Richie Crampton, Shane Tucker and Stever Harker all participated at the NHRA 4Wide Nationals in Charlotte, North Carolina this past weekend.

Top Fuel

Richie Crampton looked back to his old form in Round 1 of the NHRA 4Wide Nationals in Charlotte, ripping off a 3.739-second pass at 322.50 mph to easily advance in the elimination bracket. Only J.R. Todd was quicker with a 3.736 at 328.06 mph, while Terry McMillen (3.816) and Chris Karamesines (4.074) were sent packing.

The Lucas Oil crew rebuilt the car and had Crampton ready for battle in the second session, but this time the car was a little too aggressive and he smoked the tyres on the launch pad. Not knowing what was happening with the cars in the far two lanes, Crampton fought to get on and off the gas in hopes of regaining traction, but his car was just too hyped up and he ended up third with a 6.301 in the foursome behind Brittany Force (3.747) and Antron Brown (5.779).

 “In the four-wides, you have to keep racing because you always think you may have a chance if the other cars are in trouble also,” Crampton said. “As it turns out, only Brittany was under power the whole way down, so the second position to advance was there for the taking.

 “I tried the best I could, but when you smoke the tires so early the timers lock up the clutch and it’s damn near impossible to get it going again. As a driver, you’re constantly striving to get better and I would like to be better at settling the car down and winning some of these pedalfests.”

 

Pro Stock

Shane Tucker made his return to the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying 16th of the 16 car field with a 6.877 second pass. That put him in a first round foursome with Greg Anderson, Chris MaGaha and Allen Johnson.

Unfortunately Tucker pulled a -0.070 red light on a 6.852 at 199.40 mph but he will be better for the hit out after a more than 12-month absence while he and his family concentrated on establishing their Auzmet Architectural business in the US. 

 

Top Alcohol Funny Car 

Steve Harker came out of the gate in solid fashion qualifying fourth with a 5.544 at 263.00 mph giving him a first round match up with Steve Burck.

Harker was a slightly slower off the line than Burck but quickly reeled him in by 60 feet to take the win on a 5.672 at 257.09 mph from a 5.769 at 253.23 mph. 

Round 2 was a similar story and despite a much slower reaction to Steve Gasparrelli, Harker was able to catch him at 1000 feet to turn on the win light with a 5.705 at 260.36 mph from a 5.800 at 255.05 mph. 

In the semi final, Harker once again had the slower reaction time and against Jonnie Lindberg was not able to make up ground. Lindberg won on a 5.443 at 270.75 mph to Harker’s 5.631 at 262.18 mph.

Image credit: NHRA.com