After days of soggy weather, competitors at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals were eager to return to the track for the 53rd annual event. With tires squealing and rubber burning, a dry Gainesville Raceway affords drivers with one of the longest (675-foot) concrete launchpads on tour. In January of 2019, the National Hot Rod Association gave the facility a facelift in preparation for the 50th annual Gatornationals. A new 60-foot wide concrete track was paved from the water box to past the finish line to provide the finest surface for the 11,000-horsepower, nitro burning Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars. After rain washed out qualifying on Friday, teams began prepping for a green racetrack. After all, with a green track, you can expect the unexpected… like four-time world champion Erica Enders laying down the quickest pass in NHRA Pro Stock history in a losing opening-round run.
Glenn Wins all KB Racing Pro Stock Final
Dallas Glenn, NHRA Rookie of the Year and Pro Stock driver of the RAD Torque Systems Camaro, won his fourth Wally on Sunday at the 53rd annual Gatornationals in a final pairing that featured KB Racing teammates. Perhaps the biggest win of his short career came in the quarterfinal round of eliminations when his .015 reaction time eliminated a red-hot and quicker (6.504 ET) Aaron Stanfield with a 6.506 elapsed time. Glenn would also defeat Troy Coughlin Jr and Rodger Brogdon enroute to the final round.
KB Racing teammate Kyle Koretsky earned his way to the showdown with victories over Fernando Cuadra, Camrie Caruso, and Mason McGaha. Points leader Greg Anderson was eliminated in round one by McGaha with a .003 RT and second-place points holder Erica Enders fell to Bo Butner with a .002 reaction time. It was the first win of the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Series for KB Racing, as Koretsky and Glenn moved closer in the series standings trailing points leader Aaron Stanfield and Erica Enders.
Stoffer Claims Third Gatornationals in Pro Stock Motorcycle
After hinting at retirement in off season, Pro Stock Motorcycle legend Karen Stoffer is now the proud owner of the top two as well as four of the top five quickest passes in NHRA history. In round one of eliminations, Stoffer set the record for the quickest Pro Stock Motorcycle run by posting a 6.682 ET against James Underdahl. One round later, Stoffer broke her own record with a 6.665 ET at 200.71 mph against long-time rival Eddie Krawiec. It was Stoffer’s third win at the NHRA Gatornationals.
Before losing to Stoffer in the final round, Angie Smith eliminated Chris Bostick, Steve Johnson, and Joey Gladstone. Smith registered her best run of the event onboard her Denso/Stockseth/Matt Smith Racing Buell with a faster 201.28 mph top speed but with a slower 6.723 ET to Stoffer’s 6.700 elapsed time. Stoffer’s near perfect weekend aboard the Ray Skillman Auto Group/Big St. Charles Motorsports Suzuki gives her a 20-point lead over Smith as Pro Stock Motorcycle will not race again until the SpringNationals in Houston later next month.
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Photo courtesy of Angie Smith Racing Facebook
UP NEXT:
NHRA Four Wide Nationals April 1-3 in Las Vegas
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action April 1-3 with the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. NOTE: The Pro Stock Motorcycle class will not race at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at Las Vegas and will be up next at Houston Raceway Park for the April 22-24 NHRA SpringNationals.
