Coming into the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park, rising star Dylan Winefsky was looking to continue to improve his driving skills and Funny Car performance. The Arizona-based driver executed masterfully on both fronts, posting career best elapsed times and speeds throughout the race. Winefsky qualified No. 14 and faced a tough first round opponent, Gatornationals winner and points leader Chad Green. Driving the Nitro Moose Funny Car with sponsorship support from Lowe’s Home Improvement, Audio Express, Robert’s Car Care, Bob Jackson Auto Body, and Outlaw Race Engines, Winefsky made a strong run in the first round coming up just short to Green.
“We just kept improving with every run this weekend,” said Winefsky. “Even the last run in the first round when the belt broke, we had our best 60-foot and our best 330-foot time. We can carry all this momentum into Pomona and keep everything the same, we should improve even more Pomona, especially with better air.”
Through four rounds of qualifying Winefsky and the Nitro Moose Funny Car team tuned by veteran Johnny West improved on the performance side. They capped off their qualifying effort with a 4.159 second, 299.93 mph setting personal best records for Winefsky.
“I’m way more comfortable in the car this first race in the year compared to all last year,” said Winefsky. “Each run in the car just keeps getting better. I am getting more comfortable with each run too. I couldn’t do it without all these guys and everyone on this team. It was great weekend. Couldn’t have gone better.”
In the first round of eliminations Winefsky and the Nitro Moose Funny Car team knew they would have their hands full with Green. Both 12,000-horsepower Funny Cars executed their burnout and rolled up to the starting line. Both race cars left the starting line together and Green started pulling away as they flew down the track. Winefsky lost power when his blower belt let go and Green cruised to victory with a winning time of 4.011 seconds to Winefsky’s 5.369 seconds. The first-round exit did not diminish the team’s enthusiasm for the start of the season and performing in front of the hometown crowd.
“It was cool seeing a bunch of our friends come out and support us,” said Winefsky. “We also had a bunch of local sponsors that we were able to have come out and spend a couple days with us. It’s cool racing in your hometown. I’m having a blast. I’m pretty sure you can ask anyone here, they are all having a blast too. We’re a fun group and without these guys, none of this would be possible.”
The team will be heading west in three weeks for the historic NHRA Winternationals, April 9-12, 2026 at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. Fans interested in tickets can visit www.nhra.com and for more information on Dylan follow his social media on Facebook and Instagram.
This story was originally published on March 24, 2026. 
The post Dylan Winefsky Makes Most of Hometown Arizona Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
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