NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Race teams from the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will head back into battle less than a week after the glorious start to the 2022 season at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com. The tour began its eastward move from California with a short hop to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park just outside of Phoenix for the NHRA Arizona Nationals. 

After their victories in Pomona, Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) enter the Duel in the Desert as the points leaders in their respective classes and look to double down to gain an early points advantage in what promises to be one of the most intense seasons in years.

Ashley’s Phillips Connect dragster, tuned by past world championship crew chiefs Mike green and Tommy DeLago, was solidly in the 3.6-second zone in Pomona, showing incredible consistency in addition to blazing speed.

Austin Prock, who made his return to full-time Top Fuel competition in Pomona after two seasons spent largely on the sidelines, was runner-up behind Ashley with his Montana Brand dragster, and the former NHRA Rookie of the Year showed little signs of rust.

Defending Top Fuel champ Steve Torrence and 2021 championship runner-up Brittany Force also had strong showings at the season opener, with Force’s Monster Energy dragster occupying the No. 1 qualifying spot.

Hight and crew chief Jimmy Prock, looking to regain the championship they lost in 2019, returned to their 2019 combination in Pomona and powered the Auto Club Camaro right back into the winner’s circle.

Defending world champ Ron Capps, who was the No. 1 qualifier, finished runner-up behind Hight, but they’re both sure to get pressure all season long from fellow world champs Matt Hagan, Cruz Pedregon, John Force, and J.R. Todd as well as Bob Tasca III, Alexis DeJoria, and Tim Wilkerson.

Enders, like Hight, is seeking to regain her crown in Pro Stock and started off the season in championship style, qualifying her Melling Camaro No. 1 and racing to victory.
 She and teammate Aaron Stanfield qualified 1-2 and finished that way in an all-Elite Performance final round.

Reigning world champion Greg Anderson, who lost to Enders in the semifinals, will come out strong looking for vengeance as well as his milestone 100th career win.

Anderson will have plenty of company in KB Racing teammates Dallas Glenn and Kyle Koretsky, just two of a crop of young guns making waves in the class.

You can catch the action all weekend on FOX Sports 1 and NHRA.tv.

You can follow NHRA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to get a closer look at the action.

2020 EVENT WINNERS*

Steve Torrence, Top Fuel; Tommy Johnson Jr., Funny Car; Erica Enders, Pro Stock
*: *No event in 2021 due to COVID-19

MOST EVENT VICTORIES: Tony Schumacher, 5, TF; John Force, 8, FC; Bob Glidden, 5, PS.

TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel - 3.643 seconds by Brittany Force, Feb. '20; 337.92 mph by Brittany Force, Feb., ‘20.
Funny Car - 3.826 seconds by Courtney Force, Feb. '18; 337.19 mph by Courtney Force, Feb. '18.
Pro Stock - 6.498 seconds by Mike Edwards, Feb. '13; 213.77 mph by Mike Edwards, Feb. '13.

SCHEDULE:

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 4:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Feb. 25, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 1 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 27. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday on FS1, and then eliminations action at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday.

TV SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, Feb. 26, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 11 a.m. (ET)
SATURDAY, Feb. 26, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 7:30 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, Feb.27, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 7 p.m. (ET)

TICKETS

To purchase tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or touch here. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general-admission areas with a paid adult.