Pritchett Sets Top Fuel Record, Johnson Takes Funny Car Top Spot to Lead Mopar and Dodge in NHRA Arizona Nationals Qualifying

Chandler, AZ – Mopar is now two-for-two in Nitro qualifying on the young season, as Mopar-powered Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) drivers Leah Pritchett and Tommy Johnson Jr. took the top spots in Top Fuel and Funny Car, respectively, during qualifying for the 33rd Annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. The No. 1 positions come on the heels of a Mopar and Dodge No. 1 sweep in Nitro during the Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona two weeks ago.

The blistering times started on Friday afternoon, when Pritchett officially became the quickest Top Fuel driver in the land. She claimed the No. 1 qualifying spot for Sunday’s Arizona Nationals with a historic elapsed time of 3.658 seconds, at 329.34 mph during the second round of qualifying. Pritchett’s record-breaking comes on the heels of her unofficial record of 3.654/331.85, set at the Phoenix-area track during Nitro Spring Training in early February.

The top qualifying spot is Pritchett’s second in a row and third overall in Top Fuel as she looks to maintain momentum from her win in the season-opening Winternationals. That victory was the second of the Redlands, California, native’s career, who claimed her first in the Arizona Nationals last year.

Meanwhile, Tommy Johnson Jr. waited until the fourth round of qualifying on Saturday afternoon to set fast time in his Mopar-powered Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car. Johnson, who originally hails from Ottumwa, Iowa, laid down a lightning-fast pass of 3.837 seconds at 329.10 mph to claim the top spot.

Johnsons’s Nitro Spring Training could not have been more different from his DSR teammate Pritchett’s, as a major wheelstand led to a bent chassis during that event. This weekend’s race is the first in which he and his team have been able to utilize their primary chassis this season. Johnson is in the top qualifying spot in Funny Car for the 15th time in his career. At Pomona his Mopar and DSR teammate Matt Hagan was the No. 1 qualifier.

All four of the Dodge Charger R/T Funny Cars from DSR are in the top six on the elimination ladder, while a total of 6 Dodges make up the 16-car bracket.