Last Updated on March 8, 2026 4:42 pm
Sunday Recap
The 75th Anniversary NHRA National Event season opener didn’t disappoint as the Gator Nationals was epic from start to finish. Derek Menholt piloted the Scott Tidwell Racing Camaro to the Pro Mod victory over Lyle Barnett piloting Billy Banaka’s car. Menholt went 5.690 for Low ET of Eliminations in the same car that won World Series of Pro Mod with Aaron Stanfield driving last weekend. Jamie Noonan scored the Top Alcohol Dragster win for Samsel Racing with a 5.249 to defeat McPhillips Racing’s Anthony Troyer. The Bartone/Boggs team continued their domination of the Top Alcohol Funny Car Winners Circle with Sean Bellemeur piloting the car to a 5.439 in the Final Round to defeat Chris Foster’s solid 5.484. Ricky Hord outran David Janac to take the Factory Stock Showdown title. Dan Fletcher scored his 109th National Event Wally with the Super Stock victory in a double breakout decision over Kent Hanley. Another big final round saw Pete D’Agnolo earn the Comp Win over #1 Qualifier Matt Alvey by .006 at the Finish Line. Other Lucas Oil Series winners include Jacky Bennett (Top Dragster), James Hinkle (Top Sportsman), Jeff Adkinson (Stock), Kelly Kundratic (Super Comp) and Jason Dewitt (Super Gas).
NHRA Amalie Oil Gator Nationals
March 5-8, 2025
Gainesville Raceway – Gainesville, FL
Pro Mod
Winner – Derek Menholt
RU – Lyle Barnett
Semis – JR Gray
Semis – Mike Castellana
Final Round: Menholt .053, 5.690/251 def. Barnett -.003, 7.508/128
#1 Qualifier – Mike Stavrinos 5.688
Factory Stock Showdown
Winner – Ricky Hord
RU – David Janac
Semis – Richard Bierie
Semis – Raymond Nash
Final Round: Hord .047, 7.735/178 def. Janac .052, 7.792/180
#1 Qualifier – Jonathan Allegrucci 7.714
Top Alcohol Dragster
Winner – Jamie Noonan
RU – Anthony Troyer
Semis – Matt Cummings
Semis – Corey Michalek
Final Round: Noonan .055, 5.249/273 def. Troyer .115, 5.259/276
#1 Qualifier – Angelle Sampey 5.188
Top Alcohol Funny Car
Winner – Sean Bellemeur
RU – Chris Foster
Semis – Mick Steele
Final Round: Bellemeur .025, 5.439/268 def. Foster .062, 5.484/267
#1 Qualifier – Mick Steele 5.463
Top Dragster
Winner – Jacky Bennett
RU – Holden Laris
Semis – Robert Houston
Semis – Kelsea Hinkle
Final Round: Bennett .002, 6.132 (6.15) def. Laris .024, 6.092 (6.14)
#1 Qualifier – Steve Furr 6.105
Top Sportsman
Winner – James Hinkle
RU – Dale Thaxton
Semis – Don Preece
Semis – Rich Smith
Final Round: Hinkle .020, 7.301 (7.28) def. Thaxton .057, 7.393 (7.41)
#1 Qualifier – Glenn Butcher 6.158
Comp
Winner – Pete D’Agnolo
RU – Matt Alvey
Semis – Wes Leopold
Final Round: D’Agnolo .004, 8.415 (-.495) def. Alvey .044, 8.581 (-.529)
#1 Qualifier – Matt Alvey (H/AA) -.611 – 8.569
Super Stock
Winner – Dan Fletcher
RU – Kent Hanley
Semis – Michael Howard
Semis – Wendell Howes
Final Round: Fletcher .006, 9.558 (9.56) def. Hanley .024, 9.274 (9.29)
#1 Qualifier – Chelsea Tindle (GT/IA) -1.099 – 9.551
Stock
Winner – Jeff Adkinson
RU – Jim Marshall
Semis – David Latino
Final Round: Adkinson .030, 9.138 (9.15) def. Marshall .025, 11.243 (11.28)
#1 Qualifier – Doug Duell (C/SA) -1.060 – 10.340
Super Comp
Winner – Kelly Kundratic
RU – Tim Millwood
Semis – Trene Cressonie
Final Round: Kundratic .066, 8.879 (8.90) def. Millwood -.003, 8.905 (8.90)
Super Gas
Winner – Jason Dewitt
RU – Steve Furr
Semis – Ernie Knight
Final Round: Dewitt .012, 9.875 (9.90) def. Furr .015, 9.872 (9.90)
Saturday Recap
The NHRA Gator Nationals at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, FL provided incredible racing action in front of a Sold Out crowd on Saturday. Pro Mod put on an incredible show as usual with Mike Stavrinos holding onto the #1 Qualifying position. But in Round 1 Eliminations, the Top 3 Qualifiers all went out in upset losses. Lyle Barnett ran Low ET of E1 with a 5.698, and looks to be the Favorite heading into Sunday. Factory Stock wrapped up Qualifying with Jonathan Allegrucci earning the Top Spot, however he lost in Round 2 and was unable to join the Final 4 that advanced to Sunday. The Top Alcohol classes contested their first Two rounds of Eliminations on Saturday. Upsets were the name of the day with both #1 Qualifiers losing in Round 2. Angelle Sampey lost to her teammate Corey Michalek while Mick Steele had to lift early & lost to Chris Foster. All Lucas Oil Series Sportsman classes are down to either Semis or Final Rounds heading into Sunday. Read on for a Rundown of who is still in. To follow along with this event’s Live Stream, subscribe at www.NHRA.tv.
Pro Mod E2 Pairings
16. King LC vs. 9. Menholt
4. Laughlin LC vs. 5. Gray
15. Castellana vs. 7. Frigo LC
14. Rivenbark vs. 6. Barnett LC
Top Alcohol Dragster E3 Pairings
9. Michalek vs. 12. Troyer LC
10. Cummings LC vs. 3. Noonan
Top Alcohol Funny Car Final Round Pairing
3. Foster vs. 2. Bellemeur LC
Factory Stock Showdown E3 Pairings
Janac vs. Nash
Hord vs. Bierie
Top Dragster Final Round
Laris vs. Bennett
Top Sportsman Final Round
Thaxton vs. Hinkle
Comp Final Round
Alvey vs. D’Agnolo
Super Stock Semi-Finals
Hanley vs. Howard
Howes vs. Fletcher
Stock Semi-Finals
Marshall vs. Bye
Adkinson vs. Latino
Super Comp Semi-Finals
Millwood vs. Bye
Cressonie vs. Kundratic
Super Gas Semi-Finals
Furr vs. Bye
Dewitt vs. Knight
Saturday Early Update
Pro Mod Q4 Final Top Qualifiers
1. Mike Stavrinos 5.688
2. Travis Harvey 5.708
3. Steve Jackson 5.711
4. Alex Laughlin 5.720
5. JR Gray 5.724
Q4 Best Run – Sidnei Frigo 5.746
Pro Mod Q3 Top Qualifiers
1. Mike Stavrinos 5.688
2. Travis Harvey 5.708
3. Steve Jackson 5.711
4. Alex Laughlin 5.720
5. JR Gray 5.724
Q3 Best Run – Harvey 5.715
Top Alcohol E1 Recap
TAD
Noonan Low ET of E1 5.245. Big upset was Corey Michalek over Joey Severance. Big matchup in E2 between Noonan and Bold.
— E2 Pairings
1. Sampey LC vs. 9. Michalek
4. Fricke LC vs. 12. Troyer
2. Smith vs. 10. Cummings LC
3. Noonan LC vs. 6. Bold
TAFC
Foster Low ET of E1 with a 5.477. Bellemeur holeshot win over Esz 5.52 to 5.50.
— E2 Pairings
1. Steele vs. 3. Foster LC
2. Bellemeur vs. Bye
#LODRS E2 Primetime Matchups
Top Dragster – Anthony Bertozzi vs. Robert Houston
Houston .030, 6.587 (6.58) def. Bertozzi .024, 6.938 (6.92)
Top Sportsman – Glenn Butcher vs. Doug Crumlich
Butcher .017, 6.131 (6.12) def. Crumlich .012, 6.583 (6.59)
Comp – Matt Alvey vs. Glen Treadwell
Alvey .056, 8.604 (-.536) def. Treadwell .056, 7.804 (-.536) – .0004 MOV
Super Stock – Kevin Helms vs. Dan Fletcher
Fletcher .021, 9.584 (9.57) def. Helms .018, 9.067 (9.07)
Stock – Bubba Linke vs. Tim Barrett
Barrett .070, 11.107 (10.89) def. Linke .191, 38.175 (10.50)
Super Comp – Kevin Brannon vs. Colby Fuller
Brannon .015, 8.903 (8.90) def. Fuller -.006, 16.191 (8.90)
Super Gas – Jim Perry vs. Steve Furr
Furr .007, 9.896 (9.90) def. Perry -.002, 9.874 (9.90)
Friday Update
A full day of racing action was on tap for Friday at NHRA’s Gator Nationals in Gainesville, FL. Defending NHRA Pro Mod Champion Mike Stavrinos picked up where he left off last season atop the standings with a 5.688 ET in Q2. Stavrinos and the AAP Team is just ahead of substitute driver Travis Harvey in Justin Bond’s car and Stevie Fast Jackson. The Top Alcohol fields were set in Friday’s Qualifying sessions, and it was Angelle Sampey stealing the show in TA Dragster recording a 5.188 ET for the Michalek / Hangsterfers / ABM team to earn the Top Spot. In TA Funny Car, it was the Injected Nitro entry of Mick Steele taking the top spot away with a 5.463 in Q3. Steele edged out Sean Bellemeur’s 5.486 and Chris Foster’s 5.509 laps. All other Lucas Oil Series competitors contested E1 Friday morning, and will jump back into action with E2 on Saturday. To follow along with this event’s Live Stream, subscribe at www.NHRA.tv.
Pro Mod Q2 Top Qualifiers
1. Mike Stavrinos 5.688
2. Travis Harvey 5.708
3. Steve Jackson 5.711
4. JR Gray 5.724
5. Sidnei Frigo 5.740
Q2 Best Run – Stavrinos 5.688
Top Alcohol Q3 Final Top Qualifiers
TAD
1. Angelle Sampey 5.188
2. Megan Smith 5.211
3. Jamie Noonan 5.228
Q3 Best Run – Sampey 5.188
— E1 Pairings
1. Sampey vs. Bye
8. Severance vs. 9. Michalek
4. Fricke vs. 13. Veale
5. Johnson vs. 12. Troyer
2. Smith vs. 15. Ausherman
7. Allen vs. 10. Cummings
3. Noonan vs. 14. Stevens
6. Bold vs. 11. Wolf
TAFC
1. Mick Steele 5.463
2. Sean Bellemeur 5.486
3. Chris Foster 5.509
Q3 Best Run – Steele 5.463
— E1 Pairings
1. Steele vs. Bye
3. Foster vs. 4. Gordon
2. Bellemeur vs. 5. Esz
#LODRS E2 Primetime Matchups
Top Dragster – Anthony Bertozzi vs. Robert Houston
Top Sportsman – Glenn Butcher vs. Doug Crumlich
Comp – Matt Alvey vs. Glen Treadwell
Super Stock – Kevin Helms vs. Dan Fletcher
Stock – Bubba Linke vs. Tim Barrett
Super Comp – Kevin Brannon vs. Colby Fuller
Super Gas – Jim Perry vs. Steve Furr
Friday Early Update
Top Alcohol Q2 Top Qualifiers
TAD
1. Jamie Noonan 5.228
2. Jackie Fricke 5.248
3. Melanie Johnson 5.256
Q2 Best Run – Noonan 5.228
TAFC
1. Sean Bellemeur 5.491
2. Mick Steele 5.505
3. Chris Foster 5.509
Q2 Best Run – Steele 5.505
#LODRS E1 Primetime Matchups
Top Dragster – Rusty Baxter vs. Anthony Bertozzi
Bertozzi .030, 6.930 (6.91) def. Baxter .029, 6.239 (6.21)
Top Sportsman – Bruce Thaxton vs. Chris Arnold
Thaxton .022, 7.399 (7.39) def. Arnold .042, 6.677 (6.62)
Comp – Matt Alvey vs. Rodger Brogdon
Alvey .049, 8.637 (-.543) def. Brogdon .065, 7.858 (-.522)
Super Stock – Jeff Adkinson vs. Jimmy Hidalgo Jr
Hidalgo .018, 9.062 (9.05) def. Adkinson .038, 9.114 (9.12)
Stock – Jimmy Hidalgo Jr. vs. Bubba Linke
Linke .018, 10.508 (10.50) def. Hidalgo .021, 10.777 (10.77)
Super Comp – Johnny Labbous vs. Michael Handras
Labbous .017, 8.925 (8.90) def. Handras .032, 8.899 (8.90)
Super Gas – JJ Brock vs. Colby Fuller
Brock .020, 9.896 (9.90) def. Fuller .029, 9.893 (9.90)
Thursday Update
Day 1 is complete at the first NHRA National Event of the 2026 season in Gainesville, Florida. The Gator Nationals features the Top Alcohol categories with both classes contesting Q1 on Thursday afternoon. Melanie Johnson in the McPhillips entry leads the pack in Top Alcohol Dragster with a 5.276 ET. Defending Top Alcohol Funny Car World Champion Sean Bellemeur started his season off on in a big way with a 5.491 to earn the Provisional Pole. In the other Lucas Oil Series categories, Qualifying was completed in full with 2 sessions. Steve Furr (Top Dragster), Glenn Butcher (Top Sportsman), Matt Alvey (Comp), Chelsea Tindle (Super Stock) and Doug Duell (Stock) all lead their respective classes heading into E1 on Friday. To follow along with this event’s Live Stream, subscribe at www.NHRA.tv.
NHRA Lucas Oil Series Gator Nationals Top Qualifiers
Top Dragster – Steve Furr 6.105
Top Sportsman – Glenn Butcher 6.158
Comp – Matt Alvey (H/AA) -.611 – 8.569
Super Stock – Chelsea Tindle (GT/IA) -1.099 – 9.551
Stock – Doug Duell (C/SA) -1.060 – 10.340
