NHRA Returns to Firebird Motorsports Park for the Highly Anticipated NHRA Arizona Nationals

PHOENIX, AZ – March 14, 2024 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – After a banner event in 2023, NHRA officials and teams were prepared to bid goodbye to the fan-favorite NHRA Arizona Nationals in Phoenix. But the track has returned in a major way, with the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series set to take race at newly-renamed Firebird Motorsports Park on April 5-7.

The “Duel in the Desert” has always been a highlight on the NHRA circuit. When plans began to add it back to the schedule, officials, fans and race teams were thrilled to return to the track for the NHRA Arizona Nationals, an event that has delivered countless drag racing historical moments for nearly four decades.

Last season saw massive crowds as well as phenomenal racing from the stars of the NHRA, and fans can expect more of that this year at one of the top tracks on the NHRA circuit. The 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals marks the third stop on tour for the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and features a full dose of action, including qualifying on both Friday on Saturday, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday.

Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Camrie Caruso (Pro Stock) all collected Wally trophies at Phoenix in 2023. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations on Sunday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m. ET, as all the top stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock look to pick up an early-season win in Phoenix.

Ashley took out Shawn Langdon in the final round of last year’s NHRA Arizona Nationals. That win was one of six in his 2023 campaign. To repeat this season, Ashley will need to again bypass Langdon, who kicked off 2024 with a win in Gainesville, the reigning Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta, as well as Steve Torrence, Antron Brown, Brittany Force, and Top Fuel rookie and racing legend Tony Stewart.

Hight defeated Ron Capps last season to pick up his third NHRA Arizona Nationals win. This season, Hight has stepped out of his Funny Car and passed driving duties to Austin Prock. With a runner-up finish and No. 1 qualifier to his credit in Gainesville, Prock has already shown he’s ready to take on the likes of reigning Funny Car champ Matt Hagan, Bob Tasca III, John Force, Capps, Chad Green and Gainesville winner J.R. Todd.

Caruso captured her first career Pro Stock win last season in Phoenix when she took down NHRA veteran Bo Butner in the final round. In order to repeat her…