The Gatornationals is an annual

National Hot Rod Association The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and hosts events all over the United States and Canada. With over 40,000 drivers in its rosters, the NHRA claims to be the largest motorspo ...

(NHRA) national drag racing event held each March at

Gainesville Raceway Gainesville Raceway is a quarter-mile dragstrip just outside Gainesville, Florida. It opened in 1969 and is most famous for hosting the NHRA's prestigious Gatornationals event since 1970. Kenny Bernstein became the first drag racer to break the ...

in Gainesville, Florida. The event was held for the first time in 1970. The traditional East Coast opener and the season's first of 16 events for Pro Stock Motorcycle riders and first of 10 for NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series racers moves back to the second spot on the calendar. The event is one of the sport's most revered with a rich tradition of history-making performances. The Gatornationals have the title of being the drag race to see the first 260-mph Top Fuel and Funny Car runs in 1984 by Joe Amato and Kenny Bernstein respectively, and the first 270-mph and 300-mph Top Fuel passes by Don Garlits and Kenny Bernstein in 1986 and 1992, respectively. Its 675-foot concrete launchpad is one of the longest on the tour. In 2014 the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals entered its 45th annual national event which makes it the fourth oldest active event on the NHRA Professional tour, behind the Winternationals,

U.S. Nationals United States nationality law details the conditions in which a person holds United States nationality. In the United States, nationality is typically obtained through provisions in the U.S. Constitution, various laws, and international agree ...

, and the NHRA Finals. The event was sponsored by

Amalie Oil Company Amalie Oil Company is an American company that manufactures various weights of motor oil, synthetic oil, transmission fluid, and other automotive fluids. The company was founded in Franklin, Pennsylvania, in 1903, giving rise to its current slog ...

, the current sponsor of the race. Previous sponsors of this event include MAC tools. The

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

in 2020 caused some sportsman races to be held behind closed doors. However, the national event and top sportsman classes were postponed to September with spectators. The ongoing pandemic has moved the 2021 race to becoming the season opening race for all classes.

Winners

Notes

References

{{Reflist

External links

Track website
Drag racing events TBC Corporation Sports in Gainesville, Florida 1970 establishments in Florida Recurring sporting events established in 1970 National Hot Rod Association