Justin Ashley hoisting his Wall after winning the 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. (Photo: NHRA Media)
CONCORD, N.C. — After Doug Kalitta took the number one qualifying spot for the Top Fuel Dragsters for the second time in a row, the drivers got a small break before being sent out to the track to either live or die.
Finals Round 1
The first match-up for the first round of eliminations was between Billy Torrence, Clay Millican, Josh Hart and Tony Schumacher. Although Hart got off the line quicker than anybody else, it was Millican who took the win for both elapsed time and final speed. Torrence had the second-best round and advanced to Round 2 as well.
| RT | ET | MPH | |
| Billy Torrence | .086 | 3.725 | 334.15 |
| Clay Millican | .071 | 3.705 | 337.66 |
| Josh Hart | .046 | 3.790 | 327.35 |
| Tony Schumacher | .053 | 3.770 | 328.38 |
Justin Ashley competing in the 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. (Photo: NHRA Media)
Justin Ashley, Tony Stewart, Doug Foley and Dan Mercier went head-to-head next. Foley redlighted, immediately disqualifying him from the race, which allowed Ashley to win a holeshot because of it. Stewart also advanced to the next round.
| RT | ET | MPH | |
| Justin Ashley | .050 | 3.763 | 331.69 |
| Tony Stewart | .068 | 3.762 | 326.71 |
| Doug Foley | .083 | 3.730 | 316.52 |
| Dan Mercier | .062 | 3.831 | 318.24 |
As the fuel fumes were still dissolving from the air, the next group of racers drove up to the lanes. Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon, Brittany Force and Steve Torrence all zoomed down the strip, but Brown took the overall win with the reaction and elapsed times. Force advanced to the next round as well, but on a holeshot advantage due to having the faster final speed.
| RT | ET | MPH | |
| Antron Brown | .055 | 3.718 | 334.48 |
| Shawn Langdon | .061 | 4.126 | 299.13 |
| Brittany Force | .059 | 3.734 | 335.82 |
| Steve Torrence | .078 | 3.729 | 334.07 |
The last race of the first round was between Kalitta, Shawn Reed, Cody Krohn and Jasmine Salinas. Not only did Salinas have her career-best finish, but it was her first-round win with the Top Fuel Dragsters. It was a close call though because she nearly went over the yellow line but managed to keep it in her own lane. Kalitta advanced to the next round with her.
| RT | ET | MPH | |
| Doug Kalitta | .067 | 3.729 | 334.98 |
| Shawn Reed | .074 | 3.757 | 322.88 |
| Cody Krohn | .075 | 3.790 | 323.66 |
| Jasmine Salinas | .095 | 3.700 | 329.50 |
Finals Round 2
The first of two rounds saw Ashley, Brown, Stewart and Force race each other down 1,000 feet. Stewart had the best time off the line but lost traction, resulting in a mediocre performance. Force had the best final speed and Ashley had the best elapsed time, making him the winner of the round. Brown, having one one-thousandth for the elapsed time over Force, advanced to the final round with Ashley.
| RT | ET | MPH | |
| Justin Ashley | .054 | 3.711 | 333.58 |
| Antron Brown | .057 | 3.728 | 333.66 |
| Tony Stewart | .047 | 5.779 | 120.55 |
| Brittany Force | .124 | 3.729 | 336.57 |
Off the line, Salinas smoked her tires, ending a career-best day for her in Top Fuel dragster. But her fellow competitors, Billy Torrence, Kalitta and Millican fared better. Kalitta had the best final speed and advanced to the final round and Millican won the round with the best times.
| RT | ET | MPH | |
| Billy Torrence | .068 | 4.544 | 170.97 |
| Jasmine Salinas | .097 | 4.695 | 162.90 |
| Doug Kalitta | .079 | 3.760 | 334.57 |
| Clay Millican | .068 | 3.710 | 333.91 |
Justin Ashley outruns Antron Brown, Clay Millican and Doug Kalitta at zMax Dragway. (Photo: Phil Cavali | The Podium Finish)
Final Round
The final round saw Ashley win for the second time this season by having the best reaction and elapsed time. Millican was fastest down the track but didn’t have the correct timing to win.
| RT | ET | MPH | |
| Justin Ashley | .046 | 3.710 | 328.06 |
| Antron Brown | .047 | 4.780 | 163.31 |
| Clay Millican | .050 | 3.722 | 337.92 |
| Doug Kalitta | .077 | 3.725 | 326.00 |
“You want to know where you’re at, and we want to be the best we can be,” said Ashley on his win. “[I am] just so proud to represent SCAG Power Equipment. So happy.”
NHRA returns May 17-19 at Route 66 Raceway in Elwood, Illinois.
