NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

There is a lot happening at the 50th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and here are some of the highlights from Friday.

Most racers, including past Super Gas world champ John Labbous Jr., will go to great lengths to win the Amalie Gatornationals. Labbous changed an engine in his Anthony Bertozzi-owned Corvette but did not get through the early rounds of eliminations.   

The 50th annual Amalie Gatornationals features a large display of nostalgia cars including Al Bergler’s famed Motown Shaker Vega Funny Car.

Warm and sunny weather greeted a huge Friday crowd at Gainesville Raceway. Fans who attend this event get to see competition in 17 different NHRA categories plus a host of other on and off-track activities.

Eight of NHRA’s most decorated celebrities appeared in Gainesville to participate in the Unfinished Business event. The legends include, from left, Joe Amato, Kenny Bernstein, Warren Johnson, Terry Vance, honorary starter Darrell Gwynn, Shirley Muldowney, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, Ed “the Ace” McCulloch, and Don “the Snake” Prudhomme are match racing in identically-prepared Toyota Camrys.

Before the start of the Unfinished Business event, McCulloch took some time to reminisce with Gwynn. Both drivers are past winners of the historic Gainesville race.

Best known for his history-making career on two wheels, Vance made a rare trip down the quarter-mile on four wheels in the Unfinished Business race but fell to six-time Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson, his round one opponent.

The competitive fire still runs deep in world champions Joe Amato, left, and Kenny Bernstein, who have combined to win 91 national events in Top Fuel alone. Their round one battle was won by Amato.

Jianna Salinas, the youngest daughter of Top Fuel driver Mike Salinas, made her Pro Stock Motorcycle debut aboard a Suzuki as part of the Stoffer/Underdahl team. Salinas began what figures to be a promising career with an early shut off 7.125 at just 173-mph.

Jasmine Salinas, Jianna's older sister, is also in action in the Top Alcohol Dragster class behind the wheel of Arthur Gallant’s injected nitro dragster. Her first pass was an impressive 5.364 that is currently good for a spot in the top half of the field.

Dave Richards encountered a few problems in his first run of the season in the Paul Smith-tuned Upper Cut Turf Management Mustang. In an odd sequence, the car began smoking and caught fire on the starting line but quick action by the NHRA Safety Safari prevented any serious damage.

Celebrating a recent five-year contract extension with longtime supporter Amalie Motor Oil and a pair of 3.6-second runs at the first two races of the season, Terry McMillen heads into Gainesville with a lot of momentum. He sits ninth after day one.

Hooked up and hauling, T.J. Zizzo made the third-best run of the opening Top Fuel session with a 3.827 in his Rust-oleum dragster, then came back to take the No. 1 spot in the evening session with a 3.76. If it holds, it will be his first career No. 1 spot.

As usual, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits has a huge presence in Gainesville. The ever-popular Florida native is displaying his latest creation, Swamp Rat 38, an electric dragster that he hopes to drive to a 200-mph time slip this year.

More history was made on Friday when Pro Stock Motorcycle racers Matt Smith, left, and Eddie Krawiec lit up the scoreboards with the first side-by-side Pro Stock Motorcycle runs.