March 9, 2026 | By NHRA

75th Anniversary NHRA season opens with Hart, Green, Hartford, Gadsen winning Gatornationals

GAINESVILLE, Fla.—Ocala’s Josh Hart won in his debut with John Force Racing on Sunday at Gainesville Raceway, taking down reigning Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta in the final round of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.

Chad Green (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Richard Gadson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won in front of a capacity crowd at the first of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. It also marks the start of NHRA’s 75th anniversary season.

Hart, who set the track speed record on Friday, went 3.733-seconds at 337.83 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Burnyzz/Speedmaster dragster to knock off Kalitta, who slowed to a 3.877 at 319.60. It marks the third career win for Hart and first in nearly five years.

Since then, it had been a grind for Hart, who won in his Top Fuel debut in 2021 at Gainesville Raceway. Now with John Force Racing, Hart is off and running. He qualified No. 1 for the first time in his career on Saturday and then dispatched of Dan Mercier, Tripp Tatum and four-time champ Antron Brown to reach the final round. Hart quickly tracked down Kalitta and made a strong impression that he will be a championship threat in the loaded category in 2026.

“I’m so grateful for everybody,” Hart said. “I got the crap kicked out of me for four years and I’m having a hard time believing this is happening. I have so many people to thank and there was so much energy from these fans today. John Force, thank you for picking me.

“It was just awesome. It was a storybook. We crushed every record that I have had in my career, all in the first weekend with John Force Racing. Those guys are absolutely awesome. The most professional team I've ever been a part of and communication is second to none. I just want to say thank you to John Force and Brittany Force for even considering me, let alone picking me to take that seat, and I'll get more comfortable, and we'll win more races.”

In Funny Car, Green continued his dominant performance at Gainesville Raceway, making it back-to-back victories at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals thanks to a run of 3.959 at 329.91 in his 12,000-horsepower Bond-Coat, Inc. Ford Mustang against Alexis DeJoria in the final round. Green has three career victories and remarkably two of them have come at Gainesville Raceway, as he’s now posted eight straight round wins at one of the biggest races on the NHRA tour.

On Sunday, that included round wins against Terry Haddock, four-time world champ Matt Hagan and John Force Racing’s Jordan Vandergriff, who was making his first career start in the Funny Car ranks. That set up a matchup with another JFR driver, as DeJoria advanced to the final in her debut with her new team.

But she ran into trouble early and Green put together another solid performance to claim the victory and take the points lead at the first race in NHRA’s 75th anniversary season.

“Last year was actually so special to win the Gatornationals for the first time, and during the last couple of months here I’ve been thinking how awesome it’d be to win the race again,” Green said. “It's so hard to win any race, especially for somebody like me. It all came together, and it's so great to go back-to-back. I was also thinking, how nice it would be to win a Diamond Wally. To get it done on the first race, that's just really awesome.

“It makes it so much easier as a driver when you're not thinking about what this car is going to do. We qualified well, but that first round is always so nerve-racking to me. After we got past that, I really felt very confident in the car all day, and as each run went by, the car just made it down the track and that definitely helps you as a driver.”

DeJoria advanced to the final round for the first time in two years and 17th time in her career thanks to round wins against Cruz Pedregon, 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde and J.R. Todd.

Pro Stock’s Matt Hartford had his own winless streak snapped on Sunday as well, picking up his first victory since 2023 by going 6.530 at 210.41 in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro to hold off six-time world champion Greg Anderson.

It’s the first win for Hartford in 40 races and after coming close multiple times in 2025, Hartford was more than ready to break through in Gainesville to open the 75th anniversary season. The victory is his first at the Gatornationals and the ninth in his career, getting past Kenny Delco, Aaron Stanfield and reigning world champion Dallas Glenn earlier in the day.

Hartford took down an impressive lineup just to reach the final round and then finished the job against Anderson, showcasing what he hopes will be a banner 2026 campaign.

“We were sitting having dinner the other night, and we were saying we need to get one of these Diamond Wallys and not one of them – we need to stack them up, and the best way to do that is to start with the first one,” Hartford said. “To get the first one in Pro Stock is incredible.

“This is going to be the most grueling Pro Stock season that I think you guys in the media have ever seen. The caliber of the drivers who are out there right now are over the top. It’s just so competitive from all the camps right now. You make one mistake, you're not qualifying.”

Anderson reached the finals for the 192nd time in his career thanks to round wins against Deric Kramer, his son, Cody, who was making his Pro Stock debut, and longtime rival Erica Enders.

Reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle world champ Richard Gadson had a resounding start to his championship defense season, getting his first Gatornationals victory after taking down John Hall in the championship round with a 6.753 at 200.05 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki.

That the win came on his birthday made it that much sweeter, as Gadson claimed his fifth career victory, displaying the kind of consistency that led to his breakout season a year ago. He was presented with his championship jacket and ring during pre-race introductions and it seemed to spur him along, taking down Geno Scali, Chase Van Sant and Clayton Howey.

In the finals, Gadson led wire-to-wire thanks to an .018 reaction time, getting his first diamond Wally of the season.

“I'd say this is a pretty resounding statement to open the season,” Gadson said. “You know, I like to say it was a long winter. I kind of still felt like I had something to prove.

“Matt Hines [team member] told me before we left the shop. He said, ‘Don't race like you're the world champion. Race the same way that got you the championship. Don't let up.’ So, that was what I did and it worked out for me this weekend.”

Hall reached the finals for the eighth time in his career thanks to Brayden Davis, Gaige Herrera and Steve Johnson.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action March 20-22 with the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs at Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix.



ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Final round-by-round results from the 57th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the first of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:


TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Tony Stewart, 3.713, 338.68 def. Clay Millican, 7.811, 80.19; Leah Pruett, 3.713, 333.41 def. Jasmine Salinas, 8.765, 77.77; Maddi Gordon, 3.762, 334.48 def. Shawn Langdon, 4.494, 190.81; Josh Hart, 3.751, 335.65 def. Dan Mercier, 5.107, 143.08; Antron Brown, 3.764, 331.20 def. Gary Pritchett, 5.778, 111.73; Doug Kalitta, 4.338, 237.96 def. Justin Ashley, 4.586, 221.27; Tony Schumacher, 4.182, 260.86 def. Shawn Reed, 4.684, 158.99; Tripp Tatum, 4.563, 234.33 def. Billy Torrence, 4.603, 197.39;

QUARTERFINALS -- Gordon, 3.783, 331.53 def. Schumacher, 3.863, 298.87; Brown, 3.821, 327.82 def. Stewart, 3.813, 332.10; Kalitta, 3.764, 332.34 def. Pruett, 3.871, 318.47; Hart, 3.845, 334.57 def. Tatum, Foul - Red Light;

SEMIFINALS -- Hart, 4.488, 289.51 def. Brown, 4.552, 246.93; Kalitta, 3.754, 333.91 def. Gordon, 4.630, 165.07;

FINAL -- Hart, 3.733, 337.83 def. Kalitta, 3.877, 319.60.


FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 4.022, 316.60 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 6.650, 110.15; Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 4.632, 281.54 def. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 6.956, 92.91; J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 4.509, 268.49 def. Dave Richards, Mustang, 5.788, 133.24; John Smith, Charger, 4.511, 303.64 def. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 5.074, 158.82; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.976, 326.63 def. Julie Nataas, GR Supra, 5.059, 155.58; Alexis DeJoria, Chevy Camaro, 4.545, 298.40 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, Foul - Centerline; Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.027, 317.79 def. Hunter Green, Charger, 4.263, 294.95; Jordan Vandergriff, Camaro, 3.970, 327.35 def. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.987, 326.87;

QUARTERFINALS -- DeJoria, 4.040, 324.59 def. Hyde, 4.066, 314.39; Todd, 4.033, 326.95 def. Wilkerson, 4.154, 267.43; Vandergriff, 3.993, 327.82 def. Smith, 6.767, 100.41; C. Green, 3.975, 326.08 def. Hagan, 3.967, 328.14;

SEMIFINALS -- C. Green, 3.980, 324.83 def. Vandergriff, 4.068, 300.40; DeJoria, 4.040, 325.45 def. Todd, Foul - Red Light;

FINAL -- C. Green, 3.959, 329.91 def. DeJoria, 5.003, 167.59.


PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.587, 208.94 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.633, 207.56; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.581, 208.01 def. Troy Coughlin, Camaro, 6.576, 208.75; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.583, 209.39 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.606, 208.26; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.564, 209.17 def. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.568, 209.43; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.574, 209.82 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.619, 208.42; Cody Anderson, Camaro, 6.585, 209.33 def. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 11.128, 79.59; Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.566, 210.24 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.602, 209.85; Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.583, 209.98 def. Stephen Bell, Camaro, 6.611, 209.04;

QUARTERFINALS -- Glenn, 6.588, 208.55 def. M. Latino, 6.600, 208.52; Hartford, 6.567, 207.66 def. A. Stanfield, 6.581, 207.88; Enders, 6.563, 208.14 def. C. Coughlin, 6.585, 209.36; G. Anderson, 6.542, 209.23 def. C. Anderson, Foul - Red Light;

SEMIFINALS -- Hartford, 6.576, 208.84 def. Glenn, 17.832, 45.48; G. Anderson, 6.571, 209.17 def. Enders, 6.602, 208.33;

FINAL -- Hartford, 6.530, 210.41 def. G. Anderson, 6.562, 209.72.


PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE -- Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.830, 196.99 def. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.799, 199.52; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.826, 198.23 def. Ryan Oehler, Buell, 6.832, 197.28; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.747, 200.47 def. Kimberly Morrell, Suzuki, 18.402, 40.79; Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 6.786, 200.00 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.854, 198.90; John Hall, 6.796, 199.11 def. Brayden Davis, Buell, 6.800, 198.85; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.755, 201.46 def. Marc Ingwersen, Buell, 8.746, 102.14; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.769, 200.83 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.836, 198.44; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.739, 201.67 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.873, 195.28;

QUARTERFINALS -- Gadson, 6.757, 200.59 def. Van Sant, 6.808, 198.82; Johnson, 6.863, 196.36 def. A. Smith, 6.796, 198.52; Hall, 6.748, 200.68 def. Herrera, 6.758, 200.65; Howey, 6.822, 197.33 def. M. Smith, 6.836, 199.11;

SEMIFINALS -- Gadson, 7.118, 150.06 def. Howey, Foul - Red Light; Hall, 6.836, 199.46 def. Johnson, 6.862, 194.27;

FINAL -- Gadson, 6.753, 200.05 def. Hall, 6.799, 198.38.


LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES FINAL ROUND RESULTS

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Jamie Noonan, 5.249, 273.22 def. Anthony Troyer, 5.259, 276.92.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.439, 268.28 def. Chris Foster, Camaro, 5.484, 267.06.

Competition Eliminator -- Peter D`Agnolo, Chevy Cobalt, 8.415, 158.86 def. Matthew Alvey, Cobalt, 8.581, 157.61.

Super Stock -- Dan Fletcher, Chevy Camaro, 9.558, 129.13 def. Kent Hanley, Chevy Cavalier, 9.274, 138.58.

Stock Eliminator -- Jeff Adkinson, Chevy Camaro, 9.138, 138.91 def. Jim Marshall, Chevy Malibu Wagon, 11.243, 113.72.

Super Comp -- Kelly Kundratic, Dragster, 8.879, 173.23 def. Tim Millwood, Dodge Daytona, Foul - Red Light.

Super Gas -- Jason Dewitt, Chevy Corvette, 9.875, 166.58 def. Steve Furr, Chevy Camaro, 9.872, 173.76.

Top Sportsman -- James Hinkle, Pontiac Grand Am, 7.301, 182.80 def. Bruce Thaxton, Ford Mustang, 7.393, 186.12.

Top Dragster -- Jackie Bennett, Dragster, 6.132, 223.80 def. Holden Laris, Dragster, 6.092, 229.08.

Factory Stock Showdown -- Ricky Hord, Chevy Camaro, 7.735, 178.28 def. David Janac, Ford Mustang, 7.792, 180.69.


CURRENT STANDINGS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Point standings (top 10) following the 57th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the first of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series -


Top Fuel

1. Josh Hart, 122; 2. Doug Kalitta, 96; 3. Antron Brown, 76; 4. Maddi Gordon, 74; 5. Leah Pruett, 57; 6. Tony Stewart, 54; 7. Tripp Tatum, 53; 8. Tony Schumacher, 48; 9. Shawn Langdon, 44; 10. (tie) Justin Ashley, 32. Shawn Reed, 32.


Funny Car

1. Chad Green, 115; 2. Alexis DeJoria, 93; 3. J.R. Todd, 82; 4. Jordan Vandergriff, 71; 5. Matt Hagan, 59; 6. Daniel Wilkerson, 56; 7. (tie) Spencer Hyde, 51; John Smith, 51; 9. Ron Capps, 41; 10. Paul Lee, 37.


Pro Stock

1. Matt Hartford, 125; 2. Greg Anderson, 92; 3. Dallas Glenn, 74; 4. Erica Enders, 72; 5. Cody Coughlin, 65; 6. Matt Latino, 57; 7. Aaron Stanfield, 54; 8. Cody Anderson, 52; 9. Greg Stanfield, 39; 10. Deric Kramer, 35.


Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Richard Gadson, 124; 2. John Hall, 94; 3. Clayton Howey, 74; 4. Steve Johnson, 73; 5. Matt Smith, 64; 6. Angie Smith, 63; 7. Gaige Herrera, 59; 8. Chase Van Sant, 53; 9. (tie) Kelly Clontz, 32; Brayden Davis, 32; Jianna Evaristo; 32. Ryan Oehler, 32.


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DEREK MENHOLT GETS NHRA PRO MOD SERIES WIN IN GAINESVILLE TO OPEN 2026


GAINESVILLE, Fla. ( – Derek Menholt knocked off Lyle Barnett in the final round on Sunday at Gainesville Raceway in the opening race of JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.

The event was the first of 11 races in the series and was powered by FuelTech as part of this weekend’s Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, kicking off NHRA Pro Mod’s 25th season.

Menholt, who qualified ninth, went 5.690-seconds at 251.02 mph in his ’69 Camaro as runner-up Lyle Barnett went red in the championship round. It’s the second career victory for Menholt and his first at Gainesville Raceway, as the Pro Mod veteran opened the season in style.

Menholt, who has now won two of the last three races, beat Mike Thielen, Chip King and reigning world champion J.R. Gray to reach the final round. Barnett left early by .003, handing Menholt the victory and the first NHRA 75th anniversary diamond Wally of 2026 for the class.

“It’s an amazing deal,” Menholt said. “I was worried the whole time about Lyle. He’s a great driver and it’s a good feeling to get this one. This is one we’ve been wanting. It’s a good race car.”

To get to the final round, Barnett knocked off Mason Wright, Kevin Rivenbark and former world champion Mike Castellana.

The JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports returns to action March 20-22 with the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs at Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix.


ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Final round-by-round results from the 57th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA

Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the first of 11 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.


PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE -- Derek Menholt, Chevy Camaro, 6.665, 145.30 def. Mike Thielen, Camaro, Foul - Red Light; Sidnei Frigo, Camaro, 5.716, 250.23 def. Stan Shelton, Ford Mustang, 5.752, 248.48; Lyle Barnett, Camaro, 5.698, 251.06 def. Mason Wright, Camaro, 5.767, 250.32; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.793, 247.16 def. Travis Harvey, Camaro, Broke; Kevin Rivenbark, Mustang, 5.759, 246.39 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.814, 249.16; Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 5.701, 249.86 def. Jason Scruggs, Camaro, 5.745, 250.09; JR Gray, Camaro, 5.750, 250.32 def. Nick Januik, Chevy Corvette, 5.761, 246.17; Chip King, Dodge Charger, 5.788, 239.36 def. Mike Stavrinos, Camaro, 6.216, 205.26;

QUARTERFINALS -- Menholt, 5.718, 250.13 def. King, 5.786, 250.23; Gray, 5.738, 251.11 def. Laughlin, 5.940, 247.75; Barnett, 5.703, 252.24 def. Rivenbark, 5.780, 247.57; Castellana, 5.755, 247.84 def. Frigo, 5.755, 249.53;

SEMIFINALS -- Menholt, 5.741, 248.25 def. Gray, 5.737, 251.77; Barnett, 5.709, 251.95 def. Castellana, 5.776, 250.13;

FINAL -- Menholt, 5.690, 251.02 def. Barnett, Foul - Red Light.


CURRENT PRO MODIFIED STANDINGS

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Point standings (top 10) following the 57th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA

Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the first of 11 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.


1. Derek Menholt, 114; 2. Billy Banaka, 95; 3. JR Gray, 74; 4. Mike Castellana, 71; 5. Alex Laughlin, 55; 6. Sidnei Frigo, 53; 7. (tie) Chip King, 51; Kevin Rivenbark, 51; 9. Mike Stavrinos, 38; 10. Steve Jackson, 36.