Troy Coughlin Jr. at the NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals
Courtesy NHRA Communications
PHOENIX (April 3, 2024) – Pro Stock standout Troy Coughlin Jr. returns to Firebird Motorsports Park this weekend with hopes to capitalize on his success at last season’s NHRA Arizona Nationals.
Last year, Coughlin earned the first Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge race for the Pro Stock category, which came off a season-opening win in Gainesville. The specialty event, which provides a bonus purse and bonus championship points while also bringing competitive race to qualifying, kicked off at last year’s NHRA Arizona Nationals and has been a highlight to the Saturday schedule at all NHRA national events.
“It’s always an honor to be the first winner so to speak,” Coughlin said of his Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win. “I think we have all the confidence in the world to get after (an event win) in Phoenix.”
A strong weekend in Phoenix at this weekend’s 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals would do wonders for Coughlin and his JEGS.com / White Castle Pro Stock team. They are off to a slow start so far during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season with back-to-back first round loss in Gainesville and Pomona. But Coughlin hopes a big result in Phoenix can get the team on track moving into the thick of the season.
“You never want to start off the way we’ve started but it’s part of drag racing and it’s part of competition in general,” Coughlin said. “Setbacks are just set ups for comebacks. We have all the great people involved and wonderful partners as well as fantastic equipment. I can’t wait to keep going. We need to put it back in line and keep marching with it.”
Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Camrie Caruso (Pro Stock) all collected Wally trophies in Phoenix in 2023. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, including a special NHRA in 30: Pomona Finals show at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday and Arizona Nationals eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. It is the third of 20 races during the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the final rounds of the NHRA Winternationals will also take part in Phoenix.
To get his first victory of the 2024 campaign, Coughlin will have to take down a stellar field in Pro Stock, including teammate and defending world champion Erica Enders, who is after her 50th career national event victory, Greg Anderson, Aaron Stanfield, Dallas Glenn and defending event winner Caruso, who rolled to her first career Pro Stock victory last year in Phoenix.
But Coughlin also enjoyed a nice run last year at Firebird Motorsports Park, noting the strong history of success for the Coughlin family at the famed facility.
“Phoenix been great to (the Coughlin family),” Coughlin said. “It’s a great race track and I’m excited to go back. There’s a lot of great memories there. Whether you win there or not, it’s a great place to race.”
This year’s opening round of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge will take place during Friday’s qualifying session that begins at 4 p.m. PT. The finals of the bonus event follows during the second round of qualifying at 11:30 a.m. PT on Saturday. The final rounds in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals take place as part of final qualifying, which begins at 2 p.m.
In Top Fuel, Ashley will take on Tony Schumacher in the Winternationals final round. Funny Car will see Matt Hagan and John Force meet up in a titanic battle of world champs, while Enders and Glenn will compete in the Pro Stock final.
The Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge will see match ups of Ashley racing B. Force and Schumacher rematching Billy Torrence in Top Fuel. In Funny Car, Force and Ron Capps meeting up as well as reigning champ Hagan taking on Gainesville winner J.R. Todd. Finally in Pro Stock, Glenn will take on Stanfield while longtime rivals Enders and Anderson will meet up once more.
To repeat in Phoenix on Sunday season and pick up a second straight NHRA Arizona Nationals victory, Ashley will need to get past the likes of Shawn Langdon, who kicked off 2024 with a win in Gainesville, reigning Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta, as well as Steve Torrence and Antron Brown.
In Funny Car last season in Phoenix, Hight defeated Capps to pick up his third NHRA Arizona Nationals win. This season, Hight stepped out of the car and passed driving duties to Austin Prock, who is ready to take on the likes of reigning Funny Car champ Hagan, Bob Tasca III, J. Force, Capps, Chad Green and Todd.
The NHRA Arizona Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, featuring some of the top racers in the country. It also marks the debut of the NHRA Pro Mod category in Phoenix.
Fans will also be invited all weekend long to the Nitro Alley Stage, which will help create a festive atmosphere leading into the nitro pits. The Nitro Alley Stage will be the main entertainment hub in the pits when the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. Race fans at Firebird Motorsports Park can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk.
As always, fans also get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Phoenix. This opportunity gives fans a unique chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. Fans can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food, and fun for the entire family.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 4 p.m. PT on Friday, April 5, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, April 6 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, April 7. Television coverage includes action on FS1 at 9:30 p.m. ET. on Friday and then a special NHRA in 30: Pomona Finals show at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday. Sunday coverage includes qualifying at 10:30 a.m. and eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET.
To purchase tickets to the final NHRA Arizona Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.
