LAS VEGAS (April 12, 2024) – Reigning world champion Doug Kalitta accomplished the quickest High Gas run on the strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday to safe the provisional first place end on the twenty fourth annual NHRA 4-Vast Nationals.
Bob Tasca III (Humorous Automotive) and Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Professional Inventory) are additionally the preliminary No. 1 qualifiers within the fourth of 20 races throughout the 2024 NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Sequence season.
Kalitta took the highest spot with a run of three.779 seconds at 332.02 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Mac Instruments dragster, giving the defending champions their first No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 54th of his profession. He additionally needs to contribute to Kalitta Motorsports’ success this season after teammate Shawn Langdon received two of the primary three races in High Gas, whereas JR Todd additionally sits within the factors lead.
“It was a very nice run for us,” Kalitta stated. “We simply switched to this automobile in Phoenix (final week), so we’re simply looking for a brand new automobile that is so much totally different than what we have pushed earlier than. Situations will in all probability be a bit heat tomorrow so we’ll have the identical alternative tomorrow to see if we are able to hit these numbers once more and we’re trying ahead to it.
“We certified nicely and for some purpose we received beat early within the rounds on Sunday, so we’re undoubtedly trying ahead to a superb lengthy day right here (on Sunday).”
Steve Torrence took second place due to his 3.800 at 332.75 and the occasion’s defending champion Antron Brown is correct behind along with his 3.803 at 329.99.
Bob Tasca III impressed in each Friday’s Humorous Automotive classes, posting the quickest run of each classes, together with his 3.931 at 332.02 to finish the day in his 11,000 horsepower BG Merchandise Ford Mustang. If this run continues, Tasca would earn his first No. 1 qualifier of the season and seventeenth in his profession. Two sturdy runs on a heat day additionally meant so much for Tasca, who’s hoping for his first win of the season after a robust 2023 season. Tasca can be in search of his second win on the 4-Vast Nationals in Las Vegas following his win on the monitor in 2021.
“I informed my crew chiefs this morning [Aaron Brooks and Todd Okuhara] that I didn’t need to go quicker than 3.95 miles and didn’t need to exceed 330 miles per hour,” Tasca stated. “I wished them to show to me that they may drive slowly in sizzling climate. Within the first spherical all the pieces was good, they listened to me, we ran 3.96. Every part is good.
“I informed them the very same factor, to not change something for the second run after which for Austin [Prock] 3.94 is correct in entrance of us. Aaron goes in [tuning] Within the field he appears to be like at me and says, “I am actually sorry, however we’re about to interrupt out,” and he went away feeling good and working at large pace. The quantity that impressed me essentially the most was 332. That was precisely what we wanted to do after two very powerful races for us.”
Austin Prock, who received in Phoenix final weekend, is in second place with a robust run of three.947 at 321.42, whereas his group proprietor John Drive is in third due to his run of three.962 at 313.73. Drive additionally received the Winternationals in Phoenix final weekend.
Issues proceed to go nicely for Jeg Coughlin Jr. because the five-time Professional Inventory World Champion secured provisional first place with a run of 6.641 at 206.89 in his Scag Energy Gear automobile. This implies the veteran is nicely on his option to his second prime spot in a row and want to construct on his success in Phoenix. Issues are coming collectively rapidly for Coughlin, who got here out of retirement to play a full season in 2024, and he is impressed with how nicely his group has come collectively in such a brief period of time. Coughlin has 5 profession victories in Las Vegas however is aiming for his first within the four-man format right here.
“It exhibits that our group is beginning to joke, from the crew chiefs to myself on the wheel,” Coughlin stated. “We managed to finish strong qualifying runs all through the season. In Pomona I had an unlucky early exit and that harm a bit, however in Phoenix we managed a pleasant rebound.
“Now right here we’re in Las Vegas and I ran a superb 6.64 within the first quarter and that held up within the second quarter after the warmth began. Tomorrow the monitor needs to be a bit of higher and the climate may very well be higher so 6.64 may very well be at risk. If that occurs, hopefully will probably be the SCAG-mobile that may do it.”
Greg Anderson is at present certified for second place due to his run of 6.657 at 205.38, whereas Jerry Tucker moved as much as third place and completed the day with a run of 6.670 at 206.16.
Qualifying continues at 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday on the NHRA 4-Vast Nationals on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway strip.
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LAS VEGAS – Outcomes Friday after the primary two of 4 qualifying rounds for the twenty fourth annual NHRA 4-Vast Nationals on the Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, fourth of 20 occasions within the NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Sequence. Qualifying continues on Saturday for finals on Sunday.
High Gas – 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.779 seconds, 332.02 mph; 2. Steve Torrence, 3,800, 332.75; 3. Antron Brown, 3,803, 329.99; 4. Clay Millican, 3.820, 330.80; 5. Brittany Drive, 3,820, 326.56; 6. Justin Ashley, 3,839, 320.66; 7. Jasmine Salinas, 3,848, 326.32; 8. Tony Stewart, 3,852, 323.50; 9. Shawn Reed, 3,863, 320.43; 10. Shawn Langdon, 3,954, 247.34; 11. Terry Totten, 4,092, 287.78; 12. Krista Baldwin, 4,329, 195.68; 13. Billy Torrence, 4,538, 178.24; 14. Josh Hart, 4,543, 180.19; 15. Tony Schumacher, 5,525, 121.44.
Humorous Automotive – 1. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.931, 332.02; 2. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3,947, 321.42; 3. John Drive, Camaro, 3.962, 313.73; 4. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3,993, 323.27; 5. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 4,006, 313.37; 6. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4,010, 323.12; 7. JR Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 4.010, 318.09; 8. Steven Densham, Mustang, 4,020, 308.78; 9. Alexis DeJoria, GR Supra, 4,035, 319.98; 10. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 4,049, 315.05; 11. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4,052, 311.05; 12. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 4.058, 307.79; 13. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4,064, 312.57; 14. Chad Inexperienced, Mustang, 4.065, 314.31; 15. Jason Rupert, Mustang, 4,086, 312.64; 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 4,117, 275.73. Not certified: 17. Terry Haddock, 4.150, 299.60; 18. Jim Campbell, 4,215, 284.27; 19. Alex Miladinovich, 4,285, 281.07; 20. Buddy Hull, 4,310, 289.32.
Professional Inventory – 1. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Camaro, 6.641, 206.89; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.657, 205.38; 3. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6,660, 206.16; 4. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.672, 206.13; 5. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.672, 204.70; 6. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.676, 206.16; 7. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6,679, 204.63; 8. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6,682, 204.82; 9. David Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6,683, 205.91; 10. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6,689, 205.16; 11. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6,690, 205.72; 12. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6,694, 205.26; 13. Sienna Wildgust, Camaro, 6.698, 204.88; 14. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.704, 203.71; 15. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.715, 205.60; 16. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.719, 204.98. Not certified: 17. Kenny Delco, 6.725, 203.55; 18. Steve Graham, 6,759, 203.80; 19. Aaron Stanfield, 6,783, 205.54; 20. Joey Grose, 13.051, 94.44.