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NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals Saturday photo gallery

NHRA National Dragster photographer Marc Gewertz was all over zMAX Dragway on the second day of the NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals, providing a gallery's worth of photos from on and off the track.
12 Oct 2019
NHRA National Dragster staff
Race coverage
Photo Gallery

Following Friday's thrilling nighttime qualifying, fans returned to zMax Dragway en masse for Saturday's final qualifying runs.


Erica Enders drove to the top spot in Pro Stock qualifying for the third-straight race. Between runs, she also helped team owner Richard Freeman prepare her Elite Motorsports/Melling Chevy Camaro.

Former NHRA Sr. Vice President Racing Operations Graham Light, right, made the rounds at zMax Dragway, visiting with Pro Stock crew chief and chassis builder Rick Jones.

Two of NHRA's most decorated drivers and team owners, Don "the Snake" Prudhomme, left, spent some time catching up with Connie Kalitta.

Crew chief Aaron Brooks has so far enjoyed a successful weekend with Justin Ashley's Top Fuel team. The rookie driver qualified with a 12th  best 3.831 in his pro debut.

Mike McIntire Jr. continues to learn the ropes in his first season in the Funny Car class. McIntire qualified for the quick Charlotte field.

Funny Car racer Bob Gilbertson doesn't make many appearances on the NHRA Mello Yello tour, but he rarely misses an event at his home track, zMax Dragway.

There are 13 Funny Car racers in the three-second zone in Charlotte and Tim Wilkerson is in the thick of the battle with his Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang.

Reigning Mello Yello champ Matt Smith has struggled this weekend on his Denso EBR but he can never be counted out. Smith also competed in Super Comp in Charlotte and won his opening round race with a perfect .000 reaction time.

Before climbing into her Advance Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster, Brittany Force took a minute to take a selfie with one of the many fans who make the trek to zMax Dragway.

IT's taken longer than he expected, but Jim Campbell finally put Jim Dunn's Cattleman's Cut Funny Car into the three-second zone with a 3.988.

Todd Tutterow, a contender for the championship in the E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod series, qualified his AAP Camaro in the top spot with a 5.74. Tutterow is battling Steve Jackson and Mike Janis for the championship.

Matt Hagan, the first driver to run in the threes at zMax Dragway, made the quickest pass of Q4 with a 3.880 to qualify No. 3 in the fast field with his Mopar Dodge Charger.

Reading winner Richie Crampton continued his recent string of solid qualifying runs with a 3.732 that is good for the No. 4 spot in Top Fuel. Crampton will face rookie of the year contender Austin Prock in round one.