Robert Hight sprints out to early lead in Funny Car class; Mike Salinas sends message to Top Fuel contenders.
The Camping World Drag Racing Series will move cross-country for its so-called “East Coast opener” in two weeks at Gainesville, Fla., and so far single-car teams are successful in the Top Fuel class and Robert Hight has back-to-back victories in Funny Car, reinforcing John Force Racing’s comeback after a year’s hiatus.
Here’s what happened at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park at Chandler, Ariz., this weekend:
Mike Salinas Sends Emphatic Memo
When Top Fuel team owner-driver Mike Salinas put his Scrappers Racing Dragster in the winners circle at this storied suburban-Phoenix dragstrip, at the expense of fellow finalist Clay Millican, he had a bold message for his competitors.
“This is a statement right here. We’re here to stay. We’re going to have some fun this year,” he said.
Many thought Salinas’ program would fizzle without tuning shaman Alan Johnson, who has orchestrated a dozen Top Fuel title runs but left Scrappers Racing at the close of last season. Salinas didn’t think so.
Mike Salinas celebrates his win in Top Fuel in Arizona.
MARC GEWERTZ
He said, “Alan’s smart – genius, man. We were like a sponge, trying to learn from him. And we did and it’s good. He was with us for three or four years, and we learned a lot. But I’m glad he’s over at Doug’s now so [that] now we can show the world what he taught all of us. [Current crew chief] Rob Flynn came in before [Johnson] exited, and they showed him their method of doing it. Now it will be nice to show the world what we know.”
The world knows now that Salinas has reached the final round four times in the past seven races, dating back to last year’s Countdown. His previous victory came last October at Bristol, Tenn. This was his fourth overall.
He called new crew chief Flynn “underrated” and warned, “This solidifies [it] . . . Don’t mess with him.”
Tony Stewart Racing Aced Out Again
For the second straight week, Robert Hight made fellow three-time Funny Car champion Matt Hagan cool his heels in pursuit of a first victory for newly formed Tony Stewart Racing (TSR).
In the showdown between teams masterminded by motorsports titans, Hight helped John Force Racing flex its muscles early in the Camping World Drag Racing Series season. Hight is perfect in two 2022 races so far, pushing his victory total to 55.
Hight knocked out Hagan in the semifinal round the previous weekend and edged Ron Capps in that final at the Winternationals at Pomona, Calif.
Racing royalty Paul Tracy, left, and Tony Stewart, right, talk shop during the NHRA weekend.
MARC GEWERTZ
Hight said Sunday, “We’re not getting lucky. This is pure performance.”
Clutching his trophy, Hight said, “You know how hard it is to win one of these things, much less two in a row? I still feel that the Funny Car class is the toughest class out here. From top to bottom, it’s stacked and any given weekend, anyone could step up and win. So, to go and win two in a row in this day and age, that is amazing.”
TSR’s Top Fuel hope, Leah Pruett, dropped out in the first round against Josh Hart.
Pro Stock Hero: ‘Carlos the UPS Guy’
Pro Stock winner Aaron Stanfeld
MARC GEWERTZ
Pro Stock winner Aaron Stanfield has had quite a week. This past Monday he and wife Joleigh welcomed baby daughter Oakleigh Raelynn. Six days later, the Elite Performance Motorsports star defeated teammate Troy Coughlin Jr. in the final round for his fifth Pro Stock victory and 18th across a total of four categories. He’ll go for two in a row in Pro Stock in the Janac Brothers Camaro and will begin defense of his Factory Stock Showdown title in two weeks at the Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla.
But Sunday, Stanfield saluted the person who made his victory possible, a gentleman he referred to as “Carlos the UPS Guy in Oklahoma.” Stanfield said, “He drove through an ice storm to get these cylinder heads for this engine that’s in this car.”
Historic success for Camrie Caruso
Camrie Caruso
MARC GEWERTZ
Camrie Caruso added a footnote to the sport’s history book in the first round of Pro Stock eliminations. In defeating her Gen Z colleague Cristian Cuadra, she became only the third woman to win a round in the class. In only her second race – in only the second pass of her career – Caruso joined Lucinda McFarlin and Erica Enders. McFarlin was the first to do it, beating Don Beverly in the first round of the 1992 Memphis race for her only round-victory. Enders, now a four-time series champion, earned her first of 389 round-wins against Rickie Smith in the opening round of the 2005 Reading, Pa., event.
McFarlin’s feat came in the sixth race of 1992. Enders’ first came in the 19th event of 2005. Caruso made her mark in Race No. 2. Her race day ended in the quarterfinals, as she lost to top qualifier Kyle Koretsky.
Steve Torrence Plotting In ‘Drive For Five’
Most racers would be content to start the season with a pair of semifinal finishes. But that seems sub-par for Top Fuel dominator Steve Torrence, who has earned the past four series crowns.
By the second race last year, Torrence had a victory and the points lead. He hasn’t gotten to the winners circle, but the tough Texan has won 46 of the past 105 races in which he has competed (51 altogether) and is coming off a season in which he won 60 of 69 elimination rounds.
The Capco Contractors Dragster driver hasn’t lost his touch. His “Drive For Five” might have appeared to stall, but not everything is what it might seem.
Torrence said Sunday, “We’re still working on some stuff. We’ve had the same thing for the last four years, and now it’s time to try to evolve and step up a little bit. So that’s what Richard and Bobby [crew chiefs Hogan and Lagana] are doing right now. This isn’t representative of what we’re capable of, but we’re trying to go down a new path.”
Pep Boys Call-Out Field Set
Steve Torrence will lead an eight-car Top Fuel field into the inaugural $130,000 NHRA Pep Boys Allstar Callout specialty race that will take place during next month’s Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla. Thanks to his No. 1 qualifying performance at the Arizona Nationals, Doug Kalitta leapfrogged Billy Torrence and Clay Millican to earn one of the final two berths, at No. 7. His Kalitta Motorsports mate Shawn Langdon took the last spot.
The bonus race provides a departure from traditional procedure of pairing determined by performance. Just as “Call-Out” suggests, drivers choose their first-round opponents. The top seed, Torrence, gets the first opportunity. (If No. 1 picks No. 2, then the third-ranked racer gets the next selection.)
Call-outs will take place Friday, March 11. All three rounds will play out Saturday, March 12, with the first two rounds counting towards qualifying for the overall Gatornationals event. The final round is separate from qualifying.
The eight qualified drivers are (1) Steve Torrence, (2) Brittany Force, (3) Mike Salinas, (4) Justin Ashley, (5) Antron Brown, (6) Leah Pruett, (7) Doug Kalitta, and (8) Shawn Langdon.“I think with me getting in at eight, I won’t be doing any of the call outs,” Langdon said. “I’ll be the one getting called out. But good. I like that because somebody’s going to call me out, and I’m going to make them pay for it.”
Arizona Nationals Results
Sunday’s final results from the 37th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. The race is the second of 22 in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Mike Salinas, 3.751 seconds, 318.24 mph def. Clay Millican, 3.769 seconds, 322.73 mph.
Funny Car — Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.837, 330.39 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.045, 267.00.
Pro Stock — Aaron Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.526, 210.50 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.539, 210.24.
Super Stock — Ryan McClanahan, Chevy Cobalt, 21.649, 46.98 def. Larry McLanahan, Ford Mustang, Broke – No Show.
Stock Eliminator — Leo Glasbrenner, Chevy Camaro, 9.414, 136.28 def. Jeff Jerome, Plymouth Savoy, 10.164, 130.24.
Super Comp — Dan Foley, Dragster, 8.901, 174.44 def. James Glenn, Dragster, 8.905, 175.09.
Super Gas — Mark Yeager, Chevy Corvette, 9.905, 169.53 def. Mike Boehner, Chevy Camaro, 9.924, 151.17.
Super Street — Matthew Bong, Ford Mustang, 10.901, 136.65 def. Troy Grant, Chevy Nova, 10.882, 141.62.
Top Dragster presented by Vortech Superchargers — Art Hoover, Dragster, 6.428, 207.30 def. Rodger Comstock, Dragster, 7.187, 185.97.
Top Sportsman presented by Vortech Superchargers — Don Meziere, Chevy Cobalt, 6.909, 162.14 def. Mike Ferderer, Pontiac Grand Am, Broke.
Round-by-Round
TOP FUEL
ROUND ONE — Shawn Langdon, 3.699, 330.47 def. Antron Brown, 3.742, 321.42; Brittany Force, 3.671, 333.49 def. Austin Prock, 4.105, 248.02; Tony Schumacher, 3.892, 263.41 def. Justin Ashley, 4.026, 303.57; Rob Passey, 4.318, 263.62 def. Doug Kalitta, 5.606, 182.01; Mike Salinas, 3.671, 331.12 def. Jim Maroney, 3.977, 257.48; Steve Torrence, 3.686, 328.14 def. Doug Foley, 12.043, 75.60; Clay Millican, 3.768, 320.28 def. Tripp Tatum, 5.289, 115.87; Josh Hart, 3.705, 332.10 def. Leah Pruett, 3.699, 330.07;
QUARTERFINALS — Hart, 3.787, 319.14 def. Passey, 7.889, 85.22; Torrence, 3.710, 325.92 def. Force, 3.709, 330.31; Salinas, 3.692, 330.55 def. Langdon, 3.726, 328.54; Millican, 3.752, 325.85 def. Schumacher, 4.993, 138.83;
SEMIFINALS — Millican, 3.693, 330.15 def. Hart, 3.739, 329.02; Salinas, 3.693, 322.19 def. Torrence, 5.981, 121.76;
FINAL — Salinas, 3.751, 318.24 def. Millican, 3.769, 322.73.
FUNNY CAR
ROUND ONE — Tim Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.870, 328.30 def. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 5.051, 150.97; John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.250, 211.93 def. Jeff Arend, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.950, 116.09; Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.864, 329.42 def. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 9.484, 65.48; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.850, 332.26 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.063, 277.43; Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.310, 213.74 def. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 6.087, 116.66; Ron Capps, Charger, 3.849, 331.20 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.029, 311.20; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.915, 327.51 def. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.946, 320.81; Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Supra, 3.944, 324.59 def. J.R. Todd, Supra, 4.303, 285.41;
QUARTERFINALS — Wilkerson, 3.856, 331.45 def. Pedregon, 3.905, 326.71; Hagan, 3.864, 329.91 def. DeJoria, 3.941, 324.44; Force, 3.902, 329.42 def. Capps, 3.869, 327.74; Hight, 3.855, 330.55 def. Tasca III, 3.922, 332.84;
SEMIFINALS — Hagan, 3.875, 332.18 def. Wilkerson, 3.857, 333.16; Hight, 3.847, 326.63 def. Force, 7.231, 86.59;
FINAL — Hight, 3.837, 330.39 def. Hagan, 4.045, 267.00.
PRO STOCK
ROUND ONE — Camrie Caruso, Chevy Camaro, 6.538, 210.08 def. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.559, 209.95; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 33.781, 186.74 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.547, 208.81 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.555, 209.10; Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.537, 210.18 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.571, 209.01; Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.525, 210.97 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.564, 208.55; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.544, 210.73 def. Rodger Brogdon, Camaro, 6.549, 208.49; Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.528, 210.24 def. John Cerbone, Camaro, 6.560, 209.56; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.503, 211.23 def. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, Foul – Red Light;
QUARTERFINALS — M. McGaha, 6.574, 208.88 def. Enders, 6.570, 209.72; Koretsky, 6.555, 210.24 def. Caruso, 6.566, 209.98; Coughlin Jr., 6.558, 210.01 def. Kramer, 6.557, 209.26; Stanfield, 6.534, 210.83 def. Anderson, 6.537, 209.33;
SEMIFINALS — Coughlin Jr., 6.575, 210.18 def. Koretsky, 6.561, 209.46; Stanfield, 6.538, 210.21 def. M. McGaha, 10.278, 88.10;
FINAL — Stanfield, 6.526, 210.50 def. Coughlin Jr., 6.539, 210.24.
Updated Points Standings
Top Fuel
1. Mike Salinas, 181; 2. Justin Ashley, 159; 3. Steve Torrence, 152; 4. Brittany Force, 139; 5. Josh Hart, 125; 6. Austin Prock, 123; 7. Clay Millican, 122; 8. Tony Schumacher, 89; 9. Shawn Langdon, 86; 10. Antron Brown, 80.
Funny Car
1. Robert Hight, 247; 2. Matt Hagan, 182; 3. Ron Capps, 159; 4. Cruz Pedregon, 131; 5. Tim Wilkerson, 110; 6. Alexis DeJoria, 106; 7. (tie) John Force, 104; Bob Tasca III, 104; 9. J.R. Todd, 86; 10. Jim Campbell, 64.
Pro Stock
1. Aaron Stanfield, 224; 2. Erica Enders, 188; 3. Greg Anderson, 133; 4. Troy Coughlin Jr., 126; 5. Kyle Koretsky, 119; 6. Deric Kramer, 110; 7. Mason McGaha, 103; 8. (tie) Bo Butner, 86; Camrie Caruso, 86; 10. Dallas Glenn, 85.
Keyword: Complete Results, Points from NHRA Arizona Nationals: What We Learned from Wild Horse Pass