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In Top Fuel, Kalitta is on the verge of a stellar weekend in Phoenix, enjoying another great day at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park with his victory in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. The veteran earned the win over Mike Salinas in the bonus event with a run of 3.868 at 294.82 in his 11,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster. Kalitta also sewed up the No. 1 qualifier spot with his stellar Friday run of 3.679 held up, earning his 52nd career top spot.
He’ll open eliminations against Rob Passey, aiming for his milestone 50th career win, but grabbed plenty of momentum with his Challenge victory, which included getting past Steve Torrence in the semifinals on Saturday.
“We certainly appreciate the opportunity to run this race and it’s such a cool challenge,” Kalitta said. “Fortunately, I got to the end and the win light was on, so that was good and we’re super happy. We’re definitely looking forward to tomorrow, but it’s going to be a dogfight like it always is. But we’re looking forward to getting after it and let’s see if we can get a double-up.”
Salinas qualified second with a 3.689 at 335.73 from Friday, while Austin Prock’s 3.696 at 330.31 gave him third.
In Pro Stock’s first Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, Troy Coughlin Jr. kept his early-season hot streak going, beating Greg Anderson in the final round with a pass of 6.572 at 208.78 in his JEGS.com/White Castle/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. It follows his victory in Gainesville and Coughlin, who also knocked off Dallas Glenn in a Gatornationals rematch, couldn’t be more thrilled with his quick start.
“What an honor to be the first winner of this. I can’t say enough about my group right now,” Coughlin said. “Cloud nine is an understatement right now. They’ve got this car flying and it’s just a tribute to my guys and how hard they work. I wish we could race every day, so let’s keep this going.”
Qualifying also included a historic moment, as Cristian Cuadra kept the top spot, becoming the first Mexican driver in NHRA history to qualify No. 1, as his 6.552 at 210.24 in his Corral Boots Ford Mustang held up from Friday. It gave Cuadra a special moment as he now looks to pick up his first career victory, opening eliminations against Alan Prusiensky.
“It’s crazy. Everything starts with a dream,” Cuadra said. “I was a kid and saw my dad racing and I wanted to be in that spot. You meet the people at Elite Motorsports to help make the dream come true. My heart wants to go out of my chest and I feel really, really happy. That’s why we’re here. We want to make history for our country. Now my next goal is to try and get a Wally.”
Eliminations for the NHRA Arizona Nationals begin at 11 a.m. MT on Sunday at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
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CHANDLER, Ariz. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 38th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, the second of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel — 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.679 seconds, 330.23 mph vs. 16. Rob Passey, 4.840, 209.88; 2. Mike Salinas, 3.689, 335.73 vs. 15. Clay Millican, 4.283, 199.08; 3. Austin Prock, 3.696, 330.31 vs. 14. Jim Maroney, 3.960, 311.49; 4. Leah Pruett, 3.721, 327.66 vs. 13. Buddy Hull, 3.899, 284.62; 5. Brittany Force, 3.722, 323.12 vs. 12. Josh Hart, 3.869, 314.02; 6. Steve Torrence, 3.724, 329.02 vs. 11. Krista Baldwin, 3.844, 321.35; 7. Justin Ashley, 3.724, 328.06 vs. 10. Tony Schumacher, 3.762, 330.07; 8. Shawn Langdon, 3.729, 330.07 vs. 9. Antron Brown, 3.739, 328.54.
Funny Car — 1. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.898, 329.50 vs. 16. Jim Campbell, Toyota Solara, broke; 2. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Supra, 3.914, 324.51 vs. 15. J.R. Todd, Supra, 5.332, 138.50; 3. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.927, 322.50 vs. 14. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 4.692, 176.84; 4. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.934, 325.85 vs. 13. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.671, 172.87; 5. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.952, 319.29 vs. 12. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.474, 187.91; 6. Ron Capps, Supra, 4.028, 269.19 vs. 11. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 4.465, 197.83; 7. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.044, 308.14 vs. 10. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.228, 231.04; 8. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.057, 272.39 vs. 9. Robert Hight, Camaro, 4.218, 222.95.
Did Not Qualify: 16. Jim Campbell, DQ.
Pro Stock — 1. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.552, 210.24 vs. 16. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.644, 206.95; 2. Kyle Koretsky, Chevy Camaro, 6.554, 210.37 vs. 15. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.611, 208.42; 3. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.556, 210.11 vs. 14. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 6.600, 209.17; 4. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.557, 209.52 vs. 13. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.595, 208.55; 5. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.558, 209.04 vs. 12. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.586, 208.75; 6. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.566, 208.59 vs. 11. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.577, 209.04; 7. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.567, 209.17 vs. 10. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.575, 209.65; 8. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.571, 210.24 vs. 9. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.573, 209.14.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Shane Tucker, 6.657, 208.04; 18. Fernando Cuadra, 12.852, 67.35.
CHANDLER, Ariz. — Saturday’s Mission Food #2Fast2Tasty Challenge final results from the 38th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. T
Top Fuel Challenge — Doug Kalitta, 3.868 seconds, 294.82 mph def. Mike Salinas, 4.523 seconds, 171.97 mph.
Funny Car Challenge — Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Supra, 3.914, 324.51 def. J.R. Todd, Supra, 7.782, 86.99.
Pro Stock Challenge — Troy Coughlin Jr., Chevy Camaro, 6.572, 208.78 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.603, 208.91.
CHANDLER, Ariz. — Mission Food #2Fast2Tasty Challenge final round-by-round results from the 38th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
TOP FUEL CHALLENGE:
ROUND ONE — Mike Salinas, 3.752, 330.55 def. Leah Pruett, 4.337, 216.90; Doug Kalitta, 9.114, 80.37 def. Steve Torrence, Foul – Red Light;
FINAL — D. Kalitta, 3.868, 294.82 def. M. Salinas, 4.523, 171.97.
FUNNY CAR CHALLENGE:
ROUND ONE — J.R. Todd, Toyota Supra, 5.332, 138.50 def. Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 7.499, 58.84; Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 3.980, 308.92 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.078, 270.43;
FINAL — A. DeJoria, 3.914, 324.51 def. J. Todd, 7.782, 86.99.
PRO STOCK CHALLENGE:
ROUND ONE — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.575, 209.65 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.623, 208.71; Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.567, 209.17 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.572, 210.24;
FINAL — T. Coughlin Jr., 6.572, 208.78 def. G. Anderson, 6.603, 208.91. |
