Photos by Rhonda McCole
SUNDAY FINAL – BROWN, GREEN, GLENN, AND HERRERA CLAIM VICTORIES AT GATORNATIONALS
Antron Brown, defending Top Fuel world champion, won the season opener at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, defeating Shawn Langdon in the final round. Brown’s victory marks the 81st of his career, as he got to the finish line in 3.673 seconds at 333.99 mph.
Chad Green (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also secured wins that kicked off a new season of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Brown’s path to victory included wins over Krista Baldwin, Clay Millican, and Steve Torrence.
“It’s tough to go against Shawn Langdon and [crew chief] Brian Husen,” Brown said. “They always have the performance. Actually, there are a lot of cars out here that did their homework, put the work in, and can run mid to low 3.6s. Brian [Corradi, crew chief] and my guys were just adamant that we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot.
“We dug deep to make a run like that and set low E.T.; says a lot about our team. We just stayed cool until the track came around. You’ve got to put it up there when you’re racing these guys. These drivers in Top Fuel are just incredible this year. We kept digging deep after winning a championship, and that’s a tribute to these guys.”
Langdon, who won in Gainesville a year ago, drove past Justin Ashley, Tony Stewart, and Jasmine Salinas to reach the final round for the 46th time in his career.
Green’s victory was his second in Funny Car, and first since the 2023 NHRA Finals. He considered this victory a personal milestone.
“This race is so special. I mean, it’s the Gators,” Green said. “There are so many historical things that have happened at this race for so many years, and I was saying in my [top end] interview that my very first race down the racetrack in an official race car was here at this track, so, yeah, it means a lot to me.
“I’ve always said it’s so important to start off the year off and do well at the first race, or else you’re behind the eight ball. This just takes the cake right here. To start off No. 1 in points, that’s really awesome. I’m just so excited.”
Ron Capps, who is seeking his first win since the 2023 season, advanced to his 148th career final round with victories against John Smith, Bobby Bode, and Alexis DeJoria.
Glenn secured his 14th career win by defeating teammate Greg Anderson, running low elapsed time of race day with a 6.549 at 211.13 mph.
“I’m thankful because there were a few rounds where I felt like I didn’t have the best car, but we picked away at it,” Glenn said. “In the final, I was looking to throw one down, but it shook a little in low gear. I think we had more in it. It’s nice to get one back from Greg, but I’m more impressed by our KB Titan team. We had the top four spots in qualifying and almost put four cars in the semis. Cory Reed was a handful today, and he’s going to be tough all year. It won’t be long before he’s sitting up here doing a winner’s interview.
“I’ve now made a lot of runs in the car, and I know I can beat Greg, but you have to do your job to perfection. It’s hard to do, but I know I can beat him. When we race, I just try to be me and stick with my normal routine.”
Gaige Herrera remained undefeated at Gainesville Raceway, picking up a third straight victory with a run of 6.722 seconds at 200.23 mph. A starting-line advantage of .028 seconds allowed Herrera to easily outrun Smith’s virtually identical 6.723.
“This was a good day for me and a great day for Vance & Hines,” Herrera said. “We got here early this morning and had to sit through hours, and I was like, ‘Let’s get on with it.’ Otherwise, my bike was deadly consistent. We made three straight runs that were 6.76, and I’m amazed that Andrew [Hines] can do that. In the final, we knew we needed more, so we threw everything at it. I thought we’d run better, but I didn’t expect a 6.72. I’m a neutral person, and Matt [Smith] and I are cordial, but he does have a bit of rivalry with Vance & Hines, and I think it’s good for the class.”
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will continue March 21-23 with the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park near Phoenix.
SATURDAY – RAIN WINS THE DAY ON SATURDAY
Weather conditions forced the cancellation of racing on Saturday at Gainesville Raceway at the 56th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
Eliminations will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday at the first of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all qualified No. 1 based on Friday’s runs.
Gates will open at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday with eliminations to follow at 9:30 a.m. Saturday tickets can be exchanged for Sunday tickets or towards a ticket for next year’s national event at Gainesville Raceway.
Brown earned his 51st career No. 1 qualifier, as the defending Top Fuel world champion earned the top spot with Friday’s run of 3.685-seconds at 334.24 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Matco Tools dragster. Beckman took the top qualifier in Funny Car thanks to Friday’s 3.832 at 334.65 in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS.
Anderson’s world-record run of 6.443 at 212.06 in his HendrickCars.com Camaro handed the reigning champ his 133rd career No. 1 qualifier, while Herrera took the No. 1 position on Friday with a 6.670 at 202.97 on his RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki.
FRIDAY QUALIFYING – BROWN, BECKMAN, ANDERSON LEAD PROVISIONAL QUALIFYING AT NHRA GATORNATIONALS
Antron Brown, the reigning Top Fuel world champion, secured the provisional No. 1 qualifier position at the NHRA Gatornationals on Friday with a time of 3.685 seconds at 334.24 mph in his Matco Tools dragster.
Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also claimed provisional No. 1 spots on the opening day of the 2025 NHRA season at Gainesville Raceway.
The NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout bonus race opens Saturday with top seed Steve Torrence having chosen Tony Stewart as his opponent. Doug Kalitta will face Clay Millican, Shawn Langdon will battle Brown, and Justin Ashley will take on Brittany Force.
Brown, who is pursuing his 51st career No. 1 qualifier, expressed confidence in his performance.
“We weren’t trying to go out there and kill it, but we knew the track could hold anywhere in the mid-60 range, and we just wanted to be in the top half of the field,” Brown said. “Lo and behold, it ran really strong out the back door. It was smooth all the way down, it just went straight as an arrow, and I got to the finish line.”
Tripp Tatum secured second place with a run of 3.685 seconds at a slower 326.58 mph, while Langdon posted a time of 3.690 seconds at 335.23 mph for third. The gap between the first and seventh positions was a miniscule .012.
In Funny Car, Beckman topped the charts with a run of 3.832 seconds at 334.65 mph in his PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS.
Beckman, now the full-time driver for John Force, was pleased with his Friday performances.
“When the season ended last year, I wasn’t sure if I’d be back. I thought I’d get the nod, but I wasn’t sure,” Beckman said. “There is a part of me that expected to see someone run 3.81, but I’m happy with a 3.83. We were low (in) both sessions in completely different conditions.
“I can’t put into words how awesome it is to be strapped into John Force’s Funny Car and have John walk by and give you a thumbs up before they fire up. I am unbelievably lucky.”
Bob Tasca III is currently in second with a run of 3.833 seconds, while Ron Capps follows in third with a time of 3.857, 335.73 mph.
In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson made history with a record-setting pass of 6.443 seconds in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro – the quickest run in Pro Stock history. Anderson, the reigning NHRA champion, expressed his surprise at the performance.
“This is beyond cool, and that’s because I didn’t expect it,” Anderson said. “I watched my team cars with Deric Kramer and Eric Latino run 6.46 ahead of me, and I started to think maybe we could run 6.45, but I surpassed them both.
“It feels good to be back. I live for runs like this, and I love Gainesville. I came here with my dad when I was 10, 12 years old, and I’ve loved this place ever since. Coming to Gainesville, this the first race of the year and you always wonder how you stack up. So far it’s been successful.”
Deric Kramer took second with a personal best of 6.463 seconds, followed closely by Dallas Glenn at 6.466 seconds.
Gaige Herrera continued his success at Gainesville, taking the top spot in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a time of 6.670 seconds at 202.97 mph. Herrera, a back-to-back world champion in his two years in the class, reflected on his victories at the venue.
“I have a lot of fun racing in Gainesville. I got my first win here two years ago in my debut with the Vance & Hines team, and I’ve got a lot of great memories here,” Herrera said. “Before that run, Andrew [Hines, crew chief] said ‘This is all we’ve got. I hope it sticks.’ It did and we made a nice run.
“I think you’ll see me and Matt [Smith] go back and forth all season, and it won’t just be us. You can see that Angie [Smith] was close and Richard [Gadson] was close. We’ve got a lot of good bikes out here, and that includes some new guys.”
Matt Smith is currently second in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a run of 6.679, 203.49 mph, and his wife, Angie Smith, is third at 6.709 seconds.
Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 56th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, first of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.
Top Fuel — 1. Antron Brown, 3.685 seconds, 334.24 mph; 2. Tripp Tatum, 3.685, 326.56; 3. Shawn Langdon, 3.690, 335.23; 4. Doug Kalitta, 3.690, 328.78; 5. Steve Torrence, 3.694, 332.18; 6. Brittany Force, 3.696, 331.77; 7. Shawn Reed, 3.697, 332.43; 8. Clay Millican, 3.716, 330.63; 9. Josh Hart, 3.755, 324.90; 10. Jasmine Salinas, 3.759, 331.61; 11. Tony Stewart, 3.760, 326.79; 12. Doug Foley, 3.761, 327.27; 13. Ida Zetterstrom, 3.781, 316.67; 14. Justin Ashley, 3.782, 324.44; 15. Dan Mercier, 3.794, 323.12; 16. Krista Baldwin, 3.996, 227.61. Not Qualified: 17. Scott Farley, 10.498, 63.06.
Funny Car — 1. Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.832, 334.65; 2. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.833, 333.82; 3. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.857, 335.73; 4. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.895, 333.33; 5. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.901, 325.45; 6. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.925, 318.17; 7. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.932, 324.75; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.950, 324.05; 9. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.953, 328.06; 10. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.017, 317.87; 11. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 4.052, 265.17; 12. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.053, 311.92; 13. Chad Green, Mustang, 4.148, 245.32; 14. John Smith, Charger, 4.171, 303.71; 15. Austin Prock, Camaro, 4.231, 206.10; 16. Blake Alexander, Charger, 4.260, 243.41. Not Qualified: 17. Dave Richards, 4.594, 160.42; 18. Spencer Hyde, 8.742, 69.64.
Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.443, 212.06; 2. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.463, 212.23; 3. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.466, 212.56; 4. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.467, 211.89; 5. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.491, 212.96; 6. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.494, 212.46; 7. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.496, 212.43; 8. Derrick Reese, Ford Mustang, 6.502, 211.43; 9. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.503, 212.09; 10. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.505, 211.59; 11. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.514, 212.93; 12. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.516, 212.59; 13. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.536, 211.39; 14. Brandon Miller, Dodge Dart, 6.577, 209.07; 15. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.597, 211.23; 16. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.597, 209.95. Not Qualified: 17. Shane Tucker, 6.636, 208.49; 18. Cody Coughlin, 6.964, 154.63; 19. Brandon Foster, broke.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.670, 202.97; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.679, 203.49; 3. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.709, 201.01; 4. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.727, 201.67; 5. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.764, 199.64; 6. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.783, 201.58; 7. John Hall, Beull, 6.795, 195.36; 8. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.798, 197.05; 9. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.808, 199.35; 10. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.812, 199.64; 11. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.838, 196.56; 12. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.862, 196.82; 13. Brandon Litten, Suzuki, 6.895, 191.24; 14. Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.920, 193.54; 15. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.077, 189.02; 16. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.116, 190.92. Not Qualified: 17. Steve Johnson, 7.243, 188.54; 18. Wesley Wells, 7.417, 186.67.
THURSDAY SPORTSMAN QUALIFYING – BOGAN, BELLEMEUR, FRICKE LEAD THURSDAY NHRA GATORNATIONALS QUALIFYING
Competition Eliminator racer Monty Bogan Jr. secured the provisional No. 1 qualifying position at the NHRA Gatornationals, topping the field with a -.861 hit against the H/Altered Automatic index.
He was joined at the top of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series provisional leaderboard by Jackie Fricke (Top Alcohol Dragster) and Sean Bellemeur (Top Alcohol Funny Car). Super Stock and Stock set the fields with David Barton (Super Stock) and Nicholas Barsamian (Stock) as the top runners.
Bogan, a standout from the days of IHRA Top Strock and class racing, has been on a tear this season, scoring the NHRA Division 2 win at Orlando Speedway Dragway last month. He ran an 8.339 elapsed time to lead the pack.
Patrick Ross (D/A, 7.542, -0.778), Jim Greenheck (E/AA, 7.522, -0.728),
Jared Kimbrough (C/ED. 7.186, -0.724) and Peter D’Agnolo (E/SMA, 8.283, -0.687) rounded out the top five.
Bellemeur, as he has been ever since being named the Bartone Brother’s Top Alcohol Funny Car, has been in his own zip code.
Last season, Bellemeur completed a perfect points claim with Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Sean Bellemeur celebrated a flawless season, capturing the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series championship with a perfect point total of 850, with ten races won at the maximum score of 85 points each.
In Gainesville, Bellemeur presented more of the same, thundering to a 5.317 elapsed time at 278.29 in his new injected-nitro combination to set the pace for the Top Alcohol Funny Car field. Annie Whiteley was second with a 5.317, 278.29, followed by Mick Steele’s 5.423.
Fricke laid down a monster run to set the pace for Top Alcohol Dragster with a 5.130, 284.33 elapsed time to finish the day ahead of Spartanburg, South Carolina’s Jamie Noonan, who ran a 5.225. Anthony Troyer was third with a 5.231.
Darian Boesch (Top Dragster) and Glen Butcher (Top Sportsman) rounded out the provisional leaders from Thursday’s qualifying.
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER (Q1)
1 3 TA/D Jackie Fricke, Flemington NJ, Dragster- 5.130 284.33 284.33
2 2422 TA/D Jamie Noonan, Spartansburg SC, CNE-NOON 5.225 277.43 277.43
3 T200 TA/D Anthony Troyer, Lehigh Acres FL, Indy S 5.231 269.13 269.13
4 7196 TA/D Melanie Johnson, Ventura CA, Hadman-BAE 5.243 279.85 279.85
5 6 TA/D Matthew Cummings, Pompano Beach FL, Dra 5.256 273.27 273.27
6 16 B/AD Dan Dietrich, Glen Arm MD, CNE-NOON 5.265 271.46 271.46
7 7 TA/D Angelle Sampey, Mathews LA, Dragster-HE 5.272 264.44 264.44
8 15 TA/D John Ausherman, Manchester PA, Dragster 5.306 264.13 264.13
9 450 TA/D Kirk Wolf, Odessa TX, Dragster-Noon 5.361 259.61 259.61
10 375 TA/D Jeff Chatterson, Brantford ON, Dragster 5.640 251.58 251.58
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR (Q1)
1 1 Sean Bellemeur, Placentia CA, ’25 Camaro 5.317 278.29 278.29
2 6 Annie Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, ’23 Camaro 5.416 271.24 271.24
3 238 Mick Steele, Kodak TN, ’23 Mustang 5.423 273.94 273.94
4 5087 Jim Whiteley, Gand Junction CO, ’23 Camaro 5.447 266.16 266.16
5 8002 Julie Nataas, Indianapolis IN, ’16 Camaro 5.453 269.40 269.40
6 1320 Wayne Morris, Lincoln University PA, ’18 Camaro 5.534 265.59 265.59
7 5 Phil Esz, Amelia OH, ’24 Camaro 7.897 135.77 135.77
8 11 Chip Beverett, Miami FL, ’22 Camaro 9.968 89.00 89.00
COMPETITION ELIMINATOR (Q1)
1 5 H/AA Monty Bogan, Boiling Springs SC, ’07 Pont 8.339 9.20 -0.861
2 3002 D/A Patrick Ross, Avon Lake OH, ’05 Pontiac G 7.542 8.32 -0.778
3 54 E/AA Jim Greenheck, Schofield WI, ’12 Chevy Ca 7.522 8.25 -0.728
4 25 C/ED Jared Kimbrough, Pace FL, Prostart-Chevy 7.186 7.91 -0.724
5 1235 E/SMA Peter D`Agnolo, Rochester NY, ’10 Chevy C 8.283 8.97 -0.687
6 3530 E/SMA David Dupps, Germantown OH, ’08 Chevy Cob 8.274 8.95 -0.676
7 107M A/SMA Wes Leopold, Bethel Park PA, ’05 Dodge St 7.813 8.47 -0.657
8 3614 E/SMA Matthew Alvey, Taylorsville KY, ’10 Chevy 8.323 8.97 -0.647
9 441 E/SMA Mitch Truman, Leesburg IN, ’05 Chevy Cava 8.452 8.97 -0.518
10 723 F/DA Charles Myers, Winterville NC, Easttexas 8.546 8.74 -0.194
SUPER STOCK (FINAL)
1 1990 FSS/D David Barton, Sinking Spring PA, ’14 Must 8.781 9.90 -1.119
2 3662 FSS/D Scott Libersher, Wilmington IL, ’23 Camaro 8.830 9.90 -1.070
3 R210 FSS/B Richard Bierie, Acworth GA, ’22 Camaro 8.131 9.20 -1.069
4 2019 FSS/B Michael Howard, Ellabell GA, ’19 Camaro 8.184 9.20 -1.016
5 173L FSS/E Philip Lankford, Langhorne PA, ’14 Camaro 9.042 10.05 -1.008
6 45 GT/GA Craig Gualtiere, Amarillo TX, ’20 Cavalier 9.397 10.40 -1.003
7 4520 GT/GA David Latino, Donaldsonville LA, ’06 Coba 9.444 10.40 -0.956
8 2910 FGT/J Edward Longhany, Wade NC, ’68 Dart 9.655 10.60 -0.945
9 138 SS/IA Wendell Howes, Kierstedyville NB, ’68 Bar 9.757 10.70 -0.943
10 1949 GT/HA Ronald Huntzberry, Hagerstown MD, ’06 Cob 9.562 10.50 -0.938
STOCK (FINAL)
1 1514 C/SA Nicholas Barsamian, West Boylston MA, ’70 10.309 11.40 -1.091
2 2586 V/SA McNeal Freeman, Conyers GA, ’87 Caprice 14.414 15.50 -1.086
3 187 A/SA Robert Moran, East Falmouth MA, ’69 Camaro 9.945 11.00 -1.055
4 2124 FS/C Jeff Strickland, Red Bay AL, ’23 Camaro 9.262 10.30 -1.038
5 3922 D/SA Julie Biermann, Xenia OH, ’68 Firebird 10.512 11.55 -1.038
6 349J H/SA Joey Shipp, Indianapolis IN, ’69 Nova 11.150 12.15 -1.000
7 2552 I/SA Orion Riley, Cresant City FL, ’74 Nova 11.313 12.30 -0.987
8 1406 B/SA Matt Rover, Merritt Island FL, ’71 Challe 10.269 11.25 -0.981
9 2461 G/SA Ken Anderson, Lake Worth FL, ’69 Nova 11.027 12.00 -0.973
10 1308 E/SA Ralph Porpora, Washingtonville NY, ’69 Ca 10.733 11.70 -0.967
TOP DRAGSTER (Q1)
1 4 Darian Boesch, Kenner LA, Dragster-Chevy 6.108 199.05 199.05
2 2271 Charles Spradlin, Ranburne AL, Miller-Chevy 6.110 212.63 212.63
3 2526 Larry Strickland, Oxford FL, Elite-Chevy 6.121 197.25 197.25
4 44 JR Baxter, Waxahachie TX, Miller-Chevy 6.162 198.35 198.35
5 7 Holden Laris, Raceland LA, Danny Nelson-Chevy 6.203 219.44 219.44
6 119K Freddy Perkins III, Higganum CT, Dragster-Chevy 6.209 218.02 218.02
7 213A Anthony Bertozzi, Ashland VA, Dragster-Chevy 6.225 180.98 180.98
8 24 Wayne Brooks, Monroe GA, Worthy-Chevy 6.230 192.03 192.03
9 L208 Lauren McMaster, De Leon Springs FL, Spitzer-H 6.238 185.00 185.00
10 4360 Ross Laris, Raceland LA, Danny Nelson-Chevy 6.245 194.46 194.46
TOP SPORTSMAN (Q1)
1 3190 Glenn Butcher, Doylestown OH, ’69 Camaro 6.155 218.90 218.90
2 J275 Jacky Bennett, Palatka FL, ’68 Camaro 6.161 227.73 227.73
3 4911 Darian Boesch, Kenner LA, ’18 Camaro 6.167 233.68 233.68
4 406 Glenn Wright, Odessa TX, ’20 Camaro 6.254 228.34 228.34
5 1027 Vonnie Mills, Kennedyville MD, ’13 Camaro 6.290 221.27 221.27
6 34 Richard Smith, Wentzville MO, ’68 Camaro 6.439 214.48 214.48
7 5 Curt Fredrich, Burlington WI, ’68 Camaro 6.524 211.89 211.89
8 193 Ronnie Proctor, Hedgesville WV, ’09 Mustang 6.554 206.70 206.70
9 4338 Mark Buehring, Navasota TX, ’07 Cobalt 6.655 207.69 207.69
Thursday run schedule for the 56th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
Weather prediction for today
:
Abundant sunshine. High 68F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
8:30 am Stock Q1
Super Comp TT1
Super Stock Q1
Super Gas TT1
Top Dragster Q1
Competition Eliminator Q1
Top Sportsman Q1
Stock Q2
Super Comp TT2
Super Stock Q2
Super Gas TT2
Top Dragster Q2
Competition Eliminator Q2
Top Sportsman Q2
4:30 pm Top Alcohol Dragster Q1
Top Alcohol Funny Car Q1
Secure
