NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The longer than expected offseason mercifully comes to an end this weekend at Gainesville Raceway as the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals will provide the official kickoff to the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Optimism abounds throughout historic Gainesville Raceway as each of the nearly 500 Pro and Sportsman competitors entered in the event have a chance to win one of NHRA’s most historic events, and as part of the 75th anniversary season, each of the 15 champions crowned on Sunday will receive a special-edition diamond anniversary Wally that is already among the most coveted prizes in all of motorsports.

The Gainesville opener is also where Doug Kalitta, Austin Prock, Dallas Glenn, and Richard Gadson begin their title defenses in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, respectively.  Kalitta has won the Gatornatoinals three times (2000, 2005, 2014), and Glenn has a pair of Gainesville titles in 2022 and 2025, while Prock and Gadson are seeking their first.

Kalitta leads a strong Top Fuel field that also includes his teammate, Shawn Langdon, who made news during the offseason with runs of 3.621 and 345.62 mph during testing in Gainesville. The Kalitta team figures to be among the favorites, although the field also includes world champions Antron Brown and Tony Schumacher, as well as Tony Stewart, Justin Ashley, Clay Millican, Billy Torrence, and past Gainesville winner Tripp Tatum.

Also worth watching will be the official debut of Maddi Gordon in the Carlyle dragster, the return of Leah Pruett, and the debut of Josh Hart with John Force Racing.

Prock has been in the headlines for most of the offseason and not just because he’s the two-time and reigning world champion. In a stunning announcement, Prock, his father/crew chief, Jimmy, and brother Thomas left JFR for Bob Tasca Racing. After a successful test session, all eyes will be on Prock as he looks for a third title.

The Funny Car field is also stacked with world champions Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, J.R. Todd, and Cruz Pedregon among the contenders, along with newcomer Jordan Vandergriff, who has taken Prock’s seat at John Force Racing.

The Gainesville field also includes defending Gainesville champ Chad Green, Paul Lee, Julie Nataas, Alexis DeJoria, Hunter Green, and Buddy Hull, who has launched his own team.

In Pro Stock, Glenn is about to find out just how difficult it is to defend a title as he applies the No. 1 to his RAD Torque Systems Camaro. Glenn’s biggest challenge should come from KB Titan teammate Greg Anderson and Matt Hartford, along with Elite Motorsports drivers Erica Enders, Jeg Coughlin Jr., and Aaron Stanfield. The Gainesville event is also the debut of Anderson’s son, Cody, who recently obtained his NHRA competition license.

Gadson narrowly held off his teammate, Gaige Herrera to win last year’s Pro Stock Motorcycle title, and now, he’ll have to face Herrera, who has won the last three Gainesville titles for the RevZilla Vance & Hines team. Gadson and Herrera are the favorites, a status they share with Matt and Angie Smith, and their teammates, John Hall and Jianna Evaristo.

Brayden Davis, who enjoyed a strong season in 2025, is scheduled return as part of Ryan Oehler’s two-bike effort, and he also had a positive outing during preseason testing.

The Gainesville race is also the home to the Right Trailers NHRA All-Star Top Fuel Callout, a special big-money event for the top eight drivers in Top Fuel. The field for this year’s event will include Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, Antron Brown, Tony Stewart, Justin Ashley, Clay Millican, Shawn Reed, and Josh Hart.

2025 EVENT WINNERS: Antron Brown, Top Fuel; Chad Green, Funny Car; Dallas Glenn, Pro Stock; Gaige Herrera, Pro Stock Motorcycle

MOST VICTORIES: Tony Schumacher, 5, TF; John Force, 8, FC; Warren Johnson, 9, PS; Eddie Krawiec, 6, PSM.

TRACK RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.646 seconds by Doug Kalitta, March '23; 337.75 mph by Brittany Force, March '22
Funny Car - 3.820 seconds by Austin Prock, March '24; 338.00 mph by Bob Tasca III, March ‘24.
Pro Stock - 6.443 seconds by Greg Anderson, March 25; 214.69 mph by Erica Enders, March '14.
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.629 seconds by Gaige Herrera, March '24; 204.54 mph by Herrera, March '24.

NATIONAL RECORDS
Top Fuel - 3.623 sec. by Brittany Force, Sept. '19, Reading, Pa.; 343.51 mph by B. Force, Sept. ‘25, Indy
Funny Car - 3.793 sec. by Robert Hight, Aug. '17, Brainerd; 341.68 mph by Austin Prock, Nov. '24, Pomona, Calif.
Pro Stock - 6.443 sec. by Greg Anderson, March '25, Gainesville; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May '14, Englishtown
N.J.
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.627 sec. by Gaige Herrera, Oct. '23, Dallas; 205.04 mph by Matt Smith, July '21, Sonoma.

SCHEDULE

Friday, March 6
Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series eliminations at 8:00 a.m.
Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car qualifying at 11:45 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, March 7
Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series eliminations at 8:00 a.m. 
Top Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car eliminations at 10:45 a.m. 
Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout at 12:15 p.m.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying at 12:35 and 3:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, Oct. 12
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series eliminations begin at 10:00 a.m

TELEVISION
Saturday, March 7, Fox Sports 1 (FS1) will televise two hours of the Right Trailers Top Fuel Allstar Callout at 4 p.m. (EST).
Sunday, March 8, FS1 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 10 a.m. (EDT). 
Sunday, March 8, FS1 will televise three hours of qualifying coverage at noon (EDT).