The NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway delivered a historic weekend of drag racing as the second race of the six-race Countdown to the Championship — and the first time ever that the unique four-wide format has been contested during the NHRA playoffs. Fans packed the grandstands just outside Charlotte, North Carolina, to watch championship hopefuls battle across all four lanes in one of the most high-pressure environments of the season.
From the nitro-fueled stars of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series to the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series sportsman competitors, plus the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Series, JHG Mountain Motor Pro Stock, and Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle classes, the event showcased a wide spectrum of talent and horsepower.
DI staff photographer Rick Belden was on the ground capturing the intensity on track and the personalities in the pits and staging lanes. This gallery brings you closer to the action, atmosphere, and energy that made the 4-Wide Carolina Nationals a standout stop on the 2025 NHRA tour.
This story was originally published on September 23, 2025. 
