MOTORSPORT AMERICA PHOTOS from SUNDAY at the NHRA GATORNATIONALS

Eight-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher autographs the NHRA’s 75 Anniversary sign.

Photos by Motorsport America Photographers Fred Hanyon and Doug Lewis

 

by Derek Jackson

Race Control at Gainesville Raceway
Pro Mod Line Up
Lyle Barnett’s Orange Pro Mod Dragster
JR Gray’s Pro Mod Dragster
Stan Shelton’s Pro Mod Dragster
Chip King’s Pro Mod Dragster
Cody Coughlin Pro Stock
TSR Nitro’s Matt Hagan.
NHRA Nitro Mall
NHRA Nitro Mall
NHRA Garage at Gainesville Raceway
Maddi Gordon, Top Fuel Driver for Ron Capps Motorsports
Maddi Gordon’s Carlyle Tools Monster Energy NHRA Dragster
Don Garlits, the Father of Drag Racing.
Connie Kalitta, The Bounty Hunter.
Kenny Bernstein – 6 Time NHRA Top Fuel Champ. First man to break the 300-mph barrier.
Ronn Capps with Fan
Tony Stewart and his new teammate Erica Enders
Tony Schumacher and Crew in the Garage
NHRA 75th Anniversary Championship Ring
2025 NHRA Top Fuel Champion Doug Kalitta with a young fan.
Fast Jack Beckman won his first Funny Car world championship title in 2012.
Fast Jack Beckman’s Garage
Erica Enders in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage
Erica Enders Johnson Horsepower Garage
Sean Bellemeur Top Alcohol Funny Car
Sean Bellemeur Top Alcohol Funny Car
Reflections in Race Control at Gainesville Raceway
DHL’s JR Todd taking on Alexis DeJoria in the E3 Semi-Finals. DeJoria is 10 – 8 against Todd in prior events. Todd double-steps the throttle and turns on the red bulb giving the win DeJoria.
Alexis DeJoria goes down the groove with a clean pass to take the win. DeJoria is going to her 17th career final round.
Good Year Racing Eagles
Teammates Tony Stewart and Erica Enders in the rain delay.
John DeJoria of Paul Mitchell Fame and Alexis DeJoria’s Father
Alexis DeJoria’s crew putting the body on for the Gatornationals Finals.
Alexis DeJoria’s Garage at Gainesville Raceway
Race Teams checking track conditions at Gainesville Raceway
Standing for the National Anthem.
The U.S. National Anthem
Tony Stewart at the Gatornationals
Cameron Ferre from Huntington Beach, California
Josh Hart in the near lane taking on Antron Brown in the Semi-Finals. Brown is 5 – 2 against Hart in prior events. Brown with problems in the pit between rounds but makes to the starting line. Brown with the starting line advantage and the lead until right in the lights when Hart chased him down for the win in a close one. Josh Hart’s MOV: 0.0221 seconds (approximately 8 feet). They both smoked the tires and they both pedaled it a couple times. Hart is advancing to his sixth final round.
Doug Kalitta does his burnout in the near lane vs Maddi Gordon in the E3 Semi-Finals.
Doug Kalitta in the near lane vs Maddi Gordon in the Gatornationals Semi-Finals. Kalitta with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win. Gordon started to haze the tires and clicked it off. Kalitta is advancing to his 127th final round.
Chad Green & Alexis DeJoria’s crew make final adjustments to their cars before the final E4 Championship Round.
Alexis DeJoria in the burnout in the Gatornationals Finals
Chad Green in the near lane vs Alexi DeJoria in the Gatornationals Finals. Green is 3-2 against DeJoria in prior events and this is the first time they have faced each other in a final round. Green gets the advantage off of the line and starts to pull away. DeJoria gets about 300 feet out, strikes the tires and has to back off of the throttle. Green goes down the groove with a good pass to take the win. Green has 3 national event wins, two here at the Gatornationals in 2025 and 2026.
Team putting away Maddi’s ride.
Chris Bostick Pro Stock Motorcycle
NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Gaige Herrera
Chase Van Sant Pro Stock Motorcycle
Kelly Clontz NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle
Steve Jackson Pro Stock Motorcycle
John Hall – NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle
Richard Gadson and Clayton Howey share a laugh together before the race.
Matt The Hit Man Smith – 6 Time Pro Stock Motorcycle World Champion
Angie Smith Pro Stock Motorcycle
Greg Anderson in the near lane taking on Matt Hartford in the NHRA Gatornationals Pro Stock Final. Hartford grabbed the Wally with an ET of 6.530 to Anderson’s 6.562.
2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel Champion Doug Kalitta in the Gatornationals Finals against Josh Hart.
Josh Hart’s burnout before facing Doug Kalitta in the E4 Finals. Kalitta is 9 – 4 against Hart in prior events and this is the first time they have faced each other in a final round. Kalitta with a slight starting line advantage, but Hart had the difference made up by 100 feet and never trailed from there on for the win. Kalitta started to lose traction on the top end. Hart wins his third National event Wally and second here. Hart was No. 1 qualifier, and the No. 1 qualifier has made the final round 27 times at this event and won it 15 times. The No. 1 TF qualifier has won this race in 4 of the last 5 years. This is the first time the No. 1 qualifier has won this event three consecutive years.
“It’s my birthday, will you please open my bag of chips?!”
NHRA Fans say Gainesville Raceway is Number One!

Check Mission Foods Drag Racing Series | NHRA for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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