FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals Friday preview

It only takes one look at the projected forecast to know that there's going to be a hot time in the Valley of the Sun with triple-digit weather predicted for all three days of the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs at Firebird Motorsports Park.

It only takes one look at the projected forecast to know that there's going to be a hot time in the Valley of the Sun with triple-digit weather predicted for all three days of the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs at Firebird Motorsports Park.

NHRA has responded to the sweltering forecast by adjusting the start of qualifying on both Friday and Saturday, and the start of Sunday's final eliminations, to earlier in the day, hoping for cooler air and track temperatures.

The event will no doubt provide a supreme test for the tuners to navigate the temperatures on both ends of the spectrum, making optimal horsepower from 100-plus-degree air temperatures and then somehow gluing the power to a track where the temperature could exceed 140 degrees. It will be a tricky balancing act and may provide a forum for lesser-powered cars to make runs that their more powerful foes cannot.

Josh Hart comes into the event as the points leader after winning the season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in the John Force Racing car that owns both ends of the track record (set way back in 2020 and not expected to be challenged this weekend) with Brittany Force in the saddle. Shawn Langdon is the two-time defending event champ for the rival Kalitta Motorsports camp.

Until Paul Lee scored his breakthrough first win here last year, Funny Car has been owned by the Force camp, with Robert Hight winning in 2022 and 2023 and Austin Prock scoring in 2024. But Hight is retired, and Prock has moved on to the Tasca Racing camp, a move that has already provided drama this season when Prock failed to qualify in Gainesville. Hight's father and tuner, Jimmy Prock, was the architect of the wins by his son and Hight, so he knows how to tame the Firebird track, albeit maybe in different conditions. One thing is sure: The team can't afford another big stumble this early in the season.

If any class is sure to be affected by the heat, it's Pro Stock, with its gasoline-burning, naturally aspirated powerplants. Hometown hero Matt Hartford enters with the points lead after his Gatornationals win, and if anyone has been heat-treated by the Phoenix conditions, it's him. Whether or not that provides an advantage is to be seen, but it makes for even more drama on what will be a trying weekend for all teams and fans.

The event is also the first of the season to provide racing on Saturday with the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, pitting Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals semifinals against one another in a series of rematches for big bucks and bonus points. That shootout will take place Saturday.

2025 EVENT WINNERS: Shawn Langdon, Top Fuel; Paul Lee, Funny Car; Greg Anderson, Pro Stock

MOST EVENT VICTORIES: Tony Schumacher, 5, TF; John Force, 8, FC; Bob Glidden, 5, PS.

SCHEDULE

Friday qualifying will begin at 9:30 a.m. local time on Friday with Pro Stock, followed by Funny Car and Top Fuel. The second session is slated to start at 12 p.m.

On Saturday, Top Fuel will open the day at 10 a.m., followed by Funny Car and Pro Stock. The final qualifying session — as well as the finals of the first Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge bonus race of the season — is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. with Top Fuel.

Sunday eliminations first round of eliminations is slated for 10 a.m. local time.

TELEVISION

FRIDAY, March 20 FS1 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10:00 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, March 22, FS1 will televise one and half hours of qualifying highlights at 12:00 p.m. (ET)
SUNDAY, March 22, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 6:30 p.m. (ET)

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.; 343.51 mph by B. Force, Sept. ‘25, Indy
Funny Car
3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd, Minn.; 341.68 mph by Austin Prock, Nov. ’24, Pomona
Pro Stock
6.443 sec. by Greg Anderson, Mar. ’25, Gainesville, Fla.; 215.55 mph by Enders, May ’14,
Englishtown