2022 Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Sportsman Preview
2022 Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Sportsman Preview from zMax Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina
Cover photo courtesy of NHRA.tv
CHARLOTTE – After an epic final SpringNationals event in Houston last weekend, the NHRA tour heads east to the Bellagio of dragstrips, zMax Dragway near Charlotte, NC. The trip to zMax means a second helping of four-wide racing for the Pro’s while the Lucas Oil Sportsman classes enjoy one of the nicest racetracks in the country. It’s been well over a month since the NHRA tour hit the East Coast so racers from Division 1 and 2 should be geared up for another shot at a Wally.
Last week at Houston we correctly picked Speedy Emmons to win Super Stock and Greg Kamplain to win Comp. We also got close with Austin Williams in Super Gas and Darian Boesch in Top Sportsman as both racers posted runner-up finishes.
The Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals will showcase over 285 Lucas Oil sportsman racers competing in seven different classes. The schedule includes Competition Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, and Top Dragster.
Before we look ahead to the 2022 Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, let’s look back at the 2021 event champions.
2021 NGK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Champions
Competition Eliminator – David Barton
Super Stock – Pete D’Agnolo
Stock Eliminator – Marion Stephenson
Super Comp – Billy Upton
Super Gas – Jim Perry
Top Sportsman – Ronnie Proctor
2022 Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Predictions
With each NHRA national event DragChamp’s sportsman preview includes an overview of each class. In addition, we select the DragChamp Picks to win the race. Here are this week’s picks.
Comp Eliminator – 10 Car Field
The Comp field seems extremely light this week with only 10 drivers on the entry list. Last season David Barton drove is Factory Stock Showdown Camaro to the winners circle. While David is not entered this week, Ray Skillman will try to match his feat in his Factory Stock Showdown Cobra Jet. Greg Kamplain, the winner in Houston last week will look to continue his hot hand at zMax this weekend.
DragChamp picks to win:
Bruno Massel Jr. – Look for the multi-time world champ and TV personality to grab the Wally this Sunday.
Super Stock – 52 Car Field
The Super Stock entry list includes a host of racers who’ve enjoyed success at the Four-Wide Nationals including Dan Fletcher, the Worner Bros., Anthony Bertozzi, and Monty Bogan Jr.
DragChamp picks to win:
Anthony Bertozzi – With his track record of success in Charlotte, it’s really hard not to pick the 17 time world champ.
Herbie Null Jr. – Talented Division 1 runner has a knack for showing out at zMax Dragway.
Stock Eliminator – 52 Car Field
Marion Stephenson returns to the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals looking for a repeat performance from last season. He’ll have his hands full with a tough contingent of racers including Jeff Strickland, Matt Lisa, Terry Taylor, Brad Plourd, and Dan Fletcher.
DragChamp picks to win:
Mike McMahan – Tough racer with a cool Corvette makes for a winning combination.
Jeff Strickland – All he does is turn on win lights and I expect we’ll see plenty of that this weekend.
Super Comp – 51 Car Field
The .90 classes are always the hardest to pick as basically everyone in the field can win on any given day. If last year’s winner, Billy Upton is going to repeat, he’ll have to wade through a slew of talented racers in Ray Miller III, Mike Robilotto, Sherman Adcock Jr., Joey Cambria, and John Labbous Jr.
DragChamp picks to win:
John Labbous Jr. – Has been deep at every race this season, wouldn’t expect anything less than that this week.
Sherman Adcock Jr. – See above and insert here, lol. Sherman has had a great start to the season as well.
Super Gas – 50 Car Field
Four of the 2021 Top 10 finishers, including last season’s event champ Jim Perry, are competing this week at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. These include Rob Kropfeld, Jonathan Anderson, and Jeremy Mason. Add in names like Labbous, Boicesco, Furr, and Adcock Jr. and you have a full on battle royale.
DragChamp picks to win:
Jonathan Anderson – Not sure anyone, in any class, has won more at Charlotte over the last few years than this guy has.
Steve Hoyt – D3 runner consistently finds his way to the final round. Would love to see him holding the Wally on Sunday.
Super Street – 45 Car Field
The Super Street field looks to be a fun one to watch this week as I see a number of young guns on the list who’ll battle it out with class veterans.
DragChamp picks to win:
Keith Mayers – The Porsche driver may have an unconventional ride but he is deadly in that thing.
Shawn Fricke – Rolling into Charlotte with a hot hand after winning the D1 Lucas Oil Series event at Atco last weekend.
Top Dragster – 28 Car Field
The Top Dragster class should be interesting this week as I see a few notables on the entry list. Former Top Sportsman World Champ Sandy Wilkins will be competing in the fast dragster class this week. A couple of west coast racers, Taylor Vetter and Peyton Januik, extended their trip to Houston by heading even further east to Charlotte. Of course there’s always Jeff Strickland, Steve Furr, and Anthony Bertozzi to watch out for too.
DragChamp pick to win:
Taylor Vetter – Made it to the semifinals on Sunday at the SpringNationals, could be just the momentum she needs to make the finals this week.
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