Grudge races between drivers were the grassroots of what has become the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Now, starting at the NHRA Arizona Nationals, Mission Foods has stepped up as the sponsor of what is sure to become a fan favorite event.
The Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge is an exciting new specialty event that adds competitive racing to Saturday’s final round of qualifying for the top four competitors from the previous NHRA National in the Nitro and Pro Stock classes.
Redemption racing will be contested at twelve regular season Saturday qualifying sessions (Phoenix through Indy) featuring the semifinal matchups from the previous NHRA national event. Winners of the semifinal round in all Pro classes will race to see who is awarded Countdown to the Championship bonus points. The winner receives 3 points, the runner-up 2 points, and the quickest losing semifinalist will be awarded 1 point.
Not only will redemption bonus points be added to the driver’s total points at the start of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, but drivers will also be competing for a portion of a half million-dollar purse spread over the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. The challenge will not take place at the four-wide races in Las Vegas or Charlotte and ends when the playoff for the Countdown starts.
Doug Kalitta Gets Revenge at Wild Horse Pass
Mike Salinas was expecting to be the points leader in Top Fuel entering the Arizona Nationals but his car was too light in post-race tech inspection at Gainesville. Leah Pruett was hoping to keep the good start to her 2023 season alive at Wild Horse Pass. Pruett beat Salinas off the line but smoked the tires in a losing effort.
Capco Contractor’s Steve Torrence entered the first round of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge with 26-17 head-to-head record over Doug Kalitta. When Torrence did a double step and left the tree early, Doug Kalitta was able to coast his MAC Tools dragster to a semifinal win.
Salinas entered the final round of the Top Fuel specialty race hoping to garner three Countdown bonus points and held a 12-5 win/loss ratio over Kalitta. Although Kalitta gained a slight advantage at the start, both drivers lost traction just past the midway point but Kalitta was able to claim the first ever Top Fuel win in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge.
Alexis Dejoria Wins Funny Car Challenge
Chad Green came to Phoenix after having one of the best Funny Car weekends ever at the 54th annual Gatornationals. JR Todd, on the other hand, wanted to make up for the points he lost to Matt Hagan in Final Round at Gainesville. Although Green nailed the start, a problem caused an auto shutdown that allowed Todd to coast to a semifinal win.
Matt Hagan successfully defended his 2022 Funny Car victory at Gainesville Raceway and the points leader was looking to add to his stash. But, Alexis Dejoria was fast last season and proved she will be contender with solid runs at the Gatornationals. Hagan got the holeshot but both drivers spun the tires late as Dejoria advanced to the final.
The stage was set for the first Funny Car redemption round in Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge between two drivers with equal 6-6 records in head-to-head meetings. Todd got away from the start first only to lose the engine at the 60-foot mark. Dejoria picked up the three Countdown bonus points after posting a 3.914 ET at 324.51 mph.
Troy Coughlin Jr Gets Bonus Win at Arizona Nationals
Troy Coughlin Jr leads the Pro Stock points race after winning the Gatornationals but Dallas Glenn held a 3-1 advantage over the JEGs Racing driver in head-to-head matches. It would be Coughlin’s .030 reaction time to Glenn’s .036 RT that would give the semifinal win to a quicker Coughlin over the faster Glenn.
Greg Anderson is a legend and the all-time winningest driver in NHRA Pro Stock entered Saturday’s redemption round with 4-3 advantage in head-to-head races against Mason McGaha. The driver of the HendricksCars.com Chevrolet relied on a .025 reaction time and 6.575 elapsed time to advance to the final of the Challenge.
The legend entered the Pro Stock final with a 7-4 advantage over the up-and-coming Coughlin Jr. Both drivers had excellent starts with Anderson picking up a .007-second advantage but Coughlin Jr. posted a 6.575 elapsed time to Anderson’s 6.603 ET to squeak out a victory and claim the winner’s share of 3 bonus points for the Countdown to the Championship.
NOTE: The runner-ups (Salinas, Todd, and Anderson) received 2 Countdown bonus points, while the fastest semifinalist in each division (Pruett, Hagan, and Glenn) received a single bonus point at the first of twelve Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge events.
artwork courtesy of NHRA
UP COMING:
Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals
For the 63rd time in NHRA history, Pomona Dragstrip will host the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at the historic track, which will also host the 2023 season finale in November. In addition, round two of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge will be conducted for the Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock classes.
