Antron Brown, the reigning NHRA Top Fuel world champion, kick-started 2025 by securing a provisional No. 1 qualifier spot at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals held at Gainesville Raceway on Friday. Brown, sharing the spotlight with fellow provisional No. 1 qualifiers Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle), set the pace for the first round of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
The selection process for the upcoming Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout bonus race was also conducted. Steve Torrence, the top seed, chose Tony Stewart as his first opponent. Doug Kalitta opted for Clay Millican, while Shawn Langdon and Brown, the defending world champion, are set to clash. The final first-round pair will see Justin Ashley and Brittany Force go head-to-head.
With a solid 3.685 seconds at 334.24 mph in his Matco Tools dragster during the second session, Brown displayed his championship form right off the bat. After claiming his fourth world championship in 2024, Brown looks set to take his 51st career No. 1 qualifier if this pace continues.
In the Funny Car category, Jack Beckman led the pack with the quickest time in both sessions on Friday. Outpacing Bob Tasca III, Beckman registered a remarkable 3.832 at 334.65 in his PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS. Fresh off an NHRA Finals victory, Beckman continues to make waves as the full-time driver for John Force in the 2025 campaign.
Pro Stock saw Greg Anderson shatter records with a stunning performance under the Gainesville Raceway lights. He clocked in at 6.443 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro, setting a new Pro Stock world record. This performance puts Anderson in line for his 133rd No. 1 qualifier and marks another golden moment for the six-time champion.
Back-to-back world champion Gaige Herrera continued his Gainesville Raceway dominance in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. Herrera, who has won the Gatornationals at the last two events, is eyeing a hat trick. Currently, he holds the top spot with a time of 6.670 at 202.97 on his RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki.
Qualifying rounds will continue at 12:15pm ET on Saturday, where we can expect more adrenaline-pumping performances from these motorsport titans.
