Gatornationals will roar this weekend as it kickstarts the drag racing season for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) in the organization’s 75th year.
Gainesville Raceway has hosted the season opener for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series since 2023, and it’s one of the oldest—and fastest—tracks on the calendar.
During testing for the 2026 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, Shawn Langdon hit 345.62 miles per hour, the unofficial fastest time in NHRA history. Other top storylines include Austin Prock teaming with Bob Tasca III and Josh Hart stepping in for Brittany Force at John Force Racing.
Max Orsini, NHRA media manager, said the association is celebrating its anniversary by honoring the series’ legendary drivers, including Don Garlits, Kenny Bernstein and Shirley Muldowney who will be in Gainesville for Gatornationals. The entire season will feature special signings and commemorative events.
“They’re buying into it, and it’s a big achievement for them, but it’s also a big achievement for the sport and the drivers as a whole to really take part in this landmark season,” Orsini said.
Orsini said Florida racing fans always ensure the drag racing series starts with a packed high. He said ticket sales have been strong for the 75th anniversary.
The NHRA also posted the top 75 moments in its history, and Gatornationals played a part in five of them thanks primarily to its fast track.
Kenny Taylor worked at Gainesville Raceway for 19 years before retiring and then returning in the last 18 months. He said the speed comes from the climate, a hot sun in the morning to heat up the track while the air stays cool for a time.
He said the NHRA staff will rebuild the top layer of the track for the drag racing, scraping it down to nothing and bringing it back up. He said it’s a higher-grade surface for the “big boys” than what is used for other races during the year.
Gainesville Raceway hosts the Baby Gators, bracket racing and other events throughout the year, with the five-day Laris Motorsports Insurance Mini Million Florida coming in November.
Jodee Kennedy, general manager for Gainesville Raceway, said around 40,000 to 50,000 attendees will descend on Saturday, with more over the other three racing days. It’s by far the largest event on the raceway’s calendar.
“I think it’s the prestigiousness of the event,” Kennedy said. “I want to say Indy, because it is a longer event, I feel like it’s considered to be a larger event, but we hold our own when it comes to that.”
Kennedy joined Gainesville Raceway in 2021 after working for over a decade at Atlanta Dragway. She’s tried to expand the types of events that come to the raceway and its more than 300 acres north of city limits.
The raceway launched hot air balloons in 2022 for La Balooza and had a tiny house festival in 2023.
Kennedy said these events allow residents who aren’t racing fans to get an insight into the space and maybe spark an interest in a future derby. She said people still ask what happens at the raceway when they see it on her shirt. But others in the community are all in.
“It feels more homely here, as far as a community comes together to make sure that this event goes off well, whether from restaurants making sure they’re ready to go, from hotels to even the sheriff’s office is so supportive,” Kennedy said.
