CHANDLER, Ariz. — As good as a season-opening win in Gainesville felt for Matt Hartford, a repeat of that at his home track during this weekend’s FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs would represent something extremely special for the Pro Stock veteran.
The Phoenix-area resident estimates more than 200 friends, family and Total Seal customers will be on hand to witness what he hopes is a second straight victory to open the 2026 NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series season.
The Gainesville win snapped a 40-race winless stretch for Hartford, but he had been close multiple times throughout an otherwise strong 2025 campaign.
That momentum carried over into the off-season, and Hartford and his team just kept rolling to open NHRA’s 75th anniversary season, defeating six-time champ Greg Anderson in the final round in Gainesville.
Hartford celebrated that – and getting his first diamond Wally of the year – but a Phoenix win in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro would mark another high point in his career.
“It’s a great feeling knowing we will have that kind of support this weekend,” Hartford said. “We’re going to try to do what we did last year and qualify No. 1, and then hopefully win the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday and follow it up with a victory on Sunday. We had a really competitive car last season as a whole and if you look at the 20-some (Pro Stock) cars out there, we’ve got a car as good as anyone out there. On any given Sunday, though, you’ve got to perform.”
