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Shawn Langdon, Ron Capps Highlight Qualifying For NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals At zMAX Dragway 

by racerx55 April 25, 2026 0 comments

Story & Photo By Matthew Thomerson 

CONCORD, NC – It was Shawn Langdon and Ron Capps capturing the No. 1 qualifiers in Top Fuel and Funny Car for Sunday’s NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

It was an interesting few sessions on Friday, as Langdon paced the field in Top Fuel with a run of 3.674 seconds at 339.19 mph. Despite some strong runs by others, he remained on top at the conclusion of Saturday. It’s Langdon’s 23rd career No. 1 qualifier and the second this season. Leah Pruett was second and Doug Kalitta was third.

“We made really, really good runs and cars responding well to the things that we’re asking it to do,” Langdon said. “And Brian’s making the right calls, and the guys are doing a great job putting the car together. Everything’s just kind of clicking right now. We’re just kind of doing what the car is showing us, and it’s making some really good laps.” 

Clay Millican scored the Mission #2Fast2Tasty win in Top Fuel on Saturday, outrunning Billy Torrence, Doug Kalitta, and Josh Hart.

“To win on a holeshot is crazy, but we went right down the racetrack,” Millican said. “The team is slowly but surely getting better and better. We had our struggles; I had to learn to drive a canopy car. I’m still not quite there yet. This group of people is incredible and they have no quit. Winning today gets us in the mindset for race day tomorrow.”

Three-time Funny Car Champion Capps was fastest with a run of 3.883-second run at 333.91 mph. The driver of the No. 28 NAPA Auto Care Funny Car didn’t need to back it up with a quicker time Saturday, and secured his 39th career No.1 qualifier and second of the season.

“We’ve got a vendor on board with Motorcar Parts of America, and anytime we get to do that, we do pretty well,” Capps said. “So when you get a sticker like that, it’s pretty cool. Now, Auto Care is hanging with us this weekend, and, of course, Carlisle Tools, and I’m just trying to, it’s Maddi Gordon’s world, we’re just all living it, so we’re just trying to keep up, and such a great job by everybody. You got a good car, you get beat on a whole shot, and you got a 73 light. You know, it’s tough out here in funny cars, so we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Jordan Vandergriff, who captured the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, was second with Matt Hagan third.

“This is my first time racing four-wide, and it’s interesting, for sure,” Vandergriff said. “This last run, I was in lane two and it’s a little trickier looking across the tree, but it seemed to work out. I didn’t expect to win it. I just went up there and did what I could and that’s thanks to my Cornwell Quality Tools team giving me the right car to go out there and do it.”

In Pro Stock, it was Greg Anderson claiming both the Mission 2 Fast 2 Tasty Challenge and the No.1 qualifier with a run of 6.498 seconds at 211.23 mph. 

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Matt Smith claimed the top spot with a time of 6.739 seconds at 203.09 mph. 

Clay Millican won the Mission 2 Fast 2 Tasty Challenge in Top Fuel, and Gaige Herrera won it in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Now it’s onto Sunday for the 17th annual 4-Wide Nationals. Final eliminations begin at 12 p.m., with Top Fuel. Coverage will be on Fox Sports 1.