2022 NHRA PHOENIX NATIONALS - EVENT RESULTS
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SUNDAY
HIGHT STAYS PERFECT, SALINAS AND STANFIELD JOIN HIM IN WINNER’S CIRCLE AT NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS
Robert Hight stayed perfect during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season, rolling to his second straight victory in Funny Car on Sunday at the NHRA Arizona Nationals in front of another huge crowd at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
Mike Salinas (Top Fuel) and Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) also picked up wins at the second of 22 races during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
In a marquee matchup of two three-time world champions in the final round, Hight went 3.837-seconds at 330.39 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS, outrunning No. 1 qualifier Matt Hagan and denying Tony Stewart his first win as a NHRA team owner. After qualifying second for a second straight week, Hight was in the 3.80s in all four elimination rounds, powering past Paul Lee, Bob Tasca III and teammate John Force to reach the final round. He made the quickest run of eliminations in the final round to extend his points lead and pick up his 55th career victory after winning in impressive fashion in Pomona last week as well.
“We’ve got a lot of great guys on this team, and it was such a team effort,” said Hight, who picked up his third Phoenix win with his triumph on Sunday. “(Crew chief) Jimmy Prock, Chris Cunningham and all these guys worked hard all winter and it’s all coming together. It’s so hard to win one of these, much less two in a row. In this day and age, that’s amazing and it’s a big win for this team. We made seven runs in the 3.80s this weekend (including qualifying), so that’s pretty impressive. I’m very fortunate to get to drive this car. This is what you dream about, but it’s not going to get any easier with so many great drivers in this class.”
Hagan wrapped up a solid weekend with his new team, setting the track record in qualifying, and advancing to the final round for the first time this season and the 72nd time in his career with round wins against Terry Haddock, Alexis DeJoria and Tim Wilkerson.
In just the second race with a new crew chief, Salinas grabbed an impressive Top Fuel victory, going 3.751 at 318.24 in his 11,000-horsepower Scrappers Racing dragster to knock off Clay Millican in the final round. It gives Salinas his fourth career victory, but also the second in his last five races dating back to last season, when he finished a career-best third in points. With crew chief Rob Flynn calling the shots, Salinas picked right back up in 2022 after his hot finish last year, knocking off Jim Maroney, Shawn Langdon and four-time defending world champ Steve Torrence to reach the final round. Salinas put together three runs in the 3.60s before the finals and he took over the points lead in the loaded Top Fuel class in the process.
“We went through quite a bit to get the right synergy,” Salinas said. “This NHRA racing, it’s a tough game. If you don’t have all the parts and pieces to keep it in place, you’re not going to do very well. Rob is a brilliant man, very calm and relaxed, and calculated. He told me he’ll see me in the finals. If you look at our runs, I was blown away. There’s a lot of good stuff going with this team. I’m very confident in where we’re going and what we’re doing, and these guys on this team are something special. I know we can run with these guys in this (Top Fuel) class, and I know we can beat them.”
Millican enjoyed a strong weekend in Phoenix as well, advancing to his 19th career final round thanks to round wins against Tripp Tatum, eight-time world champ Tony Schumacher and Josh Hart.
A week after advancing to the final round to open the season, Stanfield stayed red-hot and finished the job on Sunday in an all-Elite Motorsports final round, going 6.526 at 210.50 in his Janac Brothers Camaro to beat teammate Troy Coughlin Jr.’s 6.539 at 210.24. It gives Stanfield his fifth career win and first in Phoenix, and also the first since he became a father for the first time just last week. After qualifying second for the second straight week, he knocked off Alan Prusiensky, reigning world champ Greg Anderson and Mason McGaha to reach the finals. He went 6.503 against Anderson, posting the quickest run in the class in two years, en route to capping off what’s been a memorable couple weeks for the young standout.
“All weekend we had a good hot rod, and I did just good enough every round as a driver to win,” said Stanfield, who also took over the points lead. “I can’t thank the guys at Elite enough. I don’t think you could write (the last two weeks) any better than this. There’s been a lot of emotions and a lot of great memories, and I’m just really thankful for all of it. If I can perform well on the starting line, we’ve got a car and a team that’s tough to beat. It’s a long season, but we’ve got a lot of big goals and we’ll see what we can do.”
Making his first appearance at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, rising star Coughlin Jr. picked up his third career final-round berth, knocking off Matt Hartford, Deric Kramer and No. 1 qualifier Kyle Koretsky to reach the championship round.
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action March 10-13 with the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The Pep Boys Top Fuel All-Star Callout specialty race will also take place at the event.
FRIDAY - KALITTA, HIGHT AND ENDERS TAKE PROVISIONAL NO. 1 SPOTS AT NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS
Top Fuel veteran Doug Kalitta is in line to record his first No. 1 qualifier in nearly three years, powering to the provisional No. 1 position on Friday at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the second of 22 races during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
Kalitta, who has 49 career Top Fuel victories, went to the top in his 11,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster with a stellar career-best pass of 3.657-seconds at 329.58 mph. Should it hold, Kalitta would pick up his first No. 1 qualifier since 2019 and 51st in his career. It was also a major step in the right direction after Kalitta Motorsports added legendary tuner Alan Johnson and Brian Husen in the off-season, following a 2021 campaign where Kalitta finished a disappointing 10th and didn’t record a win.
“It left hard, and I definitely tell it was hauling harder than any run I had ever been on,” Kalitta said. “I’m just super proud of my guys. Everybody’s been busting their tail on this thing. With (crew chief) Alan Johnson and Brian, and what they’ve brought to the team, we couldn’t be more excited. I knew it was a good run. The conditions are going to be cool this weekend, but we’re pleased, and we’ll see what the rest of the weekend brings. We love running here and it’s always been one of my favorite tracks.”
Tripp Tatum was the only other driver to reach the 3.60s, going 3.684 at 310.55 to go to the second position. Leah Pruett is third after she went 3.703 at 328.22.
Hight stayed red-hot in Funny Car, rocketing to No. 1 with a spectacular pass of 3.838 at 332.18 in his 11,000-horsepower Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS. It puts Hight in position to pick up his 72nd career No. 1 qualifier and gives him the quickest run in Funny Car for any driver since the start of the 2020 season. Last season’s struggles also seem like a distant memory for Hight, who won in Pomona last week and looks just as impressive to start the weekend in Phoenix.
“Just about every run we’ve made down the track this whole year has been in the 3.80s, so that’s pretty impressive, but we were in really good conditions,” Hight said. “You know when you come to Phoenix and the temperatures are like this, you better hold on. (Crew chiefs) Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham did a really good job getting it just right. In the final round, it ran a 3.861 in Pomona and we had just been here two weeks ago in testing, and we knew were going to have to step it up. Jimmy spent a lot of time looking over everything and I thought to myself, ‘It’s either going to be really quick or we’re going to screw up.’ So great job to the guys. It’s a dream come true to run a car like this.”
After struggling a week ago and qualifying 16th, John Force rebounded with a strong run on Friday in Phoenix, going 3.851 at 332.02 to qualify second through one round. Tim Wilkerson is in the third spot after he impressed with a 3.852 at 328.46.
Enders continued her torrid start in Pro Stock, vaulting to the No. 1 spot with a standout pass of 6.540 at 210.44 in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. It comes on the heels of her season-opening win in Pomona, where she also qualified No. 1. If it stands, the four-time world champ would pick up her 25th career No. 1 qualifier. Enders also won the Phoenix race in 2020 and appears to be picking up where she last left off at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
“It was definitely pretty awesome. I got to run against my teammate Aaron Stanfield, and we qualified No. 1 and No. 2 in Pomona and we met each other in the final round,” Enders said. “As the sun was going down and the temperature was getting cooler, it’s always a really fun run for Pro Stock at that time of day. I feel like we can definitely make some improvements for tomorrow. I give myself a B-plus in the driving department, so I can definitely improve there. (Crew chief) Mark Ingersoll just felt like he was a little bit soft on the tune-up and the set-up of the race car, so tomorrow’s looking up but either way, to put our Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro on the pole after the first session is pretty exciting.”
Stanfield, who advanced to the final round in Pomona, posted an identical 6.540, but was slightly slower than Enders with a run of 209.82 to sit second. Reigning world champ Greg Anderson is currently in the third spot after running 6.541 at 208.59.
Qualifying continues at 1 p.m. MT on Saturday at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
Friday's results after the first one of three rounds of qualifying for the 37th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, second of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.657 seconds, 329.58 mph; 2. Tripp Tatum, 3.684, 310.55; 3. Leah Pruett, 3.703, 328.22; 4. Todd Paton, 4.279, 239.74; 5. Austin Prock, 5.886, 107.56; 6. Antron Brown, 6.185, 108.64; 7. Doug Foley, 7.507, 92.37; 8. Steve Torrence, 7.821, 80.19; 9. Shawn Langdon, 7.868, 89.55; 10. Tony Schumacher, 7.997, 78.97; 11. Mike Salinas, 8.112, 77.17; 12. Justin Ashley, 8.468, 74.86; 13. Brittany Force, 8.667, 78.28; 14. Josh Hart, 8.676, 73.87; 15. Jim Maroney, 11.684, 48.72.
Funny Car -- 1. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.838, 332.18; 2. John Force, Camaro, 3.851, 332.02; 3. Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.852, 328.46; 4. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.859, 324.44; 5. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.982, 318.69; 6. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.038, 313.66; 7. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.112, 239.23; 8. Jeff Arend, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.130, 277.03; 9. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.569, 185.18; 10. Ron Capps, Charger, 5.972, 114.97; 11. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Supra, 7.197, 95.39; 12. J.R. Todd, Supra, 8.195, 84.23; 13. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 8.458, 79.56; 14. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 9.959, 75.34; 15. Paul Lee, Charger, 89.000, no speed; 16. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, broke.
Pro Stock -- 1. Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.540, 210.44; 2. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.540, 209.82; 3. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.541, 208.59; 4. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.552, 209.72; 5. Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.555, 209.26; 6. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.569, 209.49; 7. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.571, 208.55; 8. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.571, 208.33; 9. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.574, 210.34; 10. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.574, 209.30; 11. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.575, 208.94; 12. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.594, 209.49; 13. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.602, 208.94; 14. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.628, 208.14; 15. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 6.634, 208.14; 16. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 7.066, 151.19.
Not Qualified: 17. Steve Graham, 9.220, 101.31; 18. Fernando Cuadra, 10.070, 91.56; 19. John Cerbone, 24.405, 60.01.
FRIDAY SPORTSMAN - HALL, SORENSON PACE SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING IN PHOENIX
SUPER STOCK (FINAL)
1 J712 FSS/C Chris Hall, Brigham City UT, '17 Camaro 8.642 9.65 -1.008
2 7680 FSS/F Tom Ferruggia, Menifee CA, '13 Camaro 9.251 10.20 -0.949
3 7277 FSS/G Mike Johnston, Parker CA, '12 Camaro 9.310 10.25 -0.940
4 6070 FSS/B Gary Coe, Portland OR, '19 Mustang 8.265 9.20 -0.935
5 7774 FSS/C Rodger Comstock, Fort Lauderdale FL, '16 8.719 9.65 -0.931
6 5453 FSS/B Bob Sherwood, Sioux Falls SD, '14 Mustang 8.272 9.20 -0.928
7 7967 GT/MA Tad Schei, Peoria AZ, '83 Camaro 10.272 11.20 -0.928
8 51 GT/GA Scott Burton, Golden CO, '91 Firebird 9.478 10.40 -0.922
9 7083 FSS/D Andrew Durham, Chandler AZ, '11 Challenger 8.992 9.90 -0.908
10 7474 FSS/B Justin Lamb, Henderson NV, '22 Camaro 8.300 9.20 -0.900
FOR COMPLETE RESULTS, CLICK HERE
STOCK (FINAL)
1 633 F/SA Hal Sorensen, Vancouver WA, '69 Camaro 10.671 11.85 -1.179
2 5799 E/SA Brian Schultz, Stanchfield MN, '70 Duster 10.686 11.70 -1.014
3 600 FS/B Jeff Lane, North Bend WA, '18 Camaro 8.988 10.00 -1.012
4 7688 I/SA Paula Cotten, Cave Creek AZ, '85 Camaro 11.310 12.30 -0.990
5 500W H/SA Wyatt Wagner, Kansas City KS, '73 Corvette11.180 12.15 -0.970
6 795 FS/AA Brian McClanahan, Alta Loma CA, '21 Camaro 8.442 9.40 -0.958
7 605 K/SA Larry Peterson, Eugenre OR, '80 Malibu 11.695 12.65 -0.955
8 7 A/SA Kyle Rizzoli, San Luis Obispo CA, '69 Cam 10.052 11.00 -0.948
9 7155 FS/C Leo Glasbrenner, Murrieta CA, '14 Camaro 9.355 10.30 -0.945
10 7801 F/SA Pete Lanciers, Spring Valley CA, '73 Dust 10.939 11.85 -0.911
FOR COMPLETE RESULTS, CLICK HERE
TOP DRAGSTER (FINAL)
1 7613 Kevin Kleineweber, Miracopa AZ, TNT-Chevy 6.101 228.38 228.38
2 D712 Phil Dion, Paradise Valley AZ, Yancer-MOPAR 6.103 225.33 225.33
3 710 Mike Mendenhall, Santee CA, Spiter-Chevy 6.145 225.94 225.94
4 7796 John Richardson, Santa Clarita CA, Sarmento-Ch 6.174 209.20 209.20
5 5201 Gary Vang, Parker CO, RaceTech-Chevy 6.235 214.79 214.79
6 7942 Thomas Bayer, Cherry Valley CA, Miller-Chevy 6.237 214.31 218.44
7 6515 Brian Hough, Junction City OR, RaceTech-Chevy 6.320 221.20 221.20
8 7730 Mike MacBrair, Goodyear AZ, Sarmento-DLRE 6.369 213.27 213.27
9 74 Brianna Wiens, Las Vegas NV, M&M-Chevy 6.429 212.26 212.26
10 7145 Jennifer Wiens, Las Vegas NV, RaceTech-Madc 6.458 175.37 175.37
FOR COMPLETE RESULTS, CLICK HERE
TOP SPORTSMAN (FINAL)
1 702G Mike Proctor, Chandler AZ, '63 Corvette 6.344 218.90 218.90
2 74 Jeff Connelly, Mesa AZ, '19 Camaro 6.374 229.70 229.70
3 7450 Don Meziere, Escondido CA, '09 Cobalt 6.727 204.66 204.66
4 6502 Will Yakimetz, Vegreville AB, '69 Camaro 6.860 205.16 205.16
5 7867 Dean Hall, Guerneville CA, '63 Corvette 6.880 199.64 199.64
6 4 Ed Olpin, Pleasant Grove UT, '68 Camaro 6.882 198.23 198.23
7 73 Monte Green, Mesa AZ, '07 Stratus 6.897 200.20 200.20
8 75 Mera Silvia, Rancho Cucamonga CA, '04 Cavalier 6.920 202.97 202.97
9 7725 Mike Hiatt, Fallon NV, '15 Camaro 6.966 195.99 195.99
10 664 Ken Ratzloff, Idaho Falls ID, '53 Champion 6.972 198.88 198.88
FOR COMPLETE RESULTS, CLICK HERE
TOP DRAGSTER (FINAL)
1 D712 Phil Dion, Paradise Valley AZ, Yancer-MOPAR 6.104 224.36 224.36
2 7014 Steve Schneider, San Diego CA, A & E-CHRY 6.132 228.23 228.23
3 710 Mike Mendenhall, Santee CA, Spiter-Chevy 6.179 225.03 225.03
4 7942 Thomas Bayer, Cherry Valley CA, Miller-Chevy 6.224 217.70 217.70
5 710V Taylor Vetter, Las Vegas NV, RaceTech-Chevy 6.282 216.03 218.16
6 7091 Reed Taylor, Las Vegas NV, '23-T Ford 6.296 204.63 211.96
7 7993 Alan Englen, La Habra CA, RaceTech-Chevy 6.320 215.93 215.93
8 7586 Kenny Upton, Garden Grove CA, Miller-Chevy 6.349 215.10 215.10
9 7156 Chuck Phelps, Chandler AZ, Yancer-Chevy 6.553 177.35 177.35
10 790 Taylor Wiens, Las Vegas NV, RaceTech-Madc 6.587 205.60 205.60
FOR COMPLETE RESULTS, CLICK HERE