Tony Schumacher secured the Top Fuel No. 1 qualifier Saturday at the 48th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.

Schumacher piloted his U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster to a track elapsed time record pass of 3.682 seconds at 328.22 mph in the second qualifying session to earn his 81st career No. 1 qualifier, first of the season.

Steve Jackson held on for his first career No. 1 qualifying position in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing, presented by Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Inc., is the first of 12 events on the season. His qualifying pass of 5.781-seconds at 251.58 mph on Friday secured the No. 1 position.

Jackson, in his Jerry Bickel Race Cars built Camaro, was unable to parlay the No. 1 qualifying position into success in eliminations as he was defeated by Eric Latino in the first round. Latino posted a winning time of 5.779 at 256.45 to Jackson’s losing run of 6.664 at 146.30. Latino will face Troy Coughlin in his JEGS.com Chevy Corvette when eliminations continue on Sunday.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and for Justin Ashley, he's making the most of his opportunity.

Ashley has raced in two Top Alcohol Dragster events, last weekend's NHRA D2 LODRS opener and this weekend's NHRA Gatornationals, and in both instances qualified No. 1.

Ashley maintained his torrid pace in Saturday's first round recording a 5.176, 282.36 during a single run when Jerry Powell's dragster would not fire.

Tony Schumacher said he was happy to get to Florida.

Still a kid at heart, how could the Top Fuel racer not like spring break in Florida?

Funny Car legend John Force said that a week or so ago, “all of a sudden my brain just popped.”

That’s debatable, for some folks could have sworn that happened years ago.

Just because the Presidential election is complete doesn't mean politics aren't still in play. Just ask multi-time NHRA champion Larry Dixon, who isn't running for political office but learned Friday at the NHRA Gatornationals politics are very much a part of sports.

Dixon, who is running his first race with Larry Dixon Racing, learned the hard way promotion of a race closely affiliated with another race series is not allowed in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

The direct competition was The World Series of Drag Racing, an event hosted by Cordova Raceway Park, which is owned by the International Hot Rod Association.

Justin Ashley is proving a quick study in the Top Alcohol Dragster. 

The second-generation drag racer in his first two events ever driving the Randy Meyer dragster has qualified No. 1, initially last weekend at the NHRA LODRS event in Gainesville, Fla., and provisionally during the first day of qualifying at the NHRA Gatornationals. 

Ashley, the son of past Indy Funny Car champion Mike Ashley, had no idea as he turned off of the Gainesville Raceway drag strip Friday morning he'd just recorded the seventh quickest run in the class' history with a 5.150 elapsed time at 280.49 miles per hour.

Steve Jackson, powered to the qualifying lead Friday during the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing, presented by Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Inc., is the first of 12 events on the season.

Jackson made his NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series debut in his ‘17 Camaro and raced to the top qualifying position with his track record elapsed time pass of 5.781-seconds at 251.58 mph.

NHRA Top Fuel dragsters underwent a safety upgrade in the time between NHRA Arizona Nationals and this weekend's NHRA Gatornationals. Teams were required to add an extra crossmember to the bay area just beyond the foot box.