Photos by Alex Owens, Adam Dobbs, Tracy Waters, Todd Dziadosz, Dwayne Cullpepper
SUNDAY NOTEBOOK – SCORES TO SETTLES, STATEMENTS TO BE MADE AND A RACING SURFACE THAT DIDN’T LIKE ANYONE
1 – STATEMENT DEFINED – In his first race with John Force Racing, Josh Hart delivered the kind of statement victory teams dream about. Hart defeated 2025 NHRA champion Doug Kalitta on Sunday at Gainesville Raceway to win the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
Hart powered his Burnyzz/Speedmaster dragster to a 3.733-second run at 337 mph in the final round to secure his third career Top Fuel victory and his second at Gainesville Raceway. The win also gave Hart the first diamond Wally trophy of NHRA’s 75th anniversary season.
The victory capped a remarkable weekend for Hart that began with a track speed record on Friday and continued with the first No. 1 qualifying position of his Top Fuel career on Saturday. By Sunday evening, Hart had completed a sweep of milestones in his debut with the legendary organization.
Hart advanced through a demanding elimination ladder that included wins over Dan Mercier, Tripp Tatum and four-time Top Fuel champ Antron Brown. The final round paired him with Kalitta, one of the most consistent drivers in the category.
“The last time I did this, it was a storybook,” Hart said. “I think we just beat it and we crushed every record that I have had in my career all in the first weekend with John Force Racing.”
Hart said the preparation for the opportunity began months earlier when John Force approached him late last season about joining the team. That moment changed the direction of his offseason.
“I would say Indianapolis of last year,” Hart said. “Force walked up to the support vehicle and he said, ‘Your contract will be on your desk when you get home.’”
Hart spent the offseason preparing physically and mentally for the opportunity while closing down his operation. The work included improving his conditioning and sharpening his reaction times.
“I lost 15 pounds,” Hart said. “I started focusing on reactions, started paying attention to closing my team down with dignity, making sure everybody landed where they wanted to land.”
For Hart, the victory validated the decision to join one of the sport’s most recognizable teams. It also reinforced his belief that the program can contend for wins immediately.
“One hundred percent,” Hart said when asked if this victory meant more than his first. “When you think about driving for John Force, that by itself is just monumental.”
The result delivered an emotional payoff for Hart and set the tone for the season ahead. As he reflected on the journey back to the winner’s circle, Hart offered a simple explanation.
“Karma,” Hart said. “I really do try to do the right thing all the time.”
2 – IT’S LIKE HE OWNS THE PLACE – Chad Green is turning Gainesville Raceway into something of a personal stronghold. Green captured his second straight Funny Car victory at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, defeating Alexis DeJoria in the final round to open the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Green drove his Bond-Coat Ford Mustang to a 3.959-second run at 329.91 mph to seal the victory. The win marked the third of his Funny Car career, with two of those coming at Gainesville.
The performance also extended Green’s remarkable run at the historic event. He has now posted eight consecutive elimination-round wins at the Gators.
Green advanced through a demanding elimination ladder that included victories over Terry Haddock and four-time Funny Car champion Matt Hagan. The second-round win against Hagan came on a holeshot, highlighting the driver’s consistency behind the wheel.
He followed that with a semifinal victory against Jordan Vandergriff, who was making his first start in the Funny Car category with John Force Racing. That round set up a final-round matchup with DeJoria, Vandergriff’s teammate.
DeJoria reached her first final round in two years and the 17th of her Funny Car career after defeating Cruz Pedregon, 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde, and former world champion J.R. Todd. Her run ended early in the championship round, allowing Green to close out another Gatornationals victory.
Green said repeating at Gainesville had been on his mind throughout the offseason. The team tested extensively leading into the season-opening event.
“Last year was actually so special, of course, to win the Gatornationals for the first time,” Green said. “For the last couple months during the offseason, we know the Gatornationals is coming up, but I’ve just been thinking about how awesome would it be if for some reason we could win that race again, and back to back – which it’s so hard to win any race, especially for somebody like me.
“But yeah, it all came together and it’s so great. And in the same term, I was also thinking how nice would it be to win one of those diamond Wallys, just once, just win one race this year, which, again, is so difficult to do. And to get it done on the first race, that’s just really awesome.”
Green credited the performance of his crew chiefs and the consistency of the Funny Car throughout eliminations. The confidence in the car allowed him to focus entirely on his job behind the wheel.
“Oh, it makes it so much easier as a driver when you’re not thinking about ‘What’s this car going to do?” Green said. “After we got past that, I really felt very confident in the car all day, and as each run went by and the car’s just making it down the track and hauling, it definitely helps you as a driver.”
3 – THAT’S MY PLATE – Richard Gadson opened the 2026 season the same way he finished the last one — proving he belongs atop of the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. The reigning champion defeated John Hall in the final round Sunday to win the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
Gadson rode his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki to a 6.753-second pass at 200.05 mph to secure the victory. The win marked the fifth of his career and his first at Gainesville.
The result delivered the first diamond Wally trophy of the season in Pro Stock Motorcycle. It also provided an early reminder that Gadson intends to defend the championship he secured last season.
Gadson advanced through eliminations with wins over Geno Scali, Chase Van Sant, and Clayton Howey to reach the final round. His run through the ladder mirrored the consistency that carried him to last year’s championship.
In the final round, Gadson left first and never trailed. His .018-second reaction time allowed him to control the race against Hall from start to finish.
Hall reached the eighth final round of his career with victories over Brayden Davis, Gaige Herrera, and veteran Steve Johnson.
The victory came during a milestone weekend for Gadson. He celebrated his 40th birthday, and received his championship jacket and ring during pre-race introductions before racing to the win.
The win also carried personal meaning following the recent loss of a young family member. Gadson said the victory was dedicated to his cousin Layla Gadson.
Gadson said the offseason also brought motivation as he prepared to defend his title after the rain-shortened championship finale in Pomona.
“Yeah, I kind of rode with that all weekend,” Gadson said. “I would like to say it was a long winter. I already had my own kind of issues with how things went.”
The defending champion said outside criticism surrounding last season’s finish added fuel heading into the new year.
“It was more so what people said,” Gadson said. “They didn’t break me, but it at least crept a little bit in there. I kind of still felt like I had something to prove.”
Crew chief Matt Hines offered a simple message before the season began. Gadson said that advice shaped his approach throughout the weekend.
“Matt Hines told me, before I left the shop, he says, ‘Don’t race like you’re the world champion. Race the way that got you to championship. Don’t let up,’” Gadson said.
Gadson followed that advice with a steady weekend that ended in victory lane.
“So that was what I came in here with,” Gadson said, “and it worked out for me this weekend.”
4 – HARTFORD SEALS THE DEAL – Matt Hartford waited nearly two seasons for another Pro Stock win, and when it arrived Sunday at Gainesville Raceway, it came against one of the toughest opponents in the class. Hartford defeated six-time world champion Greg Anderson in the final round of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals to secure his first victory since 2023 and open the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season with a statement performance.
Hartford drove his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro to a 6.530-second run at 210.41 mph in the championship round. The victory marked the ninth of his Pro Stock career and his first at the historic Gatornationals.
The win also ended a frustrating stretch that saw Hartford go 40 races without reaching the winner’s circle. After several close calls during the 2025 season, the veteran driver finally broke through at the first event of NHRA’s 75th anniversary campaign.
Hartford’s route to the final round required navigating one of the toughest elimination ladders in Pro Stock. He defeated Kenny Delco, Aaron Stanfield, and reigning champion Dallas Glenn before lining up against Anderson in the final.
The run through the ladder underscored the depth of the modern Pro Stock field. Hartford acknowledged that the level of competition across multiple teams has made winning more difficult than ever.
“We were sitting having dinner the other night, and we were saying we need to get one of these diamond Wallys,” Hartford said. “To get the first one in Pro Stock is incredible.”
Hartford said the current generation of Pro Stock drivers and teams has raised the standard across the category. The margin for error, he said, has essentially disappeared.
“This is going to be the most grueling Pro Stock season that I think you guys in the media have ever seen,” Hartford said. “The caliber of the drivers who are out there right now are over the top.”
“You make one mistake, you’re not qualifying. It’s just so competitive from all the camps right now.”
Anderson reached the 192nd final round of his career after defeating Deric Kramer, son Cody Anderson, and longtime rival Erica Enders earlier in the day. Cody Anderson’s matchup against his father marked his Pro Stock debut on the NHRA tour.
Hartford, however, finished the job when it mattered most.
5 – BACK-TO-BACK SELLOUTS SAY MORE ABOUT GAINESVILLE FANS – Saturday and Sunday sellouts at Gainesville Raceway offered a reminder that the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals still holds a special place on the sport’s calendar. For three legends who helped build drag racing’s modern history, the packed grandstands were proof the connection between Gainesville and NHRA remains as strong as ever.
Five-time Top Fuel champion Joe Amato, six-time world champion Kenny Bernstein and “Big Daddy” Don Garlits spent the weekend celebrating NHRA’s 75th anniversary, and all three pointed to the fans as a defining part of the event’s staying power. Their message was consistent: Gainesville still feels like one of drag racing’s biggest stages.
Amato said the fan response during autograph sessions made the anniversary celebration feel personal. He said the turnout reflected both the event’s history and the way Gainesville continues to resonate with longtime followers of the sport.
“We can’t say enough about the fans,” Amato said. “They brought more Kenny Bernstein, Joe Amato and everybody’s stuff from the past. And you see pictures of when you were a little younger and you realize what you did 50 years ago and 30 years ago and 20 years ago.”
Bernstein echoed that view, saying the weekend felt first class from the moment the legends arrived at the race. He said reconnecting with familiar faces from the sport’s past added to the atmosphere created by a full house.
“The fans have been wonderful,” Bernstein said. “All the people that we’ve been used to for years, a lot of guys and girls are still here, so we get to see them.”
For Garlits, Gainesville’s appeal starts with the facility itself and extends to the people who fill it. He called Gainesville Raceway the best dragstrip in the world and said its location, weather and layout make it a natural draw for fans coming out of winter.
“The beautiful part about this place is it’s always good weather,” Garlits said. “The ones that come from the north, they’re coming out of terrible weather, and they come down here and it’s nice sunshine and it’s exciting.”
Amato said Gainesville has always offered racers and fans a little more than just another stop on the schedule. Between the college-town setting, the history and the season-opening energy, he believes the race continues to start the year the right way.
“It’s always been a good time to come to Gainesville, Florida,” Amato said. “It starts off with a bang.”
The crowd this weekend backed up every word. In a season built around NHRA’s 75th anniversary, Gainesville once again looked and sounded like one of drag racing’s true homes
6 – WENT TO A DRAG RACE AND A DRIFT BROKE OUT – The racing surface at Gainesville Raceway created unexpected challenges during the NHRA Gatornationals weekend, forcing teams in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock to adjust quickly as track conditions deteriorated under rising temperatures. Sources close to the situation indicated the issues had been present since pre-event testing and became more pronounced once eliminations began.
According to those familiar with the situation, the problem centered on a section of the track where rubber struggled to adhere to the concrete surface. That condition created a difficult stretch early in the run where high-powered cars attempted to transfer power to the track.
Safety Safari crews worked throughout the weekend alongside teams to address the problem. Despite those efforts, the affected portion of the track remained difficult to manage as racing progressed.
The trouble spot began near the starting line and extended downtrack through the early portion of the run. Drivers reported that navigating the stretch between roughly 60 and 180 feet required additional attention to keep the car in the groove.
The issue was particularly noticeable once Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars began applying clutch power shortly after launch. That transition area made maintaining traction more difficult than usual at one of the sport’s most respected racing surfaces.
As temperatures increased during the day, the challenge became more visible. Track conditions grew increasingly sensitive, forcing teams to make adjustments to both setup and driving style.
Several runs highlighted how narrow the margin for error had become. In one instance, veteran Top Fuel driver Billy Torrence crossed the centerline while fighting to keep the car under control.
Crew chiefs acknowledged the surface presented a different challenge compared to earlier testing at the same facility. Teams that had experienced strong results in preseason sessions found themselves adjusting on the fly.
“Well, this track’s been a struggle,” Funny Car crew chief Dean Marinis said. “We were here testing two weeks ago and couldn’t do anything wrong, and gave us a reality check here.”
Despite the conditions, teams continued working with track officials to manage the surface throughout the weekend. For competitors in the pits, the goal remained the same — get through the difficult section and complete a clean run.
7 – JOHN SMITH BEATS CAPPS – Veteran Funny Car driver John Smith delivered one of the biggest surprises of the opening round Sunday at Gainesville Raceway, knocking off No. 1 qualifier Ron Capps during eliminations at the NHRA Gatornationals.
Capps entered the race after earning the 38th No. 1 qualifying position of his career, tying him with Kenny Bernstein for sixth-most in Funny Car history. The result looked favorable on paper, especially considering Capps had previously held a 2-0 advantage over Smith in head-to-head meetings.
The matchup unfolded on a challenging racing surface that proved difficult for many teams throughout the day. Capps left the starting line first but quickly encountered trouble.
His Funny Car rattled the tires early in the run, dropped a cylinder and forced the veteran driver to lift off the throttle before reaching mid-track. Smith also faced a brief moment of instability but managed to recover.
About 200 feet into the run, Smith pedaled the throttle once to regain traction. Once the slicks hooked, the car accelerated cleanly the rest of the way to secure the upset victory.
Lane choice also played a role in the round’s results. Capps ran in the right lane, which produced only one winning pass in the first round — Alexis DeJoria’s victory in her matchup.
The win marked a rare first-round triumph for a No. 16 Funny Car qualifier at Gainesville. The last time a driver starting from that position advanced past the opening round at the Gatornationals was 2014, when John Force pulled off the feat.
8 – IT’S MADDI’S WORLD AND WE’RE JUST LIVING IN IT – If John Force had been born a 21-year-old blonde Top Fuel rookie in 2026, he might look a lot like Maddi Gordon.
Vibrant, fearless and seemingly powered by pure enthusiasm, Gordon spent the weekend turning Gainesville Raceway into her personal coming-out party while delivering not one but two round wins for the new Ron Capps Motorsports Top Fuel operation.
Her first victim was no small name. In the opening round, Gordon knocked off the quickest and fastest driver in Top Fuel, Shawn Langdon.
The moment produced something rare inside the Gainesville Raceway media center — emotion. The room, which traditionally reacts to everything with the enthusiasm of a tax seminar, erupted in cheers.
To be clear, the applause wasn’t against Langdon. Gordon simply made a lot of fans during the weekend, including a crowd that nearly emptied her apparel trailer.
Then she grabbed the microphone.
“Oh, my God,” Gordon said. “That win — that’s everything he worked for. Oh, I’m so happy. That’s amazing.
“This is 100% a team effort. I didn’t have him on the tree, but it was good enough. I heard him pull the tires loose, and I seriously said in my car, ‘Holy something, that wasn’t me. We’re going, we’re going.’
“And we saw the finish line. I’m so stoked. I can’t wait to go another round. Man, this is what dreams are made of right here.”
If that weren’t enough excitement for one interview, Gordon punctuated the moment by chugging a Monster Energy drink on camera.
She then went out and defeated the winningest Top Fuel driver in history, Tony Schumacher, before finally falling to Doug Kalitta in the semifinals.
And when that happened, the same media center that had erupted earlier let out a collective sigh.
Because for a few rounds Sunday, it really did feel like it was Maddi Gordon’s world — and everyone else was just living in it.
9 – LOOKS LIKE A RIVALRY TO US – For the first time since Antron Brown publicly questioned how NHRA handled the controversial unapproved device discovered on Tony Stewart’s dragster in Reading, Pa., last September, the two finally met in competition.
Brown got the win.
Naturally, the moment prompted Fox Sports reporter Amanda Busick to ask the obvious question: Is there now a rivalry between the drivers?
“It’s a rivalry against everybody, Amanda,” Brown said. “Smoke, he wants to win and he’s eager. He’s always aggressive, and I’m the same way. Everybody always looks at me smiling and happy around the pits and everything else, but when I’m in that car, I’m an animal, too.”
The run itself wasn’t perfect for Brown’s team, which encountered an issue near half-track, but it was good enough to advance.
“So we got out there, we just gave it all we got,” Brown said. “Something happened at half-track. It dropped the hole, but it was running better than .82. So we’ll go back, look at it.”
Brown closed with a line that made it clear his focus remains on the bigger picture.
“The good part is the Eagle experience is moving on,” he said. “I don’t know who our next prowler is, but we’re going to go after him, too.”
10 – BELLEMEUR HEADLINES LUCAS OIL WINNERS — The 2026 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season opened Sunday at Gainesville Raceway with a full slate of sportsman eliminations during the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, highlighted by Sean Bellemeur’s victory in Top Alcohol Funny Car.
Bellemeur drove Tony Bartone’s “Pirate Ship” past Chris Foster, cutting a .025-second reaction time and running 5.43 seconds at 268 mph to claim the first victory in the division of NHRA’s 75th anniversary season. The win was the 49th national event triumph of Bellemeur’s career, moving him within one victory of joining the 50-win club.
It also capped a weekend in which team tuner Steve Boggs was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
“This weekend proves why Steve Boggs belongs in the Hall of Fame,” Bellemeur said. “When we unloaded the car, it wasn’t happy. The computer was giving us some goofy data and misled us for a couple of runs. Race Data came over and helped us out. Then Steve went to work.
“The car kept getting better and better, and last night we laid down low ET of the weekend. In the middle of that run, I knew we had our hot rod back. It was just a matter of managing the racetrack in the final today.”
Jamie Noonan earned his second career national event victory in Top Alcohol Dragster with a 5.249-second run at 273.22 mph to defeat Anthony Troyer.
Ricky Hord secured his third career national event win in FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown by defeating David Janac with a 7.735-second run at 178.28 mph.
Peter D’Agnolo captured the Competition Eliminator title with a holeshot victory over Matthew Alvey, earning his seventh national event win and third at Gainesville.
Dan Fletcher added to his historic résumé in Super Stock, scoring his 109th national event win with a holeshot victory over Kent Hanley.
Jeff Adkinson won Stock Eliminator over Jim Marshall with a 9.138-second run.
Kelly Kundratic won her first national event title in Super Comp when Tim Millwood red-lighted.
Jason Dewitt repeated as a Gatornationals winner in Super Gas.
James Hinkle won Top Sportsman, while Jackie Bennett captured her first national event victory in Top Dragster.
SATURDAY NOTEBOOK – THE LEGENDS HAVE SPOKEN; HART MAKES A STATEMENT AND GUESS WHO SHOWED UP AT THE STRIP?
1 – THE LEGENDS WANT THEIR QUARTER-MILE – Three of drag racing’s most influential figures used NHRA’s 75th anniversary celebration at Gainesville Raceway to revive a long-running debate about the sport’s future.
Don Garlits, Joe Amato and Kenny Bernstein each said they believe nitro racing should eventually return to the traditional quarter-mile distance instead of the 1,000-foot format introduced in 2008.
The comments carried a layer of irony because Bernstein was serving as president of the Professional Racers Organization, the group that pushed for shortening nitro racing to 1,000 feet following Scott Kalitta’s fatal crash at Englishtown, New Jersey.
Nearly two decades later, Bernstein acknowledged he now sees value in revisiting the sport’s original format.
“Believe me, it would be great to be back to a quarter-mile, slow them down just a taste,” Bernstein said. “I think it would revive the sport tremendously.”
Bernstein said the current format produces runs that so quick spectators barely have time to process what they’ve seen.
“This thing is really quick at three and a half seconds,” Bernstein said. “But it’s something that if you did, I think you would have a better result and more fans.”
Garlits, widely regarded as one of the most innovative figures in drag racing history, offered an even stronger critique of the shortened distance.
“I want somebody in this room to tell me if it’s entertaining to watch something for three and a half seconds,” Garlits said. “I don’t see anybody saying that they like that.”
Garlits said drag racing originally celebrated speed records and engine power, not simply who reached the finish line first.
“When drag racing started off, it wasn’t about ETs,” Garlits said. “It was who had the top speed of the meet.”
He suggested the sport could safely return to quarter-mile racing by adjusting engine rules rather than allowing speeds to escalate unchecked.
“I’d like to see them go back to quarter-mile and just restrict the motors,” Garlits said. “There’s a thousand rules already.”
Amato, a five-time Top Fuel world champion, said he agrees with the concept, but doubts it could overcome resistance from today’s teams.
“I definitely agree with Kenny and Don about going the quarter-mile, but that’s politics,” Amato said. “I can’t see that happening, because the crew chiefs won’t agree.”
Amato said a return would require a carefully planned reduction in power to keep speeds manageable.
“You’ve got to make a plan with a smaller fuel pump and a smaller blower,” Amato said. “Instead, we’re going 345 miles an hour trying to go 350.”
1B – IT’S A SELLOUT – 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 massive crowd enjoyed two rounds of qualifying and the Right Trailers NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout to open the milestone campaign.
“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.”
2 – BROWN’S CHA-CHING MOMENT – Antron Brown didn’t need a perfect run to start the NHRA season with a statement, he just needed to survive the chaos.
The four-time NHRA champion capitalized when both he and Clay Millican encountered trouble in the final round Saturday, and Brown managed to find the finish line sooner to win the Top Fuel All-Star Callout at Gainesville Raceway.
Brown ran 4.290 seconds at 258.76 mph to secure the $80,000 bonus and become the first driver to win the Callout twice. The special event was contested before a sellout crowd during the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
The victory required Brown to defeat a formidable field that included Josh Hart and Shawn Langdon earlier in the Callout ladder.
“It’s super exciting because the thing about for us is… on the offseason we really slowed down and we regrouped after last year,” Brown said. “We wanted to revamp our program.”
Brown said the team focused on refining its approach rather than chasing dramatic changes.
“We weren’t trying to rotate the earth,” Brown said. “We were trying to make some things change, and they’re coming to fruition.”
The improvements were evident during the Callout rounds, particularly in difficult track conditions.
“The most impressive one was E2 against Shawn Langdon,” Brown said. “We went out there running 76 flat in the hottest part of the day.”
The final round against Millican quickly turned into a test of survival when both cars encountered problems.
“When it shook, I was like, ‘Oh, Lord, I need to grab brake,’” Brown said. “Then I saw Clay jump out in front of us.”
Brown said the momentum changed when Millican’s car encountered issues.
“I saw him have trouble, and I was like, ‘Oh, Lord, let’s just roll into this baby,’” Brown said.
Brown’s dragster recovered and carried him past Millican before an automatic shutoff system activated near the finish line.
“But I saw that wind light come on,” Brown said. “The boys are smiling. I’m smiling. “I’m going to get me some Kool-Aid.”
Despite the Callout win, Brown said the focus immediately shifts to Sunday’s eliminations.
“We’re going to celebrate that hard tonight, but tomorrow is the real job,” Brown said. “Job’s not done yet.”
3 – JOSH HART JOINS YELLOW HAT SOCIETY – Josh Hart waited five years to wear the yellow hat awarded to the No. 1 qualifier in Top Fuel, and when the moment finally came, it arrived in record-setting fashion.
Hart secured his first career No. 1 qualifying position during the NHRA Gatornationals with a track-record run of 3.658 seconds at 340.30 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Burnyzz/Speedmaster dragster. The pass came in his debut for John Force Racing and held through the remainder of qualifying.
The milestone carried additional meaning because it happened at Gainesville Raceway, the track Hart considers his home facility.
“I think I’ve waited at least five years for this thing,” Hart said. “So, five years and $20 million later, it’s a pretty nice hat.”
Hart said the moment represents the payoff for years of investment and persistence in Top Fuel racing.
“I’m going to put it in the trophy chest,” Hart said.
The record-setting performance also continued a pattern of improvement throughout the weekend.
“We have literally broken every single one of my career bests already this weekend,” Hart said. “So I have all the confidence in the world.”
Hart credited crew chief David Grubnic and the JFR team for delivering a car capable of producing the historic run.
“He’s like the Babe Ruth of drag racing,” Hart said of Grubnic. “He can almost call a shot.”
The partnership between Hart and JFR came together after months of discussion and a difficult stretch during Hart’s time as a team owner.
Hart said the opportunity to shed an ownership role allowed him to focus solely on driving rather than managing the business side of a race team.
“Oh, it’s night and day difference,” Hart said. “I feel like the elephant’s off of my chest.”
Running his own team required Hart to juggle payroll, logistics and sponsor obligations while preparing to drive a Top Fuel dragster that has often topped 330 mph with his predecessor, Brittany Force.
“You get up there and you have to focus on cutting a light,” Hart said, “and I was getting up there and thinking about payroll and logistics.
“None of that applies to this situation. I’m very, very forever grateful for John Force for picking me.”
Hart said the initial conversation with Force began as a possibility before evolving into a full agreement.
“We talked a little bit and he put a contract in front of me,” Hart said. “And I thought, ‘Okay.’”
The result was immediate progress for Hart, who delivered the fastest run in Gainesville Raceway history during his first race weekend with the team.
Hart will open eliminations against Dan Mercier as he searches for his first Top Fuel victory since his debut season in 2021.
Shawn Langdon qualified second with a run of 3.681 seconds at 338.09 mph, while Leah Pruett secured the third spot with a 3.690 at 329.10.
For Hart, the performance confirmed that the new partnership may unlock the results he has pursued since entering the class.
“We’ll be ready for race day,” Hart said. “And I believe him.”
4 – PRO LEADERBOARD UNCHANGED – The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series began with a strong showing from veterans and rising contenders as qualifying wrapped up at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
Ron Capps set the pace in Funny Car, Cody Coughlin was tops in Pro Stock, Angie Smith was the best in Pro Stock Motorcycle, and Josh Hart led Top Fuel as they secured No. 1 qualifying positions at Gainesville Raceway.
Each competitor reached the top of the ladder with performances that carried different storylines, from long-awaited returns to the top spot to emerging talent continuing to build momentum.
Capps delivered one of the most notable qualifying performances of the weekend in Funny Car, securing his first No. 1 position in nearly three years with a 3.890-second run at 334.07 mph in his Toyota GR Supra.
The effort marked the 38th No. 1 qualifier of Capps’ career and his first since the 2023 season, when he topped qualifying at Gainesville and Brainerd.
“I know I’ll never lead that list [of No. 1 qualifiers], but almost every crew chief I’ve had has been more concerned about what they do on Sunday rather than what we do in qualifying,” Capps said.
Capps said his teams over the years have focused on race-day execution rather than qualifying accolades.
“It was all about winning races and figuring out how to battle on Sunday,” Capps said. “I’ve been blessed to be around those kinds of guys.”
He also noted that Sunday’s conditions could dramatically alter the competitive balance.
“First round Sunday is going to be the quickest runs of the weekend,” Capps said. “Conditions will be better than they were Friday night.”
J.R. Todd qualified second with a run of 3.912 at 334.15 mph, while Paul Lee was third after going 3.920 at 331.12.
Capps will open eliminations against John Smith.
In Pro Stock, Cody Coughlin continued building momentum in his second season by earning the second No. 1 qualifier of his career with a 6.523-second run at 210.01 mph in his Chevrolet Camaro.
“It can’t get any better than this,” Coughlin said. “I couldn’t be more thrilled.”
Coughlin credited the KB Titan Racing organization and the opportunity to compete alongside multi-time champion Greg Anderson.
“The KB Titan guys and gals are fantastic and [I’m] just really proud to drive for them,” Coughlin said.
Matt Hartford qualified second with a 6.533 at 210.41 mph, while Matt Latino also ran 6.533 seconds at 210.37 mph to secure the third position.
Coughlin will face Chris McGaha in the opening round.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Angie Smith secured her third career No. 1 qualifier with a 6.740-second pass at 199.58 mph on her Buell.
Smith backed up the performance with two solid runs on Saturday, giving her momentum entering eliminations.
Reigning world champion Richard Gadson qualified second with a 6.746 at 200.00 mph, while Matt Smith was third at 6.749 and 200.71 mph.
Smith will open eliminations against Kim Morrell.
In Top Fuel, Josh Hart claimed his first career No. 1 qualifier thanks to a track-record 3.658-second run at 340.30 mph.
The pass came in Hart’s first event driving for John Force Racing and held through the remainder of qualifying.
Shawn Langdon qualified second with a run of 3.681 at 338.09 mph, while Leah Pruett secured the third spot with a 3.690 at 329.10 mph.
Hart will face Dan Mercier in the opening round as he pursues his first national event victory since his debut season in 2021.
Eliminations for the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals begin Sunday at 10 a.m. EDT at Gainesville Raceway.
5 – HE’S DEFINITELY A FAN – Eric Trump, son of United States President Donald Trump, was in attendance at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
There were no rallies or political functions; there was just drag racing and the second-generation Trump is a huge fan of the straightline sport. On Saturday, he was in Gainesville as a guest of longtime friend and Funny Car team owner Bob Tasca III.
“I love the sport; I have been a fan for many, many years,” Trump said. “I am here for the first time in 20 years. Been to Indy many times. I’ve been to watch at other tracks. It’s an awesome sport.”
6 – THE ROOKIES MAKE THEIR DEBUT – The NHRA season opener launched a compelling Rookie of the Year storyline as three drivers began campaigns that highlight the different paths into drag racing’s premier categories.
Maddi Gordon debuted in Top Fuel with Ron Capps Motorsports, Cody Anderson made his first competitive laps in a KB Titan Pro Stock entry, and Gary Pritchett stepped into a Top Fuel dragster while remaining eligible for Rookie of the Year consideration.
Two of the three rookies — Gordon and Anderson — made their first official race appearances at the event, marking a significant step in their careers.
The experience of launching a Top Fuel dragster in front of packed grandstands delivered exactly what Gordon expected … “And more,” she said. “It’s just gnarly. The cars are gnarly.”
She said the crowd created a moment she won’t soon forget.
“The fans in the stands. I glanced up in the water box every time, and I don’t see one seat available,” Gordon said. “There’s just people throughout the entire stands, and I’ve never raced running [with] crowds like that before.”
Even though her first pass ended early after tire smoke, Gordon said the run provided valuable experience.
“That was a run,” Gordon said. “Obviously, I wanted to go all the way down the track, but that was pretty cool for me to experience.”
Gordon acknowledged Rookie of the Year is an important goal for her first NHRA season.
“Yeah, that’s very exciting,” Gordon said. “It’s going to be tough, obviously, to achieve that.
“But this really is a once-in-a-lifetime deal to be Rookie of the Year, so we’re working hard for that.”
Anderson’s rookie experience is unfolding under a different spotlight as the son of Greg Anderson, the sport’s winningest Pro Stock driver.
“Yeah, it’s a lot of fun,” Anderson said. “Just trying to go through the learning pains and just taking a lap at a time.”
The speed of Pro Stock competition has been his biggest adjustment.
“Right now, it’s super fast,” Anderson said. “Everything’s happening really fast.”
Despite the learning curve, Anderson remains focused on improving with each run.
“Really just taking it a race at a time, this being my first race car and all,” Anderson said.
Pritchett’s Rookie of the Year bid comes after years working on Top Fuel teams before finally moving into the driver’s seat.
“I was coming around the corner last night, looking up, looking around, like, ‘Man, we finally are here,’” Pritchett said. “This is something we’ve wanted to do our whole lives.”
7 – HIGH PROFILE SUPPORTING CAST – The debut of second-generation Pro Stock driver Cody Anderson came with a surprising twist in the pits this weekend — two former drivers handling crew duties to help the rookie settle into NHRA competition.
Instead of preparing their own cars, Cory Reed and Kyle Koretsky spent time working behind the scenes for Anderson, packing parachutes and assisting with between-run maintenance.
The unusual arrangement spoke less about circumstance and more about camaraderie inside the tight-knit Pro Stock community.
Reed, who is taking the 2026 Pro Stock season off while pursuing other racing opportunities, said the decision to help Anderson came together during a casual conversation before another race weekend.
“Because we want to support our friend and see him do good,” Reed said.
The idea took shape after Reed asked Anderson who would be helping manage the car during the weekend.
“I said, ‘You want me to show up and help you?’ He goes, ‘Dude, if you’re going to be there, yeah, I’d love to. Love for you to be there,’” Reed said. “I told him yes, so I’m here.”
Reed said his role was largely about being present for a friend stepping into one of drag racing’s most demanding classes.
“They don’t need anything. I don’t need to be here. They got it handled,” Reed said. “But he asked me if I could be there and I told him yes, so I’m here.”
Watching Anderson navigate his early laps in Pro Stock has left a strong impression on Reed.
“And he’s doing a great job. Cody’s doing excellent,” Reed said. “It’s hard to expect anything from anybody that’s never drove anything or even really raced that much stuff. But he’s doing phenomenal.”
Reed believes Anderson’s approach reflects the influence of his racing family.
“You could tell his dad has rubbed off on him for damn sure,” Reed said.
Koretsky, another accomplished Pro Stock driver currently stepping away from full-time competition, said helping Anderson felt natural.
“I think we’re here, Cory and I, just to support Cody,” Koretsky said. “He’s doing a really good job and he deserves it.”
Even if the task list included parachute packing rather than driving duties, Koretsky embraced the moment.
“I think it’s an honor for me to even be asked to come out and do something,” Koretsky said. “I don’t know what the hell I’m even doing, but we’re working and we make a good little team.”
For now, family responsibilities keep Koretsky away from the cockpit, though he acknowledged a return to Pro Stock could still happen.
“But, hey, one day I think we will be back out here,” Koretsky said. “Time will tell.”
8 – DEJU VU ALL AGAIN – Last season’s NHRA Gatornationals provided an underwhelming end result for defending NHRA Funny Car champion Austin Prock. He landed in the 15th qualifying position with a 4.231, 206.10 run. Ironically, Prock lost to Bob Tasca III, the team owner he now drives for.
Prock and his family moved over to the Tasca team officially in January after a successful championship tenure with John Force Racing.
Prock, and father/tuner Jimmy Prock, failed to find the right combination for a temperamental Gainesville Raceway racing surface, leaving the Tasca Mustang as the slowest of the 19 cars in competition this weekend.
“It stinks,” Prock said. “I’m not surprised, though. I mean, things have just been going this way lately. Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong, and then you have an oildown on the starting line. NHRA doesn’t clean it up properly. There’s still oil. You got to move way inside. The thing doesn’t move. You stand on the gas, it blows [the tires] off. So with how things have gone, I’m not shocked.
“It’s a shame for Ford, for PPG. They’re putting a lot of money into this deal and they expect us to win and we expect to win – and we will win.
9 – SCARY MOMENT – In the final qualifying session, Buddy Hull’s engine fire caused him to lose control of his Funny Car and drift into Terry Haddock’s lane. They made contact before the cars came to a stop in the shutdown area, and both drivers exited their respective cars on their own power.
Hull was unavailable for comment, but his team issued a statement through PR rep Elon Werner
“Hand is just a little burned up,” the statement read. “Doc Surface is looking at it to see whether or not he needs to go to the hospital, but indications are probably not. It’s going to be up to him. He doesn’t have a backup car, so if he would have qualified, he wouldn’t have been able to run tomorrow. But he’s already making plans for how to get his stuff back to Dallas and how to get ready for the Arizona Nationals.”
Werner said the cause of the fire was unknown.
10 – HADDOCK PREPARES FOR SUNDAY – Saturday evening, Terry Haddock was plotting a way to make it to the line for Sunday’s opening round of Funny Car eliminations.
“Hard to put it into words, I wasn’t expecting that,” Haddock said. “We had made the run and shut off early.”
Haddock, who races on a much lesser budget than his fellow competitors, answered to the criticisms of his participation.
“People ask me why I am still out here doing this,” he explained. “We are trying to grow this [program] every year. We were safely qualified. People believe in us and have paid money for us to be here. We cannot get a sponsor sitting out and pulling out of line. Companies have paid money for us to be here. We want to represent them at the highest level.”
Haddock is sponsored by P&C Cable this weekend.
“We don’t get any better if we are not out here racing,” Haddock said. “We have to learn how to race in all conditions. What happened today was an unfortunate accident and we hope Buddy [Hull] and his family are okay.
“It’s hard financially to fix this. My wife and I have given up everything for this, so we can do this.”
Haddock confirmed the car’s chassis will need a new front half.
“We will find a way to make it work,” Haddock said. “The Lord has blessed us.”
FRIDAY NOTEBOOK – A MEMORABLE DEBUT FOR HART, CAPPS GETS PAST THE DISTRACTIONS
1 – WEEKEND AT BURNYZZ – Josh Hart delivered one of the standout performances of the opening day of qualifying at the NHRA Gatornationals, racing to a track-record 340.30 mph pass that placed him atop the provisional Top Fuel field. Hart’s run of 3.658 seconds in his Burnyzz/Speedmaster dragster capped the first two rounds of qualifying and marked a strong debut with John Force Racing.
The performance positioned Hart for the first No. 1 qualifier of his Top Fuel career. It also added another milestone at a track that has already produced several defining moments in his career.
Hart opened the 2021 season by winning the Gatornationals in his first career Top Fuel start. He later added a victory in the Top Fuel All-Star event at Gainesville in 2023.
The latest achievement came in his first race driving under the John Force Racing banner. Hart said the opportunity allows him to focus on driving rather than the responsibilities that came with operating his own team.
“I’m really not used to this gig, so you’ll have to bear with me,” Hart said. “Super blessed. John Force and the entire team has been welcoming me like a member of the family.
“There is no better way to do something like this than right here at your home track with everybody here,” he added.
Hart spent the past two seasons operating his own Top Fuel program before shifting to a driver-only role. The move removed the business pressures that had divided his attention.
“I tried all the wrong roads,” Hart said. “Owning a team was awesome and I’m very proud of what we accomplished, but I realized I wasn’t doing it at a No. 1 capacity.
“Being able to focus on just win lights, reaction times and not worrying about invoices and payroll is priceless.”
Hart said the transition became clear during testing when the car immediately delivered elite performance.
“When I got in this car and we went 340 in testing right off the trailer, all I can say is it was so smooth,” Hart said. “It’s a well-oiled machine.”
He credited crew chief David Grubnic for helping him quickly adapt to the new program.
“David Grubnic is a former driver,” Hart said. “Just talking to him, he’s like a sounding board. I can ask him questions and he’ll give me a straight answer.”
Despite the record speed, Hart said his focus remains on improving his performance behind the wheel.
“The first thing is I need to cut a light,” Hart said. “I’m very critical of myself and my performance.”
Hart ended the opening day of qualifying ahead of a strong Top Fuel field. Shawn Langdon sat second with a 3.681, 338.09, while Leah Pruett was third with a 3.690, 329.10.
Hart said the early performance reinforced his confidence in the program as the new season begins.
“I’m trying to just enjoy the moment,” Hart said. “It’s going to be a hell of a 2026.”
2 – KEEPING THE FOCUS – Ron Capps ended Friday at the NHRA Gatornationals atop the Funny Car qualifying order, delivering the only run in the 3.80s during the opening day of the season. Capps posted a 3.890-second pass at 334.07 mph in his NAPA Auto Parts Toyota GR Supra under the lights at Gainesville Raceway.
If the run holds through the final qualifying sessions Saturday, Capps would be a No. 1 qualifier for the 38th time. The three-time NHRA Funny Car champion is seeking his fifth victory at the historic Florida track.
Capps admitted the strong performance came during one of the busiest stretches his team has experienced in months. The weekend marked the debut of new teammate Maddi Gordon, who joined the operation as a Top Fuel rookie.
“It’s been a chaotic week,” Capps said. “Well, it’s been a chaotic couple of months.”
“What we put together basically from scratch, bringing Maddi on and getting Rob Flynn onboard, then getting her licensed,” he added.
The new program required assembling personnel, preparing equipment and helping Gordon transition into Top Fuel competition. Capps said the process typically takes months, but was completed in a compressed timeline.
At the same time, Capps said Gordon’s enthusiasm has been an infusion of energy for the organization.
“She is fun to be around,” Capps said. “She had been talking all last year about how excited it was going to be to drive Top Fuel.”
As for his Funny Car, Capps credited crew chief Dean “Guido” Antonelli and the team for making the necessary adjustments to the new body after an issue surfaced on the first run.
Despite the No. 1 performance, Capps acknowledged that balancing team ownership responsibilities with driving remains a challenge. The veteran driver said managing the organization sometimes competes with his focus on the starting line.
“It’s a constant battle,” Capps said. “I’m like a rookie again.”
Capps said longtime racing associate Ted Yerzyk has helped ease that workload by taking on additional responsibilities within the organization. “He’s helped tremendously and taken a lot off of me this weekend,” the owner-driver noted.
While the business side of the operation continues to grow, Capps said the thrill of driving remains unchanged.
“My favorite part is getting in the car and then it’s quiet,” Capps said. “That’s when I try to focus.”
Capps also reflected on the possibility of winning the special diamond Wally trophy that marks NHRA’s 75th anniversary season.
“I can’t imagine winning this year and getting one of those,” Capps said. “It’s going to be cool.”
The veteran driver said the milestone would carry added meaning given his long history in the sport.
“My whole adult life has been in this sport,” Capps said. “It means a lot.”
J.R. Todd ended the day in second with a 3.912, 334.15, while Paul Lee held the third position with a 3.920, 331.12.
3 – ANGIE SMITH TOPS BIKES – Angie Smith surged to the top of the Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying order Friday at the NHRA Gatornationals. Smith ran 6.740 seconds at 199.58 mph on her Denso Auto Parts Buell to close out the day as the provisional No. 1 qualifier.
If the run holds through Saturday’s final sessions, Smith would earn the third No. 1 qualifier of her career. The early performance would mark a positive start after she finished fourth in the championship standings last season but was neither a race winner or a top qualifier.
Smith’s day did not begin smoothly. Her team suffered a major mechanical issue during the opening qualifying session.
“In Q1, we broke a transmission in half and you never like to do that when you start the season,” Smith added. “Usually, parts breakage and things like that happen in the middle of the season, but for some reason, it just snapped the shaft in half and I didn’t get a good run.”
She added, “This was a great day. Not the beginning of the day, but by the end of the day.”
Smith said the team regrouped and focused on making the most of the next opportunity. The evening run proved strong enough to hold off several championship contenders.
“We just knew that we had to put our best foot forward, and we did,” Smith said.
“When that 6.74 came up, I didn’t know if it was going to stick or not. There were some pretty heavy hitters behind me,” she added. “You know, we worked really, really hard in this offseason, so hopefully our hard work pays off this year.”
Defending champion Richard Gadson sits second after posting a 6.746, 200.00 pass. Former champion Gaige Herrera is currently third with a 6.761, 199.91.
Smith’s husband and teammate Matt Smith also remained near the top of the field, taking fourth with a 6.764, 200.77.
4 – CODY COUGHLIN GETS PROVISIONAL NO. 1 – Cody Coughlin wasted little time building momentum to open the NHRA season, moving to the top of the Pro Stock qualifying order Friday at the NHRA Gatornationals. He led the 21-car field with a 6.523-second run at 210.01 mph in his Coughlin Construction Chevrolet Camaro.
The early performance continued the progress Coughlin showed during his rookie campaign in 2025 with KB Titan Racing. He reached one final round and earned a No. 1 qualifier during his debut season in the category.
Now in his sophomore season, Coughlin appears intent on building on that foundation. Friday’s showing suggested the young driver and the powerhouse KB Titan team could again be a factor throughout the weekend.
“We put a bite in the competition this weekend so far,” Coughlin said. “This car is great, the KB Titan guys are the best in the business and just proud to drive for them and that we were able to put a deal together to race with each other. It’s just great.”
Matt Hartford ended the opening day of qualifying in the second position after running 6.533, 210.41. Matt Latino followed closely behind in third with an identical 6.533, 210.37.
5 – ALL’S WELL IN LOVE AND NITRO – Tony Stewart knows the storyline everyone wants to talk about at the NHRA Gatornationals: The possibility of racing his wife, Leah Pruett, has hovered over the Top Fuel scene the entire offseason.
Stewart insists the narrative carries far more weight outside the cockpit than inside it. Once the helmet goes on and the car rolls to the starting line, he said the identity of the driver in the other lane is irrelevant.
“Go back and ask Taylor and Hart Sr. Go ask [NASCAR’s] Denny Hamlin, then come … If you don’t get all the answer you want there, then come talk to me about it,” Stewart said. “We’re racers. We go race.”
“I literally don’t care who’s in the other lane. I don’t care if it’s her or anybody else.”
The NASCAR Hall of Famer turned Top Fuel driver said professional racers must approach every matchup the same way; i.e., Personal relationships cannot factor in once the race begins.
“I want to put my foot on their throat until their face turns blue and beat them to the other end, and that’s what our job is,” Stewart said. “That’s what she wants to do if we have to race against each other.”
Stewart admitted he originally saw the situation differently. Racing his wife seemed like a lose-lose scenario until a reporter offered another perspective.
“If I win, I lose. If I lose, I lose,” Stewart said.
That explanation changed when the reporter reframed the outcome.
“He goes, ‘Well, if you win, you go to the next round. If you lose, your car goes to the next round,’” Stewart said.
“I like your idea better than mine. I like the half-full versus half-empty concepts.”
Stewart said the matchup has been overanalyzed and is ultimately just another race between two competitors.
“You guys can glamorize this all you want and waste everybody’s time,” he said. “She’s another driver with another helmet on with another firesuit and another race car in the opposite lane, no different than any other run.”
Stewart acknowledged the emotional side might surface after the race is finished. During the run itself, the focus remains strictly on performance.
“When it’s over with, this is the person that I go home and want to spend the rest of my life with,” he added, then continued, “When I get here on Thursday night, all I care about is beating every person I line up against on Sunday. I don’t care what their last name is.”
6 – WHAT ABOUT BOB? – Bob Frey spent most of his career explaining to fans what they were seeing at the starting line and down the quarter-mile. This weekend at the NHRA Gatornationals, the newly inducted International Drag Racing Hall of Famer found himself back behind the microphone, though briefly.
Frey returned to the announcer’s booth at Gainesville Raceway after being inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame days earlier. The recognition celebrated a 46-year broadcasting career that made his voice one of the most recognizable in drag racing.
The appearance, however, was only a short visit.
“And Mr. Frey is saying, ‘I’m sorry to disappoint you,’” Frey said. “Although that’s my word – disappointing – not theirs.
“I love that I’m here for the day and I’ll come back tomorrow,” he added. “We’re at Gainesville, and Friday and Saturday I’m here, and then Sunday I’ll be on my way back home with the family and the grandkids.”
For decades, Frey helped narrate the sport’s biggest moments. His ability to break down the action while keeping the show moving made him a staple in drag racing towers across the country. Retirement, though, has suited him well.
“I guess the expected answer is, oh, yes, I miss the people and stuff like this, but I did it for 46 years,” Frey said. “I’m perfectly happy when I retired.”
His occasional trips back to the racetrack now come without the pressure of a full schedule.
During a Dallas last fall, Frey said an NHRA official jokingly asked if he wanted to return to the tower. Frey replied, “‘Are you going to pay me?’” When the answer was no, Frey had the response ready.
“I said, ‘Well, if I wanted to work for free … ’
“I quit working for pay instead of come back and working for free,” he added.
7 – GORDON’S MONSTROUS DEBUT – Maddi Gordon began the NHRA Gatornationals weekend with a major boost to her Top Fuel program. On Friday morning, Monster Energy was announced as a new sponsor for the Ron Capps Motorsports driver.
The announcement came during the opening weekend of NHRA’s 75th anniversary season at Gainesville Raceway, marking a significant partnership as Gordon begins the next chapter of her drag racing career in the sport’s premier category.
Gordon, a former Top Alcohol Funny Car champion, moved into Top Fuel this season with Capps. The addition of Monster Energy gives the program a high-profile marketing partner as Gordon makes the move into the 12,000-horsepower class.
The announcement set the tone for a busy day that included two rounds of qualifying at the historic Florida facility. Gordon spent the early part of the weekend continuing to learn the nuances of driving a nitro-powered dragster.
Her best run came Friday evening when Gordon posted a 3.793-second pass at 321.35 mph. The performance placed her 15th in the provisional Top Fuel field heading into Saturday’s final two qualifying sessions.
The rookie driver acknowledged the challenge of adapting to Top Fuel competition. Even accomplished racers face a steep learning curve when transitioning from alcohol cars to nitro. Gordon said the opportunity to partner with Monster Energy and compete under the Ron Capps Motorsports banner provides the resources needed to make that move.
The partnership also continues Monster Energy’s long-standing presence in NHRA drag racing. The brand has supported teams and drivers across multiple nitro categories while maintaining strong ties to motorsports culture.
For Gordon, the sponsorship represents another milestone in a career that has already included success in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. Her championship in Top Alcohol Funny Car helped establish her as one of the sport’s rising talents.
Now the focus shifts to gaining experience and building consistency in one of motorsports’ most competitive classes. Gordon said the goal for the weekend remains simple as she continues adjusting to the Top Fuel ranks.
“We’re just going to keep learning and keep getting better every run,” Gordon said. “If we keep doing that, the results will come.”
8A – KALITTA’S SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENSE – Doug Kalitta begins the 2026 NHRA season with the target firmly on his back as the defending Top Fuel champion. The veteran driver returns with a familiar challenge — a deep field of rivals — including one of the toughest competitors a few trailer doors down at Gainesville Raceway.
Kalitta enters the new campaign knowing competition across the Top Fuel ranks has intensified. Within Kalitta Motorsports, that battle may be even stronger. Shawn Langdon has emerged as a major contender, giving the championship team a formidable internal rivalry. Kalitta acknowledged that challenge while praising the strength of the operation.
Langdon crew chief “Brian [Husen] used to work with Alan Johnson. I don’t know how many championships and wins they ended up with,” Kalitta said, “but it was 20 years worth of them working together.”
Kalitta said the presence of legendary crew chief Alan Johnson remains one of the biggest advantages within the team’s program. The longtime tuner’s experience continues to shape the organization’s competitive approach.
“That’s one guy that if you had the opportunity to work with, he’s the man, Alan Johnson,” Kalitta said. “[Shawn is] very fortunate.”
“Obviously I raced against him a lot of years and just real thankful that he’s on … going on my trailer and he’s in there,” Kalitta said. “So it’s pretty exciting for me, all my guys, and Mac Savage.”
Husen enters his third season of working as Langdon’s crewchief, and they have been a contender for the championship each of those campaings.
Kalitta also noted Langdon’s determination entering the season, including a physical commitment during the offseason. He expects the former NHRA champion to be among the toughest drivers on the track. And there were Langdon’s preseason unofficial bests of 3.62 seconds and 345 mph.
“Shawn, he’s a heck of a driver,” Kalitta said. “He just loves everything about it and is a real hard racer. He’s going to be tough this year.”
Langdon’s recent struggles to secure consistent wins have not changed Kalitta’s outlook on his teammate’s ability. Kalitta believes Langdon remains capable of turning momentum in his favor
“He’s always been the tough guy to beat,” Kalitta said. “Definitely with that team he’s got now, it’ll be fun. Going to have to get up on the wheel every time you run him, sure.”
Despite entering the season with two championships, Kalitta said the team’s approach remains unchanged. The focus remains on effort and consistency rather than the pressure of defending a title.
“We’re just hungry, our group,” Kalitta said. “We all just are trying to encourage one another, just do the best we can.”
8B – MISSION FOR THIS YEAR: FUN – Paul Lee nearly walked away from NHRA Funny Car racing last season. Now he’s back in 2026 with a limited schedule, a revamped team and a renewed outlook on why he races.
Lee plans to compete in only 10 NHRA events this season rather than chase the full 20-race schedule. The strategy allows the team to focus on key races while balancing sponsor commitments and the realities of running a Funny Car program.
“Have fun,” Lee said when asked about his approach this season. “We’re out here having fun.”
Lee confirmed the schedule includes the first three races of the season and the final three events of the year. Four additional races will be selected during the middle portion of the schedule.
“We’re on a limited schedule based on marketing partners and sponsors and things like that,” Lee said. “So right now we have a 10 race schedule for 2026.”
Lee said sticking to the 10-race plan will not be difficult.
“No problem at all,” Lee said. “I’m a businessman first. My ego, I don’t have an ego. I don’t have to be out here. This is my fun.”
Part of Lee’s reset for 2026 comes with a mostly new crew lineup. Veteran crew chief John Schaefer now leads the program, bringing experience from work with John Force Racing and longtime tuner John Medlen. Several familiar faces remain with the team, as does Medlen.
“Seth Randall’s been with me since I put the team together,” Lee said. “Mark Stewart is back this year. And Ryan Russell’s back this year. And of course Ricky Fisher.”
The changes follow a 2025 season that started strong before unraveling midway through the year.
“We were over center on the tuneup,” Lee said. “We just got lost. It took the wind out of me. I was ready to call it a career.”
A conversation with Schaefer helped bring him back. “He gave me a whole new outlook on racing,” Lee said.
9 – SATURDAY CALLOUT MATCH-UPS – The matchups were finalized Friday for the Top Fuel All-Star Callout at the NHRA Gatornationals, with the sport’s top drivers selecting their first-round opponents during a lively selection process. The format allows the highest-seeded drivers to choose who they will face, creating strategic decisions and a fair share of friendly ribbing.
Reigning Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta earned the top seed and the first pick and chose Clay Millican to set up a rematch of last year’s opening-round pairing.
Kalitta admitted the decision involved some guesswork due to the hot Gainesville conditions expected on race day. Teams have limited information on how their cars will respond in the heat.
“We haven’t really had an opportunity to see how everybody’s going to run in the heat, so we’re kind of guessing a little bit today,” Kalitta admitted.
Millican responded with humor, suggesting Kalitta’s choice might have had less to do with strategy.
“I figured out what Doug did,” Millican said. “He looked at the list, ‘Who’s the oldest guy out there besides me?’ And it was me.
“The two-time champ is the baddest dude,” Millican added. “Anytime these two cars race, it’s a battle, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Kalitta’s teammate, Shawn Langdon, had the next pick and selected Shawn Reed. Langdon said offseason testing showed promise, but acknowledged Gainesville’s weather will require adjustments.
“Brian [Husen] and the boys did a lot of homework in the off season to try to make the car a little bit quicker and faster,” Langdon said.
“Testing was sweatshirt weather [and] now it’s sauna weather, so we’re going to have to make the proper adjustments.”
Three-time NHRA champion Antron Brown selected Josh Hart for the third matchup after declining a suggestion to race Justin Ashley.
“That’s my brother, that’s like my teammate,” Brown said. “I’m not gonna race my brother first one out.”
Hart welcomed the challenge.
“You’ve got to not worry about the name in the other lane,” Hart said. “I know what my weaknesses are, so I just need to focus.”
That left Tony Stewart paired with Ashley in the final matchup. Ashley said the focus remains on his team rather than the opponent.
“We have a tough, tough field of Top Fuel cars,” he said. “Tony’s a great driver, but it’s up to us to focus on ourselves.”
The three-round Callout will take place Saturday at Gainesville Raceway.
10 – YOU CAN’T KEEP THEM AWAY – Rodger Brogdon has been away from Pro Stock competition for several seasons, but the pull of the class proved difficult to ignore. The veteran driver returned to the cockpit this weekend after accepting an invitation to drive a car owned by Mark Beaver.
Brogdon said getting back behind the wheel quickly reminded him why drivers rarely stay away from the class for long.
“It’s hard to leave, I’ll tell you that,” Brogdon said. “I’ve managed to stay away for three or four years now, but just getting back in there and driving the car and feeling the same sensations again driving it.”
“Yeah, it’s kind of indescribable,” he added. “But it’s something that people do miss.”
Brogdon said the thrill of driving a Pro Stock car tends to stay with drivers long after they step away.
“You can’t help but miss it,” Brogdon said. “If they say they don’t miss it, they’re not being truthful.”
His return does not signal a full-time comeback — at least not under the current financial structure of the class.
“But you’ll never see me paying 30, $40,000 a race again to rent an engine,” Brogdon added.
Brogdon said leasing engines or complete race programs has become common in Pro Stock, though the cost can be staggering.
“This is a very expensive sport,” Brogdon said. “If you go on a four-day vacation, where would you go to spend $50,000? Most people would have no clue what they would go for four days and spend 50 grand on.
“But then I tell them, ‘You got to do it 20 times a year,’ and they look at you like you’re nuts.”
Instead, Brogdon said a future return would likely come with his own equipment.
“I’m considering building, starting to build my own,” Brogdon said. “So if that ends up happening, I’ll be back out here full time.”
For now, Beaver’s offer simply provided a chance to climb back in the seat.
“Beaver called me, said if I want to drive his car for a few races, I said, ‘Sure, why not?’” Brogdon said. “I hadn’t done it in a while; it’d be fun.”
Brogdon also said the class has improved compared with several years ago and continues to attract younger drivers.
“We’ve got a bunch of young guys coming into the Pro Stock now,” Brogdon said. “And I like to see that. We need it for the class.”
For now, Brogdon said he is simply enjoying the chance to drive again.
“It’s good to get back out here,” Brogdon said. “I’m a little rusty, but every lap will get a little bit better. So just having fun.”
