NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

With a valuable championship points on the line in this young season, the stakes will be high for NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series competitors at the NHRA Arizona Nationals, which takes place Feb. 24-26 at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, a 450-acre multi-purpose motorsports facility just east of downtown Phoenix.

The adrenaline-filled event marks the second of 24 events in the 2017 NHRA season and has been a Southwest fixture since 1985, giving teams a chance at a memorable early-season start. 

The best in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will once again attempt to get off to a lightning quick start at the circuit’s annual visit to the Valley of the Sun. Winternationals champs Leah Pritchett (Top Fuel) and Jason Line (Pro Stock), along with Funny Car racer Tim Wilkerson were last year’s winners of the race that will once again be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1 (FS1). Qualifying will air on FS1 on both Friday and Saturday, with Sunday’s finals starting at 6 p.m. EST.

Leah Pritchett

In Top Fuel, Pritchett’s breakout campaign in 2016 all started in Phoenix, as she picked up her first career Top Fuel victory by knocking off Brittany Force. It was the first all-female Top Fuel final round since 1982 and Pritchett rode that momentum to her first Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship berth, finishing seventh overall in points. Force, meanwhile, captured her first career win one race later in her Monster Energy dragster and will look for her first Phoenix victory. Others to watch include back-to-back world champion Antron Brown, five-time Phoenix winner Tony Schumacher, Winternationals runner-up Doug Kalitta, and Steve Torrence.

Tim Wilkerson

Wilkerson posted the first of his two Funny Car wins in 2016 at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, knocking off John Force in the final round. Force has posted a NHRA-best eight wins at the facility, but Wilkerson’s victory kept the 16-time world champion winless at the track since 2005. Ron Capps will look to make it four wins at the track, but more importantly the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger driver will head to the race as the defending world champion for the first time in his career. Others to watch include past event winners Del Worsham, Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan, Tommy Johnson Jr., Robert Hight, and Alexis DeJoria, along with Winternationals runner-up Courtney Force.

Jason Line

Line’s march to an impressive championship in the new-look NHRA Pro Stock category took shape in Phoenix, where he posted the first of his eight wins in 2016. That propelled him to his third career world title, edging past Summit Racing Equipment teammate Greg Anderson, who also claimed eight victories a year ago. Past winners at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park include two-time world champ Erica Enders, and teammate and five-time world champ Jeg Coughlin, while other top Pro Stock challengers include Chris McGaha, last year’s runner-up in Phoenix, Allen Johnson, Vincent Nobile, Allen Johnson and Drew Skillman.

Along with the exciting on-track action, the NHRA Arizona Nationals will honor first responders with NHRA’s “Salute to First Responders” celebration.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family. 

The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 1:30 and 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Feb. 25, also at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. To honor the Salute to First Responders, military and first responders can save 20 percent on general admission tickets at the gate.