Ashley, J. Drive and Enders Qualify No.1 at Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals

CONCORD, NC – September 24, 2022 – (Motor Sports activities NewsWire) – High Gas factors chief Justin Ashley made a career-best run to shut out qualifying on the 14th annual Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals, selecting up the No. 1 qualifier on Saturday and clinching his second straight prime spot at zMAX Dragway this season.

John Drive (Humorous Automotive) and Erica Enders (Professional Inventory) additionally certified No. 1 on the second of six races within the Countdown to the Championship in the course of the 2022 NHRA Tenting World Drag Racing Sequence season.

Ashley rolled to the highest with a formidable run of three.668-seconds at 335.65 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Phillips Join dragster, selecting up his second profession No. 1 qualifier. Ashley and Brittany Drive additionally placed on a present throughout their thrilling side-by-side pairing, making the 2 quickest runs in observe historical past. Drive’s 336.91 set the observe document, whereas Ashley almost matched it as he went to the highest. The younger standout superior to the ultimate spherical to open the Countdown to the Championship to maneuver into the factors lead and he’ll open raceday on Sunday towards Alex Laughlin, in search of his third victory this season.

“There’s one thing about zMAX Dragway and one thing about this crew, too,” Ashley mentioned. “We’re simply alongside for the experience when it’s working like that, and it’s such a blast. Our crew has been working so arduous. We’ve received an enormous job to do tomorrow, and we need to be out right here for a very long time. The competitors is hard, however we’ve received to proceed to place our greatest foot ahead. We’ve received a protracted technique to go. It’s actually necessary to be constant and put your self in one of the best place to win on Sunday, however the way in which the High Gas area is, it’s going to be a troublesome first spherical.”

Drive completed within the second place together with her run of three.685 as she tries to leap again within the High Gas factors lead. Clay Millican took the third spot with a 3.687 at 331.20, whereas Mike Salinas, Doug Kalitta and Josh Hart all went within the 3.60s as properly to take the subsequent three positions.

In Humorous Automotive, John Drive held onto the No. 1 place along with his run of three.854 at 330.47 from Friday in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS. That provides the 16-time world champion his second straight prime qualifier on the Bellagio of dragstrips and likewise his second this season. It’s the one hundred and sixty fifth prime qualifier for the Humorous Automotive icon, who’s after an enormous day on Sunday as he appears to make an enormous bounce within the factors standings. He’ll open eliminations fourth in factors however is simply a spherical out of second with teammate Robert Hight presently main the way in which.

“My guys are doing a extremely good job and we’re studying each week,” mentioned Drive, who’s in search of his second straight win in Charlotte. “We’ll see what occurs tomorrow. The playing cards are leaning my manner, however the guys on this class are actually good and we’ve received our work minimize out for us. I’m excited to be No. 1 and I like being within the recreation with these guys. I’m simply having enjoyable and I’m having fun with racing.”

Matt Hagan’s Friday run of three.861 at 329.99 saved him within the prime spot and three different drivers – Hight, defending world champ Ron Capps and Bob Tasca III – additionally went 3.86 to spherical out the highest 5. J.R. Todd climbed to sixth in the course of the ultimate session along with his 3.873.

Enders was merely dominant to shut out qualifying, enhancing on Friday’s run with a stout 6.510 at 212.46 in her Melling Efficiency/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. The Professional Inventory factors chief made the quickest run throughout each qualifying session in Charlotte, persevering with her current string of unimaginable performances to open the Countdown to the Championship. She’s now made the quickest run within the final 9 classes, relationship again to the second spherical of qualifying final weekend at Maple Grove Raceway.

That features all 4 rounds of eliminations within the playoff opener en path to her seventh win this season, and Enders, a four-time will look to maintain the new streak happening Sunday at zMAX Dragway when she opens eliminations towards Larry Morgan.

“I feel this simply exhibits we’re able to,” Enders mentioned. “To come back in right here and accumulate 9 factors in qualifying, we’re simply going to maintain chipping away it and hopefully we will prolong our lead. However we’ve received a goal on our again, so we’ve received to go to work. I don’t need to depart every part laying on the desk and each spherical is necessary tomorrow. Hopefully we begin out on the correct foot and simply battle it out all day lengthy.”

Troy Coughlin Jr., who has been to the ultimate spherical at three of the previous 4 races, successful twice, had an enormous day as properly, qualifying second with a run of 6.522 at 211.10. Defending world champion Greg Anderson improved on Saturday however received bumped to 3rd along with his 6.528 at 210.21.

Within the FuelTech NHRA Professional Mod Drag Racing Sequence offered by D-Wagon, defending world champion Jose Gonzalez certified No. 1 with a run of 5.678 at 252.95. The race this weekend is powered by Pee Dee Fleet and Gonzalez will purpose for his first win of the 2022 season.

Eliminations for the Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals start at 12 p.m. on Sunday at zMAX Dragway.

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CONCORD, NC — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 14th annual Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway, the 18th of twenty-two occasions within the NHRA Tenting World Drag Racing Sequence. Pairings based mostly on ends in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed under pairings.

High Gas — 1. Justin Ashley, 3.668 seconds, 335.65 mph vs. 16. Alex Laughlin, 3.815, 320.89; 2. Brittany Drive, 3.685, 336.91 vs. 15. Spencer Massey, 3.795, 323.35; 3. Clay Millican, 3.687, 331.20 vs. 14. Doug Foley, 3.767, 302.08; 4. Mike Salinas, 3.689, 330.63 vs. 13. Leah Pruett, 3.758, 316.82; 5. Doug Kalitta, 3.689, 328.94 vs. 12. Shawn Langdon, 3.746, 322.19; 6. Josh Hart, 3.696, 331.04 vs. 11. Tony Schumacher, 3.737, 326.63; 7. Antron Brown, 3.705, 326.08 vs. 10. Austin Prock, 3.736, 334.98; 8. Steve Torrence, 3.715, 328.86 vs. 9. Billy Torrence, 3.720, 325.77.

Humorous Automotive — 1. John Drive, Chevy Camaro, 3.854, 330.47 vs. Bye; 2. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.861, 329.99 vs. 13. John Smith, Charger, 4.059, 299.33; 3. Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.864, 331.45 vs. 12. Jim Campbell, Charger, 3.990, 317.34; 4. Ron Capps, Toyota Supra, 3.866, 334.90 vs. 11. Blake Alexander, Ford Mustang, 3.908, 323.04; 5. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.866, 331.77 vs. 10. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.903, 326.00; 6. J.R. Todd, Supra, 3.873, 328.54 vs. 9. Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 3.903, 329.42; 7. Chad Inexperienced, Mustang, 3.887, 315.86 vs. 8. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.891, 332.34.

Professional Inventory — 1. Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.510, 212.46 vs. 16. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.603, 208.62; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.522, 211.10 vs. 15. Fernando Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.586, 208.39; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.528, 210.21 vs. 14. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.574, 209.52; 4. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.530, 210.08 vs. 13. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.562, 210.14; 5. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.530, 210.05 vs. 12. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 6.560, 208.94; 6. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.538, 211.13 vs. 11. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.556, 210.37; 7. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.544, 210.83 vs. 10. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.553, 209.36; 8. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.548, 209.69 vs. 9. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.552, 209.69.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Rob Tucker, 6.657, 208.84.

To buy tickets to the Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway, please go to www.zmaxdragway.com or name 800-455-FANS (3267). For extra details about NHRA, please go to www.NHRA.com.

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About NHRA

Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the first sanctioning physique for the game of drag racing in the US. NHRA presents 22 nationwide occasions that includes the NHRA Tenting World Drag Racing Sequence, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Sequence, FuelTech NHRA Professional Mod Drag Racing Sequence offered by D-Wagon, Fixed Aviation Manufacturing facility Inventory Showdown and High Gas Harley Sequence. NHRA offers competitors alternatives for drivers of all ranges within the NHRA Summit Racing Sequence and NHRA Road Authorized. NHRA additionally provides the NHRA Jr. Road program for teenagers and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5 to 17. With over 120 Member Tracks, NHRA permits racers to compete at quite a lot of areas nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Training Providers (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 college students yearly to ignite their curiosity in automotive and racing associated careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.television, permits followers to view all NHRA nationwide occasions in addition to unique options of the game. As well as, NHRA owns and operates three racing amenities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and Auto Membership Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For extra info, go online to www.NHRA.com, or go to the official NHRA pages on Fb, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Supply: Nationwide Sizzling Rod Affiliation

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