NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The nitro teams were in Phoenix last weekend for Nitro Spring Training, a test session to help them gear up for the 2017 season, which kicks off this weekend at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals. While testing isn’t always 100 percent indicative of what to expect from every team — it is testing after all, and some use the time to experiment with new parts and combos — there are things we can learn from it. Here are five things we learned from this year’s annual test in the desert.

Yes, Leah Pritchett and Courtney Force made the unofficial quickest runs ever in their respective classes, but that alone is not why we feel like the ladies were the story from Nitro Spring Training. Those runs were part of an overall great effort not only by Pritchett and Force but also Force’s sister, Brittany (pictured). In fact, just looking across the board at all the numbers recorded, Brittany probably had the best overall effort of the test. After an easy first shakedown run, Brittany made nine pass that ranged from a 3.69 to a 3.79. Her average time across those nine passes was 3.73. Fellow Top Fuel runner Pritchett also had several strong passes during the test. Not only did she record that 3.65 that had everyone buzzing, but Pritchett also posted times of 3.67, 3.68, and 3.69. Brittany’s sister, Courtney, also had several very strong runs in her Funny Car. She, of course, stunned everyone with the 3.80 on Friday, but that run was accompanied by a couple of 3.84s, a couple of 3.86s, and a 3.89.

Last year was a banner season for Funny Car performance with every track on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit seeing new records, but heading into the offseason, there was a question of whether there was really more to be had. Well, Courtney Force’s 3.80 tells us there is more out there. The question of whether there is a 3.7 out there is still debatable, and if you ask different drivers and crew chiefs, you will get many different answers, but Force was only .005-second off of a 3.7, so if we get another perfect weather weekend like we’ve seen in Brainerd the last two seasons, perhaps we may see a 3.7 this year.

We already knew about Troy Coughlin Jr., Jonnie Lindberg, and Tanner Gray, but depending on funding and schedules, this year’s rookie class could be much bigger than originally anticipated. During the test weekend, we saw three new nitro drivers begin the licensing processing. Terry Totten and Greg Carrillo, a three-time winner in Super Comp, both made some licensing runs in Top Fuel, and Outlaw Pro Mod racer Chad Green (pictured) worked towards his Funny Car license behind the wheel of Tim Wilkerson’s entry. Chris Bennett also brought out his No Mercy Racing flopper in hopes of beginning the licensing process. Unfortunately, the team found some issues with the car and was forced to return to its shop to make the needed changes.

Antron Brown (pictured) and Ron Capps both had moments of brilliance during testing — Brown went as quick as 3.70 and Capps dipped in the 3.8s twice — but they also had some less-than-perfect runs. Fans of the reigning champs need not fret, however. Both Brown and Capps admit to using the test session as just that, a test, and trying some new things on their entries.

“We started out of the box trying something different,” said Brown. “And the next run we did something else different. And that last run we did something else different. So, we got Brian, Mark, Brad, and all of our crew, they got a list of stuff we’re doing. So each run they’re going to keep on turning, do a little of this, do a little of that. That’s what testing’s all about. We have a great combination that worked from last year, but they’re just trying to make things better. That’s why we come out and test and do what we do.”

Quick, name the top five tracks for performance on the NHRA Mello Yello Series schedule? Chances are Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park was not among the five many of you listed. Yet, for a second straight year Funny Car drivers went quicker than anyone had previously gone before. Last year, Tommy Johnson Jr. ran 3.874, which was five-thousandths better than the best official time, and this year, Courtney Force ran that stunning 3.80. Add in Leah Pritchett’s 3.65, and it’s clear that the Wild Horse dragstrip can be a performance powerhouse (conditions permitting, of course).