CHANDLER, Ariz. (March 18, 2026) — SCAG Racing heads west this weekend for the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park, March 20–22, looking to build momentum early in the 2026 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season. With four entries across the nitro categories, the team is looking to capitalize on the hot and demanding conditions that Phoenix is known for.
Justin Ashley enters the Arizona Nationals with a strong track record at Firebird Motorsports Park, highlighted by a Top Fuel victory in 2023, a runner-up finish in 2024, and a quarterfinal appearance in 2025—demonstrating his ability to consistently perform in Phoenix’s demanding conditions.
“Phoenix will likely present the most unique weather conditions we’ll see all season,” said Ashley. “I believe an emphasis should always be placed on the importance of the team, but it should be highlighted even more so in situations such as these. Consistency is key, but consistency requires an elite level of precision and focus in sky-high temperatures from each crew chief and crew person. That’s what our SCAG guys do best. They should get a lot of credit for what’s sure to be an excellent weekend. It’ll be great to have SCAG Power Equipment dealers and our distributor Pace out there with us. Their support means a lot to everyone on this team.”
Daniel Wilkerson and his SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car team return to Firebird Motorsports Park after a first-round exit at the Arizona Nationals in 2025 and a quarterfinal finish in 2024, continuing their pursuit of a first Funny Car victory.
“This team is always excited to go race on a hot race track, but we left Gainesville scratching our heads after we dropped a hole at the step,” said Wilkerson. “When we got home, we put our heads down and went through all our parts and we found our smoking gun, so this team knows we still have something for them on the hot race track that we will have at Phoenix. My family will be there this weekend, and a part of me will always wonder if destiny wouldn’t let us win our first race without them there. Now that we have the first race out of the way, I’m confident that all four of our cars will do great things in Phoenix with Pace there supporting us.”
Dave Richards brings experience from last year’s Arizona Nationals into his return to Firebird Motorsports Park with the SCAG Racing BlueBird Turf / Versatran Funny Car.
“We learned a lot in Gainesville, and I’m proud of how this team continues to dig in and get better every run,” said Richards. “Phoenix is a track that really tests you as a driver and as a team, especially with the heat, but that’s exactly the kind of challenge where this team excels. We’ve got a great combination with our BlueBird Turf car, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do this weekend. It’s always special when we have SCAG Power Equipment dealers and our friends from Pace out at the track.”
Will Smith is set to make his first Arizona Nationals start this weekend in Top Fuel as part of his rookie season with BlueBird Turf and SCAG Racing.
“We’re really excited to get back on track this weekend in Phoenix and continue building our BlueBird Turf / SCAG Racing program,” said Smith. “Gainesville was a tough race for us, but just having everything in place to make that event was a huge accomplishment. I couldn’t be more proud of Glen, Scott, our entire BlueBird Turf team, along with everyone within the SCAG Racing and Metalcraft organizations, for the hard work and dedication they’ve put into getting this team off the ground. Now it’s about taking what we learned in Gainesville and applying it in Phoenix, making progress with every pass down the track, and I know we will all do just that.”
Competition at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park will feature four qualifying rounds, with sessions scheduled for Friday and Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Eliminations are set to begin Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Television coverage will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), with qualifying broadcasts on Friday from 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. ET and Sunday from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. ET. Eliminations coverage will follow Sunday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET.
The post SCAG RACING AIMS TO CAPITALIZE ON CHALLENGING CONDITIONS AT NHRA MISSION FOODS ARIZONA NATIONALS appeared first on Justin Ashley Racing.
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Justin Ashley enters the Arizona Nationals with a strong track record at Firebird Motorsports Park, highlighted by a Top Fuel victory in 2023, a runner-up finish in 2024, and a quarterfinal appearance in 2025—demonstrating his ability to consistently perform in Phoenix’s demanding conditions.
“Phoenix will likely present the most unique weather conditions we’ll see all season,” said Ashley. “I believe an emphasis should always be placed on the importance of the team, but it should be highlighted even more so in situations such as these. Consistency is key, but consistency requires an elite level of precision and focus in sky-high temperatures from each crew chief and crew person. That’s what our SCAG guys do best. They should get a lot of credit for what’s sure to be an excellent weekend. It’ll be great to have SCAG Power Equipment dealers and our distributor Pace out there with us. Their support means a lot to everyone on this team.”
Daniel Wilkerson and his SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car team return to Firebird Motorsports Park after a first-round exit at the Arizona Nationals in 2025 and a quarterfinal finish in 2024, continuing their pursuit of a first Funny Car victory.
“This team is always excited to go race on a hot race track, but we left Gainesville scratching our heads after we dropped a hole at the step,” said Wilkerson. “When we got home, we put our heads down and went through all our parts and we found our smoking gun, so this team knows we still have something for them on the hot race track that we will have at Phoenix. My family will be there this weekend, and a part of me will always wonder if destiny wouldn’t let us win our first race without them there. Now that we have the first race out of the way, I’m confident that all four of our cars will do great things in Phoenix with Pace there supporting us.”
Dave Richards brings experience from last year’s Arizona Nationals into his return to Firebird Motorsports Park with the SCAG Racing BlueBird Turf / Versatran Funny Car.
“We learned a lot in Gainesville, and I’m proud of how this team continues to dig in and get better every run,” said Richards. “Phoenix is a track that really tests you as a driver and as a team, especially with the heat, but that’s exactly the kind of challenge where this team excels. We’ve got a great combination with our BlueBird Turf car, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do this weekend. It’s always special when we have SCAG Power Equipment dealers and our friends from Pace out at the track.”
Will Smith is set to make his first Arizona Nationals start this weekend in Top Fuel as part of his rookie season with BlueBird Turf and SCAG Racing.
“We’re really excited to get back on track this weekend in Phoenix and continue building our BlueBird Turf / SCAG Racing program,” said Smith. “Gainesville was a tough race for us, but just having everything in place to make that event was a huge accomplishment. I couldn’t be more proud of Glen, Scott, our entire BlueBird Turf team, along with everyone within the SCAG Racing and Metalcraft organizations, for the hard work and dedication they’ve put into getting this team off the ground. Now it’s about taking what we learned in Gainesville and applying it in Phoenix, making progress with every pass down the track, and I know we will all do just that.”
Competition at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park will feature four qualifying rounds, with sessions scheduled for Friday and Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Eliminations are set to begin Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Television coverage will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), with qualifying broadcasts on Friday from 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. ET and Sunday from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. ET. Eliminations coverage will follow Sunday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET.
The post SCAG RACING AIMS TO CAPITALIZE ON CHALLENGING CONDITIONS AT NHRA MISSION FOODS ARIZONA NATIONALS appeared first on Justin Ashley Racing.
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