John Force Racing Sweeps NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

John Force Racing Sweeps NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

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.

Austin prock, Robert hight, Nhra, four-wide nationals, John force

Photos courtesy NHRA/National Dragster

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.”

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.

Robert hight, Nhra, funny car, John force

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.

nhra, pro stock motorcycle, vance & Hines

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.

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.

About the author

Andrew Wolf

Andrew has been involved in motorsports from a very young age. Over the years, he has photographed several major auto racing events, sports, news journalism, portraiture, and everything in between. After working with the Power Automedia staff for some time on a freelance basis, Andrew joined the team in 2010.
Read My Articles

Drag Racing in your Inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Dragzine, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
Dragzine NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

We'll send you the most interesting Dragzine articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Dragzine NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


Street Muscle Magazine
Hot Rods & Muscle Cars
Diesel Army
Diesel Army
Engine Labs
Engine Tech

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • Streetmuscle Hot Rods & Muscle Cars
  • Diesel Army Diesel Army
  • Engine Labs Engine Tech

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Dragzine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading