The countdown is on for the start of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, and it doesn’t get much bigger than the season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, which kicks off the year March 6-9 at Gainesville Raceway.
With the NHRA set for its 74th season of racing in 2025, the countdown is on for the start of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, and it doesn’t get much bigger than the season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, which kicks off the year March 6-9 at Gainesville Raceway.
The legendary facility will play host to the 56th annual Gatornationals, long regarded as one of the marquee events on the NHRA tour. This season will be no different as all the stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle will look to win the historic race and start their year with a spectacular victory.
The season kickoff is loaded with a host of special events to make the Gatornationals even bigger, including the big-money Top Fuel All-Star Callout specialty race, which takes place on Saturday, March 8, as well as the first race of 2025 in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series and Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown, and action in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
The Gatornationals have drawn massive crowds for more than five decades, as fans in 2025 will get their first glimpse of the incredible 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph nitro machines and all the biggest stars on the NHRA tour, including reigning world champions Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
In 2024, Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), and Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won on the hallowed grounds of Gainesville Raceway to open the year. It marked the first double-up victory for Kalitta Motorsports, while six-time world champ Enders won the historic race for the first time. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, including coverage of the Top Fuel All-Star Callout at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 8, and eliminations at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 9.
Brown won the Top Fuel All-Star Callout a year ago, using that momentum to clinch his fourth world title. The standout will look to defend his title in the thrilling one-day bonus race, which adds the unique callout element to the big-money specialty event.
Action in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will start with two rounds of qualifying on both Friday and Saturday, the Top Fuel All-Star Callout on Saturday, and then eliminations on Sunday.
More top names that will be in action in Gainesville include Top Fuel’s Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force, reigning NHRA Rookie of the Year and motorsports legend Tony Stewart, and local native Josh Hart, Funny Car stars Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Bob Tasca III, and Jack Beckman, who will be driving for legendary champion John Force in 2025, Pro Stock’s Aaron Stanfield, Dallas Glenn, and Jeg Coughlin Jr., and Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Matt Smith, Jianna Evaristo, Angie Smith, Richard Gadson, and Chase Van Sant.
Before the race, fans will again be invited to a special Gatornationals Kickoff Party and Fanfest at Josh Hart’s Burnyzz Speedshop in Ocala, Fla. In what’s become an exciting pre-event tradition, the event will take place from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5. The fun-filled kickoff event will include driver appearances and autographs from 7-8 p.m. at the state-of-the-art facility and much more.
A host of additional special events – both off and on the track – as well as the full event schedule for the 56th annual NHRA Gatornationals will be announced in the coming weeks.
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