Plenty of accolades have been earned by five-time Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series world champion Justin Lamb throughout his nearly 30 years behind the wheel, and the most recent came this past weekend as he won Stock Eliminator at the 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals. Driving the RAD Torque Systems COPO Camaro out of the LAMB Motorsports/Justin Lamb Racing stable, vast experience and a bit of good fortune came together to produce his 32nd national event win in the 48th final round of a successful career that began when he was just eight years old.
“This was our first NHRA race of the year, and we were looking forward to starting off on the right foot,” said Lamb. “At the beginning of this month, we had a great race at Muscle Cars at the Strip in Las Vegas with Trey Vetter driving our RAD Torque Systems COPO Stocker and me in my Silver State Cobalt. We were on opposite sides of the ladder and both made it to the final, and it was just a fun weekend of racing. Honestly, it was the most fun I’d had racing in a long time. That started the momentum, and we were able to carry it right over to Phoenix.”
After two rounds of qualifying on Friday at Firebird Motorsports Park, the fields were set for both Stock and Super Stock, and both RAD Torque Systems COPO Camaros proved ready to get down to business. In the FS/C entry, Lamb clocked a best time of 9.515, 139.56 (-.785 under the index), and the SS/AS Super Stocker was -.808 under the index with an 8.792, 129.33 best.
Lamb and Shelby Williams were the designated first pair in Stock, which brought his former Camaro to the line next to his current steed. The RAD Torque Systems COPO had the advantage at the starting line, .029 to .048, and at the stripe the win light was flashing in Lamb’s lane with a 9.630 (9.51) to a 10.824 (10.66).
Round one of Super Stock was almost perfect as Lamb was a perfect .000 at the tree and ran a dead-on 8.672 (8.67) to win over Kathy Poitra’s just-barely-red -.005 and 10.560 (10.54). Although his Super Stock efforts were cut short in a double breakout with Evan Kowalski in the second round, he continued to go rounds in Stock Eliminator. In round two of Stock, Lamb defeated Ethan Heil, .012 and 9.788 (9.61) to .008 and 12.122 (11.22). The third-round match with Darin Grossi was won with a .023 and another dead-on pass, a 9.578 (9.57) over his opponent’s .015 and 10.253 (10.28).
Sunday eliminations began with a semifinals win over CW Hoefer, who was .003 and 11.246 on an 11.18 to Lamb’s .011 reaction and 9.522 on a 9.50, and the victory placed Lamb squarely in one of the most exciting rounds of the weekend, a heads-up FS/C match with Jeff Adkinson.
“The RAD Torque Systems Stocker is a really fast car with a really fast motor built by Aaron Stanfield, and he does a heck of a job,” said Lamb. “I liked my chances, put it that way, but you always second-guess how fast your opponent is. We made a really good run, and the gentleman I raced, Jeff Adkinson, he has a good car and a good program, too. We were just lucky enough to beat him.”
Lamb wasn’t taking anything for granted in their heads-up meeting and launched his FS/C COPO with a .007 light to Adkinson’s .042. The win light flashed on Lamb’s side of the racetrack as he threw down a crisp 9.314 at 128.33 mph to a 9.451, 126.91.
While winning the heads-up match was rewarding, the greatest reward of the day was in sight. He would have to get past Jody Lang if he was going to claim the 32nd national event win of his career, and that is precisely what he did. Lamb launched on a .009 and powered to a spot-on 9.618 on his 9.61 to shut down Lang’s .034 and breakout 12.019 (12.05).
It was the third time the two had raced in a money round, and the first time Lamb got the win light against Lang. The triumph also marked Lamb’s fifth Phoenix national event win and the fourth different category that he’s won there. He also picked up Phoenix trophies in Super Gas (2010), Comp (2015), and Super Stock (2018 and 2019).
“Dan Provost and Tammy from RAD Torque Systems are here, and it’s just really awesome to be able to win with them here,” said Lamb from the winner’s stage. “My parents are here, and my wife and kids are home – they spent all spring break sick, and I’m glad they’re starting to feel better, but I wish they were here with me. I’m looking forward to the next win, and hopefully, we’ll get to do it together.”
Lamb, who will next race at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, thanked RAD Torque Systems, Silverstate Refrigeration, HVAC & Plumbing, Stone Chevrolet, Matco Tools, Goodyear Racing, LIQUI MOLY, Moser Engineering, Palmer Electric Las Vegas, Redback Boots USA and A-1 Performance.
This story was originally published on March 25, 2025.
The post Justin Lamb Secures NHRA Sportsman Win No. 32 at the Arizona Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated.