The Gatornationals is a drag racing event in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series that has been held annually each March at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida since 1970.
The Gatornationals was the site of the first 260-mph Top Fuel and Funny Car runs in 1984, achieved by Joe Amato and Kenny Bernstein, respectively. It also hosted the first 270-mph and 300-mph Top Fuel passes, completed by Don Garlits in 1986 and Kenny Bernstein in 1992, respectively. The track features a 675-foot concrete launchpad, which is one of the longest on the tour.
As of 2014, the Gatornationals is the fourth-oldest active event on the NHRA Professional tour, behind the Winternationals, U.S. Nationals, and the NHRA Finals. The event is currently sponsored by the Amalie Oil Company. Previous sponsors have included the Ford Motor Company and Stanley Black & Decker.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, some sportsman races were held behind closed doors, while the national event and top sportsman classes were postponed to September and held with spectators. In 2021, the race became the season opener for all classes, also as a result of the pandemic. The Gatornationals has remained the season opener since 2023, due to logistical changes related to the NFL season schedule that caused the Winternationals to be moved later in the year.
Winners Year Top Fuel Funny Car Pro Stock Pro Stock Motorcycle1970 Dave Chenevert Leonard Hughes Bill Jenkins1971 Jimmy King Leroy Goldstein Ronnie Sox1972 Don Garlits Ed McCulloch Don Carlton1973 Herm Petersen Pat Foster Don Nicholson1974 Dave Settles Don Prudhomme Wally Booth1975 Dale Funk Don Prudhomme Bob Glidden1976 James Warren Don Prudhomme Larry Lombardo1977 Don Garlits Gordie Bonin Don Nicholson1978 Don Garlits Dale Pulde Frank Iaconio1979 Kelly Brown Gordie Bonin Bob Glidden1980 Gary Beck Don Prudhomme Lee Shepherd1981 Shirley Muldowney Gordie Bonin Frank Iaconio1982 Shirley Muldowney Frank Hawley Lee Shepherd1983 Gary Beck Frank Hawley Lee Shepherd1984 Joe Amato Kenny Bernstein Warren Johnson1985 Dick Lahaie Kenny Bernstein Warren Johnson1986 Don Garlits Ed McCulloch Don Campanello Rick Stetson1987 Joe Amato Don Prudhomme Butch Leal Terry Vance1988 Eddie Hill Kenny Bernstein Bruce Allen Terry Vance1989 Darrell Gwynn Ed McCulloch Darrell Alderman John Mafaro1990 Darrell Gwynn Ed McCulloch Kenny Delco John Myers1991 Joe Amato Mark Oswald Warren Johnson Dave Schultz1992 Eddie Hill John Force Warren Johnson Jim Bernard1993 Eddie Hill John Force Warren Johnson John Smith1994 Connie Kalitta John Force Warren Johnson John Myers1995 Larry Dixon John Force Darrell Alderman John Myers1996 Blaine Johnson John Force Jim Yates Dave Schultz1997 Joe Amato Al Hoffman Jim Yates Dave Schultz1998 Kenny Bernstein Cruz Pedregon Warren Johnson Matt Hines1999 Mike Dunn John Force Warren Johnson Angelle Sampey2000 Doug Kalitta Jerry Toliver Warren Johnson Dave Schultz2001 Larry Dixon John Force Jeg Coughlin Matt Hines2002 Larry Dixon Tony Pedregon Darrell Alderman Craig Treble2003 Brandon Bernstein Gary Densham Kurt Johnson Angelle Sampey2004 Tony Schumacher Del Worsham Greg Anderson Andrew Hines2005 Doug Kalitta Whit Bazemore Jason Line Steve Johnson2006 David Grubnic Ron Capps Tom Martino Angelle Sampey2007 Tony Schumacher Ron Capps Greg Anderson Karen Stoffer2008 NHRA ACDelco Gatornationals results; USA Today, March 16, 2008, Retrieved April 6, 2008 Tony Schumacher Tony Pedregon Jeg Coughlin Matt Guidera2009 Larry Dixon Bob Tasca III Jason Line Hector Arana Sr2010 Tony Schumacher Tim Wilkerson Jason Line Eddie Krawiec2011 Del Worsham Mike Neff Jason Line Eddie Krawiec2012 Morgan Lucas Robert Hight Mike Edwards Eddie Krawiec2013 Antron Brown Johnny Gray Allen Johnson Hector Arana Jr2014 Doug Kalitta Robert Hight Allen Johnson Steve Johnson2015 Spencer Massey Ron Capps Greg Anderson Karen Stoffner2016 Brittany Force Tim Wilkerson Jason Line Eddie Krawiec2017 Tony Schumacher John Force Shane Gray Eddie Krawiec2018 Richie Crampton Jack Beckman Tanner Gray Eddie Krawiec2019 Richie Crampton Robert Hight Bo Butner Andrew Hines2020 Steve Torrence Ron Capps Alex Laughlin Matt Smith2021 Josh Hart J.R. Todd Greg Anderson Matt Smith2022 Tripp Tatum Matt Hagan Dallas Glenn Karen Stoffer2023 Mike Salinas Matt Hagan Troy Coughlin Jr. Gaige Herrera2024 Shawn Langdon J.R. Todd Erica Enders Gaige Herrera2025 Antron Brown Chad Green Dallas Glenn Gaige Herrera2026Josh HartChad GreenMatt HartfordRichard Gadson
References
External links Track website