The 41st annual FMP (Factory Motor Parts) Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs featured some of the hottest weather seen at this time of year. Temperatures over the March 21-22 weekend ranged from 104 degrees to 110 degrees of dry heat. This caused track temperatures of over 145 degrees at times. At this point, oils come out of the track, making it greasy, especially after the cars left the concrete sections and were on the asphalt sections, starting at about 600 feet past the starting line. This caused the high horsepower cars (Top Fuel and Funny Car) to often lose traction at that point. This put a major test on the crew chiefs and their abilities to compensate and get the 11,000 to 12,000 horsepower cars successfully and competitively down the track. Even with the high temperatures, there were large crowds of fans in the stands to cheer on their favorite drivers and enjoy the sport.
In Top Fuel this season, one of the fan favorites is rookie driver Maddi Gordon. The young lady brings plenty of excitement and enthusiasm that the fans all enjoy. She also brings exceptional driving skills, having come up through the alcohol funny car ranks. She is now the driver of the Carlyle Tools dragster on the Ron Capps race team. Gordon held the top qualifying spot after the first day of qualifying, being the only one to get down the track in the 3.8-second zone.
By the end of qualifying, Shawn Langdon of Kalitta Motorsports claimed the top spot. With a short field (15 cars), Langdon had a bye run in the opening round. He then took out Tony Schumacher (3.859-329.02 to 3.987-282.24), and then Gordon (3.979-297.68 to 4.396-187.31) as she lost traction just past 660 feet, to advance to his 49th career final round. Leah Pruett, returning from two years off to start a family, marched to the final round match up against Langdon by taking out Cameron Ferre, Josh Hart (who replaced Britany Force) and the 2025 class champion, Doug Kalitta. In the final, Langdon took his 21st career win in Top Fuel, defeating Pruett (3.877-325.45 to 3.930-317.57) as she started losing traction approaching the finish line. For Langdon, it was his third consecutive Top Fuel win at this track.
Funny Car was led by Spencer Hyde, driving the Jim Head Contractors Mustang. Jim Head, owner and crew chief, shined, as his car was one of the most consistently quick cars the entire weekend. Hyde advanced to the final round, defeating Blake Alexander, JR Todd and Matt Hagan. On the other side, it was Ron Capps. From his seventh qualifying spot, he took out Jason Rupert (3.98-323.19 to 4.672-186.05), Daniel Wilkerson (4.144-274.39 to 4.157-307.53) with Capps’ engine exploding just before the finish line, destroying the body and requiring massive repairs; and Paul Lee (4.124-303.29 to 4.240-271.30. Lee lost traction nearing finish line; showing great sportsmanship and etiquette, he had waited for the Capps team to finish massive repairs on their car. In the final, Capps defeated Spencer Hyde (4.124-303.23 to 4.326-259.76) as Hyde lost traction nearing the finish line. This was Capps’ 77th career Funny Car win in 156 final round appearances. He also has one Top Fuel win in two final round appearances in his career.
In Pro Stock it was almost like 2025, where Greg Anderson raced for the win against teammate Dallas Glenn, when Glenn fouled out. But the biggest upset of the event put an end to that repeat, as Chris McGaha took out Anderson (#1 qualifier) in the opening round on a major hole shot (0.023) 6.625-209.39 to (0.071) 6.577-207.24, which was low elapse time of eliminations. Glenn, with the second quickest car in eliminations, took out Stephen Bell, Matt Latino and Greg Stanfield to advance to the final round, where he would square off against teammate, Cody Coughlin. He had marched past Eric Latino, McGaha and (uncle) Jeg Coughlin, Jr. to get to the money round. Like last year, Glenn would be racing a teammate, but unlike last year, he would come out on top, winning the “Wally” (trophy based on NHRA founder Wally Parks; this year is the 75th anniversary, so the trophies are a special diamond colored version). Glenn took the win with a 6.627-206.39 to 6.674-207.30 performance. The win was his 22nd in Pro Stock in 41 final round appearances.
The next event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing series is in Pomona, scheduled for the weekend after Easter.
