Race winners Eddie Kraweic, Tanner Gray, Robert Hight and Doug Kalitta. NHRA photo

Courtesy of the NHRA

CONCORD, N.C. — Doug Kalitta powered to his first career victory at zMAX Dragway Sunday at the 10th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals.

Doug Kalitta. NHRA photo

Robert Hight (Funny Car), Tanner Gray (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also victorious in their respective categories at the first of six playoff events during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship.

Points leader Kalitta took down teammate Richie Crampton in the final round with a 3.775-second pass at 318.39 mph in his Mac Tools dragster to earn his first victory of the season. Kalitta now has 43 career victories and only two tracks on the NHRA circuit at which he hasn’t won throughout his career. 

“Getting this win gives us great momentum with only five races to go, but with the team I have with me I’m full of confidence,” Kalitta said. “It’s huge for me to get my first win at this great facility, because we have been coming here for a lot of years and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.”

Robert Hight. NHRA photo

Kalitta earned the top slot in qualifying and defeated Chris Karamesines, Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican before reaching his third final round of the season. Crampton qualified seventh and reached the final round in only his second event of the season, taking down Scott Palmer, Steve Torrence and Brittany Force on the day.

Hight earned his third victory of the season and first since Seattle with a 3.943 pass at 328.86 in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro to defeat teammate Courtney Force in her Advance Auto Parts Chevy Camaro in the finals. Hight now has 40 career victories and has taken the lead in the Funny Car points standings.

“We’ve had a great race car over the past 15 races in either hot or cold weather, getting low E.T. in several events throughout the year,” Hight said. “It’s almost impossible to have six great races in a row during the Countdown, but we had everything figured out today which we needed with the tough competition we faced today.”

Tanner Gray. NHRA photo

Hight qualified sixth and took down Matt Hagan, Tommy Johnson J.R. and J.R. Todd on his way to his sixth final round of 2017. Force was the top qualifier and defeated Bob Gilbertson, John Force and Alexis Dejoria on the way to her fourth final round of the season.

In Pro Stock, Gray continued his impressive rookie campaign with a 6.614 at 208.07 in his Gray Motorsports Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro during the final round to earn his fifth victory of his season. He took down four-time world champion Greg Anderson to emerge victorious at his local track and take command of the Pro Stock points lead.

“If you would have told me I would be the points leader when I left the first race of the Countdown I would have said you were crazy,” Gray said. “I have a great team who has helped me throughout the season and we are really happy with where we are at.”

Eddie Krawiec. NHRA photo

Gray qualified first and got past Val Smeland, Erica Enders and Jason Line before making it to his sixth final round of the year. Anderson has now reached eight final rounds this season, defeating Alan Prusiensky, Drew Skillman and Bo Butner after qualifying second.

Krawiec took home the Pro Stock Motorcycle victory with a 6.850 at 196.87 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to take down his teammate Andrew Hines in the final round. Krawiec took over the points lead as he locked down his 40th career victory and fourth of this season, including his second in a row.

Eddie Krawiec. NHRA photo

“This is a huge race for me because I love this drag strip and this facility, and to come out of the first Countdown race with a win is huge for me and my team,” Krawiec said. “Getting a win here is awesome, because it increases your chances to win a championship quite a bit so I’m really excited about this.”

Krawiec qualified second and beat Charlie Sullivan, Chip Ellis and Hector Arana Jr. en route to the finals. Hines earned the No. 1 qualifier and knocked off Charlie Sullivan, Chip Ellis and Hector Arana Jr. as he earned his third runner-up finish on the year in three final round appearances.

The 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues with the Dodge NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway Sept. 21-24.

Media Center Interviews:

Doug Kalitta –

Robert Hight –

Tanner Gray –

Eddie Krawiec –

Doug Kalitta. NHRA photo

CONCORD, N.C. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 10th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway. The race is the 19th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

1. Doug Kalitta; 2. Richie Crampton; 3. Clay Millican; 4. Brittany Force; 5. Antron Brown; 6. Steve Torrence; 7. Tony Schumacher; 8. Wayne Newby; 9. Terry McMillen; 10. Scott Palmer; 11. Dom Lagana; 12. Pat Dakin; 13. Shawn Langdon; 14. Terry Haddock; 15. Leah Pritchett; 16. Chris Karamesines. 

FUNNY CAR:

1. Robert Hight; 2. Courtney Force; 3. Alexis DeJoria; 4. J.R. Todd; 5. Ron Capps; 6. John Force; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr.; 8. Jim Campbell; 9. Matt Hagan; 10. Jack Beckman; 11. Jeff Diehl; 12. Bob Gilbertson; 13. Jonnie Lindberg; 14. Cruz Pedregon; 15. Dave Richards; 16. Tim Wilkerson. 

PRO STOCK:

1. Tanner Gray; 2. Greg Anderson; 3. Bo Butner; 4. Jason Line; 5. Jeg Coughlin; 6. Drew Skillman; 7. Kenny Delco; 8. Erica Enders; 9. Allen Johnson; 10. Chris McGaha; 11. Vincent Nobile; 12. Shane Tucker; 13. Alan Prusiensky; 14. Larry Morgan; 15. Val Smeland; 16. Alex Laughlin. 

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

1. Eddie Krawiec; 2. Andrew Hines; 3. Jerry Savoie; 4. Hector Arana Jr; 5. Matt Smith; 6. LE Tonglet; 7. Chip Ellis; 8. Scotty Pollacheck; 9. Angie Smith; 10. Steve Johnson; 11. Karen Stoffer; 12. Joey Gladstone; 13. Mark Paquette; 14. Melissa Surber; 15. Kelly Clontz; 16. Charles Sullivan. 

Robert Hight. NHRA photo

CONCORD, N.C. — Sunday’s final results from the 10th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway. The race is the 19th of 24 in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series: 

Top Fuel — Doug Kalitta, 3.775 seconds, 318.39 mph def. Richie Crampton, 3.876 seconds, 306.40 mph. 

Funny Car — Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.943, 328.86 def. Courtney Force, Camaro, 3.980, 315.19. 

Pro Stock — Tanner Gray, Chevy Camaro, 6.614, 208.07 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.638, 207.82. 

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.850, 196.87 def. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.911, 195.11. 

Pro Modified — Jonathan Gray, Chevy Camaro, 5.809, 250.46 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.818, 248.39. 

Top Alcohol Dragster — Shawn Cowie, 5.295, 272.39 def. Corey Michalek, 5.399, 267.27. 

Top Alcohol Funny Car — Andy Bohl, Chevy Camaro, 5.556, 268.60 def. John Lombardo Jr., Camaro, 5.786, 267.91. 

Competition Eliminator — Frank Aragona, Roadster, 7.388, 171.31 def. David Rampy, Roadster, 7.354, 160.94. 

Super Stock — Nicholas Chiles, Chevy Cobalt, 9.082, 149.85 def. Byron Worner, Chevy Camaro, 9.808, 135.43. 

Stock Eliminator — Kenneth Stott, Chevy Camaro, 11.673, 105.92 def. Mickey Whaley, Camaro, 10.688, 122.41. 

Super Comp — John Labbous Jr, Dragster, 8.989, 145.41 def. Amanda Boicesco, Dragster, 7.974, 127.96. 

Super Gas — Dean Mathauser, Pontiac GTO, 9.895, 153.04 def. John Labbous Jr, Chevy Corvette, 9.882, 161.04. 

Top Dragster presented by RacingRVs.com — Todd Ewing, Dragster, 7.226, 177.74 def. Barry Brown, Dragster, 7.666, 164.87. 

Top Sportsman presented by RacingRVs.com — Jerry Albert, Chevy Camaro, 6.890, 199.82 def. Todd Ewing, Camaro, 6.799, 198.96. 

Tanner Gray. NHRA photo

CONCORD, N.C. — Final round-by-round results from the 10th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway, the 19th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL: 

ROUND ONE — Clay Millican, 3.725, 322.81 def. Dom Lagana, 3.839, 314.83; Antron Brown, 3.794, 320.66 def. Terry McMillen, 3.786, 321.12; Wayne Newby, 3.827, 313.66 def. Leah Pritchett, 4.172, 300.06; Doug Kalitta, 3.857, 314.31 def. Chris Karamesines, 6.627, 88.00; Steve Torrence, 3.774, 323.35 def. Terry Haddock, 4.075, 252.33; Brittany Force, 3.751, 327.90 def. Pat Dakin, 3.866, 314.39; Richie Crampton, 3.755, 311.85 def. Scott Palmer, 3.837, 322.81; Tony Schumacher, 3.765, 325.45 def. Shawn Langdon, 4.073, 286.62; 

QUARTERFINALS — Kalitta, 3.775, 325.53 def. Schumacher, 3.791, 325.61; Millican, 3.754, 323.35 def. Brown, 3.776, 323.89; Crampton, 3.768, 319.67 def. Torrence, 3.782, 325.30; Force, 3.791, 316.52 def. Newby, 3.824, 314.75; 

SEMIFINALS — Kalitta, 3.784, 322.50 def. Millican, 3.804, 313.73; Crampton, 3.809, 308.28 def. Force, 3.859, 312.71; 

FINAL — Kalitta, 3.775, 318.39 def. Crampton, 3.876, 306.40. 

FUNNY CAR: 

ROUND ONE — Courtney Force, Chevy Camaro, 3.947, 319.75 def. Bob Gilbertson, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.556, 128.44; Tommy Johnson Jr., Dodge Charger, 4.064, 272.45 def. Dave Richards, Ford Mustang, Broke; J.R. Todd, Toyota Camry, 3.954, 327.19 def. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Solara, 4.829, 177.49; Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.189, 295.85 def. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.539, 225.82; Alexis DeJoria, Camry, 3.980, 319.45 def. Jonnie Lindberg, Camry, 7.831, 103.88; Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.927, 326.95 def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.254, 228.96; Ron Capps, Charger, 4.363, 216.24 def. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, Foul – Outer Boundary; John Force, Camaro, 4.076, 301.67 def. Cruz Pedregon, Camry, 12.010, 73.07; 

QUARTERFINALS — DeJoria, 3.979, 320.05 def. Campbell, Foul – Red Light; C. Force, 3.934, 330.07 def. J. Force, 3.983, 325.61; Hight, 3.951, 328.22 def. Johnson Jr., 4.315, 216.65; Todd, 3.975, 321.81 def. Capps, 3.968, 323.50; 

SEMIFINALS — C. Force, 3.957, 325.06 def. DeJoria, 3.976, 322.04; Hight, 3.985, 325.14 def. Todd, 3.999, 315.19; 

FINAL — Hight, 3.943, 328.86 def. C. Force, 3.980, 315.19. 

PRO STOCK: 

ROUND ONE — Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.653, 208.36 def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 7.886, 108.36; Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.620, 209.52 def. Allen Johnson, Dodge Dart, 6.608, 207.88; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.624, 209.52 def. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.632, 209.14; Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.765, 204.63 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Jason Line, Camaro, 6.601, 209.59 def. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.720, 208.33; Tanner Gray, Camaro, 6.583, 210.05 def. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.910, 201.49; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.617, 209.52 def. Alan Prusiensky, Dart, 6.699, 206.39; Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.597, 208.55 def. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.679, 207.37; 

QUARTERFINALS — Anderson, 6.605, 209.82 def. Skillman, 6.668, 209.65; Line, 6.600, 209.52 def. Delco, 6.737, 204.85; Butner, 6.629, 209.23 def. Coughlin, 6.640, 209.04; Gray, 6.586, 210.47 def. Enders, 8.923, 106.72; 

SEMIFINALS — Anderson, 6.616, 209.98 def. Butner, 6.597, 209.56; Gray, 6.610, 209.72 def. Line, 6.603, 209.65; 

FINAL — Gray, 6.614, 208.07 def. Anderson, 6.638, 207.82. 

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 

ROUND ONE — Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.870, 194.86 def. Melissa Surber, Buell, 7.048, 186.61; Chip Ellis, 6.983, 190.67 def. Angie Smith, Buell, Foul – Red Light; LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.933, 194.04 def. Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light; Matt Smith, 6.873, 194.58 def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.930, 192.47; Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.838, 195.82 def. Mark Paquette, Foul – Red Light; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.892, 190.35 def. Charles Sullivan, Buell, 8.069, 116.37; Scotty Pollacheck, Suzuki, 6.864, 194.74 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.928, 193.13; Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.866, 195.85 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 7.130, 191.57; 

QUARTERFINALS — Savoie, 6.868, 195.56 def. Tonglet, 6.875, 195.62; Hines, 6.839, 197.10 def. Ellis, 6.906, 193.49; Arana Jr, 6.861, 195.96 def. Pollacheck, 6.945, 188.65; Krawiec, 6.826, 197.74 def. M. Smith, 6.859, 196.04; 

SEMIFINALS — Hines, 6.862, 195.53 def. Arana Jr, 6.867, 195.34; Krawiec, 6.845, 196.76 def. Savoie, Foul – Red Light; 

FINAL — Krawiec, 6.850, 196.87 def. Hines, 6.911, 195.11. 

CONCORD, N.C. — Point standings (top 10) following the 10th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway, the 19th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series – 

Top Fuel

1. Doug Kalitta, 2,173; 2. Steve Torrence, 2,159; 3. Antron Brown, 2,135; 4. Brittany Force, 2,117; 5. Tony Schumacher, 2,115; 6. Clay Millican, 2,110; 7. Leah Pritchett, 2,108; 8. Terry McMillen, 2,051; 9. Scott Palmer, 2,042; 10. Shawn Langdon, 2,036.

Funny Car

1. Robert Hight, 2,197; 2. Ron Capps, 2,153; 3. Courtney Force, 2,141; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,107; 5. (tie) Matt Hagan, 2,102; J.R. Todd, 2,102; 7. Jack Beckman, 2,095; 8. John Force, 2,085; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 2,046; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 2,033.

Pro Stock

1. Tanner Gray, 2,206; 2. Bo Butner, 2,181; 3. Greg Anderson, 2,171; 4. Jason Line, 2,132; 5. Drew Skillman, 2,113; 6. Erica Enders, 2,092; 7. Jeg Coughlin, 2,084; 8. Vincent Nobile, 2,052; 9. Allen Johnson, 2,042; 10. Chris McGaha, 2,034.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Eddie Krawiec, 2,202; 2. LE Tonglet, 2,154; 3. Hector Arana Jr, 2,150; 4. Andrew Hines, 2,144; 5. Jerry Savoie, 2,141; 6. Matt Smith, 2,105; 7. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,085; 8. Joey Gladstone, 2,052; 9. Karen Stoffer, 2,042; 10. Angie Smith, 2,033.

Top Fuel Countdown to the Championship drivers. NHRA photo

Funny Car Countdown to the Championship drivers. NHRA photo

Pro Stock Countdown to the Championship drivers. NHRA photo

Pro Stock Motorcycle Countdown to the Championship drivers. NHRA photo