in the lanes
OCALA, FL (March 9, 2023) --- In advance of the 54th NHRA Gatornationals NHRA and Top Fuel team owner and driver Josh Hart hosted a massive car show and FanFest at Burnyzz Speed Shop in Ocala, Florida. The first time event featured nearly two dozen NHRA drivers, over 300 classic cars, a live band, food trucks and ticket giveaways for the thousands of fans in attendance. Proceeds from the event which included a 50/50 raffle and entry fees will be donated to Racers For Christ. The entire staff of Burnyzz Speed Shop pulled together to execute the three hour free event that kicked off four days of racing action beginning today at Gainesville Raceway.
“I have to thank my team as well as the Ocala Street Cruisers and Citrus Corvette Club for coming out and supporting this event,” said Hart, the 2021 Gatornationals Top Fuel champion. “We wanted to host an event to get fans excited about the Gatornationals and give back to our racing community. I want to thank all my fellow drivers who came down and signed autographs and spent time with the fans. It was a great first-time event and we are already looking at how we can make it bigger and better for next year.”
In addition to Hart there were six additional Gatornationals winners in attendance including Top Fuel winners Don Garlits, Larry Dixon Jr., Spencer Massey, and Brittany Force along with Funny Car winners Frank Hawley, John Force and Cruz Pedregon. Rookie of the Year winners Camrie Caruso, Justin Ashley, Austin Prock, and Antron Brown were also present.
Professional qualifying for the Gatornationals will begin on Friday and Saturday with two sessions each day followed by final eliminations on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. The race will be broadcast on FS1 and FOX.
Fans Pack NHRA Gatornationals FanFest at Burnyzz Speed Shop
Feb. 18-20 Lucas Oil Winternationals Pomona, Calif. Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Feb. 25-27 Arizona Nationals Chandler, Ariz. Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park
March 11-13. Amalie Oil Gatornationals. Gainesville, Fla. Gainesville Raceway
April 1-3 Four-Wide Nationals Las Vegas The Strip at LVMS
April 22-24 Mopar Express Lane SpringNationals Baytown,Texas Houston Raceway Park
April 29-May 1 NGK Four-Wide Nationals. Concord, N.C. zMax DragwayM
May 13-15 Virginia Nationals Dinwiddie, Va. Virginia Motorsports Park
June 3-5 New England Nationals Epping, N.H. New England Dragway
June 17-19 Thunder Valley Nationals. Bristol, Tenn. Bristol Dragway
June 24-26 Summit Racing Equip. Nationals Norwalk, Ohio Summit Racing Equipment Park
July 15-17 Dodge SRT Mile-High Nationals Morrison, Colo. Bandimere Speedway
July 22-24 Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, Calif. Sonoma Raceway
July 29-31 Flav-R-Pac Northwest Nationals Kent, Wash. Pacific Raceways
Aug. 12-14 Menard’s Nationals Topeka, Kan. Heartland Motorsports Park
Aug. 19-21 Lucas Oil Nationals Brainerd, Minn. Brainerd Int’l Raceway
Sept. 2-5 Dodge SRT U.S. Nationals Indianapolis, IN Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
Sept. 16-18. Mopar Express Lane Nationals Mohnton, Pa. Maple Grove Raceway
Sept. 23-25 Carolina Nationals Concord, N.C. zMax Dragway
Sept. 30-Oct. 2 Midwest Nationals Madison, Il World Wide Technology Raceway
Oct. 14-16 Texas FallNationals Ennis, Texas Texas Motorplex
Oct. 28-30 Dodge SRT Nationals Las Vegas The Strip at LVMS
Nov. 11-13 Auto Club Finals Pomona, Ca Auto Club Raceway at Pomona