LAS VEGAS (April 5, 2023) – The biggest spectacle in drag racing is set to return to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, as the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series goes four-wide drag racing at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on April 14-16.
With four 11,000-horsepower nitro-burning machines powering down the dragstrip simultaneously in Las Vegas, it serves as drag racing’s ultimate thrill ride and a scene unlike anything else in motorsports. This year’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals marks the fourth of 21 races during the 2023 season, giving fans a can’t-miss opportunity to take in the out-of-this-world sights and sounds when drag racing goes to four lanes.
A year ago, the first of two annual stops in Las Vegas served as a huge precursor to overall success, as all three winners at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals – Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) – ended the season as world champions.
All the NHRA stars will look to pick up an early-season victory in Vegas this year and fans will be treated to a weekend filled with action and excitement, including two qualifying sessions on both Friday and Saturday, jet cars and eliminations on Sunday. The race will again be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), showcasing all the must-see, memorable action that’s certain to take place at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Force’s dream season in Top Fuel got rolling at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas, as she picked up the first of her five wins on the season, knocking off a final quad that featured four drivers with 17 career world titles. She ended the year with a second Vegas win and her second world title. Force is again after her first win of the year, but she’ll have to do against a loaded field that includes points leader Justin Ashley, who has won back-to-back races this year, Pomona runner-up Austin Prock, Gainesville winner Mike Salinas, Doug Kalitta, Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon, Leah Pruett, Steve Torrence and Tony Schumacher.
In Funny Car, Capps’ victory last year marked a huge moment in his career, as it clinched his first win as a team owner. It also propelled Capps to his second straight world title and third overall championship, and the veteran has been solid to open 2023, advancing to back-to-back final rounds. But everyone is chasing Tony Stewart Racing’s Matt Hagan, who has won two of the first three races to open 2023, including last weekend in Pomona. He also won the fall race in Las Vegas last year, but Hagan will have to contend with the likes of Robert Hight, who won eight times in 2022 and in Phoenix this year, J.R. Todd, Alexis DeJoria, Tim Wilkerson, Cruz Pedregon, Bob Tasca III, 16-time world champ John Force and Chad Green.
Enders has simply dominated The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during her stellar career, sweeping both races in 2022. That gave her nine wins in Vegas, the most of any driver in NHRA history. She’s swept both races in Las Vegas three different times, but the defending world champ is looking for her first win of 2023. Enders hopes it will come at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, but she’ll have to get past Pomona winner Dallas Glenn, Troy Coughlin Jr., who won in Gainesville, Greg Anderson, Phoenix winner Camrie Caruso, Kyle Koretsky, Cristian Cuadra, Matt Hartford, Bo Butner, Aaron Stanfield and Mason McGaha.
The NHRA Four-Wide Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, featuring some of the top racers in the country. A special jet car exhibition featuring the “Muy Caliente” jet dragsters will follow the conclusion of nitro qualifying each day as well. Four nostalgia Funny Cars will also be on display during the event, with a cackle fest set to take each day during the event. An autograph session will take place on Saturday at the Toyota Display with Toyota-sponsored drivers, allowing fans great access to several star drivers.
Fans will also be invited all weekend long to the Nitro Alley Stage, which will help create a festive atmosphere leading into the nitro pits. The Nitro Alley Stage will be the main entertainment hub in the pits when the Camping World Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more.
Race fans at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners of the first four-wide race of 2023.
As always, fans also get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Las Vegas. This opportunity gives fans a unique chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. Fans can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food, and fun for the entire family.
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. PT on Friday, April 14, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, April 15 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Eliminations will begin at 12 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 16. Television coverage includes qualifying action at 9:30 p.m. ET on both Friday and Saturday on Fox Sports 1 (FS1), leading into eliminations coverage at 9:30 p.m. ET on Sunday at FS1.
To purchase tickets to the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.
Courtesy NHRA Communications
