It’s finally finished. The NHRA Winternationals, run in late March in Pomona, CA., was completed in April in Phoenix, AZ. The winner’s circle would have made even the most seasoned Hollywood script pale in comparison. 

Funny Car legend John Force ended a two-year drought with a triumph at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, besting Matt Hagan at Firebird Motorsports Park on Saturday in front of a packed crowd.

Force, the NHRA’s winningest driver, clocked 4.033 seconds at 318.24 mph in his PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS, securing his 156th career victory and first since April 2022, marking his eighth Winternationals win.

“I’m just facing the truth in life, that, you know, time’s running out, and I’m trying to hang on,” Force said. “This morning, I was talking about, ‘You know, maybe this is it, maybe I should just walk out the gate and go to the casino,’ and then all OF A sudden, you win, and your weight and your personality just change.

“I was mad, mad at myself [for losing in the Mission Challenge earlier in the day], and I started saying, ‘You just need to get out of the seat, you’re just too old for this stuff’ or ‘Get out there and fight the fight.’ And I did, and things went right. I got the win, so I’m excited.”

In Top Fuel, Justin Ashley claimed his third consecutive Winternationals victory, defeating Tony Schumacher with a pass of 3.802 at 330.15 mph in his Scag Power Equipment dragster, marking his 12th career victory.

“It’s very special. Even though is not in Pomona, the NHRA Winternationals is a very prestigious race so to win it once is extraordinary. To win in three times in a row is an incredible blessing,” Ashley said. “This event, the way everything played out, it was a test for our team and they came through just as they seemingly do every time. I think we needed this as a team.

“This was a huge round win. It’s just so special because you never know when you’ll be in another final, and you want to try to take advantage of that opportunity. You never know when you’re going to win your next race, so you just have to try and enjoy it. This one feels a little bit different, and a little bit different in a good way.” 

Dallas Glenn defended his Pro Stock Winternationals title with a second straight win, defeating Erica Enders with a time of 6.537 at 209.14 mph in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro.

“I was just thinking that the last two times I’ve raced here in Phoenix, I’ve lost first round both times, so Phoenix hasn’t been the best place to me,” Glenn said. “I definitely wanted to finish that last one in Pomona. We tried some new things and kind of took a few runs to get it dialed in, but it definitely came around in the final. I just tried to do everything I can to hit everything I could on that one. I’m just glad to be able to get it done because I was feeling really good in Pomona.”

Bobby Cottrell won the Legends Nitro Funny Car division, defeating Jeff Arend in the final round. 

Eliminations for the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals will commence at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday at Firebird Motorsports Park.