Mainstreet Daily News
The 53rd Amalie Motor Oil National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Gatornationals four-day drag racing event starts Thursday at the Gainesville Raceway.
The Sportsman Qualifying event starts at 9 a.m. and the Top Alcohol Qualifying Session at 4 p.m. and mark the two races scheduled for Thursday.
The Gatornationals started in 1970 and features one of the longest concrete launchpads on the NHRA tour at 675 feet, along with with notable occasions as the first 260 mile per hour Top Fuel and Funny Car runs in 1984 and the first 270-mph and 300-mph Top Fuel passes in 1986 and 1992, respectively, according to the Gainesville Raceway website.
Tickets are available by clicking here.
Competition gets underway today with qualifying in the Sportsman Class. Here’s a full rundown of the schedule:
THURSDAY, MARCH 10
9:00 a.m. Sportsman Qualifying
4:00 p.m. Top Alcohol Qualifying Session
FRIDAY, MARCH 11
9:00 a.m. Sportsman Eliminations
10:30 a.m. Midway Open/Suggested Time of Arrival
11:00 a.m. Top Alcohol Qualifying Session
12:00 p.m. Factory Stock Showdown Qualifying Session
12:20 p.m. Pro Mod Qualifying Session
1:00 p.m. Total Seal Tech Talk at Matt Hartford’s Pro Stock Car Pit
1:35 p.m. Top Alcohol Qualifying Session
2:00 p.m. Pep Boys NHRA All-star Top Fuel Callout Group Photo in the staging lanes
2:30 p.m. Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry concert in the midway
3:00 p.m. Factory Stock Showdown Qualifying Session
3:15 p.m. Pro Mod Qualifying Session
4:00 p.m. Pro STock Qualifying Session
5:00 p.m. Pep Boys NHRA All-star Top Fuel Callout
5:30 p.m. Nitro Qualifying Session
SATURDAY, MARCH 12
8:00 a.m. Midway Opens (Suggested arrival time)
8:00 a.m. Sportsman Eliminations
9:00 a.m. Toyota Autograph Session at the Toyota Midway Display
9:30 a.m. Factory Stock Showdown Qualifying Session
9:45 a.m. Pro Mod Qualifying Session
10:00 a.m. Pep Boys NHRA All-star Top Fuel Callout Autograph Session at the Pep Boys Midway Display
11:45 a.m. Pep Boys NHRA All-star Top Fuel Callout Eliminations – Round 1
12:00 p.m. Nitro Qualifying Session
12:45 p.m. BoomTown Concert in the Midway
12:45 p.m. Pro Mod Eliminations – Round 1
1:15 p.m. Factory Stock Showdown Eliminations – Round 1
1:30 p.m. Pep Boys NHRA All-star Fuel Callout Eleminations – Semifinals
1:45 p.m. Pro Stock Qualifying Session
2:45 p.m. Nitro Qualifying Session – Top Fuel
3:15 p.m. Pep Boys NHRA All-star Top Fuel Callout Eliminations – Finals
3:20 p.m. Nitro Qualifying Session – Funny Car
4:00 p.m. Top Alcohol Eliminations – Round 1
5:15 p.m. Sportsman Eliminations
SUNDAY, MARCH 13
8:00 a.m. Midway Open/Suggested Time of Arrival
8:15 a.m. Sportsman Eliminations
10:00 a.m. SeaMaster Track Walk and Pre-Race Ceremonies
11:00 a.m. Nitro Eliminations- Round 1
12:00 p.m. Pro Stock Eliminations – Round 1
12:45 p.m. Pro Mod Eliminations – Round 2
12:55 p.m. Factory Stock Showdown Eliminations – Round 2
1:10 p.m. Top Alcohol Eliminations – Semi-Finals
1:35 p.m. Nitro Eliminations – Round 2
2:05 p.m. Pro Stock Eliminations – Round 2
2:25 p.m. Pro Mod Eliminations – Semifinals
2:30 p.m. Factory Stock Showdown Eliminations – Semifinals
2:40 p.m. Sportsman Eliminations – Semifinals
3:10 p.m. Nitro Eliminations – Semifinals
3:25 p.m. Pro Stock Eliminations – Semifinals
3:35 p.m. Sportsman Eliminations – Finals
3:50 p.m. Top Alcohol Eliminations – Finals
4:05 p.m. Factory Stock Showdown Eliminations – Finals
4:10 p.m. Pro Mod Eliminations – Finals
4:45 p.m. Pro Stock Eliminations – Finals
4:55 p.m. Nitro Eliminations – Finals
Winners Circle at the Starting Line – After Top Fuel Final