NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Round two of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series kicks off Friday at Firebird Motorsports Park with the opening day of qualifying for the 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, which returns to its longtime position in the schedule.

After a soggy weekend opener in Gainesville two weeks ago, the teams are looking forward to the dry air and tacky track in the Valley of the Sun as they continue their quests for season championships.

Last year’s Top Fuel world champ Antron Brown, a three-time Phoenix winner, got his title defense started in style in the Sunshine State with a big victory capped with a final-round win over defending event champ Shawn Langdon, who also is the most recent winner at Firebird Motorsports Park.

Langdon earned the NHRA Arizona Nationals crown last year when he defeated Justin Ashley, the 2023 winner, and he’ll be up against a stacked field of competitors, including former world champs Doug Kalitta and Brittany Force, Clay Millican, Jasmine Salians, and 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year and motorsports legend Tony Stewart. Phoenix’s own Travis Shumake, son of Arizona nitro legend Tripp Shumake, returns to the site of his debut race last year to kick off a more comprehensive campaign for 2025.
 
Funny Car world champ Austin Prock’s Phoenix triumph last year marked his first career Funny Car win, and although the defending champ struggled in Gainesville, he’ll look to get on track in Phoenix against John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman, Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals winner Chad Green, as well as four-time world champ Matt Hagan and three-time season titlist Ron Capps — both three-time winners at this event —  among others.

Pro Stock world champ Greg Anderson won last year’s final-round team with KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn, who turned the table on the six-time champ two weeks ago by upsetting him in the Gainesville final, their second straight, including last year’s season finale.

The Elite Motorsports team, led by six-time world champ Erica Enders, along with established stars like three-time Phoenix winner Jeg Coughlin Jr. and 2022 event winner Aaron Stanfield, will look to regain their footing after being shut out of recent final rounds. The event will also mark the 2025 debut of the Elite-powered Cuadra brothers — Fernando Jr., Cristian, and David — who missed the season opener due to business commitments.

The event will also feature the first Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge of the season, pitting the Gatornationals semifinalists in Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock in a series of rematches for bonus bucks and championship points.

Racers in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will have a doubleheader weekend that starts quickly today with the first two elimination round matchups of the rained-out Gainesville event taking place Friday and the final two on Saturday, all run concurrent with the qualifying sessions for the Arizona Nationals.

2024 EVENT WINNERS 

Shawn Langdon, Top Fuel; Austin Prock, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock

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 B. Force, Feb. ‘20.

Funny Car
3.823 seconds by Matt Hagan, Feb. '22; 337.16 mph by Courtney Force, Feb. '18.

Pro Stock
6.498 seconds by Mike Edwards, Feb. '13; 213.77 mph by Mike Edwards, Feb. '13.

NATIONAL RECORDS

Top Fuel
3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. ‘19, Reading, Pa.; 338.94 mph by B. Force, Nov. ‘22, Pomona.

Funny Car
3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd, Minn.; 341.68 mph by Austin Prock, Nov. ’24, Pomona, Calif.

Pro Stock
6.443 sec. by Greg Anderson, Mar. ’25, Gainesville, Fla.; 215.55 mph by Enders, May ’14, Englishtown N.J

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, March 21
Lucas Oil Series qualifying and time trials at 8:00 a.m.
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Pro Stock qualifying at 2:00 p.m.
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying at 2:30 p.m.
Congruity NHRA Pro Mod qualifying at 3:45 p.m.
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Pro Stock qualifying at 4:30 p.m.
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying at 5:00 p.m.
Congruity NHRA Pro Mod qualifying at 6:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, March 22
Lucas Oil Series eliminations at 8:00 a.m.
Lucas Oil Series qualifying at 10:15 a.m.
Congruity NHRA Pro Mod qualifying at 11:00 a.m.
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying at 11:30 a.m.
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Pro Stock qualifying at 12:45 p.m.
Congruity NHRA Pro Mod qualifying at 1:15 p.m.
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying at 2:15 p.m.
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Pro Stock qualifying at 3:30 p.m.
Lucas Oil Series eliminations at 4:20 a.m.

Sunday March 23
Pre-race ceremony, 10:00 a.m.
Lucas Oil Series eliminations at 8:30 a.m.
Congruity NHRA Pro Mod qualifying at 9:30 a.m.
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series eliminations begin at 11:00 a.m.

TELEVISION

FRIDAY, March 21 FS1 will televise one and half hours of qualifying highlights at 8:00 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, March 21, FS1 will televise one and half hours of qualifying highlights at noon (ET)
SUNDAY, March 21, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 6:30 p.m. (ET)

Or watch live all weekend on NHRA.tv