GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After countless speculation on whether the 56th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals would be pushed to Monday due to weather, the famed event was completed in its entirety on Sunday.
With that, brought perhaps one of the most action-packed days Gainesville Raceway has seen in recent memory.
The long, grueling day saw the following winners: Chad Green in Funny Car, Antron Brown in Top Fuel, Dallas Glenn in Pro Stock and Gaige Herrera in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Here’s some of our observations from the day:
A Rare JFR Dud
As the defending Funny Car champions, John Force Racing naturally has a target on its back entering the season.
The weekend began with plenty of promise as Jack Beckman notched the No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car.
However, eliminations presented a new challenge.
Beckman survived his opening round against Blake Alexander before is day coming to a halt against Matt Hagan and Tony Stewart Racing.
Reigning champion Austin Prock had arguably the worst start to a season imaginable as he lost in the first round to Bob Tasca III. Prock’s Funny Car barely got off the line before the tires gave out in a puff of smoke.
That comes after two brutal qualifying runs on Friday which put him 15th on the board.
Interesting enough, the last time a defending champion in the category lost in the first round of the NHRA’s opening race was 2020 with Matt Hagan in Gainesville.
In Top Fuel, Brittany Force suffered a first-round loss to Tony Stewart after qualifying sixth on Friday.
Female Semifinals
A day after International Women’s Day, two women in NHRA’s nitro categories reached the semifinals. Alexis DeJoria knocked out Terry Haddock and Bob Tasca III en route to a final four appearance in Funny Car.
It was a sensational first day with her new team, JCM Racing. It was perhaps a positive team-building event as well as the team thrashed to get her car to the starting line twice, including to repair their one and only car body.
Jasmine Salinas also reached the semifinals in Top Fuel. Salinas took out Shawn Reed and Dan Mercier before falling to Shawn Langdon.
It wasn’t for a lack of trying in the semis for Salinas, however, as she lost by 0.05 seconds.
Gainesville Fans Are Diehards
For as much rain and uncertainty fans endured throughout the weekend, attendance for all three days of the NHRA Gatornationals was simply off the charts.
Even during a long period of time in the morning where everyone was forced to wait out the rain, it seemed as if barely anyone left. Once clear skies reemerged, the grandstands were blanketed with people.
The only downside to diehard fans showing up in droves at a drag racing facility is the difficulties of getting in and out of the parking lot.
If anyone considers going to the Gatornationals in the future, a piece of advice — if you think a certain time is early enough, get there one hour earlier than that originally proposed time.
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