Story By: NHRA – CHANDLER, AZ – Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Cristian Cuadra (Pro Stock) all qualified No. 1 for the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, the second of 21 races during the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
Tasca claimed the No. 1 spot with a stout run of 3.898 at 329.50 in his 11,000-horsepower Ford Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang, giving the veteran his 10th career top spot. He was the only driver to make a run in the 3.80s in qualifying, giving Tasca plenty of confidence heading into eliminations.
He’ll open raceday against Jim Campbell, racing for his first win of the year.
“Hats off to (crew chiefs) Todd (Okuhara) and Aaron (Brooks) and the whole team. They’re very different than anyone I’ve ever raced with,” Tasca said. “You saw all of the cars struggling, but they don’t care what anyone else runs. They just focus on what they believe we can run. I love racing here and it’s great to see a sellout crowd. It’s an iconic place and I’ve had so many great memories here.”
In Top Fuel, Kalitta is on the verge of a stellar weekend in Phoenix, enjoying another great day at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park with his victory in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge. He also sewed up the No. 1 qualifier spot with his stellar Friday run of 3.679 held up, earning his 52nd career top spot.
He’ll open eliminations against Rob Passey, aiming for his milestone 50th career win, but grabbed plenty of momentum with his Challenge victory, which included getting past Steve Torrence in the semifinals on Saturday.
“We certainly appreciate the opportunity to run this race and it’s such a cool challenge,” Kalitta said. “Fortunately, I got to the end and the win light was on, so that was good and we’re super happy. We’re definitely looking forward to tomorrow, but it’s going to be a dogfight like it always is. But we’re looking forward to getting after it and let’s see if we can get a double-up.”
Salinas qualified second with a 3.689 at 335.73 from Friday, while Austin Prock’s 3.696 at 330.31 gave him third.
Pro Stock qualifying has also included a historic moment, as Cristian Cuadra kept the top spot, becoming the first Mexican driver in NHRA history to qualify No. 1, as his 6.552 at 210.24 in his Corral Boots Ford Mustang held up from Friday.
It gave Cuadra a special moment as he now looks to pick up his first career victory, opening eliminations against Alan Prusiensky.
“It’s crazy. Everything starts with a dream,” Cuadra said. “I was a kid and saw my dad racing and I wanted to be in that spot. You meet the people at Elite Motorsports to help make the dream come true. My heart wants to go out of my chest and I feel really, really happy. That’s why we’re here. We want to make history for our country. Now my next goal is to try and get a Wally.”
Eliminations for the NHRA Arizona Nationals begin at 11 a.m. MT on Sunday at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
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CHANDLER, Ariz. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 38th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, the second of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel — 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.679 seconds, 330.23 mph vs. 16. Rob Passey, 4.840, 209.88; 2. Mike Salinas, 3.689, 335.73 vs. 15. Clay Millican, 4.283, 199.08; 3. Austin Prock, 3.696, 330.31 vs. 14. Jim Maroney, 3.960, 311.49; 4. Leah Pruett, 3.721, 327.66 vs. 13. Buddy Hull, 3.899, 284.62; 5. Brittany Force, 3.722, 323.12 vs. 12. Josh Hart, 3.869, 314.02; 6. Steve Torrence, 3.724, 329.02 vs. 11. Krista Baldwin, 3.844, 321.35; 7. Justin Ashley, 3.724, 328.06 vs. 10. Tony Schumacher, 3.762, 330.07; 8. Shawn Langdon, 3.729, 330.07 vs. 9. Antron Brown, 3.739, 328.54.
Funny Car — 1. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.898, 329.50 vs. 16. Jim Campbell, Toyota Solara, broke; 2. Alexis DeJoria, Toyota Supra, 3.914, 324.51 vs. 15. J.R. Todd, Supra, 5.332, 138.50; 3. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.927, 322.50 vs. 14. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 4.692, 176.84; 4. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.934, 325.85 vs. 13. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.671, 172.87; 5. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.952, 319.29 vs. 12. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.474, 187.91; 6. Ron Capps, Supra, 4.028, 269.19 vs. 11. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 4.465, 197.83; 7. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.044, 308.14 vs. 10. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.228, 231.04; 8. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.057, 272.39 vs. 9. Robert Hight, Camaro, 4.218, 222.95.
Did Not Qualify: 16. Jim Campbell, DQ.
Pro Stock — 1. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.552, 210.24 vs. 16. Alan Prusiensky, Dodge Dart, 6.644, 206.95; 2. Kyle Koretsky, Chevy Camaro, 6.554, 210.37 vs. 15. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.611, 208.42; 3. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.556, 210.11 vs. 14. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 6.600, 209.17; 4. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.557, 209.52 vs. 13. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.595, 208.55; 5. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.558, 209.04 vs. 12. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.586, 208.75; 6. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.566, 208.59 vs. 11. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.577, 209.04; 7. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.567, 209.17 vs. 10. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.575, 209.65; 8. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.571, 210.24 vs. 9. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.573, 209.14.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Shane Tucker, 6.657, 208.04; 18. Fernando Cuadra, 12.852, 67.35.