NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Tickets are now on sale for 2023 NHRA Arizona Nationals on March 24-26, which marks the last NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series event at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.

The facility has enjoyed a long and storied history in the sport, and the 38th and final NHRA appearance at the track for the “Duel in the Desert” will be a must-see event. The stars in the 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel and Funny Car categories, as well as the standouts in Pro Stock, are set to put on a show in their final appearance in Phoenix, treating fans to a memorable celebration to close out racing at the facility. 

With massive crowds expected all weekend to celebrate nearly 40 years of racing excitement at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, race fans are encouraged to secure their spot before the event sells out.

“The final race at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park will be an unbelievable weekend filled with great racing, incredible action, and a celebration of the countless memories made at the track over the years,” Wild Horse Pass Development Authority General Manager Elizabeth Antone said. “We are all looking forward to enjoying the 2023 race with the amazing race fans in the area, and all the race teams in attendance, and we know it will be a special weekend for all of us.” 

The final race in Phoenix also gets a new March date for next year while maintaining its spot as the second race during the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. 

A year ago, Mike Salinas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), and Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) picked up event wins in front of a huge crowds at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. Matt Hagan also set the track record at the 2022 race with a run of 3.823 seconds at 333.41 mph, making the quickest run in Funny Car in four years. 

NHRA’s longstanding “Duel in the Desert” has been a Southwest fixture for nearly four decades, and the facility has played host to a multitude of incredible moments since the first race was held in 1985, including Tony Schumacher’s historic 330-mph run in 1999 and his record-setting pass in 2018. 

Schumacher, who returned to full-time racing in 2022 has five career victories at the facility, while Funny Car legend John Force’s eight wins in Phoenix leads all drivers. Along with Hagan’s track record last year, Brittany Force went an incredible 3.643 at 337.92 in 2020 to set the Top Fuel track records.

Active competitors Antron Brown, Ron Capps, and Hagan all have three wins apiece in the nitro categories in Phoenix, while Greg Anderson and Erica Enders both have a pair of Pro Stock wins in Phoenix.

Action will start next year with qualifying on Friday and Saturday, leading into a historic day of eliminations on Sunday, as the stars of the sport will look to start the year with an early-season win. Special events for the final NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series event at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park will be announced at a later date.

To purchase tickets to the NHRA Arizona Nationals, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or click here. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general-admissions areas with a paid adult.