NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge returns to the 2025 NHRA season, and the first matchups in the Saturday specialty event are set for March 22 as part of the 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, which takes place March 21-23 at Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix.
 
The unique challenge, which offers a bonus purse and bonus championship points, enters its third year in 2025, bringing competitive racing to the qualifying schedule during the next 13 regular-season events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. The Challenge pits semifinalists from the previous race against each other, with the two winners matching up as part of Saturday’s final qualifying session, offering added drama and excitement for fans in attendance the rest of the regular season.

Reigning world champion Antron Brown is off to a red-hot start after winning in Gainesville. With Steve Torrence not racing in Phoenix, that means a matchup with racing legend Tony Stewart in the opening round of the Challenge. The other Top Fuel matchup features defending Phoenix winner Shawn Langdon meeting Jasmine Salinas. She scored her first semifinal appearance in Top Fuel in Gainesville, meaning Salinas will also make her Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge debut in Phoenix.

“I’m so excited to compete in my first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge! We showed a lot of consistency in Gainesville, and I think it’s going to help us when we line up against Langdon for the rematch,” Salinas said. “He’s a former world champ with killer reaction times. There’s definitely an intimidation factor that I’ll need to overcome mentally, but that’s what I love about this sport. It’s called a challenge for a reason, and we are doing everything we can to be ready for it.” 
 
She is one of the 12 drivers competing across three categories (Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock) in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge at Firebird Motorsports Park, which celebrates 40 years of NHRA action at this year’s national event.
 
In the Funny Car ranks, Chad Green, who won his second career race last weekend in Gainesville, beat four-time champ Matt Hagan in the semifinals, setting up a marquee rematch in Phoenix. The other semifinal matchup features three-time world champ and Gainesville runner-up Ron Capps and Alexis DeJoria, who won the first-ever Funny Car Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in 2023.
 
The Pro Stock Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge features one of the longest rivalries in category history, as defending world champion Greg Anderson meets Jeg Coughlin Jr. The other semifinal features a pair of KB Titan Racing teammates in Gainesville winner Dallas Glenn and rising Pro Stock star Cory Reed.
 
Fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets to purchase tickets to the NHRA Arizona Nationals. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. 
 
Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge Matchups at the 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park:
 
TOP FUEL
Antron Brown vs. Tony Stewart
Shawn Langdon vs. Jasmine Salinas (Langdon won in Gainesville)
 
FUNNY CAR
Chad Green vs. Matt Hagan (Green won in Gainesville)
Ron Capps vs. Alexis DeJoria (Capps won in Gainesville)
 
PRO STOCK
Greg Anderson vs. Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Anderson won in Gainesville)
Dallas Glenn vs. Cory Reed (Glenn won in Gainesville)