wally, you want to win another. The drought is so long, and when it finally happens again, the euphoria just washes over you,” Kramer said.

"I think we've been, as a team, struggling with the car the last few years. It was a lot of small stuff. But we got to the finals [in Vegas], stayed and tested the day after, and it's just been getting more and more laps, getting more comfortable, getting more data, and compiling it all to get a victory."

Kramer finished second to Hartford in the opening-round quad and then won a round later, finishing his day with back-to-back 6.55 runs. After making it to the final quad in Las Vegas, Kramer took an impressive next step in Charlotte, as Glenn finished second with his 6.581 at 208.81 and extended his points lead over Hartford in the process.

Herrera continued to be incredible to open the 2023 season in Pro Stock Motorcycle, staying perfect with another dominant performance, breaking the track E.T. record with a stellar run of 6.710 at 202.00 in the final round on his Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Suzuki. After qualifying No. 1 for the second straight race, Herrera made the quickest run in two of the three rounds on Sunday, delivering an epic performance in the final quad against teammate Eddie Krawiec, defending world champ Matt Smith and defending event winner Steve Johnson.

Herrera finished first in both quads heading into the final and then ran away from his competition in the final round, posting a .013 reaction time and making the quickest PSM run at zMAX Dragway.

“I'm on cloud nine. To be out here and go No. 1 back-to-back, win the race back-to-back, it's a lot to take in. I'm enjoying the ride,” Herrera said. "There are plenty of good riders out there, so to be able to be in the final with those three and come out on top, that's awesome. It's going to be a tough season. We're out here basically dominating, but it's the beginning of the season, and it's going to be a long ride. (Four-wide) is a different kind of pressure. To be up there with three other rides, you have to focus. I didn't want to wait or get timed out, so pretty much every round I put it on the 2-step and made sure I was ready for anything that happened." 

Smith finished as the runner-up, going 6.780 at 199.61, with Krawiec, who was seeking his 50th career win, taking third and Johnson following in fourth.

NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Tony Stewart, who scored his first career NHRA Top Alcohol dragster victory two weeks ago at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, nearly made it two in a row on Sunday. Stewart advanced to the final round, finishing second by .0046 seconds to Mike Coughlin, who won thanks to a triple holeshot.

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action May 19-21 with the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago.

***

Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 13th annual Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway. The race is the fifth of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:
1. Austin Prock;
2. Leah Pruett;
3. Josh Hart;
4. Steve Torrence;
5. Pat Dakin;
6. Doug Foley;
7. Justin Ashley;
8. Brittany Force;
9. Tony Schumacher;
10. Clay Millican;
11. Doug Kalitta;
12. Mike Salinas;
13. Jacob McNeal;
14. Antron Brown;
15. Shawn Langdon;
16. Dan Mercier. 

FUNNY CAR:
1. Robert Hight;
2. Alexis DeJoria;
3. Ron Capps;
4. John Force;
5. Mike McIntire;
6. Chad Green;
7. Bob Tasca III;
8. Cruz Pedregon;
9. Alex Laughlin;
10. Matt Hagan;
11. Tim Wilkerson;
12. John Smith;
13. Dale Creasy Jr.;
14. J.R. Todd;
15. Dave Richards;
16. Blake Alexander. 

PRO STOCK:
1. Deric Kramer;
2. Dallas Glenn;
3. Matt Hartford;
4. Fernando Cuadra Jr.;
5. Greg Anderson;
6. Jerry Tucker;
7. Kyle Koretsky;
8. Aaron Stanfield;
9. Cristian Cuadra;
10. Erica Enders;
11. Mason McGaha;
12. Troy Coughlin Jr.;
13. Camrie Caruso;
14. Bo Butner;
15. Chris McGaha;
16. David Cuadra. 

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Gaige Herrera;
2. Matt Smith;
3. Jerry Savoie;
4. Steve Johnson;
5. Kelly Clontz;
6. Joey Gladstone;
7. Hector Arana Jr;
8. Jerry Savoie;
9. Ron Tornow;
10. Chase Van Sant;
11. Marcus Hylton;
12. Jianna Evaristo;
13. Ryan Oehler;
14. Marc Ingwersen;
15. John Hall;
16. Angie Smith. 

CONCORD, N.C.:
Sunday's final results from the 13th annual Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway. The race is the fifth of 21 in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series: 

Top Fuel:
Austin Prock, 3.684 seconds, 330.88 mph def. Leah Pruett, 3.708 seconds, 329.99 mph and Josh Hart, 3.756 seconds, 327.82 mph and Steve Torrence, foul

Funny Car:
Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.888, 328.30 def. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Supra, 3.872, 333.41 and Ron Capps, Supra, 3.923, 331.85 and John Force, Camaro, 3.924, 329.26

Pro Stock:
Deric Kramer, Chevy Camaro, 6.555, 208.88 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.581, 208.81 and Matt Hartford, Camaro, 9.252, 101.74 and Fernando Cuadra Jr., Ford Mustang, foul

Pro Stock Motorcycle:
Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.710, 202.00 def. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.780, 199.61 and Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.784, 199.37 and Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.810, 197.54

Top Alcohol Dragster:
Mike Coughlin, 5.302, 275.67 def. Tony Stewart, 5.260, 272.61 and Julie Nataas, 5.269, 276.35 and Cody Krohn, 5.283, 274.00

Top Alcohol Funny Car:
Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.453, 267.96 def. Bob McCosh, Camaro, 5.467, 265.53 and Brian Gawlik, Camaro, 5.624, 258.32 and Matt Gill, Camaro, DQ

Pro Modified:
Justin Bond, Chevy Camaro, 5.747, 243.37 def. JR Gray, Camaro, 7.135, 153.95 and Rickie Smith, Ford Mustang, 12.464, 68.81 and Jason Lee, Camaro, foul

Factory Stock Showdown:
Lenny Lottig, Chevy Camaro, 8.059, 176.95 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 7.701, 178.26 and Stephen Bell, Camaro, 8.312, 151.60 and Mark Pawuk, Dodge Challenger, DQ

Competition Eliminator:
David Eaton, Bantam, 9.392, 89.68 def. Jared Kimbrough, Dragster, Foul - Red Light. 

Super Stock:
Monty Bogan, Chevy Camaro, 9.171, 145.16 def. Tyler Caheely, Chevy S-10, 9.164, 145.03. 

Stock Eliminator:
Barry Parker, Chevy Camaro, 10.281, 116.66 def. Steve Foley, Camaro, 9.980, 133.32. 

Super Comp:
John Labbous Jr., Dragster, 8.920, 172.98 def. Nichole Stephenson, Dragster, 8.927, 174.46. 

Super Gas:
Sherman Adcock, Chevy Corvette, 23.586, 40.70 def. Rusty Cook, Corvette, Foul - Red Light. 

Top Sportsman:
Brandon Miller, Chevy S-10, 8.154, 114.94 def. Michael Scott, Chevy Corvette, Foul - Red Light.

Top Dragster:
Scott Neal, Dragster, 7.200, 183.79 def. Ross Laris, Dragster, 6.143, 218.23. 

CONCORD, N.C.:
Final round-by-round results from the 13th annual Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, the fifth of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL: 
ROUND ONE:
Josh Hart, 3.702, 326.79 and Steve Torrence, 3.697, 329.50 def. Tony Schumacher, 3.753, 320.66 and Dan Mercier, broke;
Leah Pruett, 3.702, 331.77 and Pat Dakin, 3.757, 325.06 def. Doug Kalitta, 5.799, 134.93 and Shawn Langdon, 6.932, 97.67;
Brittany Force, 3.694, 334.82 and Doug Foley, 3.779, 296.76 def. Clay Millican, 5.268, 131.79 and Antron Brown, 6.346, 103.86;
Austin Prock, 3.686, 331.53 and Justin Ashley, 5.820, 115.89 def. Mike Salinas, 5.853, 117.82 and Jacob McNeal, 4.607, 169.15
SEMIFINALS:
Hart, 3.706, 330.55 and Torrence, 3.705, 329.75 def. Foley, DQ and Force, 7.420, 83.94;
Prock, 3.715, 328.78 and Pruett, 3.753, 326.40 def. Dakin, 3.774, 325.30 and Ashley, 4.224, 200.68
FINAL:
Prock, 3.684, 330.88 def. Pruett, 3.708, 329.99, Hart, 3.756, 327.82 and Torrence, foul. 

FUNNY CAR: 
ROUND ONE:
Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Supra, 3.854, 332.51 and Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 3.951, 319.98 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.343, 293.73 and Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 4.469, 278.86;
Ron Capps, Supra, 3.885, 335.57 and Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.891, 321.35 def. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 5.276, 170.86 and Dave Richards, Mustang, 7.659, 83.80;
Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.892, 327.35 and John Force, Chevy Camaro, 5.846, 128.79 def. John Smith, Charger, DQ and Blake Alexander, Mustang, DQ;
Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.926, 329.10 and Mike McIntire, Toyota Camry, 3.940, 321.35 def. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 4.155, 307.30 and J.R. Todd, Supra, 5.530, 134.23
SEMIFINALS:
Hight, 3.875, 331.28 and Force, 3.967, 326.32 def. McIntire, 3.941, 309.70 and Pedregon, 9.796, 87.59;
Capps, 3.881, 335.15 and DeJoria, 3.883, 333.58 def. Green, 4.228, 235.27 and Tasca III, 5.302, 165.54
FINAL:
Hight, 3.888, 328.30 def. DeJoria, 3.872, 333.41, Capps, 3.923, 331.85 and Force, 3.924, 329.26. 

PRO STOCK: 
ROUND ONE:
Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.589, 207.85 and Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.600, 207.85 def. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.598, 208.59 and Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.621, 207.11;
Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.586, 206.86 and Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.609, 206.95 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.604, 208.17 and Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.613, 208.46;
Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.604, 208.49 and Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 6.629, 207.53 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.622, 209.07 and Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.590, 209.17;
Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.593, 208.91 and Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.592, 208.81 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.711, 207.30 and David Cuadra, Mustang, broke
SEMIFINALS:
Kramer, 6.558, 208.23 and Hartford, 6.594, 208.07 def. Anderson, 6.560, 208.78 and Stanfield, 17.847, 48.51;
Cuadra Jr., 6.569, 208.88 and Glenn, 6.580, 207.62 def. J. Tucker, 6.600, 207.37 and Koretsky, 6.621, 207.98
FINAL:
Kramer, 6.555, 208.88 def. Glenn, 6.581, 208.81, Hartford, 9.252, 101.74 and Cuadra Jr., foul. 

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 
ROUND ONE:
Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.862, 197.88 and Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.894, 195.34 def. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki TL, 6.982, 193.63 and Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.875, 193.96;
Joey Gladstone, Suzuki Hayabusa, 6.840, 197.31 and Steve Johnson, TL, 6.840, 197.39 def. Jianna Evaristo, broke and John Hall, Buell, DQ;
Eddie Krawiec, Hayabusa, 6.822, 200.02 and Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.914, 199.55 def. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.964, 194.97 and Angie Smith, EBR, broke;
Gaige Herrera, Hayabusa, 6.754, 201.13 and Kelly Clontz, TL, 6.874, 196.04 def. Marcus Hylton, Buell, 8.973, 101.82 and Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.832, 198.15
SEMIFINALS:
Krawiec, 6.784, 199.73 and Johnson, 6.806, 198.00 def. Gladstone, 6.861, 194.18 and Arana Jr, 6.872, 197.97;
Herrera, 6.857, 170.02 and M. Smith, 6.916, 194.60 def. Clontz, 6.858, 195.39 and Savoie, 6.956, 191.78
FINAL:
Herrera, 6.710, 202.00 def. M. Smith, 6.780, 199.61, Savoie, 6.784, 199.37 and Johnson, 6.810, 197.54. 

CONCORD, N.C.:
Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 13th annual Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, the fifth of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series - 

Top Fuel:
1. Steve Torrence, 404;
2. Justin Ashley, 369;
3. Leah Pruett, 351;
4. Austin Prock, 349;
5. Brittany Force, 348;
6. (tie) Antron Brown, 307;
Mike Salinas, 307;
8. Shawn Langdon, 262;
9. Josh Hart, 250;
10. Doug Kalitta, 234.

Funny Car:
1. Matt Hagan, 433;
2. Alexis DeJoria, 375;
3. Robert Hight, 364;
4. Ron Capps, 361;
5. Chad Green, 304;
6. Bob Tasca III, 300;
7. Tim Wilkerson, 265;
8. John Force, 260;
9. Cruz Pedregon, 247;
10. Blake Alexander, 205.

Pro Stock:
1. Dallas Glenn, 460;
2. Matt Hartford, 379;
3. Troy Coughlin Jr., 341;
4. Deric Kramer, 306;
5. Camrie Caruso, 296;
6. Aaron Stanfield, 285;
7. Greg Anderson, 258;
8. Kyle Koretsky, 255;
9. Bo Butner, 248;
10. Cristian Cuadra, 238.

Pro Stock Motorcycle:
1. Gaige Herrera, 255;
2. Matt Smith, 153;
3. Eddie Krawiec, 135;
4. Angie Smith, 126;
5. Steve Johnson, 122;
6. Chase Van Sant, 117;
7. Joey Gladstone, 107;
8. Jianna Evaristo, 106;
9. Hector Arana Jr, 87;
10. Ryan Oehler, 85.

-NHRA-