Robert Hight who finished 2022 with eight victories, picked up his 62nd career victory in his Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Camaro to win the final NHRA Arizona Nationals event episode.

Hight ran a final round 3.930 at 328.62 to beat defending world champ Ron Capps.

It gives Hight the points lead and his second straight Phoenix victory, putting on a show after struggling during eliminations. The multi-time world champ qualified just ninth but Hight and his team, led by crew chief Jimmy Prock, were brilliant on Sunday, making the quickest run of every round, including a 3.900 in the semifinals to beat Chad Green. He also picked up wins against teammate John Force and No. 1 qualifier Bob Tasca III, making another strong run in the final round to the huge crowd’s delight.

“We better get used to that because this whole Funny Car field is stacked from top to bottom, and to win one of these races, you’re going to have to go through four hitters, and that’s we did that today,” Hight said. “It’s a huge win. You can just tell when Jimmy is on to something, and he’s got the confidence, and that gives me confidence.

“I just love coming here. The fans are great and to see this crowd we had for three days, that really pumps you up as a driver. They’re back in the pits with you and that’s just what makes NHRA drag racing so awesome.”

First Mission #Fast2Tasty – First!

Alexis DeJoria took her Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car on a winning 3.914-second at 324.51-mph ride during the final round of qualifying on Saturday to win the inaugural Mission #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge.
 
DeJoria qualified for the first #2Fast2Tasty Challenge by advancing to the semifinal round at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. two weeks prior, and faced Matt Hagan as her first #2Fast2Tasty challenger on Saturday. DeJoria used a 3.980 E.T. to avenge her semifinal Gatornationals loss to Hagan and move on to the second and final round of the Mission Foods-backed specialty race. Aboard her Bandero Supra, DeJoria lined up against her Toyota Racing teammate J.R. Todd where she clocked the impressive 3.914-second blast to lead to the #2Fast2Tasty win and propel her up to the No. 2 position on the Funny Car qualifying ladder.
 
“It feels really good to give that $10,000 check to my team, and know that when we start the Countdown later in the year, we’ll have the added bonus of three championship points included in our tally,” said DeJoria.
 
“I won my first Funny Car race here in 2014, so to be the first #2Fast2Tasty winner is really incredible and it’s just one more good memory I have from this track,” she added. “Huge respect for both opponents I raced today. Both are championship winners and very good drivers.”

Funny Car Racing Event Summary – Arizona Nationals

WIN: Robert Hight 3.930 secs 328.62 mph (Career win #62)
R/UP: Ron Capps 5.534 secs 136.80 mph
Low ET: Bob Tasca III 3.898 secs
Top MPH: Robert Hight 330.07 mph
Bump (16 cars): 5.332 secs 

Posted with files from NHRA Communications
Photos by Dave DeAngelis

To view more Funny Car photos from Phoenix visit the LMLC Media gallery: HERE