After winning the closing six races last season, defending Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence laid down three consecutive 3.7-second ETs at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on Sunday. Although it was the first win for Torrence this year, the Capco Contractors driver garnered his 28th Wally in Top Fuel to go with his four victories in Top Alcohol dragster, where Torrence also won an NHRA World Championship. But, this season hadn't gone as planned for the winless Capco Team. Now, after the team's third straight victory at the Charlotte event, Torrence leaves the four-wide with the points lead in Top Fuel.
It is always a special moment when a driver gets his or her first class win. No stranger to the victory podium, former Top Fuel World Champion, Shawn Langdon won his first Wally in Funny Car on a wild day of final eliminations. When Langdon lined up for the Final run against the red-hot Robert Hight, John Force and Matt Hagan, few fans had the driver of the Global Electronic Technology Toyota as a favorite for the win. When the smoke settled, Langdon had barely nipped the AAA Auto Club Camaro of Hight. Langdon joins his Kalitta Motorsports teammates of Doug Kalitta, Richie Crampton and J.R. Todd as 2019 NHRA winners.
The zMax Dragway at Charlotte is special pavement for Harley-Davidson's Andrew Hines. The second-generation star on two-wheels became one of nineteen drivers to win 50 NHRA National events with 6.831 ET to defeat teammate Eddie Krawiec, Hector Arana Jr. and Ryan Oehler. Krawiec now has six runner up finishes at the North Carolina track to Hines' seven overall victories and four wins at the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. The Mountain Motor Pro Stock exhibition race win went to Chris Powers over PDRA champion Steve Boone, Todd Hoerner and Dwayne Rice.
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will see teams make the short trip to Atlanta Dragway in Commerce GA next week for the Arby’s NHRA Southern Nationals May 3-5. This is the seventh race of the 2019 season for the Nitro classes. At 1100 feet in altitude, Atlanta Dragway is one of the NHRA's long-established races that has earned a reputation for being one of the toughest events on tour. Warmer temperatures down south promise to turn the 660-foot concrete launchpad into a "Hotlanta" event that fans won't soon forget.
