Competition Plus’ Water-Cooler Topics From The NHRA Arizona Nationals from Phoenix, AZ.

Peer pressure can be a mother. 

And when you’re the minority motorsports representative in a world of oval track racing. When they win, you have no choice but to win. 

Anderson, at 62, thought he was done with peer pressure. But it’s really no big deal when the pressure is to win and you’re the winningest driver in the class. 

By beating teammate Dallas Glenn in the final round, Anderson gave Hendrick Motorsports a two-series sweep Sunday. After watching snippets of the Martinsville race, the now 104-time winner said he felt the pressure to perform. His Hendrick Motorsports brothers William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott posted a 1-2-3 finish as the team was marking its 40th anniversary in the Cup Series.

Kevin Rivenbark has his place in drag racing history. 

Rivenbark, of Wallace, NC, made his trip to Phoenix, AZ., a monumental one as he claimed the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod title at Firebird Motorsports Park by not only scoring his first career victory but also winning the first event featuring the volatile doorslammers at the NHRA Arizona Nationals. 

Going into the NHRA Arizona Nationals, finishing one race, and then concluding the original was going to be a challenge of logistical proportions. In the end, it was Austin Prock delivering a veteran-style display of domination as a rookie. 

Prock stopped last Arizona Nationals champion Alexis DeJoria for his monumental victory. 

Joining Prock in the winner’s circle was Top Fuel racer Shawn Langdon picking up his second win of the season and Pro Stock icon Greg Anderson broke through for his first win of the season, and No. 104 for the season. 

Prock won from the No. 1 qualifying position, running 3.952 seconds at 320.74 mph to get past DeJoria in his second final round this season. He made his way to the final round after beating Buddy Hull, Daniel Wilkerson, and points leader J.R. Todd to reach the finals. 

There's no time like the first.

Brian Shrader had raced nitrous doorslammers for a long but on Saturday night at Galot Motorsports Park, he was able to check to win a national event from his list of things to do. Saturday night at the season-opening East Coast Nationals, Shrader defeated Fredy Scriba in the final round at the first of eight championship points races on the 2024 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series schedule. 

Shrader shared the winner's circle with Pro Boost veteran Todd Tutterow and Johnny Pluchino, who captured the Extreme Pro Stock crown. 

NHRA Pro Stock driver Camrie Caruso is expected to be out of commission for a minimum of six weeks with a broken left fibula and a possible sprained ankle following Saturday’s qualifying crash during the Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park.

Her  Aqua Prop/True Brand/Big Jeff Audio Chevrolet Camaro slammed into the left wall after she clocked a pass at 142.87 mph. The car then ricocheted across the track and made contact with the right-side wall before coming to a stop.

“First and foremost, I want to thank the fans and everyone who has reached out to me for support,” Caruso said Sunday morning in a prepared statement. “The NHRA community always rallies around one of its own, and that’s something I’ve now experienced firsthand. The outpouring of support has been incredible.

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: