LAS VEGAS — Drivers have many different approaches to four-wide drag racing. They’ll get plenty of chances to use those methods as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series races four-wide in consecutive events.
The first comes this weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with the second set for April 25-27 at North Carolina’s zMAX Dragway.
Kalitta Motorsports driver J.R. Todd talked about the differences between racing four-wide and traditional two-wide drag racing.
“I don’t really change my driving style (for four-wide racing); you have to pay a little more attention with three other drivers on the starting line as opposed to one,” Todd explained. “You just have to be focused on your lane and your light. There’s definitely a lot more going on, but at the end of the day, it’s still drag racing. When the yellow light comes on, you have to hit the gas on time.”
Limiting mistakes is important.
“Four-wide racing isn’t technically any more difficult than two-wide racing,” said Jim Dunn Racing’s Buddy Hull. “The biggest thing is there are just more opportunities to make mistakes. When you have three cars in your periphery instead of one, it could throw you off your routine, even when you try to block it all out. That’s why you see more cars red-light during four-wide races. I’ve made it a priority to not let that happen to me. We need every advantage possible at the starting line, especially when we’re representing the great people of KGC.”
Many enjoy four-wide racing because it is a different challenge.
“I’m excited to run Vegas. We ran well there last time, made some progress, so I’m confident we can do that plus better this weekend. The goal is to keep pushing and see what we can achieve,” said SCAG Racing driver Dave Richards. “Four-Wide races are cool for the fans. As a driver, I’m OK with it. I just try to keep it simple. Race day is fun, kind of cool that you can still advance being second quickest. It’s a different challenge, but we’re ready for it, ready for some race day lady luck.”
Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon enjoys the break from normality.
“This is one of my favorite events of the year,” Pedregon said of Las Vegas. “I really like the four Funny Cars racing at once.
“I also like it as a driver, with four cars running at once, you do all you can to be one of the top two cars to advance to the next round. If you get to that final quad, then it’s a matter of getting to the finish line ahead of those other three cars, and that’s a win.”
