2022 NHRA Arizona Nationals Sportsman Preview
2022 NHRA Arizona Nationals Sportsman Preview from Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park near Phoenix, Arizona
Cover photo courtesy of NHRA.tv
PHOENIX – With a successful season opener behind them, the NHRA traveling road show heads to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park this week for the Arizona Nationals. This is the first national in two years at the Phoenix area facility after COVID restrictions forced the race to be cancelled last year. Winners from last weekend’s Winternationals will look to ride the momentum to another victory.
The NHRA Arizona Nationals will showcase over 300 Lucas Oil sportsman racers competing in seven different classes. The schedule includes Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Top Sportsman, and Top Dragster.
Before we look ahead to the 2022 NHRA Arizona Nationals, let’s look back at the 2020 event champions.
2020 NHRA Arizona Nationals Champions
Competition Eliminator – Dean Carter
Super Stock – Kyle Rizzoli
Stock Eliminator – Brad Burton
Super Comp – Val Torres
Super Gas – Ed Olpin Jr.
Top Sportsman – Paul Mitsos
Top Dragster – Art Hoover
2022 NHRA Arizona Nationals Predictions
With each NHRA national event DragChamp’s sportsman preview includes an overview of each class. In addition, we select the DragChamp Picks to win the race. Here are this week’s picks.
Super Stock – 47 Car Field
We just missed last week after picking Jimmy DeFrank to win in Pomona. Jimmy made the final round where he came up short to Ken Etter. I felt great with my picks last week and would probably be good picking Jimmy and Justin Lamb again but I’m going a different direction this week.
DragChamp picks to win:
Scott Burton – Coming off a career year last season, look for more of the same in ’22.
Mike Cotten – Veteran class racer has a knack for making final rounds in Phoenix.
Stock Eliminator – 53 Car Field
Jeff Lane came within one round of joining his son Cody in the Winternationals winners circle after collecting a runner-up in Stock while Cody grabbed the Wally in Comp. Look for the these two to be tough again this week.
DragChamp picks to win:
Jeff Lane – The Lane family tends to run well in Phoenix, momentum from last week should help his cause too.
Brian McClanahan – Multi-time winner just missed last week with a semifinal finish, look for him to improve on that this week.
Super Comp – 53 Car Field
Val Torres, Dan Foley, Randy Beck, and Trey Vetter lead the 8.90 brigade into battle this week. Torres is always a contender and Foley picked up a semifinal finish last weekend. They’re joined by a host of talented Super Comp hitters this week in Phoenix.
DragChamp picks to win:
Trevor Larson – Debuting a new whip this week, look for it to be stellar right off the bat.
Ken Mostowich – Door cars rule! Ken always seems to impress in Phoenix.
Super Gas – 52 Car Field
The always tough Super Gas field is lead by Luke Bogacki and Evan Kowalski this week. They’re joined by a host of talent .90 racers including Mike Boehner, Rob Willis, William Botelho, and Pete Zak. Look for experienced racers to dominate this weekend.
DragChamp picks to win:
Mike Boehner – Even though he says he can’t cut a light, this guy is money in Phoenix.
Bernie Polvadore Jr. – Been a while since we’ve called his name but this guy can flat out get it done.
Super Street – 44 Car Field
The Super Street field is a stout one this week as a large number of top racers are on the entry list. Some names that stand out include John Dexter, Ryan and Kevin Houmard, Casey Plaizier, Trevor Harkema, Greg Ventura, Mike Blodgett Jr., and Ryan Herem.
DragChamp picks to win:
Greg Ventura – Beautiful K&N Chevy II is a threat every week.
Mike Blodgett Jr. – The Blodgett family and their Vegas are always an easy pick as they are super competitive.
Top Sportsman – 25 Car Field
After a 9 year dry-spell, Jeff Gillette closed the 2021 season with a victory at the Auto Club Finals. He followed that with a runner-up at the season opening Winternationals last weekend.
DragChamp pick to win:
Paul Mitsos – Last seasons’ number two ranked driver knows his way to the Phoenix winners circle.
Top Dragster – 32 Car Field
Hughes Performance converter specialist Kevin Kleinweber returns to the track this week after a year plus hiatus. Kevin has won in just about every class in sportsman racing, most came in the same Chevy Lumina race car, lol. He’ll mix it up with some of the best fast dragster racers in the country at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
DragChamp pick to win:
Kevin Kleinweber – One of the most versatile racers on the planet will be running the fast dragster class this week. Look for him to be in the mix on Sunday.
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