2024 AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS

Coverage / Photos: Michael Thompson

March 12, 2024 Gainesville, FL

The 55th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals was held March 7-10, 2024, at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida, marked the 3rd time in it's history that the event opened up the NHRA season. It lived up to its reputation as being one of the most prestigious drag racing events on the NHRA schedule. Despit numerous weather delays, the weekend was packed with record-breaking performances, thrilling upsets, and emotional victories. The weekend started off with The Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout is a specialty race which is held during the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals race weekend.

The race which started in 2022 and slots eight top fuel standouts against each other in a specialty shootout, took place on Saturday, March 9 during the opener to the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. The lineup for the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout contained a star-studded field that included five world champions, record-breaking drivers and a host of all-star drivers. With a total purse of $130,000, a special Callout trophy, winners belt, and bragging rights on the line.

TOP FUEL ALL-STAR CALLOUT RESULTS:

1. Steve TorrenceAntron Brown; 2. Brittany Force; 3.; 4. Mike Salinas; 5. Shawn Langdon; 6. Justin Ashley; 7. Doug Kalitta; 8. Josh Hart.

Top Fuel Division

Shawn Langdon's triumph in the Top Fuel category at the 2024 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals wasn't just a personal victory; it marked a significant milestone for Kalitta Motorsports. Langdon faced off against worthy opponents, including Cody Krohn, Justin Ashley, and veteran racer Antron Brown, en route to the final round. He delivered a near-flawless performance in the final showdown, clocking a winning run of 3.711 seconds at 335.40 mph in his Kalitta Air Careers Toyota dragster. Billy Torrence, his competitor, encountered issues and couldn't match Langdon's pace. Langdon's victory wasn't the only celebratory moment for Kalitta Motorsports. Teammate J.R. Todd secured the Funny Car title, marking the first time in team history that they achieved a "double win" in the nitro categories at a single event.

Funny Car Division

Pre-race favorite: Austin Prock in the Cornwell Quality Tools Camaro had a strong showing throughout the qualifiers, leading many to believe it would be his win. J.R. Todd and the Kalitta Motorsports team emerged victorious in a major upset. Despite not having the fastest car, they capitalized on an opportunity. In the final round, Prock stumbled. This misstep opened the door for Todd, who delivered a clean run with a 3.889-second pass at 329 mph, securing the win. This victory is considered a major highlight of Todd's career, solidifying it as one of the biggest upsets in Funny Car history at the Gatornationals.

Pro Stock Division

Erica Enders finally conquered the "Gator" at the 2024 NHRA Gatornationals, achieving a significant win that had eluded her throughout her career. This win marked Enders' first-ever title at the Gatornationals despite being a reigning world champion and having numerous wins under her belt. Enders displayed exceptional driving throughout the event. In the final round, she went head-to-head with her teammate Cristian Cuadra. Enders secured the win with a solid 6.494-second pass at 211.93 mph. The Gatornationals win added to Enders' impressive record. It was her 49th career victory, with 48 of those specifically in Pro Stock.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

The winner of the 2024 NHRA Gatornationals Pro Stock Motorcycle class was Gaige Herrera. He secured his 12th career victory and extended his winning streak to six races dating back to his championship season in 2023. Herrera capped off a weekend with a run of 6.636 at 204.39 to get past Matt Smith on his Vance & Hines Suzuki in the final round to. Herreras weekend runs included a track-record of 6.629 at 204.54 in the second round, this E.T. was the second quickest pass in history. He put together four straight runs in the 6.60s at 200 + mph, on his way to defeating Joey Gladstone, John Hall, and Angie Smith to earn his spot in the final round.

For complete results from the 2024 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals please visit https://www.nhra.com/results/2024/nhra-mission-foods-drag-racing-series/67321/ladders

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse