Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 8, 2025) – Rain wiped out the entire pro racing program Saturday at Gainesville Raceway, compelling NHRA officials to relocate the Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout to Pomona, Calif., and setting up a signature showdown in the first round of Sunday’s 56th annual NHRA Gatornationals between Austin Prock and Bob Tasca III.
Weather permitting, Gatornationals’ eliminations will begin Sunday at 9:30 a.m., local time, with a Top Fuel first round that will include a duel between two-time World Champion Brittany Force, the No. 6 qualifier at the wheel of the national record-holding Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster, and motor racing Hall of Famer Tony Stewart, the No. 11 qualifier.
Nevertheless, it was the Prock-Tasca Funny Car match-up that had the pits buzzing Saturday afternoon.
Because Prock’s national record-holding Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS was less than its usual dominant self on Friday, the reigning Mission Foods Champion finished the qualifying ritual in the No. 15 position with a time of 4.231 seconds at only 206 mph.
Tasca, meanwhile, qualified No. 2 behind “Fast Jack” Beckman, setting up a showdown between the only two cars and drivers to have broken drag racing’s 340 mile an hour barrier. Tasca was the first to do so during an exhibition in 2024 when he reached 341.68 mph at Bradenton, Fla. Prock matched that number in setting the official NHRA speed record in last November’s In-N-Out Burger Finals at Pomona. It’s the first time the two heavyweights will have met in the opening round of a tour event.
Beckman, meanwhile, will oppose Blake Alexander in the opening round after coaxing John Force’s PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevy SS to a time of 3.832 seconds that lifted him to the top of the qualifying order for the first time since Oct. 24, 2020, when, while driving for Don Schumacher Racing, he qualified No. 1 at Houston, Texas. His first No. 1 start for JFR is the 29th of his career.
The All-Star Callout, a prelude to the Gatornationals in which Brittany was to have faced off with Justin Ashley in round one, now will be run on March 29 in conjunction with the Lucas Oil Winternationals.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 8, 2025) – Rain wiped out the entire pro racing program Saturday at Gainesville Raceway, compelling NHRA officials to relocate the Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout to Pomona, Calif., and setting up a signature showdown in the first round of Sunday’s 56th annual NHRA Gatornationals between Austin Prock and Bob Tasca III.
Weather permitting, Gatornationals’ eliminations will begin Sunday at 9:30 a.m., local time, with a Top Fuel first round that will include a duel between two-time World Champion Brittany Force, the No. 6 qualifier at the wheel of the national record-holding Monster Energy Chevrolet dragster, and motor racing Hall of Famer Tony Stewart, the No. 11 qualifier.
Nevertheless, it was the Prock-Tasca Funny Car match-up that had the pits buzzing Saturday afternoon.
Because Prock’s national record-holding Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS was less than its usual dominant self on Friday, the reigning Mission Foods Champion finished the qualifying ritual in the No. 15 position with a time of 4.231 seconds at only 206 mph.
Tasca, meanwhile, qualified No. 2 behind “Fast Jack” Beckman, setting up a showdown between the only two cars and drivers to have broken drag racing’s 340 mile an hour barrier. Tasca was the first to do so during an exhibition in 2024 when he reached 341.68 mph at Bradenton, Fla. Prock matched that number in setting the official NHRA speed record in last November’s In-N-Out Burger Finals at Pomona. It’s the first time the two heavyweights will have met in the opening round of a tour event.
Beckman, meanwhile, will oppose Blake Alexander in the opening round after coaxing John Force’s PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevy SS to a time of 3.832 seconds that lifted him to the top of the qualifying order for the first time since Oct. 24, 2020, when, while driving for Don Schumacher Racing, he qualified No. 1 at Houston, Texas. His first No. 1 start for JFR is the 29th of his career.
The All-Star Callout, a prelude to the Gatornationals in which Brittany was to have faced off with Justin Ashley in round one, now will be run on March 29 in conjunction with the Lucas Oil Winternationals.
Continue reading...