Courtesy of the NHRA

CONCORD, N.C. – Not only is Steve Torrence the defending event winner at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals event, which returns this weekend to zMAX Dragway, but the Top Fuel standout also won the inaugural four-wide racing event in Las Vegas earlier this month.

Steve Torrence. NHRA photo

It puts him on an impressive run when it comes to one of the biggest spectacles in drag racing and in a favorable position heading into this weekend’s NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event. Now the standout is hoping for even more progress on a 2018 season that already includes two wins and a share of the points lead in his 10,000-horsepower Capco Contractors Inc. dragster.

“I’ll go in there with a good bit of confidence that I’m comfortable with the driving and staging procedures, but I don’t think (the Vegas win) gives us any advantage,” Torrence said. “I just think confidence-wise, it helps things. (Crew chief) Richard (Hogan) has adapted to the track very well, getting one lap in each lane (during qualifying) and I just have to go up there and do my job. I have to stay really focused, and it takes more focus and concentration because it is so different.”

Ron Capps (Funny Car), Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also last year’s winners. The race will be televised on FOX Sports 1, including a broadcast of the finals on Sunday, April 29 at 6:00 p.m. (ET). The fan-favorite race is the sixth of 24 events during the 2018 NHRA season and Torrence, who has 18 career wins, has seemingly mastered the nuances and intricacies of one of the most unique experiences in all of motorsports. 

Steve Torrence. NHRA photo

After eight wins and a second-place finish in 2017, Torrence and his team also continue to push forward. It has led to trying several different things early in the season, but he’s confident it will pay off against the likes of Tony Schumacher, who shares the points lead with Torrence, three-time world champ Antron Brown, Brittany Force, the reigning world champ who won last weekend in Houston, Pomona winner Doug Kalitta, and Gainesville winner Richie Crampton.

“You have to constantly be evolving or else you’ll be behind,” Torrence said. “We had a really good race car last year and we know how to get back there, but you need to improve on it and make it quicker. We’ve got the consistency down, now we need to work on getting quicker. We’re trying a lot of things and experimenting, using this time with some of the better conditions. The competition in this class is so good and always moving forward, and we’ve got to do that. We’ve been at the front for a while, and we don’t want to stay idle and start to fall behind.”

The early-season success indicates Torrence is on the right path, as does his first career victory at zMAX Dragway a season ago. That victory was the Texan’s first of 2017 and kicked off an impressive stretch that now includes 10 wins over the past 24 races. Torrence, who also won this Phoenix this year, will look to add to that this weekend, feeling good about performing in front of another big crowd at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

“Anytime you go somewhere you’ve had success, I think you go in there with a little mental advantage,” Torrence said. “It gives you confidence and a little swag that you’ve done it before and you can do it again. It’s cool to see all the fans and spectators and that does fuel you. I’m there to win and at the end of the day, they want to see good racing and that’s what we want to give them.”

Ron Capps is after his first Funny Car win in 2018 against a lineup that includes J.R. Todd, who has won two straight races, points leader Jack Beckman and defending world champ Robert Hight.

Chris McGaha already has a 2018 win in Pro Stock, trailing points leader and defending champ Bo Butner. Others to watch include Vegas winner Vincent Nobile, Jason Line, and Greg Anderson.

LE Tonglet will look for another win at Pro Stock Motorcycle at zMAX Dragway, facing off with defending champ and Gainesville winner Eddie Krawiec, Hector Arana Jr., and Andrew Hines.

The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service makes the third of 12 stops in 2018 at zMAX Dragway. Mike Castellana is the defending winner in the Pro Mod class, which made its four-wide racing debut last year. The event also features thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, showcasing the future stars of the sport.

Those in attendance will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact with a few of the most renowned names in drag racing during the NHRA Legends Tour. This will feature meet-and-greets, autograph sessions, and a variety of other activities. Legends scheduled to attend the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals include Shirley Muldowney, Buddy Martin, and Bobby Warren.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 27 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, April 28, at 2 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 29.

To purchase general admission or reserved seats for the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, please visit www.zMAXDragway.com or call the box office at (800) 455-FANS (3267). Tickets for children 13 and under are free with any paid adult ticket. For more information about NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

NGK SPARK PLUGS NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS

WHAT: Ninth annual NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the sixth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. 

WHERE: zMAX Dragway- Track is located on Hwy 29 off I-85 at exit 49 (Speedway Blvd.) in the Concord, N.C. area.

WHEN:
Friday through Sunday, April 27-29

FORMAT: Qualifying sessions and elimination rounds will be conducted using four lanes in all Mello Yello Series classes; Lanes will be identified from left to right facing downtrack as 1-4; Two Christmas trees will be in use, one between each two lanes; The Compulink Autostart system will continue to be utilized and it will not activate until all four vehicles are pre-staged and one vehicle has staged; The ladder structure will feature Race A: qualifiers 1, 8, 9, 16, Race B: qualifiers 4, 5, 12, 13, Race C: qualifiers 2, 7, 10, 15, and Race D: qualifiers 3, 6, 11, 14; Race A and Race B will be on one side of the ladder, while Race C and Race D will be on the other;  Lane choice for eliminations goes to the driver with the quickest E.T., then the second-quickest, and so on; The first two drivers in each elimination round to cross the finish line advance to the second round and final; In the final round, teams will finish in the order they cross the finish line (barring any red-light starts), with winner, runner-up and two semifinalists in that order.

SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, April 27 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
E3 SPARK PLUGS NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 3:45 p.m. and 6:15   
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 4 and 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, April 28 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
E3 SPARK PLUGS NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 3:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.                           
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 2:00 and 4 p.m.

SUNDAY, April 29 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10:30 a.m. 
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at noon
E3 SPARK PLUGS NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES eliminations at 12: 55 p.m.

TELEVISION:    
Friday, April 27, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET).
Saturday, April 28, FS1 will televise an hour and a half of LIVE qualifying at 2:30 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, April 29, FS1 will televise three hours of elimination highlights at 6 p.m. (ET).

2017 EVENT WINNERS:         
Steve Torrence, Top Fuel; Ron Capps, Funny Car; Chris McGaha, Pro Stock; LE Tonglet, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST VICTORIES:
Andrew Hines, 3, PSM, Antron Brown, 2, TF; Spencer Massey, 2, TF; Jack Beckman, 2, FC; Robert Hight, 2, FC; Greg Anderson, 2, PS; Mike Edwards, 2, PS

TRACK RECORDS:        
Top Fuel – 3.713 sec. by J.R. Todd, March ’15; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12.
Funny Car – 3.851 sec. by Courtney Force, April ‘17; 333.91 mph by Robert Hight, April ‘17.
Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15; 215.48 mph by Greg Anderson, March ’15.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.792 sec. by Eddie Krawiec, April ‘17;199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March ’15.

NATIONAL RECORDS:        
Top Fuel – 3.628 sec. by Clay Millican, Feb. ’18, Pomona, Calif.; 336.57 mph by Tony Schumacher, Feb. ‘18, Phoenix
Funny Car – 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. ’17, Brainerd; 339.87 mph by Robert Hight, July ’17, Sonoma, Calif.
Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.;  215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ’14, Englishtown N.J.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct ‘12, Reading, PA.; 201.01 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March ‘18, Gainesville, Fla.

 TICKETS:          
Order tickets by phone at (800) 455-FANS. Tickets also are available online at www.zmaxdragway.com.