GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Reigning Prime Gasoline world champion Antron Brown began his 2025 with the provisional No. 1 qualifier place at Gainesville Raceway, taking the highest spot on Friday on the 56th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
Jack Beckman (Humorous Automobile), Greg Anderson (Professional Inventory) and Gaige Herrera (Professional Inventory Bike) are additionally the provisional No. 1 qualifiers on the first of 20 races throughout the 2025 NHRA Mission Meals Drag Racing Sequence season.
Choices had been additionally made for the opening spherical of the big-money Proper Trailers Prime Gasoline All-Star Callout bonus race, which takes place on Saturday. Prime seed Steve Torrence chosen Tony Stewart as his opening-round opponent, whereas Doug Kalitta picked Clay Millican for his first-round matchup. Shawn Langdon and defending world champion Brown will face off, whereas the ultimate first-round pair options Justin Ashley and Brittany Power.
Brown went 3.685-seconds at 334.24 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Matco Instruments dragster throughout the second session, beginning the yr sturdy after incomes his fourth world championship in 2024. If Friday’s run beneath the lights holds, the 80-time occasion winner would choose up his 51st profession No. 1 qualifier.
“We weren’t attempting to go on the market and kill it, however we knew the observe might maintain wherever within the mid-60 vary, and we simply needed to be within the high half the sphere,” Brown stated. “Lo and behold, it ran actually sturdy out the again door. It was clean all the best way down, it simply went straight as an arrow and I received to the end line.”
Tripp Tatum additionally went 3.685 at a slower 326.58 to take the second spot and Langdon is third after going 3.690 at 335.23.
Humorous Automobile
Humorous Automobile’s Jack Beckman was the quickest in each periods on Friday, slipping previous Bob Tasca III beneath the lights with a stellar run of three.832 at 334.65 in his 11,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS. Named the full-time driver for John Power throughout the 2025 marketing campaign, Beckman picked up the place he left off final yr, following his NHRA Finals victory with a pair of terrific runs on Friday.
“When the season ended final yr, I wasn’t certain if I’d be again. I believed I’d get the nod however I wasn’t certain,” Beckman stated. “There is part of me that anticipated to see somebody run 3.81 however I’m pleased with a 3.83. We had been low of each periods in utterly completely different situations.
“I can’t put into phrases how superior it’s to be strapped into John Power’s Humorous Automobile and have John stroll by and provide you with a thumbs up earlier than they hearth up. I’m unbelievably fortunate.”
Tasca was additionally sturdy on Friday, going 3.833 at 333.82 and Capps’ 3.857 at 335.73 places him third after the primary day of qualifying.
Professional Inventory
In Professional Inventory, Greg Anderson made NHRA historical past in an unbelievable efficiency on Friday beneath the lights at Gainesville Raceway, going 6.443 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro to set the Professional Inventory world report. It’s the quickest cross in Professional Inventory historical past and made for a surreal second for the reigning world champion.
He ended the 2024 season with a winner-take-all cross to get the championship in Pomona after which began the primary day of qualifying on the Gatornationals with a historic efficiency, placing Anderson in line for his 133rd No. 1 qualifier. This one shall be remembered for some time, because the six-time champ set a brand new gold normal within the class.
“That is past cool and that’s as a result of I didn’t anticipate it,” Anderson stated. “I watched my staff vehicles with Deric Kramer and Eric Latino run 6.46 forward of me and I began to suppose possibly we might run 6.45, however I surpassed them each.
“It feels good to be again. I dwell for runs like this and I really like Gainesville. I got here right here with my dad after I was 10-12 years previous, and I’ve liked this place ever since. Coming to Gainesville this the primary race of the yr and also you all the time surprise the way you stack up. To this point it’s been profitable.”
Deric Kramer took the second spot after a career-best run of 6.463 at 212.23 and Dallas Glenn is true behind after going 6.466 at 212.56.
Professional Inventory Bike
Gaige Herrera’s domination at Gainesville Raceway continued on Friday, because the back-to-back world champion took excessive spot throughout the second session on his RevZilla/Mission Meals/Vance & Hines Suzuki with a run of 6.670 at 202.97. Herrera has rolled to Gatornationals wins on the final two occasions on the legendary facility and seems poised to try to make it three in a row.
Herrera hasn’t let up after two straight championships, persevering with to publish one standout run after one other. If it holds, it might be Herrera’s twenty fourth No. 1 qualifier because the begin of the 2023 marketing campaign.
“I’ve numerous enjoyable racing in Gainesville. I received my first win right here two years in the past in my debut with the Vance & Hines staff and I’ve received numerous nice reminiscences right here,” Herrera stated. “Earlier than that run, Andrew [Hines, crew chief] stated ‘That is all we’ve received. I hope it sticks.’ It did and we made a pleasant run.
“I feel you’ll see me and Matt [Smith] travel all season and it gained’t simply be us. You possibly can see that Angie [Smith] was shut and Richard [Gadson] was shut. We’ve received numerous good bikes out right here and that features some new guys.”
Matt Smith is at present second with a cross of 6.679 at 203.49 and Angie Smith is third after going 6.709 at 201.01.
Qualifying continues at 12: 15 p.m. ET on Saturday on the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
