The 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season begins this weekend at historic Gainesville Raceway with the 55th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and leading into the legendary event, Top Fuel standout Josh Hart will host the second annual Gatornationals Kickoff Party and Fanfest from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday at Burnyzz Speed Shop in Ocala.
The free event offers an epic fanfest to head into one of the biggest events of the year in Gainesville. Featuring a massive car show, live music, food trucks, and a driver autograph session from 7-8:30 p.m. that will include NHRA legends and current standouts, the fanfest promises something special to help kick off the 2024 season. Fans will also get a chance to see the special “Golden Gators” trophy that will be given to winners on Sunday and celebrates the Gatornationals 55th anniversary.
“Last year’s event exceeded our expectations from fans who showed up and the number of cars for the car show,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel winner. “This year we want to make it even bigger and better. This is one of the most historic motorsports events in the country and we are excited to have it in our backyard and celebrate with everyone from Ocala and around central Florida. I want to thank everyone at Burnyzz Speed Shop for supporting this great event.”
The list of drivers on hand includes NHRA legends Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, John Force, Frank Hawley and Darrell Gwynn, former world champions Brittany Force, Tony Schumacher Antron Brown and Cruz Pedregon, as well as Top Fuel standouts Hart, Justin Ashley, Clay Millican, Jacob McNeal and rookie Ida Zetterstrom, Funny Car drivers Bob Tasca III, Austin Prock, Chad Green, Daniel Wilkerson, Dave Richards and Buddy Hull, Pro Stock’s Camrie Caruso, three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champ and current Top Alcohol Dragster driver Angelle Sampey and many more.
Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Darrell Gwynn Chapter of The Buoniconti Fund and supports cutting-edge paralysis research at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, a Center of Excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the world’s premier spinal cord injury research center.
In 2023, Mike Salinas (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Troy Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won in Gainesville. The Gatornationals will be broadcast on FS1 in 2024, including qualifying action, the Pep Boys Top Fuel All-Star Callout at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, live coverage on Sunday from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., and continuing finals coverage at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Reigning Top Fuel world champ Doug Kalitta looks to keep rolling after winning his first world title to close out 2023, taking on Force, Steve Torrence, Brown, Ashley, Tony Schumacher and class newcomer Tony Stewart. In Funny Car, Hagan is after his third straight Gators win against a star-studded field of Ron Capps, Tasca, J.R. Todd, Force, Daniel Wilkerson, Pedregon and Prock.
Six-time Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders will try to win in Gainesville for the first time, facing off against Greg Anderson, Aaron Stanfield, Matt Hartford and Dallas Glenn. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Herrera is after a repeat win by knocking off the likes of Matt Smith, Steve Johnson, Hector Arana Jr. and Angie Smith.
The Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout is back to open 2024 as well, pitting eight standouts against each other in a unique, big-money specialty race that takes place on Saturday. Hart is the defending Callout winner. Action will also take place in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ and Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown to open 2024.
Race fans at Gainesville Raceway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk, which benefits the Darrell Gwynn Foundation in Gainesville, as well as a ring ceremony for the 2023 world champs (Kalitta, Hagan, Enders and Herrera) and a flyover from the United States Air Force. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners of the season-opener.
The Nitro Alley Stage is a huge attraction all weekend and is the main entertainment hub in the pits when the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, NHRA Insider Podcast, Shirley Muldowney Q&A, meet and greets and much more. Marching bands will also entertain the crowd each day, including the University of Florida on Sunday.
As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite drivers and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food, and fun.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features two rounds at 2 and 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 8, and the final two qualifying rounds on Saturday, March 9 at 12 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 10.
The first round of the Pep Boys Top Fuel All-Star Callout takes place on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET and the semifinals at 2:45 p.m. The finals are slated for 4:25 p.m.
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