Excitement building for Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals to open 2025 NHRA season

The countdown has begun for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, with the season-opening Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals marking a major event. The series starts from March 6-9 at Gainesville Raceway.

As the NHRA prepares for its 74th racing season in 2025, anticipation builds for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series to begin. The season starts with a major event, the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, taking place from March 6-9 at Gainesville Raceway.

The iconic venue will host the 56th annual Gatornationals, a premier event on the NHRA circuit. This season promises the same excitement, as all the top competitors in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle aim to claim victory in this prestigious race and kick off their year with a remarkable win. 

The season opener is packed with numerous special events to enhance the Gatornationals, featuring the high-stakes Top Fuel All-Star Callout specialty race on Saturday, March 8. It also includes the inaugural race of 2025 in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series and Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown, along with activities in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

For over fifty years, the Gatornationals have attracted huge audiences. In 2025, fans will witness the astonishing 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph nitro machines and all the major stars of the NHRA tour, including current 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 claimed victories at the renowned Gainesville Raceway to start the year. This event marked Kalitta Motorsports' first double-up victory, while six-time world champion Enders won this iconic race for the first time. This year's race will again be televised on FS1, featuring 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 claimed victory in the Top Fuel All-Star Callout last year, leveraging that success to secure his fourth world championship. The notable competitor aims to defend his title in the exciting one-day bonus race, which incorporates the distinctive callout feature into the high-stakes specialty event.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will feature two rounds of qualifying on both Friday and Saturday, the Top Fuel All-Star Callout on Saturday, followed by eliminations on Sunday.

In Gainesville, top competitors set to participate include Top Fuel racers Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force, the current NHRA Rookie of the Year and motorsports icon Tony Stewart, and local resident Josh Hart. Funny Car contenders include Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Bob Tasca III, and Jack Beckman, who will drive for the legendary champion John Force in 2025. Pro Stock features Aaron Stanfield, Dallas Glenn, and Jeg Coughlin Jr., while Pro Stock Motorcycle showcases Matt Smith, Jianna Evaristo, Angie Smith, Richard Gadson, and Chase Van Sant.

Fans are once more invited to a special Gatornationals Kickoff Party and Fanfest at Josh Hart’s Burnyzz Speedshop in Ocala, Fla., before the race. This exciting pre-event tradition will occur from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5. The fun-filled kickoff will feature driver appearances and autographs from 7-8 p.m. at the state-of-the-art facility, along with much more.