The Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park ended with a pair of doubles for the John Force Racing and KB Titan Racing teams.
The completion of the rained-out Winternationals finals from Pomona, Calif., saw John Force claim his NHRA-record-extending 156th victory Saturday and teammate Austin Prock earn his first Funny Car trophy. It was reminiscent of the 2019 Seattle race in which Force recorded his milestone 150th victory and Prock won his first professional race in Top Fuel.
KB Titan Racing headliner Greg Anderson ran his victory count to 104 Sunday, a day after colleague Dallas Glenn won the Winternationals final round.
Call it a quasi-double Sunday for Kalitta Motorsports, as Shawn Langdon took the honors in Top Fuel and fellow points leader mate J.R. Todd won the Funny Car class’ Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Saturday.
Austin Prock Joins Elite Nitro Club With Funny Car Win
Sometimes life just isn’t logical. Even 28-year-old Austin Prock can vouch for that.
The NHRA driver from the John Force Racing organization has switched from a Top Fuel dragster to a Funny Car. They both produce 11,000 horsepower. They both guzzle nitromethane. But they’re incredibly different.
“These Funny Cars are no joke,” Prock – who built a strong reputation in midgets and sprint cars before joining his family in the drag-racing world – said. “This is by far the hardest car I’ve ever driven and most competitive class I’ve ever driven in, and I’ve been racing since I was 10 years old. So there’s nothing funny about a Funny Car.”
He has proven he can master it quickly, though.
Prock took 16 races to win as a Top Fuel rookie. But when he became the caretaker this offseason of the Cornwell Tools Chevy Camaro when Robert Hight took a medical leave, he won in his first, non-NHRA-sanctioned, outing at the PRO Superstar Shootout in February. Then in just three NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series races, he has qualified No. 1 twice and managed to win in two final-round appearances.
With his victory Sunday over final-round foe Alexis DeJoria on the 1,000-foot Firebird Motorsports Park course, Prock joined the sport’s elite as the 19th driver to triumph in both nitro categories.
“My Top Fuel career, I worked with some wonderful people, very brilliant, smart people, but we never really had a fair shot at running back-to-back seasons with the same group of people. And that really crippled our performance,” Prock said. “I feel like name any one of the crew chiefs that I got to work with and we would have had back-to-back years, I think could have really done some damage. But when you fall into a golden pot like I did this year, into a championship-contending car every year it goes out there, the thing’s just bad-fast. And I’m hanging on and just trying to learn as fast as I can. It’s definitely been a crash course, but I’m doing the best I can, and that’s all you can ask.”
Prock called Sunday’s feat “a huge win,” especially after a first-round loss at the previous race. “This car’s been running great and started the year out strong and struggled a little bit last week and had to get some revenge this weekend. And we definitely did that. That was a great run in the final round there. We were trying to do that all weekend long and just couldn’t piece it all together and it finally came together.”
He said his first Funny Car victory makes it “pretty cool to be a part of that small group” that includes Sunday’s Top Fuel winner Shawn Langdon, Todd, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, “and all these people that are legends and future Hall of Famers. and to do it with my family makes it even more special.”
Greg Anderson Makes It Unanimous for Hendrick
Maybe Sunday was more of a relief than a thrill for Pro Stock winner Greg Anderson.
The HendrickCars.com Chevy Camaro driver felt the pressure to perform, especially after watching snippets of the NASCAR event at Martinsville, Va., and seeing his Hendrick Motorsports brothers William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott posting a 1-2-3 finish as the team was marking its 40th anniversary in the Cup Series.
“Before the semifinal, we watched the end of that race. So proud everybody on that team, and it was a great motivator,” Anderson said. “I love to be a part of that team. I love it to represent the colors on my car and love everything that that group has done for me. I love the man himself. Mr. Hendrick is a great, great man and has done a ton for me. So it just feels fantastic to finally get it done and not drop the ball. They certainly don’t drop the ball. They’re on a hell of a run this year and they’re celebrating 40 years in the sport, so I’m going to have to fight to get a part of that acknowledgement that they’re getting this year. So it just feels great to be part of it. It’s dream come true.”
He overcame the odds this weekend threw at him and said that “feels great. It is just so hard to win in this class anymore. I didn’t embarrass myself. I did actually a good job behind the wheel, so I’m really thrilled with that. But that’s what it takes to win this class anymore. You have to have the whole total package. You have to have the best car, you have to have the best crew, and you have to drive it well. So we were able to put all three together today on a very, very tricky racetrack. We managed the racetrack.”
Shawn Langdon has won two of the last three Top Fuel events.
Shawn Langdon, Crew Chief Brian Husen Clicking
Sometimes even a three-time champion needs a little jolt. And Kalitta Air Dragster crew chief Brian Husen gave it to driver Shawn Langdon Sunday. That set the tone for Langdon’s march to his second victory in three races so far this season.
Langdon felt he had messed up in his first-round match against Josh Hart, stabbing the throttle too early in reaction to Hart’s own issues at the starting line and having to roll down the 1,000-foot dragstrip in what he called “the idle of shame.” It was, in Langdon’s words, “a weird hiccup.”
But Husen, in his first year as crew chief after valuable years of working with premier tuner Alan Johnson, told Langdon, “Get over it and redeem yourself.” Langdon turned on three more win lights to get a tighter grip on his season-long points lead – and begin to climb from a hole he had been stuck in for a couple of years or so.
Knowing those hard years were a predicament unbefitting a driver who has earned championships in Jr. Dragster, Super Comp, and Top Fuel.
“It’s been hard for the last couple of years to struggle,” Langdon said, “but you just keep your head down, just keep working hard, and eventually, the tide’s going to roll the other way at some point. You don’t know how long that will be, but it’s paying dividends right now.”
With a smile, he said, “Two out of three is not bad, but we’re ready for more.”
Results, Updated Points
Final finish order (1-16) at the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park. The race is the third of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Shawn Langdon; 2. Justin Ashley; 3. Steve Torrence; 4. Tony Stewart; 5. Doug Kalitta; 6. Shawn Reed; 7. Billy Torrence; 8. Antron Brown; 9. Tony Schumacher; 10. Clay Millican; 11. Terry Totten; 12. Josh Hart; 13. Travis Shumake; 14. Brittany Force; 15. Jasmine Salinas; 16. Krista Baldwin.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Austin Prock; 2. Alexis DeJoria; 3. J.R. Todd; 4. Blake Alexander; 5. John Force; 6. Daniel Wilkerson; 7. Bobby Bode; 8. Paul Lee; 9. Cruz Pedregon; 10. Matt Hagan; 11. Chad Green; 12. Buddy Hull; 13. Ron Capps; 14. Jim Campbell; 15. Bob Tasca III; 16. Jeff Diehl.
PRO STOCK:
1. Greg Anderson; 2. Dallas Glenn; 3. Aaron Stanfield; 4. Jeg Coughlin; 5. Erica Enders; 6. Jerry Tucker; 7. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 8. Cristian Cuadra; 9. Deric Kramer; 10. Chris McGaha; 11. Eric Latino; 12. Brandon Foster; 13. Mason McGaha; 14. Matt Hartford; 15. Kenny Delco; 16. David Cuadra.
Finals Results
Sunday’s final results from the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park. The race is the third of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Shawn Langdon, 3.760 seconds, 318.69 mph def. Justin Ashley, 3.849 seconds, 324.98 mph.
Funny Car — Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.952, 320.74 def. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 4.049, 316.90.
Pro Stock — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.582, 208.97 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.618, 208.91.
Super Stock — Ryan McClanahan, Chevy Cobalt, 8.471, 154.86 def. Brad Burton, Pontiac Firebird, 9.340, 135.27.
Stock Eliminator — Tony Marconi, Plymouth Demon, 10.927, 116.44 def. Mike Cotten,Plymouth Duster, 11.042, 118.72.
Super Comp — Madison Payne, Dragster, 10.840, 88.24 def. Tim Parker, Dragster, Broke.
Super Gas — Evan Kowalski, Chevy Corvette, 9.926, 156.34 def. John Dexter, Corvette, 9.966, 144.97.
Super Street — Keith Manogue, ChevyNova, 10.892, 140.23 def. Matthew Bong, Ford ustang, 10.856, 134.28.
Top Sportsman — Allen Firestone, Chevy Camaro, 6.420, 207.98 def. Bryan Warr, Camaro, 6.755, 203.65.
Top Dragster — Thomas Bayer, Dragster, 6.151, 211.89 def. Dylon Hough, Dragster, 6.662, 199.17.
Pro Modified — Kevin Rivenbark, Ford Mustang, 5.746, 249.76 def. Ken Quartuccio, Chevy Camaro, 5.828, 238.47.
Legends Nostalgia Funny Car presented by Modern Warriors — Geoff Monise, Pontiac Firebird, 4.755, 238.68 def. Bobby Cottrell, Chevy Camaro, 4.810, 230.02.
Round-by-Round
Final round-by-round results from the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park, the third of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Billy Torrence, 4.733, 160.79 def. Krista Baldwin, 10.331, 75.81; Shawn Reed, 3.791, 324.36 def. Jasmine Salinas, 6.880, 83.16; Justin Ashley, 3.804, 328.22 def. Tony Schumacher, 3.791, 325.69; Tony Stewart, 4.163, 260.56 def. Brittany Force, 6.396, 94.92; Doug Kalitta, 3.993, 247.25 def. Terry Totten, 3.978, 285.53; Steve Torrence, 3.829, 327.90 def. Travis Shumake, 4.504, 191.73; Antron Brown, 3.804, 327.35 def. Clay Millican, 3.898, 271.35; Shawn Langdon, 18.546, 53.50 def. Josh Hart, Foul – Red Light;
QUARTERFINALS — Stewart, 3.978, 250.46 def. B. Torrence, 7.844, 67.89; S. Torrence, 3.835, 322.04 def. Reed, 4.867, 158.26; Langdon, 3.823, 322.88 def. Brown, 9.059, 85.10; Ashley, 3.825, 326.00 def. Kalitta, 3.866, 307.37;
SEMIFINALS — Ashley, 3.844, 323.74 def. Stewart, 3.885, 316.45; Langdon, 3.870, 316.52 def. S. Torrence, 3.851, 324.90;
FINAL — Langdon, 3.760, 318.69 def. Ashley, 3.849, 324.98.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 4.108, 286.44 def. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 8.310, 86.16; Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.973, 320.97 def. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, Foul – Red Light; Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 4.398, 277.83 def. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.673, 184.80; John Force, Camaro, 3.991, 314.75 def. Jim Campbell, Chevy Monte Carlo, 6.551, 97.64; J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.936, 324.05 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.023, 314.83; Blake Alexander, Mustang, 4.525, 293.15 def. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 5.055, 182.33; Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.027, 315.19 def. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.141, 276.01; Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.949, 324.28 def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.043, 310.48;
QUARTERFINALS — DeJoria, 4.043, 309.20 def. Bode, 9.485, 81.25; Alexander, 7.874, 73.62 def. Lee, Broke; Prock, 4.053, 280.54 def. Wilkerson, 7.514, 98.44; Todd, 4.003, 319.90 def. Force, 4.036, 317.64;
SEMIFINALS — DeJoria, 4.060, 313.44 def. Alexander, 8.463, 85.30; Prock, 3.999, 315.34 def. Todd, 4.010, 320.97;
FINAL — Prock, 3.952, 320.74 def. DeJoria, 4.049, 316.90.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Jerry Tucker, Chevy Camaro, 6.652, 209.26 def. David Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 18.511, 43.37; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.620, 209.52 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 14.598, 70.91; Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.607, 208.62 def. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.626, 207.34; Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.587, 209.59 def. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.586, 208.81; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.569, 209.56 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.621, 209.14; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.572, 209.23 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 7.041, 157.71; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.558, 209.69 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.619, 208.71; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.552, 210.11 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 7.538, 157.28;
QUARTERFINALS — Glenn, 9.668, 148.28 def. C. Cuadra, Foul – Red Light; Anderson, 6.586, 209.33 def. Coughlin Jr., 17.087, 48.43; Stanfield, 6.877, 197.94 def. Enders, 7.076, 207.05; Coughlin, 6.619, 209.20 def. Tucker, 9.417, 101.81;
SEMIFINALS — Glenn, 6.635, 208.42 def. Stanfield, 6.798, 208.39; Anderson, 6.612, 208.78 def. Coughlin, 10.928, 103.10;
FINAL — Anderson, 6.582, 208.97 def. Glenn, 6.618, 208.91.
Updated Points Standings
Point standings (top 10) following the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park, the third of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel
1, Shawn Langdon, 295; 2. Justin Ashley, 259; 3. Steve Torrence, 225; 4. Billy Torrence, 212; 5. Antron Brown, 167; 6. Doug Kalitta, 166; 7. Tony Schumacher, 165; 8. Brittany Force, 146; 9. Tony Stewart, 134; 10. (tie) Josh Hart, 116. Shawn Reed, 116.
Funny Car
1. J.R. Todd, 262; 2. Austin Prock, 260; 3. John Force, 211; 4. Matt Hagan, 189; 5. Ron Capps, 170; 6. Bob Tasca III, 155; 7. Paul Lee, 146; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 144; 9. Chad Green, 140; 10. Daniel Wilkerson, 120.
Pro Stock
1. Dallas Glenn, 295; 2. Erica Enders, 291; 3. Greg Anderson, 267; 4. Jeg Coughlin, 175; 5. Cristian Cuadra, 168; 6. Aaron Stanfield, 159; 7. David Cuadra, 136; 8. Brandon Foster, 131; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., 122; 10. Matt Hartford, 121.
Pro Modified
1. Jose Gonzalez, 167; 2. Ken Quartuccio, 150; 3. Kevin Rivenbark, 138; 4. Mason Wright, 132; 5. Justin Bond, 117; 6. Mike Thielen, 111; 7. Billy Banaka, 106; 8. Kris Thorne, 94; 9. (tie) JR Gray, 87; Jason Scruggs, 87.
Susan Wade has lived in the Seattle area for 40 years, but motorsports is in the Indianapolis native’s DNA. She has emerged as one of the leading drag-racing writers with nearly 30 seasons at the racetrack, focusing on the human-interest angle. She was the first non-NASCAR recipient of the prestigious Russ Catlin Award and has covered the sport for the Chicago Tribune, Newark Star-Ledger, and Seattle Times. She has contributed to Autoweek as a freelance writer since 2016.
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