Press Release | December 15, 2024
For the first time in NHRA history, there will be four-wide racing in the Countdown to the Championship. NHRA and zMAX Dragway officials announced today the first four-wide playoff race, as the revamped NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals will take place September 19-21, 2025, at the Bellagio of Dragstrips, zMAX Dragway.
This is a press release from NHRA…
The annual fall event in Charlotte serves as the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. The playoff race had previously taken place in drag racing’s traditional two-wide format, but one of the most unique spectacles in motorsports will make its playoff debut, with four-wide racing set to bring an intriguing and exciting aspect to the championship race and the fall event at state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway.
“Creating remarkable events is at the core of what we strive to do every day, and a four-wide Countdown race is the next in a long line of firsts we’re proud to be part of in motorsports,” said Greg Walter, president and general manager at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “We’ve seen the popularity of four-wide racing with fans for years at our spring event, but with championship implications on the line, next year’s showcase of speed promises to be our best yet.”
Since its debut in 2010 at the spring race at zMAX Dragway, the first-ever purpose-built four-lane dragstrip, four-wide racing has been a huge favorite with fans, packing the spacious facility each year during the early-season extravaganza.
Bringing the spectacular nature of four-wide racing to the Countdown to the Championship adds a thrilling, must-see aspect to the fall race, which comes in the middle of an important stretch of three straight race weekends to open the playoffs.
Last year, Matt Smith in Pro Stock Motorcycle won the NHRA Carolina Nationals, with Smith taking second in the championship.
Back-to-back Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Gaige Herrera also has won the spring race the past two seasons in Charlotte.
“We’re excited to team up with the incredible team at zMAX Dragway and have our first-ever four-wide drag racing in the Countdown to the Championship,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “The Smith family and everyone at zMAX Dragway have always been eager to bring new and innovative ideas to the table, and it was great to see the support from our race teams and partners. We wanted to try something different for our fall race in Charlotte, and this marks a thrilling new challenge and full of playoff intensity, and one we think our fans will be eager to see next fall.”
The spectacular, can’t-miss four-wide action will include two rounds of qualifying on both Friday and Saturday, leading into eliminations on Sunday for the pivotal playoff race.
Tickets for the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals are on sale now and available at https://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/events/nhra-carolina-nationals/.
For more information, visit NHRA.com
