Six-time Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series champion Justin Lamb hasn’t let his foot off the gas since locking down the Super Stock world title last fall. After barreling into 2026 with a final-round at the NHRA Pacific Division opener and a win at the Snyder Sportsman Classic in Pomona, he returned to Phoenix hellbent on keeping the fire stoked. It was mission accomplished on Sunday at Firebird Motorsports Park as Lamb drove his LIUNA Chevrolet COPO Camaro to a hard-fought Stock Eliminator victory and the 35th national event win of his career.
Lamb started the day by accepting his 2025 championship jacket and commemorative ring during opening ceremonies for the 41st annual FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals, and he concluded it by hoisting a prestigious NHRA 75th anniversary Diamond Wally.
“It was a special day from start to finish, and it was just awesome to be able to bring LIUNA to the winner’s circle so early in our partnership,” said Lamb. “This is our first Wally for LIUNA Local 872, and I don’t plan on it being the last. We’re really excited, and I’m sure they are, too.”
A lifelong racer, Lamb has experienced a wide range of paths to victory. While it seems cut and dry – turn on one win light, then another, and another until the field has been conquered – circumstances at each event can and do vary greatly. This year’s rendition of the Arizona Nationals was no exception, from Mother Nature’s fist of fury to surprising twists of fate.
In order to navigate blistering temperatures even more extreme than usual in the Valley of the Sun, NHRA moved the start time each day to 7:15 a.m. The hearty Stock Eliminator racers managed the altered schedule, and Lamb proved unfazed. The next obstacle to overcome was a bit trickier: a stunning first-round exit in his Super Stock car sent opponent Jon Irving ahead. The RAD Torque Systems-branded Chevrolet Camaro with the No. 1 on the window was in the trailer, and Lamb was disappointed but determined to rebound. But in the very next round of Stock Eliminator and just a short while later, Irving was waiting for him there as well.
A 144-degree Fahrenheit racing surface was anything but welcoming, but Lamb and the LIUNA Chevy maneuvered the track a bit better to claim a ticket to Sunday eliminations. Victory was coming into view, but first, he had to get past good friend and five-time world champion Jimmy DeFrank in the semifinals. Both drivers were eager to race their worthy opponent, but DeFrank left the starting line -.012 too soon and set the red light glowing, allowing Lamb to move ahead to the 53rd final of his career. Successfully defending the Stock title he earned there at last season’s national event, Lamb’s win light over veteran competitor Leo Glasbrenner translated to a sixth national event win at Firebird Motorsports Park.
“This was really cool, and to have Dan and Tammy from RAD Torque here, and my wife Jeanine and the kids, my parents, all my friends – it’s just really exciting,” said Lamb. “We’re just out here having fun, doing it as a family and enjoying it. These NHRA 75th anniversary Diamond Wallys and the medallions make it even more special, and if we can get a few more this year, I’d be pretty happy.”
Lamb is grateful to race with the support of partners LIUNA Local 872, RAD Torque Systems, Stone Chevrolet, Goodyear Racing Tires, Redback Boots, LIQUI MOLY, Sunoco Race Fuels, Palmer Electric, Moser Engineering, Team Acme, and Lafferty Drilling and Blasting.
The next event on the schedule will be the 66th annual NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, April 9-12, 2026.
