CHANDLER, Ariz. — Bonus racing is back starting this weekend at Firebird Motorsports Park, as the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge returns as part of this weekend’s 41st annual FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs.
The unique challenge again brings competitive racing to Saturday qualifying, offering the semifinalists from the previous race – the season-opening Gatornationals, in this instance – the chance at a rematch, a bonus purse and bonus points for the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Now in its fourth year, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge starts in Phoenix and takes place at 13 regular-season events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. It adds a thrilling layer to both rounds of qualifying on Saturday.
This weekend’s Challenge will see a pair of drivers making their debut in the bonus race, as Top Fuel rookie Maddi Gordon advanced to the semifinals in her first race, while Jordan Vandergriff did the same in his Funny Car debut for John Force Racing.
Coming off a standout performance and win in Gainesville in his first race with John Force Racing, Top Fuel points leader Josh Hart will try to win this bonus race for the first time in his career. The rest of the field in all three classes (Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock) is loaded with talent who have enjoyed plenty of Saturday success in recent seasons.
Hart will take on Right Trailer Top Fuel All-Star Callout winner Antron Brown in a Saturday rematch, while Gordon gets reigning world champion and Gainesville runner-up Doug Kalitta, who was lethal during the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge a year ago. He won the overall title and picked up five wins in the bonus race.
In Funny Car, Chad Green will look to keep rolling after his second straight Gatornationals win, squaring off with Vandergriff in a semifinal rematch from the opener.
The other matchup features a pair of drivers who have won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in Phoenix, as J.R. Todd, who took the bonus race in 2024, will race against John Force Racing’s Alexis DeJoria, who won the first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in 2023 in Phoenix.
The Pro Stock trio of reigning world champ Dallas Glenn, Greg Anderson and Matt Hartford combined for eight bonus wins a year ago, including in Phoenix, where area native Hartford beat Anderson in the finals on Saturday. All three are back in the specialty event on Saturday, but six-time world champ Erica Enders has plans of her own.
She’ll face off with Anderson in yet another rematch of one of the sport’s biggest rivalries, while Hartford and Glenn will also tussle, as Hartford looks to keep rolling after winning in Gainesville for the first time to open 2026.
The “Duel in the Desert” will feature earlier start times this year due to the pending heat, but the action will remain memorable as all the stars look to shine during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season.