Josh Hart delivered one of the most compelling storylines of the opening weekend of NHRA’s 75th anniversary season. On Sunday, Hart defeated reigning Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta to win the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville (FL) Raceway.
Hart’s victory came in his first race driving for John Force Racing, marking an immediate payoff for a move that reshaped his career during the offseason.
Chad Green [Funny Car], Matt Hartford [Pro Stock], and Richard Gadson [Pro Stock Motorcycle] also claimed victories as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series opened its 20-race 2026 schedule in front of a capacity crowd.
Hart powered his Burnyzz/Speedmaster dragster to a 3.733-second pass at 337.83 mph in the final round, outrunning Kalitta’s 3.877, 319.60.
The victory was the third of Hart’s Top Fuel career and his first since his he won his debut in the class at the same track in 2021.
The result represented a dramatic turnaround for Hart, whose program endured several difficult seasons before joining John Force Racing. The partnership showed immediate promise as Hart qualified No. 1 for the first time in his career and followed up by delivering four head-to-head victories Sunday. He advanced past Dan Mercier, Tripp Tatum and four-time NHRA champion Antron Brown to reach the final round against Kalitta.
Hart delivered his quickest run of race day against one of the most accomplished drivers in the class to notch the win.
“I’m so grateful for everybody,” Hart said. “I got the crap kicked out of me for four years, and I’m having a hard time believing this is happening. I have so many people to thank and there was so much energy from these fans today. John Force, thank you for picking me.
“It was just awesome. It was a storybook. We crushed every record that I have had in my career, all in the first weekend with John Force Racing. Those guys are absolutely awesome – the most professional team I’ve ever been a part of and communication is second to none.”
He continued, “I just want to say thank you to John Force and Brittany Force for even considering me, let alone picking me to take that seat, and I’ll get more comfortable, and we’ll win more races.”
Green added to his own strong record at Gainesville Raceway with his second consecutive Gatornationals Funny Car victory.
Green drove his Bond-Coat Ford Mustang to a 3.959-second pass at 329.91 mph to defeat Alexis DeJoria in the final round.
The victory was the third of Green’s career and second at Gainesville, giving him eight consecutive elimination-round wins at the historic event.
Green advanced through a field that included Terry Haddock, four-time champion Matt Hagan, and John Force Racing newcomer Jordan Vandergriff, DeJoria’s teammate.
DeJoria reached her first final round in two years with victories over Cruz Pedregon, 2025 Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde, and J.R. Todd.
“Last year was actually so special to win the Gatornationals for the first time,” Green said, “and during the last couple of months here, I’ve been thinking how awesome it’d be to win the race again. It’s so hard to win any race, especially for somebody like me.
“It all came together, and it’s so great to go back-to-back. I was also thinking how nice it would be to win a diamond Wally. To get it done on the first race, that’s just really awesome.
“It makes it so much easier as a driver when you’re not thinking about what this car is going to do,” Green added. “After we got past that first round, I really felt very confident in the car all day.”
Pro Stock veteran Matt Hartford ended his own winless stretch by defeating six-time champion Greg Anderson in the final round. Hartford drove his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro to a 6.530-second run at 210.41 mph to claim his ninth career victory.
The win was Hartford’s first since the 2023 season and came after several near-misses during the 2025 campaign. His march to the final round included victories over Kenny Delco, Aaron Stanfield, and reigning champion Dallas Glenn. He then kept Anderson from winning in the 193rd final-round appearance of his career.
Anderson advanced with wins against Deric Kramer, his son Cody Anderson (who was making his Pro Stock debut), and longtime rival Erica Enders.
“We were sitting having dinner the other night, and we were saying we need to get one of these diamond Wallys,” Hartford said. “The best way to do that is to start with the first one. To get the first one in Pro Stock is incredible.
“This is going to be the most grueling Pro Stock season that I think you guys in the media have ever seen. The caliber of the drivers who are out there right now are over the top. It’s just so competitive from all the camps right now.”
Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Richard Gadson opened his title defense with a victory in the final round over John Hall. Gadson rode his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki to a 6.753-second pass at 200.05 mph. The victory was the fifth of Gadson’s career and his first at the Gatornationals. It also came on his birthday, adding a personal milestone to the start of his championship defense.
Gadson advanced past Geno Scali, Chase Van Sant, and Clayton Howey before defeating Hall in the final round. His .018 reaction time gave him the early advantage over Hall, allowing him to lead wire-to-wire.
“I’d say this is a pretty resounding statement to open the season,” Gadson said. “You know, I like to say it was a long winter. I kind of still felt like I had something to prove.”
“Matt Hines told me before we left the shop,” Gadson added. “He said, ‘Don’t race like you’re the world champion. Race the same way that got you the championship. Don’t let up.’ So that was what I did, and it worked out for me this weekend.”
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series continues March 20-22 at the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs at Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona.
