Pre-Race Report
Event 22: NHRA Carolina Nationals presented by WIX Filters
zMAX Dragway
Charlotte, North Carolina
Oct. 12 - 14
Event 22: NHRA Carolina Nationals presented by WIX Filters
zMAX Dragway
Charlotte, North Carolina
Oct. 12 - 14
Charlotte Highlights: One win (2017); Two runner-up finishes (2010, 2016); Two No.1 qualifiers (2016, 2017)
Last Event Recap (Texas NHRA FallNationals): Qualified 6th; First round loss (Lost to Antron Brown in the first round)
2017 NHRA Carolina Nationals Recap: No. 1 qualifier; Event winner (Defeated Chris Karamesines in the first round, defeated Tony Schumacher in the quarterfinals, defeated Clay Millican in the semifinals, defeated Richie Crampton in the finals)
Quotable: “We definitely feel comfortable racing at Charlotte. It's been a good track for us in the past, and we have some data we can look back at in order to have more success. It's an excellent facility and the entire MAC Tools team is hoping this is an event where we can get back on track.”
Career Stats: 478 starts; 651 round wins (ninth all-time); 44 wins (Fifth all-time in Top Fuel); 96 finals; 49 no.1 qualifiers (tied 14th all-time)
2018 Season: One Win (Pomona-I); Five finals (Pomona I, Charlotte I, Richmond, Denver, Indianapolis); 28 round wins; seventh in the standings
Noteworthy: A No. 1 qualifying position at zMAX Dragway would be his third consecutive at the Charlotte Fall event.
Charlotte Highlights: One runner-up finish (2017)
Last Event Recap (Texas NHRA FallNationals): Qualified 16th; First round loss (Lost to Clay Millican in the first round)
2017 NHRA Carolina Nationals Recap: Qualified 7th, Event Runner-Up (Defeated Scott Palmer in the first round, defeated Steve Torrence in the quarterfinals, defeated Brittany Force in the semifinals, lost to Doug Kalitta in the finals)
Quotable: “We're constantly learning and what we did in Dallas should put us in a good position to have some success this weekend."
Career Stats: 100 starts; 86 round wins; Eight wins; 10 finals; Five no.1 qualifiers
2018 Season: One win (Gainesville); 11 round wins; 11th in the standings
Charlotte Highlights: One win (2012 - Top Fuel); Three No. 1 qualifiers (2012, 2013, 2014 - Top Fuel)
Last Event Recap (Texas NHRA FallNationals): Qualified 9th; First round loss (Lost to Cruz Pedregon in the first round)
2017 NHRA Carolina Nationals Recap: Qualified eighth; First round loss (lost to Tony Schumacher in the first round)
Quotable: "We always enjoy racing at Charlotte, it's a great facility and I have had some success there in the past. We haven't started off the Countdown the way we had hoped, but we are going to keep taking things one round at a time and try to finish the season on a positive note.”
Career Stats: 227 starts; 261 round wins; 14 wins; 30 finals; 18 no.1 qualifiers (Funny Car stats: 21 starts; 14 round wins)
2018 Season: 21 starts; 14 round wins; Tenth in the standings
Charlotte Highlights: One runner-up finish (2015 - Top Fuel); Two No. 1 qualifiers (2014, 2015 - Top Fuel)
Last Event Recap (Texas NHRA FallNationals): Qualified fourth; Semifinalist (Defeated John Hale in the first round, Jack Beckman in the quarterfinals, Tommy Johnson Jr. in the semifinals, lost to Robert Hight in the finals)
2017 NHRA Carolina Nationals Recap: Qualified second; Semifinalist (Defeated Jeff Diehl in the first round, Ron Capps in the quarterfinals, lost to Robert Hight in the semifinals)
Quotable: “We're just going out and racing smart, that's what it takes to contend for a title. We're going to battle it out with Robert [Hight] the rest of the season.”
Career Stats: 193 starts; 200 round wins; 15 wins; 26 finals; 10 no.1 qualifiers (Funny Car stats: 45 starts; Six wins (2017: Sonoma, Indianapolis, 2018: Las Vegas-I, Houston, Indianapolis, Reading); Seven finals (2017: Charlotte-I, Sonoma, Indianapolis, 2018: Las Vegas-I, Houston, Indianapolis, Reading, Dallas); 51 round wins)
2018 Season: Four wins (Las Vegas-I, Houston, Indianapolis, Reading); 33 round wins; Second in the point standings
All photos are courtesy of Gary Nastase Photography.
