The American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte witnessed history on Friday as Brittany Force shattered the Top Fuel speed record and Doug Kalitta secured the provisional No. 1 qualifier position. The event, held at zMAX Dragway, marked the 15th annual running of the 4-Wide Nationals and the 1,000th Top Fuel race in NHRA history. This record-breaking performance sets the stage for an electrifying weekend of drag racing.
This article delves into the details of Force’s historic run, Kalitta’s impressive qualifying performance, and the other provisional No. 1 qualifiers from Friday’s action. We’ll also examine the significance of these achievements within the context of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, including comments from the drivers themselves.
Brittany Force’s Historic Run
Brittany Force etched her name in the NHRA record books with a stunning 341.58 mph run in her HendrickCars.com dragster. This speed surpassed her previous record of 338.94 mph, set in 2022, and marked the first 340-mph run in Top Fuel history. Force’s run was part of an unforgettable quad, with a blistering 301.00 mph reached by the eighth-mile mark. She expressed her excitement and the team’s satisfaction with the car’s performance, emphasizing the importance of the run.
“She was flying on that run and we really needed that. To go 341mph, that’s awesome and we’re all really excited about that.” – Brittany Force
Doug Kalitta Sets Track Record
Doug Kalitta also made history on Friday, setting a zMAX Dragway track record with an E.T. of 3.646 seconds at 333.74 mph in his Mac Tools dragster. This performance earned him the provisional No. 1 qualifier spot, potentially his third of the season and 61st of his career. Kalitta highlighted the incredible shape of the track during the night session and the opportunity it presented for record-breaking runs. He also acknowledged the significance of the 1,000th Top Fuel race and the unique trophy associated with it.
“Having the night session here, the track is in incredible shape, so definitely some good [runs]. It was the opportunity of the weekend, really, for all of us, but yeah, with the 1,000th race, it’s a cool and then there’s a cool trophy.” – Doug Kalitta
Other Provisional No. 1 Qualifiers
Besides Force and Kalitta, other drivers also secured provisional No. 1 qualifier positions in their respective categories. Paul Lee led Funny Car with a run of 3.829 seconds at 328.54 mph, Dallas Glenn topped Pro Stock with a 6.502-second pass at 211.10 mph, and Gaige Herrera dominated Pro Stock Motorcycle with a remarkable 6.680-second run at 201.64 mph.
Paul Lee’s Funny Car Lead
Paul Lee showcased his team’s potential by racing to the No. 1 position in Funny Car with a run of 3.829s at 328.54mph in his SRI Performance/Daido Metal Dodge Charger SRT. After a shaky first run, crew chief Jonnie Lindberg predicted a 3.82s run, which Lee delivered. Lee acknowledged the potential for even faster runs from competitors and praised his team’s improvements.
“After we smoked the tires on our first run, just trying to go a little too fast for the track conditions, Jonnie (Lindberg, crew chief) said, ‘We’re going to try to run 3.82s,’ and sure enough, we did,” – Paul Lee
Dallas Glenn’s Pro Stock Performance
In Pro Stock, Dallas Glenn and Greg Anderson both had identical 6.502s performances, continuing their impressive seasons. Glenn secured the No. 1 spot on speed, with 211.10 mph, edging out Anderson. Glenn credited the hard work at KB Titan Racing for the performance and noted the team’s efforts to perfect their cars. He is looking for his first No. 1 qualifier of the year.
“I think this shows how hard they work at KB Titan,” Glenn said. “This winter, they burned through several drums of fuel on dyno. It takes a lot of pulls to burn that much fuel. We also worked hard on the cars to get them as perfect as we can and it’s showing right now.” – Dallas Glenn
Gaige Herrera’s Motorcycle Dominance
Gaige Herrera returned to Pro Stock Motorcycle with a dominant performance, going 6.680s at 201.64mph on his RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki. Herrera, the defending world champion, was the quickest bike in each session. Herrera attributed the performance to his team and the new VP Fuel and noted that the run felt similar to when he set the record in Dallas.
“We’ve had six weeks off since Gainesville and our guys have been busy in the shop working. Andrew (Hines, crew chief) is still learning this new [VP Fuel] and it’s showing on the dyno and on the track,” Herrera said.
Conclusion
Friday’s qualifying at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte was a night of record-breaking performances, with Brittany Force setting a new Top Fuel speed record and Doug Kalitta establishing a new track E.T. record. These achievements, along with the provisional No. 1 qualifier performances of Paul Lee, Dallas Glenn, and Gaige Herrera, set the stage for an exciting weekend of drag racing. As the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season continues, these drivers and teams have established themselves as top contenders.
The performances on Friday underscore the relentless pursuit of speed and performance in NHRA drag racing. With qualifying continuing on Saturday, fans can anticipate even more thrilling runs and potential changes in the leaderboard. The American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals promises to deliver a weekend of high-octane action and unforgettable moments.
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