NHRA
BROWN WINS RIGHT TRAILERS TOP FUEL ALL-STAR CALLOUT IN FRONT OF SELLOUT CROWD AT GAINESVILLE
Hart, Capps, C. Coughlin and A. Smith all qualify No. 1 at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
GAINESVILLE, FL – Four-time Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown won the Right Trailers All-Star Callout in front of a sellout crowd on Saturday at Gainesville Raceway, defeating Clay Millican in the final round of the bonus race as part of this weekend’s season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
Josh Hart (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Cody Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Angie Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all qualified No. 1 at the first of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Brown became the first two-time winner of the Callout, going 4.290-seconds at 258.76 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Matco Tools dragster to get past Millican. Both cars ran into trouble, but Brown recovered in time to take the win and the $80,000 bonus.
Brown will now try to repeat last season’s Gatornationals win, taking on Gary Pritchett to open eliminations.
SELLOUT CROWD TO OPEN NHRA’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON IN GAINESVILLE
Gainesville, FL – NHRA officials announced a sellout crowd on Saturday at Gainesville Raceway to open its 75th anniversary season at the 
57th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
The race kicks off the celebratory 2026 season and fans packed the legendary fanbase packed the legendary facility in Gainesville.
The massive crowd enjoyed two rounds of qualifying and the Right Trailers NHRA Top Fuel All-
Star Callout to open the milestone campaign, which will celebrate 75 years of incredible NHRA action.
“It’s incredibly exciting to open NHRA’s 75th anniversary season with a sellout crowd at the first race of the season in Gainesville,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “The Gatornationals has always been one of the most special events in our sport and a day like today to open such a memorable year is a tribute to the awesome NHRA fans.” Continue reading
NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES POWERED BY FUELTECH TO OPEN 2026 SEASON IN GAINESVILLE
GAINESVILLE, FL – Celebrating 25 years of incredible action in 2026, the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series opens its season this weekend 
at Gainesville Raceway as part of the prestigious Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
It is the first race of 11 races in the category during the 2026 campaign and this weekend’s must-see race is powered by FuelTech.
J.R. Gray enters the season as the reigning world champion, getting the victory in a winner-take-all final round last season in Las Vegas, finishing off a spectacular season that included four wins, five final-round appearances and his first championship.
Through two rounds of qualifying on Friday, Mike Stavrinos, who won the first two races of 2025, is in the top spot with a run of 5.688-seconds at 252.14 mph. Travis Harvey is right behind with a 5.708 at 245.99 and two-time world champion Stevie “Fast” Jackson is third after a 5.711 at 249.72. Gray is fourth as the standout competitors in the category look to start the season with a victory at one of the biggest events of the year during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season. Continue reading
Angie Smith Grabs Provisional No. 1 in Pro Stock Motorcycle at 2026 NHRA Gatornationals Season Opener
GAINESVILLE, FL – Veteran rider Angie Smith stormed to the provisional pole position in Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying on the opening 
day of the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, posting a blistering 6.740-second elapsed time at 199.58 mph aboard her Denso Auto Parts Buell. The run vaults Smith to the top of the provisional ladder after Friday’s sessions, marking a strong start to the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series’ historic 75th anniversary season.
Smith, a multi-time winner and former championship contender, overcame early setbacks—including a transmission issue in the first session—to deliver the field’s quickest pass in the final run of the day. The performance positions her for a potential third career No. 1 qualifier if it holds through Saturday’s remaining sessions.
Hot on her heels is defending world champion Richard Gadson, who clocked a 6.746 at an even 200.00 mph on his RevZilla/Mission/Vance & Hines Suzuki, just six-thousandths behind. Gaige Herrera, a former champion and consistent threat, rounded out the top three with a 6.761 at 199.91 mph on his RevZilla/Mission/Vance & Hines Suzuki. Continue reading
Mike Stavrinos Blasts to Provisional No. 1 in Pro Mod with Stunning 5.688 at Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, FL – The Pro Mod class turned up the heat in the latest qualifying action at the 57th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA 
Gatornationals, as Mike Stavrinos stormed to the provisional pole position with a career-highlight 5.688-second ET at a blistering 252.14 mph in his #3 entry.
Stavrinos’ explosive run – the quickest and fastest of the weekend so far – catapults him to the top of the ladder, edging out the field in what has been a wildly competitive Pro Mod session at Gainesville Raceway. This marks a strong rebound and statement for the Fort Lauderdale-based driver as the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series kicks off, with Pro Mod’s raw horsepower and doorslammer drama on full display.
The top spots shuffled dramatically:
HART, CAPPS, C. COUGHLIN & A. SMITH START 75TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON WITH PROVISIONAL NO. 1 SPOTS AT GAINESVILLE
GAINESVILLE, FL – Ocala’s Josh Hart made the fastest run in Gainesville Dragway history on Friday to open the 2026 NHRA season, 
taking the Top Fuel provisional No. 1 position at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
Ron Capps (Funny Car), Cody Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Angie Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the first of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Selections were also made for the opening round of the big-money Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout bonus race, which takes place on Saturday. Top seed and reigning event winner Doug Kalitta selected Clay Millican in a first-round rematch from last season. Shawn Langdon picked Shawn Reed, while Antron Brown chose Hart with the next pick in a matchup of two former Callout winners. That left Tony Stewart and Justin Ashley as the remaining matchup for the eight-car field.
Hart went 3.658-seconds at a track-record 340.30-mph in his 12,000-horsepower Burnyzz/Speedmaster dragster to close out the first two rounds of qualifying and mark a wildly-successful debut in his first race with John Force Racing.
Cody Coughlin Edges out Hartford for the Pprovisional No. 1 spot During Round 2 of Pro Stock
Gainesville, FL – The AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, the powerhouse season opener for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing 
Series and the thrilling launch of the organization’s 75th anniversary season, wrapped up Friday night qualifying action with a tight battle in Pro Stock at Gainesville Raceway on March 6, 2026.
Cody Coughlin grabbed the provisional No. 1 spot in Round 2 with a sharp 6.523-second ET at 210.01 mph in his No. 9 entry, edging out the field on a night where consistency and low reaction times were key on the Gainesville surface. The Coughlin family name continues to shine, with multiple drivers in the mix.
Matt Hartford slotted into second at 6.533/210.41 in the No. 3 machine, while Matt Latino took third at 6.533/210.37 in the No. 166 car—highlighting the razor-thin margins in Pro Stock. Deric Kramer (No. 52) held fourth at 6.535/209.82, and Greg Stanfield (No. 445) rounded out the top five at 6.538/208.49. Continue reading
Capps Tops Funny Car Qualifying after Round 2 at the Gator Nationals
Gainesville, FL – The AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, the high-octane season opener for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing 
Series and the exciting start to the organization’s 75th anniversary celebration, delivered more nitro-fueled drama in Funny Car qualifying at Gainesville Raceway on Friday, March 6, 2026.
Ron Capps powered to the provisional No. 1 position in Round 2 with a sharp 3.890-second ET at 334.07 mph in his No. 28 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra. Capps’ strong pass vaulted him to the top of the ladder as teams adjusted to the challenging track conditions and chased consistent performance.
J.R. Todd remained firmly in contention, holding the No. 2 spot with a 3.912 ET at 334.15 mph in the No. 373 DHL Toyota GR Supra. Paul Lee secured third at 3.920/331.12 in the No. 6 entry, followed closely by Chad Green in fourth at 3.926/326.08 in the No. 7 machine—continuing his momentum as the defending Gatornationals Funny Car winner. Continue reading
Josh Hart Provisional #1 in Top Fuel Qualifying after Round 2 at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Gainesville, FL – The field is stacked with champions and contenders: Antron Brown (4th, 3.694/331.85), Tony Stewart (5th, 3.703/339.96 
– huge speed!), Doug Kalitta (6th, 3.703/334.07), and Tony Schumacher (7th, 3.710/338.61). Tripp Tatum, Billy Torrence, Shawn Reed, and Justin Ashley round out the current top 10-11, all in the low-3.70s or better.
Lower qualifiers showed some challenges – tire smoke, shake, or shut-offs – but expect big moves Saturday as the track preps for Q3 (around 12:35 PM ET) and Q4 (3:00 PM ET). The Right Trailers NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout also looms, with top qualifiers calling shots for bonus action.
Full provisional Top Fuel qualifying order after Q2:
XTREME RACEWAY PARK JOINS NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK IN DIVISION 4
Track owner and Quarter-Max owner Clyde Scott also partnering with NHRA for 51 Legends of NHRA Divisions presented by Quarter-Max Racing
INDIANAPOLIS – NHRA officials are excited to announce that Xtreme Raceway Park has joined the NHRA Member Track Network in 
NHRA’s South Central Division (Division 4).
Track owner Clyde Scott, who is the owner at Quarter-Max Racing Components, has also partnered with NHRA for a special “51 Legends of the NHRA Divisions presented by Quarter-Max” program during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season in 2026.
Quarter-Max will celebrate a memorable aspect of NHRA’s 75-year history, as 51 legends in each of NHRA’s seven divisions will be named and awarded with a branded medallion at every divisional banquet across the country.
Quarter-Max will also contribute a $10,000 purse to support the Division 4 Top Sportsman and Top Dragster Points Fund, along with backing the new “Battle for the Buckle” Division 4 Bracket Series. Continue reading
