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:

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 - 

For Justin Ashley, victory at the Winternationals seems to be a habit he just can’t shake off -- not that he wants to.

Cementing his recent dominance in the early-season competition, Ashley secured his third consecutive win at the historic Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals. This time, the final showdown unfolded at Firebird Motorsports Park during qualifying for the NHRA Arizona Nationals, following a two-week delay due to rain.

Regardless of when or where the race takes place, Ashley’s grip on the title remains unyielding, marking yet another impressive milestone in his young racing career.

“Should I even keep doing this?”

That lingering question echoed in the mind of NHRA legend John Force amid a prolonged drought in race victories spanning nearly two years.

With wins becoming scarcer -- a stark contrast to his illustrious career boasting 16 championships and triple-digit race triumphs in his prime, followed by a mere 17 victories over the past decade -- doubt seeped into the 74-year-old’s mind.

As more voices questioned when his next win would arrive, Force found himself grappling with uncertainty. However, when he surged past defending NHRA champion Matt Hagan on Saturday to complete the rain-delayed Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals from two weeks ago, it ignited a spark.

It has been a while since Jeg Coughlin Jr. has been in this position.

Coughlin Jr., a five-time NHRA Pro Stock World Champion, had not been a No. 1 qualifier since Phoenix, Ariz., in 2020 – until Saturday.

Coughlin clocked a 6.517-second elapsed time at 210.64 mph in Q3 Saturday to claim the No. 1 qualifying spot at the Arizona Nationals in Phoenix at Firebird Motorsports Park.

Camrie Caruso arrived at Firebird Motorsports Park this weekend, hoping to repeat her 2023 NHRA Arizona Nationals Pro Stock victory Sunday and celebrate her dad Marc’s birthday Saturday. Everything fell into place for her last year as she entered as the newly honored NHRA rookie of the year and earned the first victory of her professional career.

This year, though, everything seemed to go wrong.

J.R. Todd clinched the Funny Car victory in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, outpacing John Force in the final round at Firebird Motorsports Park during the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals.

Tony Schumacher and Erica Enders also secured victories in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

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.