Brittany Force, Wilkerson, Line and Hines earn Four-Wide wins

Top Fuel

The NHRA’s Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’ unique event in Charlotte, North Carolina, where teams compete in a four-lane format, saw Force beat reigning champion and two-time defending winner of the race, Antron Brown, along with class veterans Doug Kalitta and Clay Millican.

Force's second win of the season came as a result of her Monster Energy dragster’s final-round performance of 3.764 seconds at 319.98 mph – enough to edge Brown’s 3.779/316.75 in his Matco Tools dragster.

“People say winning the first one is the toughest and it came in my fourth season,” Force said. “The second one came easier, but I wouldn’t say easy. Every single guy on this team is the hardest worker I know and I was so happy that we were able to pull it off.

I am proud to be teamed up with [tuning consultant] Alan Johnson and crew chief Brian Husen and having a car that’s so consistent builds my confidence.

“The season is still getting started, but we are definitely off to a great start.”

Force was also quickest in her first two quads. She beat Brown, Pat Dakin and Leah Pritchett in the opening round and then raced past Brown, Richie Crampton and J.R. Todd in round two. She produced three straight 3.7-second runs to take the victory and extend her series points lead.

“For the second win to come this quickly is just amazing. My team they are badass and are capable of doing anything. They put a car together that ran consistently every single run. I am so proud of all of them.” 

Funny Car 

Wilkerson also took his second victory of the season, and the 20th of his career with a final round performance of 3.967 at 315.56 in his Levi Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang. He was followed across the finish line by Cruz Pedregon with a 3.995 at 313.37 in his Snap-on Tools Toyota Camry, and the Don Schumacher Racing Dodge Chargers of Ron Capps and Matt Hagan.

“I had a very good car,” Wilkerson said. “We don’t come here to chase girls and drink beer, we are here to kick some butts and go home. Me and [assistant crew chief] Richard Hartman are of the same philosophy and that’s why we communicate so well with each other. He has been a great addition to our team and he did a great job up there today.”

Wilkerson was the class of the field, winning all three quads. He opened with a win against Jeff Diehl, top qualifier Alexis DeJoria and series points leader Robert Hight.  In round two he outran Pedregon, Courtney Force and Diehl.

“We go up there and hit the gas and see what happens,” Wilkerson said. “It’s just racing. If you get beat, you go home and try again next week. It’s a marathon. We have 24 races. Next race has a different challenge. I think they did a really nice job on all of these lanes this weekend. I think you could win out of any one of ‘em.

“I got this off my bucket list. I’ve been in the finals at this one twice, so I am really happy to get it done. The Four-Wide is really a neat deal, especially since I won!”  

Pro Stock

Line scored his third win of the season in his fifth consecutive final round, posting a winning time of 6.565 at 211.33 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro and finishing in front of teammate Bo Butner, who trailed with a 6.591 at 210.77 in his Jim Butner Auto Camaro. Drew Skillman and Chris McGaha, also driving Camaros, were third and fourth in the quad final. 

It was Line’s first Four-Wide Nationals win and the 40th victory of his career.

“We are taking a lot of pride in it,” said Line. “I consider myself a middle of the road driver, so this race has always been tough for me. So to win it is pretty gratifying.”

Line made his way to the final by beating Kenny Delco, Vincent Nobile and V. Gaines in the opener and then held off Skillman, Delco and defending world champ Erica Enders in round two.  

Pro Stock Motorcycle

Hines continued his mastery of the Four-Wide Nationals in Pro Stock Motorcycle and held off top qualifier Eddie Krawiec, Chip Ellis and Matt Smith to take the victory, his third in a row at this event and his sixth zMAX Dragway victory.

Hines clocked a 6.844 at 194.42 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson, while Krawiec finished in 6.849 at 194.44 on his Harley-Davidson to take runner-up honors. It was points leader Krawiec’s fourth consecutive runner-up finish at this event.

  “It’s great to come in here at the Four-Wide and get another win so we have our team going in the right direction,” Hines said. “I’m happy to get a win this early in the season. When you get that off your back you can sit back, relax and focus on racing the rest of the season.”

In the opener Hines finished second to Jerry Savoie, but in front of Brian Pretzel and Jim Underdahl. In round two, Hines trailed Krawiec, but finished in front of Savoie and Michael Ray.

With his 43rd career victory, he is closing in on the 44 official victories that the late Dave Schultz won during his career.

“Thanks to Dave and all that he did for the sport, he was one of the pioneers of it all,” Hines said. “Thanks to him we have a great field right now and all of Pro Stock Motorcycle is very stout. We have bump spots that are setting records. It’s awesome to be involved in the class right now.”

Final finish order at the seventh annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals presented by Lowes Foods at zMax Dragway.  (NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’ round 5 of 25)

TOP FUEL - 1.  Brittany Force; 2.  Antron Brown; 3.  Doug Kalitta; 4.  Clay Millican; 5.  Richie Crampton; 6.  Steve Torrence; 7.  Tony Schumacher; 8.  J.R. Todd; 9.  Terry McMillen; 10.  Pat Dakin; 11.  Smax Smith; 12.  Shawn Langdon; 13.  Leah Pritchett; 14.  Chris Karamesines; 15.  Scott Palmer; 16.  Terry Haddock.

Final: Brittany Force, 3.764 seconds, 319.98 mph def. Antron Brown, 3.779 seconds, 316.75 mph and Doug Kalitta, 4.792 seconds, 161.34 mph and Clay Millican, 6.616 seconds, 90.24 mph.

FUNNY CAR - 1.  Tim Wilkerson; 2.  Cruz Pedregon; 3.  Ron Capps; 4.  Matt Hagan; 5.  John Force; 6.  Courtney Force; 7.  Tommy Johnson Jr.; 8.  Jeff Diehl; 9.  Del Worsham; 10.  Jack Beckman; 11.  Alexis DeJoria; 12.  Chad Head; 13.  John Hale; 14.  Bob Tasca III; 15.  Robert Hight; 16.  Daniel Wilkerson.
Final: Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.967, 315.56 def. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Camry, 3.995, 313.37 and Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.055, 315.42 and Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.069, 305.56;

PRO STOCK - 1.  Jason Line; 2.  Bo Butner; 3.  Drew Skillman; 4.  Chris McGaha; 5.  Kenny Delco; 6.  Greg Anderson; 7.  Erica Enders; 8.  Deric Kramer; 9.  Shane Gray; 10.  Allen Johnson; 11.  Vincent Nobile; 12.  Alex Laughlin; 13.  John Gaydosh Jr; 14.  Shane Tucker; 15.  Jeg Coughlin; 16.  V. Gaines.

Final: Jason Line, Chevy Camaro, 6.565, 211.33 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.591, 210.77 and Drew Skillman, Camaro, 6.620, 209.43 and Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.646, 208.68

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE - 1.  Andrew Hines; 2.  Eddie Krawiec; 3.  Chip Ellis; 4.  Matt Smith; 5.  Angelle Sampey; 6.  Jerry Savoie; 7.  Hector Arana; 8.  Michael Ray; 9.  Scotty Pollacheck; 10.  Angelle Sampey; 11.  Brian Pretzel; 12.  Melissa Surber; 13.  LE Tonglet; 14.  Steve Johnson; 15.  Karen Stoffer; 16.  Jim Underdahl.

Final: Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.844, 195.42 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.849, 194.44 and Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.884, 193.90 and Matt Smith, Victory, 12.878, 60.42;

Point standings after 5 of 24 events

Top Fuel: 1.  Brittany Force, 428; 2.  Antron Brown, 365; 3.  Doug Kalitta, 344; 4.  Clay Millican, 318; 5.  Steve Torrence, 310; 6.  J.R. Todd, 289; 7.  (tie) Terry McMillen, 242; Tony Schumacher, 242; 9.  Richie Crampton, 240; 10.  Leah Pritchett, 220.

Funny Car: 1.  Robert Hight, 369; 2.  Ron Capps, 361; 3.  John Force, 352; 4.  Tim Wilkerson, 334; 5.  Courtney Force, 322; 6.  Del Worsham, 318; 7.  Jack Beckman, 307; 8.  Alexis DeJoria, 277; 9.  Chad Head, 270; 10.  Cruz Pedregon, 238.

Pro Stock: 1.  Jason Line, 583; 2.  Greg Anderson, 481; 3.  Bo Butner, 429; 4.  Drew Skillman, 343; 5.  Chris McGaha, 287; 6.  Allen Johnson, 244; 7.  (tie) Jeg Coughlin, 223; Erica Enders, 223; 9.  Vincent Nobile, 209; 10.  Alex Laughlin, 187.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1.  Eddie Krawiec, 232; 2.  Andrew Hines, 197; 3.  Hector Arana, 154; 4.  Chip Ellis, 135; 5.  Jerry Savoie, 108; 6.  LE Tonglet, 107; 7.  Michael Ray, 104; 8.  Matt Smith, 93; 9.  Angelle Sampey, 92; 10.  Jim Underdahl, 84.