NAPA’s Ron Capps was the No. 1 qualifier at the Gatornationals.
Photos by Motorsport America Photographers Fred Hanyon and Doug Lewis
by Derek Jackson
Kenny Bernstein’s shattering of the 300-mph barrier at the 1992 NHRA Gatornationals was voted by fans as the No. 1 highlight of NHRA’s Top 75 Moments.Gainesville Raceway celebrates the NHRA Legends with their Top 75 Drivers presentation.Legends match race final: Bruce Larson def. Joe AmatoTony Stewart’s burnout at the Gatornationals.Antron Brown in the near lane taking on John Force Racing’s Josh Hart.Shawn Reed’s burnout as he prepares to take on Shawn Langdon in the All-Star Callout.Langdon advances as with a 3.789 as he bests Reed who pulled a 3.838Will Smith at the Gatornationals.
Maddi Gordon in the near lane taking on ScottRod Racing’s Scott Farley in the Q3 round. Farley with a good pass early, then it appeared to push out a head gasket. The engine banged right in the lights. He still makes his quickest pass of the weekend with an ET of 4.051 at 298.73 mph but will not get in the show. Gordon had a hole out early and then was up in smoke before she clicked it off.NHRA Funny Car Driver Spencer HydeJohn Force Racing’s Alexis DeJoriaJohn Force Racing’s Fast Jack BeckmanJohn Force Racing’s Jordan Vandergriff.John Force Racing’s Jack Beckman in the near lane taking on his teammate Jodan Vandergriff. A good side-by-side, both down the groove with clean, straight passes. Vandergriff gets the hole-shot and extends his lead all the way through the run. Beckman makes the third quickest pass of the session in the loss.Cruz Pedregon at the Gatornationals.TSR Nitro’s Matt Hagan.Paul Lee earned his NHRA 1st win at Phoenix last year. Paul is an expert skydiver with 1,500-plus jumps, and earned college degrees including a BBA Summa Cum Laude from Wharton Business School at University of Pennsylvania and MBA and JD from Rutgers University.In 2023, Julie Natass earned her first world championship in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Top Alcohol Dragster category. In 2024, Julie obtained her Top Fuel dragster license to make her debut in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.DHL’s JR ToddNAPA’s Ron Capps was the No. 1 qualifier at the Gatornationals.Justin Ashley in the near lane prepares to take on Tony Stewart in the Top Fuel All-Star Call Out.It’s Antron Brown in the far lane taking on Josh Hart in the Top Fuel Call Out. Antron won with an ET of 3.790 at 330.63 mph.Shawn Reed of Reed Trucking & Excavating.Scott Farley of ScottRod Racing.Dan Mercier from Valleyfield, Quebec Canada.Gary Pritchett took over Top Fuel driving duties for Doug Foley, a veteran racer and multi-time IHRA event winner.The 2026 Gatornationals is Sold OUT!NHRA Fans sold it out on Saturday in Gainesville.United States Navy Color Guard.Leah Pruett, son Dominic and Jasmine Salinas.John Force Racing’s Jordan Vandergriff and Fast Jack Beckman.John Force Racing’s Alexis DeJoria.NHRA Driver Introductions Shawn Reed and Tony Schumacher.Track Operations during the delay.It’s Tony Stewart in the near lane taking on Clay Millican in the All-Star Top Fuel Callout. Millican wins and will advance to the finals vs Antron Brown.Maddi Gordon is a two national events (Las Vegas and Seattle) in Top Alcohol Funny Car Champion. She now drives for Ron Capps Racing.Eight-time Top Fuel champion and 88-time race winner Tony Schumacher drives for Rick Ware Racing.
Cruz Pedregon in the near lane taking on Alexi Dejoria in Round E1. Cruz Pedregon is 19 – 14 in Rd. 1 at this event. Alexis DeJoria is 3 – 7 against Pedregon in Rd. 1. DeJoria is 13 – 12 against Pedregon in prior events. Pedregon gets the holeshot and starts to pull away. He gets out of the groove, makes a hard move to the right, then takes out the 660 foot timing block. DeJoria strikes the tires early in the run, pedals, then gets the slicks to bite and goes on through for the win. DeJoria will have lane choice over Hyde in the next round.Daniel Wilkerson’s SCAG JACKAL taking on Hunter Green in Round E1. Daniel Wilkerson is 27 – 26 in Rd.1. Hunter Green is making his 10th start. This is the first time Wilkerson and Green have faced each other in eliminations. A close one off of the line, they are even at the 60 foot mark. Green loses a cylinder on the right side about 200 feet out and starts falling back. Wilkerson goes down the groove with a clean, straight pass and he takes the win. Daniel Wilkerson’s incremental margins: 60ft(0.000), 330 ft(0.077), 660ft(0.167). MOV: 0.2379 seconds (more than 100 feet). Wilkerson will have lane choice over Todd in the next roundRon Capps Racing’s Maddi Gordon in the near lane taking on Tony Schumacher in Round E2. Schumacher with the starting line advantage, but Gordon chased him down just past half track and never trailed for the win. Schumacher started mixing up cylinders on the top end and the engine let go with a quick flash of flames in the lights.Alexis DeJoria in the near lane vs Spencer Hyde in Round E2. Hyde is 2 – 0 against DeJoria in prior events. A good side-by-side, both down the groove with clean, straight passes. DeJoria gets the advantage off of the line, Hyde pulls ahead after the 60-foot mark, then DeJoria powers back around and pulls away for the win.Leah Pruett’s Dodge taking on Doug Kalitta in E2 competition. Kalitta is 22 – 12 against Pruett in prior events. Kalitta with the starting line advantage and never trails for the win. He will have lane choice over Gordon in the semifinal. Pruett with a clean pass in the losing effort.
