NHRA News: Hart, Green, Hartford, Gadson win Gatornationals
The 57th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, held at Gainesville Raceway in Florida, concluded on Sunday, March 8, 2026. This event marked the kickoff to the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, celebrating the organization’s 75th anniversary.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
Sellout crowds witnessed thrilling eliminations across multiple categories, with standout performances including track records and emotional hometown victories. Weather conditions were favorable, with air temperatures around 82 degrees Fahrenheit during key runs.
Professional Category Results
The finals featured intense matchups in the four primary professional classes: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Below is a summary of the winners, runners-up, and final round performances.
| Category | Winner | Runner-Up | Winner’s ET / MPH | Runner-Up’s ET / MPH | Notes |
| Top Fuel | Josh Hart | Doug Kalitta | 3.733 / 337.83 | 3.877 / 319.60 | Hart set a track speed record earlier in the weekend and claimed his third career win in his debut with John Force Racing. |
| Funny Car | Chad Green | Alexis DeJoria | 3.980 / 325.14 | 4.040 / 320.50 | Green’s victory kicked off the season strongly for the team. |
| Pro Stock | Matt Hartford | Greg Anderson | 6.530 / 210.41 | 6.542 / 209.23 | Hartford ended a winless streak by defeating the six-time champion. |
| Pro Stock Motorcycle | Richard Gadson | Angie Smith | 6.789 / 199.67 | 6.812 / 198.55 | Gadson celebrated a birthday win on his Suzuki. |
Key Highlights and Round-by-Round Insights
Top Fuel
Eliminations began with notable upsets, including Tony Stewart defeating Clay Millican and Leah Pruett over Jasmine Salinas. In the quarterfinals, Maddi Gordon advanced past Tony Schumacher, while Antron Brown edged out Stewart in a close 3.821 vs. 3.813. Semifinals saw Hart defeat Brown (4.48 vs. 4.55) and Kalitta over Gordon (3.75 vs. 4.63). The final was a hometown triumph for Ocala’s Josh Hart, who powered to victory after qualifying No. 1 for the first time in his career.
Funny Car
Chad Green started strong, defeating Matt Hagan in the quarterfinals (3.96 vs. 3.97). In semis, Green bested Jordan Vandergriff (3.98 vs. 4.06), setting up a final against Alexis DeJoria, who had defeated J.R. Todd (4.04 vs. 4.20). Green’s consistent runs throughout the day secured the win.
Pro Stock
Matt Hartford’s path included a strong qualifying effort, leading to a final against veteran Greg Anderson. Hartford’s low ET of the event (6.530) highlighted his performance.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Richard Gadson emerged victorious in a competitive field, marking a strong start to the season for the Vance & Hines Suzuki team.
Additionally, the Right Trailers All-Star Callout was won by Antron Brown, who defeated Clay Millican in the final with a 4.290 at 258.76 mph.