Gatornationals will start 2025 NHRA season

The smell of burning rubber, mixed with popcorn, becomes an everyday place this weekend, where the amalie engine oil NHRA Gatornational takes place on the Gainesville Raceway.

The four-day event begins on Thursday and highlights the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing season. Gainesville Raceway in the 11211 North County Road 225 will again organize the 55th edition of the event to continue its placement as one of the four oldest events on the NHRA racing route.

Weekend preview

The fan festival in the Burnyzz Speed ​​Shop from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday will begin with the eagerly awaited opener. Then the buzzing of engines will be heard loud from Thursday, as the first qualification events will take over the starting line. The qualitators of the Sportsman class and the top alcohol class will see the green flag at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. The first day of the race is just the beginning, and much more comes all weekend.

The top driver Tony Schumacher will also be available for fans because he will be in the stands every four days to catch the action. Schumacher, the victorious top fuel driver in the history of Nhra Drag Racing, will watch the race of the weekend before going to Motorsport -Hall of Fame of America's Class from 2025 on the way to his introduction to Motorsporthall of America on March 11th.

I am pleased to be able to tell you that Tony Schumacher will visit the Gator National to be included in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America! 🏁🏆 #Tonyschumacher #Gatornationalities

Read more: #Automatetweets #Freeewithnectar

– Motorsports Bee (@Outdoornews0) March 4, 2025

Friday and Saturday will continue the continuation of qualification players in the remaining classes. The excretions will also begin in the subclasses athletes and top alcohol in the two days. The average 48 hours also include many fan events such as autograph meetings, Q and A's and exhibition runs.

The long -popular event is closed with the last day of the Drag Racing Action. On the last day, the last elimination rounds and the final take place in all classes, which complete the weekend with the district ceremony of the winners.

History of Gatornation

The event took place for the first time in 1970 and was the fourth oldest race on the tour behind the winter nationals, the US nationals and the NHRA season finals. The event also organized some of the most historical moments in sport. The Gatornationals saw the first 260-mile top fuel and funny car runs by Joe Amato and Kenny Bernstein in 1984. The route also had the first 270 miles per hour in 1986 and 1992 and 300 miles per hour of Top fuel passes from Don Garlits and Kenny Bernstein, according to Gainesville Raceway.

It is #Gatornat Week!

The defense of Gatornationals per stock winner Erica Enders describes why the event has grown over the years so much prestige 🐊

▶ ️ https://t.co/drhng3ap79#Nhra | @Elitemotorsllc pic.twitter.com/njb7m8ryzi

– Behind the fan fence (@behindcatch) March 3, 2025

The concrete strip is one of the longest races of the tour and is 675 feet. The race has opened the season every year since 2021 after he had never opened the NHRA season in the 50 years.

2025 Gatornational weekend information

This year's Gatornationals are included in each of the courses presented in reigning world champions. Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (per stock) and Gaige Herrera (per stock motorcycle) will begin with a win against the title defense.

You can find the entire overview of the four -day schedule here.

You can also find ticket information on the NHRA website.

The first recordings of qualifying will be broadcast on Saturday at 8.02.30 p.m. The second qualification show will be broadcast on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., and the final taping will be broadcast on Sunday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. All television events are broadcast on Fox Sports 1.