Now fully healed from his season ending crash last spring, Brandon Bernstein has a triumphant return to the site of his very first NHRA national event victory. For the second year in a row, the son to “King Kenny” scores driving the Budweiser “Big Red” at Firebird Raceway. Bernstein wins the event from the #6 qualified position and defeats his top two points rivals along the way. Brandon beats Tony Schumacher (in the semis) and Doug Kalitta (in the final round) and with that assumes the overall NHRA POWERade points lead following two events so far this season.

Top Fuel racing is paced by Australian David Grubnic who powers Connie Kalitta’s #3 car to a track record 4.486 secs -- the quickest run of Grubnic’s career. The pole was Grubnic’s second in NHRA racing and comes after his strong showing at Pomona. Grubnic however looses out to Cory Mac in the quarterfinal round when the car spins it‘s tires.

Del Worsham gives event title right sponsor C.S.K. a perfect ending winning in Funny Car eliminator driving the C.S.K. sponsored Pontiac Firebird. Del wins the final round over defending NHRA POWERade World Champion Tony Pedregon who makes his first final round appearance driving his new Quaker State Chevy Camaro. Worsham’s 15th career win includes a semi final round win light over his C.S.K. racing teammate Phil Burkart Jr. The victory sets Del #1 in NHRA FC points -- a first for his career so far.

FC class racing is paced by recent K&N Winternationals runner-up Gary Densham who rips both ends of the Firebird Raceway track record at 4.773 secs and 325.77 mph. Densham’s day ends however in the semi final round when his tires break loose while battling Tony Pedregon.

Round two of FC features a highly anticipated first ever head-to-head match-up for Tony Pedregon versus his former ride -- the Castrol Syntec Ford Mustang, now driven by Eric Medlen. Medlen has trouble on the burnout and that seems to knock him out of sync as he has a very late start. Both cars have traction problems however it is Tony that recovers first to take the win. Eric had earned his first career round win in round one when he defeated Bob Bode.

Driving the ACDelco Chevy Cavalier, Kurt Johnson is finally able to end the juggernaut of defending World Champion Greg Anderson in Pro Stock. Johnson uses a superior .027 RT in the semi final round to beat Anderson 6.850 secs to 6.820 secs. Johnson faces first time NHRA finalist Dave Connolly in the final round and this time it is Connolly that gets out first with a better light. Connolly’s Bullet Motorsports Chevy leads to the 1000’ mark before Kurt reels him in to take the title.

Pro Stock racing features the second consecutive “final four” finish for Mopar racer Larry Morgan driving his Dodge Stratus. Morgan loses an ultra close match to Connolly -- 6.862 secs to 6.838 secs.

Greg Anderson rewrote both ends of the Firebird Raceway track record for Pro Stockers during qualifying driving the Vegas General Construction Pontiac Grand-Am to a 6.746 secs at 204.82 mph (top speed/low ET).

Sportsman class racing sees Washington’s Toby Lang win again in Stock eliminator. Lang had also won the season opening Winternationals driving his G/SA ’69 Chevelle.

Glenn Mikres is a surprise entry in Top Fuel. Mikres is at the event as a tuner for FC racer Keith Jackson make a single qualifying lap driving a third car for Virgil Hartman. With that Mikres gets in on the bump because only 16 cars are entered at the event. Mikres gets chewed up by pole sitter Grubnic in round one of competition on Sunday.

Pro Stock racer Darrell Alderman returns to the cockpit of his Dodge Stratus at Phoenix after missing the season-opening Winternationals. Alderman qualified 11th with a 6.818 secs but lost out to eventual finalist David Connolly in round one.