NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

By all accounts, the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals was one heck of a race. From first-time winners to record-setting performances to jam-packed grandstands, the annual East Coast season opener did not disappoint. Here are five things we learned from a history-making weekend at Gainesville Raceway.

Top Fuel has exceeded even our wildest expectations

We all knew going into the 2022 season that the Top Fuel class was going to be epic, but after three events, we’re not sure anyone could have predicted what we’ve seen so far. Consider that reigning and four-time champion Steve Torrence is still winless. Granted, it’s been just three races, but the Capco dragster never went three races without a win all last season.

And how about Tripp Tatum, who won in Gainesville to become NHRA’s latest first-time Pro winner. Tatum, who previously raced in one Top Alcohol Dragster final, didn’t just win in Gainesville; he dominated with a string of 3.6s, including a 3.674 that was good for the top spot.

Speaking of 3.6s, who predicted that Justin Ashley would regularly venture into that time zone. Ashley’s starting-line antics are well known, but the Davis Motorsports dragster now has the steam to keep up with anyone else in the field.

There’s also Mike Salinas. Some predicted there would be trouble for the Scrappers team after crew chief Alan Johnson and right-hand man Brian Husen left to join Kalitta Motorsports. That clearly hasn’t been the case as incoming crew chief Rob Flynn has done just fine with a win in Phoenix and a solid outing in Gainesville.

Buckle up. We’re just getting started.

“Double O Dallas” Glenn is the real deal

Dallas Glenn made his Professional debut last year in Pomona and has competed in 20 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series national events. He’s been to the final round of six of them and now has four wins following his Gainesville victory against teammate Kyle Koretsky.

Given the ultra-competitive nature of the Pro Stock class, how is this possible? For one, Glenn is a natural talent who seamlessly made the transition from crewmember to driver.

Glenn also exudes confidence without being cocky. He knows his way around a Pro Stock car and isn’t afraid to take direction from KB crew chiefs Dave Connolly and Rob Downing or any of his teammates, including reigning champ Greg Anderson.

Glenn used a holeshot to slow incoming leader Aaron Stanfield in the quarterfinals and then outran Koretsky in the final with an impressive 6.486. It likely won’t be his last trip to a final this season.

The Suzuki brand is back in Pro Stock Motorcycle

Not like they ever left, but the Suzuki inline four-cylinder motorcycles have become all the rage again in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category and with good reason. The new four-valve engine technology has allowed the class to achieve numbers that few would have thought possible just a shot while ago.

Gainesville winner Karen Stoffer, who has been a loyal Suzuki supporter for her entire 26-year career, rode her Skillman Auto/Big St. Charles Suzuki to the three quickest runs in the history of the class in Gainesville, including a barrier-busting 6.68 and a record 6.66.

World champions Matt Smith and Eddie Krawiec are also riding Suzuki entries this season after spending a long time on V-Twins. Krawiec last campaigned a Suzuki in the early 2000s when he was a privateer. Smith has won on multiple brands but is still seeking his first Suzuki win. He’s almost certain to get it this season.

In Gainesville, 12 of the 16 qualifiers were riding Suzukis, although eventual runner-up Angie Smith turned in solid numbers aboard her Buell, including a career-best 6.724 in the final.

Robert Hight is human after all

After winning the Funny Car titles in Pomona and Phoenix and making 14 of 15 runs in the 3.8s, there was no reason to think that three-time Funny Car world champion Robert Hight and his Auto Club team wouldn’t also run roughshod over the Gainesville field, but that didn’t happen.

Hight did qualify No. 1 during Saturday’s one-shot qualifying with a 3.831, but that’s about where his dominance ended. Hight caught a huge break in round one after John “Bodie” Smith was shut off on the starting line. Given a single, Hight shook the tires and would have been a sitting duck for any car that could make it to the finish line under power.

Hight’s winning streak ended at nine rounds when he lost traction against Chad Green, who reached the semifinals for the first time with his Bond Coat Mustang.

Hight is leaving Gainesville as the championship leader in Funny Car, but his once sizable advantage has been trimmed to just 11 points by Matt Hagan, who gave Tony Stewart Racing it’s first nitro win by beating Blake Alexander in the final.

Hight will almost certainly contend for another championship in Funny Car this season, but it will not be a walkover.

The Gatornationals delivers once again

Since 1970, the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals has been one of the “must-see” events on the NHRA schedule, and anyone who attended this year’s event wouldn’t need to ask why. Yes, there was rain and cold temperatures, but the strong-willed fans that stuck it out until the end were rewarded with one of the most entertaining shows of this or any other season.

The track where Kenny Bernstein first ran 300-mph and Andrew Hines cracked Pro Stock Motorcycle’s six-second barrier once again delivered. After the rain moved out, records were set in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Last year, Josh Hart won the Top Fuel title in his debut, and the unpredictable nature of the East Coast opener was once again on display this season as Tripp Tatum earned his first nitro victory in his dragster, prepared by the Lagana brothers and supported by the Capco team.

Over the last few seasons, NHRA has sold out a number of its national event venues but few compare to Gainesville when it comes to fan loyalty. Saturday’s temperatures dipped into the 30s, a rarity for Florida even in the winter, yet fans streamed into Gainesville Raceway en masses to support their favorite teams.