The 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park was a spectacle of speed, strength, and strategy, with Ron Capps, Shawn Langdon, and Jeg Coughlin Jr. emerging victorious in the highly anticipated Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge specialty race. Meanwhile, Doug Kalitta, Bob Tasca III, and Matt Hartford secured the coveted No. 1 qualifier spots in the second of the 20 races of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Capps, a Funny Car veteran, delighted the sellout crowd with his first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win of the year on Saturday. He bested Matt Hagan in the final round, driving his NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra at a blistering 318.24mph, clocking a noteworthy 3.989s. This much-needed win came after a barren 2024 season and put Capps on a path of resurgence, a fact that he was quick to attribute to his team.
Capps expressed his elation, highlighting the strategic changes they made after consecutive world championships. He acknowledged the team’s efforts, particularly ‘Guido’ (crew chief Dean Antonelli), in getting the setup right to outpace competitors. Capps also acknowledged the fans’ enthusiasm for the Mission Challenge, which adds an extra layer of excitement to the Saturdays.
Bob Tasca III, in his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang, secured the No. 1 qualifier spot for the 19th time in his career, thanks to Friday’s run of 3.863s at 333.82mph. Tasca is set to face Jon Capps as he eyes his first victory of the season.
In the Top Fuel category, Shawn Langdon continued his impressive streak at Firebird Motorsports Park, beating Tony Stewart in the final round of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Langdon, in his Kalitta Air Careers dragster, clocked an impressive 3.805s at 315.19mph.
Doug Kalitta, Langdon’s teammate, earned his 60th career No. 1 qualifier in his SealMaster/Toyota dragster, following a standout run of 3.688s at 330.09mph on Friday. Despite the heat, Kalitta made a couple of robust runs on Saturday, setting him up well for the eliminations against Phoenix-area native Travis Shumake.
The Pro Stock category saw Jeg Coughlin Jr. display his classic form in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, using a pair of holeshots to win the bonus round against Dallas Glenn. With a five-time world champ title to his name, Coughlin clocked 6.583s at 208.88mph in his Scag Power Equipment/Outlaw Light Beer Chevrolet Camaro for Elite Motorsports.
Matt Hartford, a local native, held onto the No. 1 spot in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro. With a strong Friday run of 6.509s at 208.20mph, Hartford secured his fifth career No. 1 qualifier, setting the stage for what he hopes to be a victorious Sunday at his home track. He is slated to face off against Brandon Foster in the eliminations.
The adrenaline-fueled action continues at the 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, with eliminations commencing at 11 a.m. MT on Sunday at Firebird Motorsports Park. Stay tuned for more updates on this thrilling race series.
