91°µÍø

Rain put a damper on Saturday’s action at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornaitonals but today is a new day at Gainesville Raceway and it’s time for final eliminations.

On Friday, NHRA pros got two runs to set each of the 16-car fields with Antron Brown, Jack Beckman, Greg Anderson, and Gaige Herrera as the low qualifiers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, respectively.

Among the highlights from Friday was a 6.443 national record run by Anderson to claim his 131st low qualifier award in Pro Stock. Anderson, the reigning and six-time champion, will face off against Chris McGaha in round one.

Defending Gainesville winner Erica Enders qualified No. 9 with a 6.503 but remains the favorite to win the race. As part of the Play NHRA initiative, Enders is listed at +350 to win the event meaning that a $10 wager would return a profit of $35 ($45 total) if she were to win the event.

Anderson’s odds are +450 while his teammate, Dallas Glenn,Ìý is listed among the favorites at +400.

Other key match-ups in Pro Stock include Greg Stanfield vs. Jeg Coughlin Jr., and Troy Coughlin Jr. vs. Aaron Stanfield.

Reigning Top Fuel world champion Brown went 3.685-seconds at 334.24 mph in his Matco Tools dragster during the second session, starting the year strong with his 51st career No. 1 qualifier.
Ìý
Tripp Tatum also went 3.685 at a slower 326.58 to take the second spot and reigning Gainesville winner Shawn Langdon is third after going 3.690 at 335.23.

Fittingly, Brown is the event favorite at +300 with fellow world champions Brittany Force (+700), Doug Kalitta (+750) and Steve Torrence (+800) each among the favorites.

Tatum represents a tremendous value pick at +2000 meaning a $10 wager would return a healthy $210.

Beckman was the quickest in both Funny Car sessions on Friday, slipping past Bob Tasca III under the lights with a stellar run of 3.832 at 334.65 in the Peak Camaro. Named the full-time driver for John Force during the 2025 campaign, Beckman picked up where he left off last year, following his 91°µÍø Finals victory with a pair of terrific runs on Friday.
Ìý
Tasca was also strong on Friday, going 3.833 at 333.82 and Capps’ 3.857 at 335.73 puts him third after the first day of qualifying.
Ìý
Austin Prock is the favorite in Funny Car at +125 while Beckman is listed at +500 while Ron Capps is valued at +800. When it comes to value, it’s hard to overlook defending Gainesville winner J.R. Todd at +1500.

Gaige Herrera’s domination at Gainesville Raceway continued on Friday, as the back-to-back world champion took over the top spot during the second session on his RevZilla/ Vance & Hines Suzuki with a run of 6.670 at 202.97. Herrera has rolled to Gatornationals wins at the last two events at the legendary facility and appears poised to try and make it three in a row.
Ìý
Matt Smith is currently second with a pass of 6.679 at 203.49 and Angie Smith is third after going 6.709 at 201.01.

Herrera is the biggest favorite of any racer in the four pro categories with a price of -125 meaning a $12.50 wager would net a profit of $10. Matt Smith is also a favorite at +220.

Sunday’s packed schedule also includes final eliminations in the Congruity Pro Mod series, FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown and the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series sportsman categories.

2024 EVENT WINNERS: Shawn Langdon, Top Fuel; J.R. Todd, Funny Car; Erica Enders, Pro Stock; Gaige Herrera, Pro Stock Motorcycle. Ìý

MOST VICTORIES: Tony Schumacher 5, TF; John Force, 8, FC; Warren Johnson, 9, PS; Eddie Krawiec, 6, PSM.

TRACK RECORDS

Top Fuel – 3 646 seconds by Doug Kalitta, March ‘23; 337.75 mph by Brittany Force, March ‘22
Funny Car – 3 820 seconds by Austin Prock, March ‘24; 338.09 mph by Bob Tasca III, March ‘24
Pro Stock – 6.443 seconds by Greg Anderson, March ‘25; 214.69 mph by Enders, March ‘14
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 6.629 seconds by Gaige Herrera, March ‘24; 204.54 mph by Herrera, March ‘24

SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, March 9
Pre-race ceremony, 9 a.m.
NHRA MISSION FOODS SERIES eliminations begin at 9:30 a.m.

TELEVISION
Sunday, March 9, FS1 will televise 90 minutes of qualifying at 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 9, FS1 will televise three hours of final eliminations at 7 p.m.