The final qualifying session of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway outside of Charlotte, NC, was rained out, locking in Jonathan Allegrucci as the No. 1 qualifier for the second race of the season. He opened the season as the Gatornationals No. 1 qualifier and raced to the quarterfinals at that race. The veteran driver is also the defending NHRA 4-Wide Nationals Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown champion and will roll into race day confident but not overly so.
“We don’t feel as good as you’d think,” said Allegrucci. “I still think we’ve got some bugs that we need to work out. The car is obviously running fantastic because of the KSR boys, but I’m honestly not as comfortable as I’ve been in the past. But we’ll get there.”Allegrucci made a solid run in the third and only qualifier today, but it was not an improvement over his 7.716 second pass at 178.68 mph pass from Friday. As the defending champion the driver from Scott Township, Pa., is ready to take on the challenge of racing four-wide.
“We just have to get up there and worry about us, not worry about anything else, and we’ll be okay,” said Allegrucci. “Racing at a facility like Charlotte doesn’t get any better. Four-wide Charlotte, North Carolina is a premier national event. Where else would you want to be? This track is perfect.”
This is the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series’ lone four-wide race of the 2026 season. The second race of the season will feature some of the quickest and fastest Ford Mustang Cobra Jets, Chevrolet COPO Camaros and Dodge Challenger Drag Paks factory stock competitors from across the country. Gatornationals winner Ricky Hord will carry the $1,000 Flexjet bounty into the first round of eliminations. If another competitor can defeat Hord they will collect the bounty but if Hord holds off the field the bounty will double at the following event.
After the first day of qualifying at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals Allegrucci was holding down the provisional No. 1 qualifier position. After two rounds Allegrucci’s Ford Mustang had posted the quickest time of 7.716 seconds at 178.68 mph. David Davies II opened the first round of qualifying with a solid 7.730 second pass at 180.65 mph and that time held up through Friday as the second quickest elapsed time.
The first round of eliminations at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals will begin Sunday at zMAX Dragway. Fans can follow the racing action at www.nhra.com.
