News Director 
Story By: SCOTT SMITH / NHRA – CHANDLER, AZ – Leah Pritchett unofficially ran the fastest Top Fuel pass on Saturday at NHRA Nitro Spring Training at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park located outside of Phoenix.
The 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to the facility for the NHRA Arizona Nationals Feb. 23 -25 for the second event of the series.
Pritchett piloted her Mopar/Papa John’s dragster to a pass of 3.664-seconds at 334.73 mph. Last season, she set both ends of the track record at the NHRA Arizona Nationals and is seeking to reset it again in a couple of weeks.
“We struggled a little bit when we first came out of the box,” Pritchett said. “It took us all the way to the fourth day to get to the finish line and put down that pass. What was crazy about that run was how smooth it was. It was awesome. I was smiling ear to ear.”
Current Top Fuel world champion Brittany Force ran the second quickest pass of the day with a 3.692 at 327.43 in her Monster Energy dragster. Mike Salinas rounds out the top three with a pass of 3.733 at 325.53.
Matt Hagan led the Funny Car class with a pass of 3.843 at 332.84 in his Mopar Express Dodge Charger R/T. Current Funny Car world champion Robert Hight ran a pass of 3.880 at 332.02 in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS.
In Pro Stock, Erica Enders ran a 6.572 at 208.97 in her Melling Performance / Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. Greg Anderson wheeled t a pass of 6.595 at 209.20 in his Summit Racing Chevrolet Camaro.
The Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will begin on Friday, February 9th, with the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com in Pomona, Calif.
