The 52nd annual Amalie Motor Oil National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Gatornationals officially gets started today and will run through Sunday at the Gainesville Raceway.

For the first time in the history of the NHRA, the season is opening at the Gainesville Raceway.

The annual event is drag racing at its finest, with such notable occasions as the first 260-mph Top Fuel and Funny Car runs in 1984 and the first 270-mph and 300-mph Top Fuel passes, in 1986 and 1992, respectively.

Its 675-foot concrete launchpad is one of the longest on the tour.

Some of the notable drag racers who have won the big title recently include Steve Torrence (2020), Richie Crampton (2019), Tony Schumacher (2017), Brittany Force (2016), and Spencer Massey (2015).

Competition gets underway today with qualifying in the Sportsman Class. Here’s a full rundown of the schedule: 

THURSDAY, MARCH 11

8:00 a.m. Sportsman Qualifying – (Comp, SS, STK, SC, SG, TD and TS)

FRIDAY, MARCH 12

8:00 a.m. Sportsman Eliminations

11:00 a.m. Top Alcohol Qualifying Session

12:00 p.m. Midway Open/Suggested Time of Arrival

12:00 p.m. Sportsman Eliminations

2:00 p.m. Top Alcohol Qualifying Session

3:00 p.m. Factory Stock Showdown Qualifying Session

3:15 p.m. Top Fuel Harley Qualifying Session

3:30 p.m. Pro Mod Qualifying Session

4:00 p.m. Pro Stock Motorcycle Qualifying Session

4:25 p.m. Southeast Nostalgia Pro Stock Series Exhibition

4:30 p.m. Pro Stock Car Qualifying Session

5:00 p.m. Nitro Qualifying Session (FC & TF)

SATURDAY, MARCH 13

8:00 a.m. Sportsman Eliminations

10:00 a.m. Midway Opens (Suggested arrival time)

10:00 a.m. Top Alcohol Qualifying Session

11:00 a.m. Factory Stock Showdown Qualifying Session

11:15 a.m. Top Fuel Harley Qualifying Session

11:30 a.m. Pro Mod Qualifying Session

11:55 a.m. Southeast Nostalgia Pro Stock Series Exhibition

12:00 p.m. Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PSC & PSM)

1:00 p.m. Nitro Qualifying Session (FC & TF)

2:00 p.m. Top Alcohol Eliminations – Round 1

3:00 p.m. Factory Stock Showdown Qualifying Session

3:15 p.m. Top Fuel Harley Qualifying Session

3:30 p.m. Pro Mod Qualifying Session

4:00 p.m. Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PSC & PSM)

5:00 p.m. Nitro Qualifying Session (FC & TF)

6:00 p.m. Top Alcohol Eliminations – Round 2

6:30 p.m. Sportsman Eliminations

SUNDAY, MARCH 14

8:00 a.m. Midway Open/Suggested Time of Arrival

8:15 a.m. Sportsman Eliminations

8:30 a.m. Factory Stock Showdown Eliminations – Round 1

8:45 a.m. Top Fuel Harley Eliminations – Round 1

9:00 a.m. Pro Mod Eliminations- Round 1

10:00 a.m. Nitro Eliminations- Round 1

11:00 a.m. Pro Stock Eliminations – Round 1

11:50 a.m. Nitro Eliminations- Round 2

12:20 p.m. Pro Stock Eliminations – Round 2

12:40 p.m. Pro Mod Eliminations – Round 2

12:50 p.m. Top Fuel Harley Eliminations – Semi-Finals

1:00 p.m. Factory Stock Showdown Eliminations – Round 2

1:05 p.m. Top Alcohol Eliminations – Semi-Finals

1:30 p.m. Nitro Eliminations – Semi-Finals

1:45 p.m. Pro Stock Eliminations – Semi-Finals

1:55 p.m. Pro Mod Eliminations – Semi-Finals

2:00 p.m. Factory Stock Showdown Eliminations – Semi-Finals

2:05 p.m. Sportsman Eliminations – Finals

2:20 p.m. Top Alcohol Eliminations – Finals

2:30 p.m. Top Fuel Harley – Finals

2:35 p.m. Factory Stock Showdown Eliminations -Finals

2:40 p.m. Pro Mod Eliminations – Finals

2:45 p.m. Pro Stock Eliminations – Finals

2:50 p.m. Nitro Eliminations – Finals