The Top Fuel All-Star Callout returns to open the NHRA 75th Anniversary season at Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Jan. 27, 2026) – As part of the season-opening
kickoff to NHRA’s 75th anniversary in 2026, the NHRA Top Fuel All-Star
Callout returns to Gainesville Raceway, taking place on Saturday, March
7 as part of the 56th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
The specialty race features a loaded eight-car field, including
defending Callout winner and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta. He
earned the top seed in the unique bonus race that offers a big purse and
bragging rights to open the milestone campaign. The rest of the field,
in order, includes Kalitta’s teammate, Shawn Langdon, 2025
Gatornationals winner Antron Brown, racing legend Tony Stewart, Justin
Ashley, Clay Millican, Shawn Reed and 2023 Callout winner Josh Hart.
With the unique Callout format, Kalitta will get to pick his
opening-round opponent. Langdon will get the next selection until all
the first-round matchups are set. The quickest winning driver in the
opening round gets to call his shot for the semifinals, too, setting one
of the matchups.
All three rounds take place on Saturday in Gainesville, with the
opening-round selections set for Friday, March 6 in the Top Eliminator
Club, A special Callout broadcast will also air on FS1.
Kalitta will also try to become the first Top Fuel driver to earn
multiple wins in the Callout, which offers a total purse of $130,000.
“It was a good event last year and we ended up winning it, so
definitely hoping we can pull it off again this year,” Kalitta said.
“We ended up calling out Clay (Millican) for the first round. Anytime
you get an opportunity to have those specialty races, they usually are
just a lot of fun. It’s the first race of the year, too, and
Gainesville really packs in the people. It’s always good to have an
extra race on Saturday and just kind of have some fun with it. Our Mac
Tools team is definitely looking forward to another opportunity this
year. We hope to have some fun with it for sure and pick up right where
we left off last season.”
Last season, Kalitta defeated Millican in the opening round and then
knocked off Brown before taking down two-time world champ Brittany Force
in the finals.
With a big purse, a special Callout trophy and plenty of bragging rights
on the line, it can also provide the perfect boost to open the season at
one of the most historic races on the NHRA schedule. This year’s
loaded field features three NHRA Top Fuel world champions, while all
eight participants have Top Fuel victories.
Final 2026 NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout Field
1. Doug Kalitta
2. Shawn Langdon
3. Justin Ashley
4. Tony Stewart
5. Clay Millican
6. Shawn Reed
7. Antron Brown
8. Josh Hart
The 2025 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals featured wins by Antron
Brown (Top Fuel), Chad Green (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and
Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle). This year’s race will again be
broadcast on FS1.
This year promises to be one of the biggest races in Gatornationals
history. Along with a full slate of racing, fans can expect a multitude
of events to celebrate the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals and
NHRA’s 75th anniversary, including:
* Appearances from a host of NHRA legends during the event, including
Kenny Bernstein, Don Garlits, Joe Amato, Don Prudhomme, Shirley
Muldowney, Darrell Gwynn and Bob Frey.
* A celebration of Bernstein’s historic 300-mph run from 1992.
* A free, limited-edition NHRA 2026 season poster to the first 6,500
fans in attendance on Sunday.
* A new-look Nitro Mall, special displays and a 75th anniversary stage
in Nitro Alley.
* Race winners will get the special NHRA 75th anniversary Diamond
Wally, along with the Gatornationals traditional Golden Gator trophy.
This year, fans will see a host of major stars, including Kalitta,
Stewart, Hart, who joined John Force Racing, and the return of star
driver Leah Pruett. In Funny Car, the stars include back-to-back world
champ Austin Prock, Capps, Matt Hagan, Jack Beckman and new John Force
Racing driver Jordan Vandergriff, while Pro Stock features champ Glenn,
Anderson, Erica Enders, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Aaron Stanfield.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera is after a fourth straight
Gatornationals win, while Richard Gadson begins his title defense
against the likes of Matt Smith, Angie Smith and Chase Van Sant.
To purchase tickets to the 2026 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals,
Including upgraded experiences in the Gainesville Top Eliminator Club
[2], fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets [3]. Children 12 and under are
free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket.
For more information about the NHRA, visit www.nhra.com [4].
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