PHOENIX (March 12, 2026) – NHRA and Firebird Motorsports Park officials announced time changes for the upcoming FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs, which takes place March 20-22.
Taking an abundance of caution for the expected heat in the weekend forecast, racing in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will shift to earlier in the morning on each day, setting up a “Coffee and Nitro” weekend at the “Duel in the Desert.”
Friday qualifying will begin at 9:30 a.m. local time on Friday with Pro Stock, followed by Funny Car and Top Fuel. The second session is slated to start at 12 p.m.
On Saturday, Top Fuel will open the day at 10 a.m., followed by Funny Car and Pro Stock. The final qualifying session – as well as the finals of the first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge bonus race of the season – is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. with Top Fuel.
Sunday eliminations will be bumped an hour earlier as well, with the first round of eliminations slated for 10 a.m. local time.
The shift to the earlier sessions was made to create the safest race environment for everyone in attendance, including fans, race teams, partners and stakeholders.
“Due to the expected heat in the Phoenix area next week, both NHRA and Firebird Motorsports Park felt it was important to be proactive and adjust the schedule to include earlier start times,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “Our priority is always the safety of our fans, race teams and partners, as well as putting on the best show possible. We appreciate the flexibility and work from the amazing staff at Firebird Motorsports Park, the teams and partners to make these time changes, and we’re looking forward to a great weekend of racing in Phoenix.”
Gates will open at 7 a.m. Friday through Sunday, with action in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series to begin at 7:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 8 a.m. on Sunday.
To purchase tickets to the final FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.
About Mission Foods
MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/
About NHRA
NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series and NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
