Drag Racing Action Online

Story Billy Kleinspehn Images Courtesy NHRA

Ladies and Gentlemen it’s time to pack up the sunscreen and water as we make the trip to the house the Charlie Allen built Firebird Motorsports Park for the second stop on the magical 75th Anniversary Season for NHRA.

The track which has been apart of the tour since 85 has been the host of several historic moments in the sport such as Tony Schumacher first 330mph blast in 99 Shirley Muldowney final NHRA Top Fuel win in 89 and the first live final round coverage of a NHRA National Event on TNN in 92 just to name a few. 

This is the event may be remembered as one of the hottest NHRA National events in history with temps reaching over 100 degrees which will give tuners nightmares and could lead to some major upsets so let’s dive into this week’s Pick 5! 

NUMBER 5 Back In The Saddle Again

2023 NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals

This weekend’s event will mark the return to Top Fuel competition Leah Pruett. The sight of her first Top Fuel win in 2016 how fitting would it be if she would hold the Wally in her return event. 

NUMBER 4 Double Trouble 

For the first time since the 2019 Norwalk National Event this weekend’s event marks the return to NHRA Pro Mod of 6 Time Pro Stock Champion Erica Enders. 

Enders who was recently named one of the 75 Greatest Drivers in NHRA became the first women to win a pole and national event and a championship in Pro Stock and to double up winning the call out and national event on the same weekend is looking to add another major accomplishment to her resume winning a national event in two different classes on the same weekend. 

NUMBER 3 A Step Back In Time

In 2026 NHRA will celebrate the past and future of the sport during its 75th Anniversary Season and what better way to celebrate then with the always popular Nostalgia Funny Cars.

This weekend the Legends of Nitro Series make their National event debut for the 2026 season and will sure bring the fans to their feet. 

NUMBER 2 Redemption For Prock 

The biggest story that came out of the Gatornationals was the shocking DNQ of two time and defending Funny Car Champion Austin Prock.

Can he rebound at Phoenix and pick up another Wally? 

Honorable Mention 

2 Fast 2 Tasty Returns

The Phoenix race will mark the return of the popular Mission Foods 2 Fast 2 Tasty Challenge a special race held during Saturday Qualifying between the final four from the previous event in the four professional classes.

NUMBER 1 A Win For Gordon

After making the final four in her debut at the Gators Maddi Gordon is looking to do something that Alexis DeJoria 14 Leah Pruett 16 and Camrie Caruso 23 at Phoenix and that is picking up her first career Top Fuel National Event win at the same track her boss Ron Capps scored his first ever round win in Top Fuel over Joe Amato in 95.