For the first time in team history, Kalitta Motorsports doubled-up in the nitro categories on Sunday at Gainesville Raceway, as Shawn Langdon and J.R. Todd picked up wins in Top Fuel and Funny Car, respectively, to kick off the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season at the 55th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the first of 21 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
After 18 previous attempts to win in both Top Fuel and Funny Car in one weekend, Langdon wrapped up the successful nitro sweep for Kalitta Motorsports on Sunday, picking up his first victory in Gainesville with a run of 3.711-seconds at 335.40 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Kalitta Air Careers Toyota dragster in the final round against Billy Torrence.
Langdon qualified No. 1 with new crew chief Brian Husen and rolled off a string of strong runs on Sunday to collect his 18th career victory and first since 2020, knocking off Cody Krohn, Justin Ashley and Antron Brown to reach the final round. There, he quickly tracked down Torrence, setting off a memorable first-time celebration for Kalitta Motorsports.
“It feels really good,” Langdon said. “You keep your head down and keep working hard, and I’m just with a great group. J.R. and I are out here having fun and living our dreams. I can’t say enough as Brian. It’s his first race as a crew chief and he gave me an absolute flawless car.
“There were so many pressure situations going into the final round: going for my first Gatornationals win, the first double-up for Kalitta Motorsports. But I just took a deep breath and told myself, ‘Don’t screw this up.’ We’ve had a rough time (in recent seasons), but we’ve just kept our heads down and kept working.”
Torrence reached his 13th career final round by knocking off Brittany Force, Mike Salinas and his son, Steve Torrence.
Before Langdon finished the job for the nitro sweep, Funny Car’s J.R. Todd picked up his second Gatornationals victory with a run of 3.889 at 329.10 in his 11,000-horsepower DHL Toyota GR Supra to knock off No. 1 qualifier Austin Prock. Todd struggled to make a clean run through the first three rounds but found himself in the final round after getting past Blake Alexander, Ron Capps and Bob Tasca III.
Todd, though, and the team delivered in the championship round, making their best run of the weekend with the Wally and the Golden Gators trophy on the line. It gave Todd his 21st career victory and special moment being part of the Kalitta Motorsports double-up.
“It’s probably the most bizarre day I’ve had in drag racing and the final round was the first clean run we’ve had all weekend,” Todd said. “We’ve been trying to double up for a while and for whatever reason, we couldn’t get it done. The stars just aligned here in Gainesville and it’s pretty awesome.
“I’m proud of my guys for digging deep and not giving up. You can’t take anyone lightly in this class and it’s so tough from top to bottom, but this sets a good tone and gives us momentum. All the greats have done well at this race and you want to put your name on that list (in Gainesville). It’s always great to win here.”
Prock, making his NHRA Funny Car debut, rolled to his ninth career final round by defeating John Smith, John Force and Chad Green.
The wait for a Gatornationals victory is over for six-time and reigning Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders, as motorsports’ winningest female won in Gainesville for the first time on Sunday after defeating Elite Motorsports teammate Cristian Cuadra in the final round with a standout pass of 6.494 at 211.93 in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/SCAG Power Equipment car.
She picked up her 48th career Pro Stock win in the process, knocking off Kelley Murphy, Aaron Stanfield and longtime rival Greg Anderson to reach the final round. After qualifying No. 1 with a 6.549, Enders dipped into the 6.40s three times during eliminations, including a stunning 6.483 at 211.96 to defeat Anderson in the semifinals. That helped set up a memorable final round for Enders, who claimed Gatornationals glory on Sunday, as well as the special Golden Gators 55th anniversary trophy.
“We’ve been chomping at the bit to get this done,” Enders said. “I’ve been to three final rounds here and we finally got it done. It’s pretty cool to win this one. There’s certain track that have special (trophies) and to get the Golden Gator and the 55th win, it’s awesome. It will sit proudly on our shelf and seeing a packed house at the Gators, it’s so special. Being able to check off these boxes and get a win like this, it’s really special and we’re just going to keep working.”
Cuadra reached his second career final round on Sunday, taking down Larry Morgan, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Dallas Glenn.
At the site of his first career Pro Stock Motorcycle victory a year ago, Gaige Herrera was simply dominant on Sunday in Gainesville, capping off a spectacular day with a run of 6.636 at 204.39 on his RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki in the final round to get past Matt Smith. Herrera, who was also the No. 1 qualifier, won his sixth straight race dating back to his remarkable championship season in 2023, and earned his 12th career victory and not much was in doubt on Sunday. He put together four straight runs in the 6.60s at more than 200 mph, defeating Joey Gladstone, John Hall and Angie Smith leading into the final round.
That included a track-record best of 6.629 at 204.54 in the second round, which was the second-quickest run in class history, behind only his record-setting run last year in Dallas.
“Today was good and we ran really well,” Herrera said. “The weather was really close to Dallas (last season), where I set the national record. Everyone kind of picked up in the class and we expected to as well. Overall, I had a very consistent motorcycle. We actually hurt the motor in the semifinals, so we had to swap motors for the finals. Overall, I had a very consistent, smooth motorcycle all day. As long as I didn’t miss a beat, the bike didn’t miss a beat. Even though I didn’t do any testing during the off-season, it felt like I didn’t even have an off-season and I’m glad to come home with a win.”
M. Smith went to the finals for the 76th time in his career thanks to round wins against Chris Bostick, Mark Ingwersen and LE Tonglet.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action March 21-24 with the 64th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, Calif.
Photos: NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway Sunday, March 10, 2024
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the first of 21 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Shawn Langdon; 2. Billy Torrence; 3. Antron Brown; 4. Steve Torrence; 5. Josh Hart; 6. Justin Ashley; 7. Doug Kalitta; 8. Mike Salinas; 9. Tripp Tatum; 10. Tony Schumacher; 11. Cody Krohn; 12. Tony Stewart; 13. Brittany Force; 14. Shawn Reed; 15. Clay Millican; 16. Doug Foley.
FUNNY CAR:
1. J.R. Todd; 2. Austin Prock; 3. Chad Green; 4. Bob Tasca III; 5. John Force; 6. Alexis DeJoria; 7. Ron Capps; 8. Matt Hagan; 9. Daniel Wilkerson; 10. Cruz Pedregon; 11. Buddy Hull; 12. Jim Campbell; 13. Paul Lee; 14. John Smith; 15. Blake Alexander; 16. Terry Haddock.
PRO STOCK:
1. Erica Enders; 2. Cristian Cuadra; 3. Greg Anderson; 4. Dallas Glenn; 5. Aaron Stanfield; 6. Jeg Coughlin; 7. Brandon Foster; 8. David Cuadra; 9. Matt Hartford; 10. Jerry Tucker; 11. Kenny Delco; 12. Kelley Murphy; 13. Larry Morgan; 14. Fernando Cuadra Jr.; 15. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 16. Deric Kramer.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Gaige Herrera; 2. Matt Smith; 3. Angie Smith; 4. LE Tonglet; 5. John Hall; 6. Richard Gadson; 7. Steve Johnson; 8. Marc Ingwersen; 9. Hector Arana Jr; 10. Kelly Clontz; 11. Ryan Oehler; 12. Chris Bostick; 13. Chase Van Sant; 14. Joey Gladstone; 15. Bud Yoder II; 16. Jianna Evaristo.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Sunday’s final results from the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the first of 21 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Shawn Langdon, 3.711 seconds, 335.40 mph def. Billy Torrence, 4.050 seconds, 228.50 mph.
Funny Car — J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.889, 329.10 def. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 5.360, 145.03.
Pro Stock — Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.494, 211.93 def. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 18.386, 39.84.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.636, 204.39 def. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.748, 200.83.
Top Alcohol Dragster — Joe Maynard, 5.275, 272.67 def. Jeff Veale, 5.311, 281.07.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — Ulf Leanders, Chevy Camaro, 5.454, 263.67 def. Phil Esz, Camaro, 5.441, 265.12.
Competition Eliminator — David Billingsley, Chevy Camaro, 8.068, 161.46 def. Robert Bailey, Dragster, 6.614, 170.49.
Super Stock — Kenny Horne, Olds Achieva, 9.854, 122.61 def. Monty Bogan, Chevy Camaro, 9.072, 150.51.
Stock Eliminator — Jeff Strickland, Chevy Camaro, 10.543, 90.68 def. Jay Storey, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.
Super Comp — Holden Laris, Dragster, 8.921, 176.44 def. Brad Plourd, Dragster, 8.936, 155.35.
Super Gas — Christopher Williams, Chevy Corvette, 9.915, 175.23 def. Rick Swank, Brogie Roadste, Foul – Red Light.
Top Sportsman — James Hinkle, Pontiac Grand Am, 7.197, 190.03 def. Darian Boesch, Chevy Camaro, 6.248, 229.82.
Top Dragster — Blake Peavler, Dragster, 6.564, 158.78 def. Robert Tehle, Dragster, Foul – Red Light.
Pro Modified — Jose Gonzalez, Chevy Camaro, 5.685, 253.23 def. Kris Thorne, Camaro, 10.333, 80.64.
Factory Stock Showdown — Mark Pawuk, Dodge Challenger, 7.745, 177.23 def. Stephen Bell, Chevy Camaro, 8.012, 171.25.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Final round-by-round results from the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the first of 21 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Justin Ashley, 4.414, 297.94 def. Tony Stewart, 4.453, 267.80; Doug Kalitta, 3.658, 337.75 def. Clay Millican, 7.442, 89.73; Josh Hart, 3.750, 329.26 def. Tony Schumacher, 4.024, 323.81; Antron Brown, 3.730, 333.00 def. Tripp Tatum, Foul – Red Light; Shawn Langdon, 3.690, 335.90 def. Cody Krohn, 4.391, 203.86; Steve Torrence, 3.673, 335.90 def. Shawn Reed, 6.306, 109.66; Mike Salinas, 3.930, 250.51 def. Doug Foley, Foul – Red Light; Billy Torrence, 3.669, 336.74 def. Brittany Force, 6.116, 100.86;
QUARTERFINALS — Brown, 3.730, 332.84 def. Hart, 3.866, 298.14; Langdon, 3.709, 334.40 def. Ashley, 4.890, 157.12; B. Torrence, 4.535, 171.25 def. Salinas, 6.272, 98.31; S. Torrence, 3.708, 334.90 def. Kalitta, 5.672, 119.94;
SEMIFINALS — Langdon, 3.702, 336.74 def. Brown, 5.731, 122.40; B. Torrence, 4.540, 165.70 def. S. Torrence, 7.067, 107.67;
FINAL — Langdon, 3.711, 335.40 def. B. Torrence, 4.050, 228.50.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 4.018, 325.37 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 9.894, 85.50; Alexis DeJoria, Toyota GR Supra, 3.955, 327.19 def. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 7.681, 89.54; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.450, 290.01 def. Buddy Hull, Charger, 5.068, 185.03; Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.870, 332.18 def. Jim Campbell, Chevy Monte Carlo, 5.559, 128.63; Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 4.357, 293.92 def. John Smith, Charger, 7.831, 96.30; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.869, 329.58 def. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.927, 317.12; J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 4.203, 221.92 def. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 9.123, 85.37; John Force, Camaro, 4.260, 225.18 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.340, 213.10;
QUARTERFINALS — Tasca III, 3.886, 337.41 def. DeJoria, 3.963, 329.42; Green, 3.968, 323.50 def. Hagan, 9.794, 123.26; Todd, 9.107, 84.72 def. Capps, Foul – Red Light; Prock, 3.899, 332.43 def. Force, 3.913, 328.46;
SEMIFINALS — Todd, 4.963, 180.26 def. Tasca III, 5.206, 203.98; Prock, 3.871, 334.40 def. Green, 4.053, 306.88;
FINAL — Todd, 3.889, 329.10 def. Prock, 5.360, 145.03.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Aaron Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.609, 210.90 def. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 17.607, 42.84; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.527, 211.89 def. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 7.240, 162.76; David Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.526, 210.28 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.511, 211.66; Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.531, 210.47 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 8.497, 128.03; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.526, 210.70 def. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.529, 210.14; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.499, 210.97 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.552, 211.20; Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.495, 210.67 def. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.582, 210.93; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.496, 212.13 def. Kelley Murphy, Camaro, 6.554, 210.21;
QUARTERFINALS — Anderson, 6.553, 210.64 def. Foster, 6.593, 209.62; Glenn, 6.560, 209.46 def. D. Cuadra, 15.652, 53.21; Enders, 6.508, 211.46 def. Stanfield, 6.534, 211.76; C. Cuadra, 6.528, 210.14 def. Coughlin, Foul – Red Light;
SEMIFINALS — C. Cuadra, 6.535, 210.08 def. Glenn, 6.582, 209.85; Enders, 6.483, 211.96 def. Anderson, 6.508, 210.18;
FINAL — Enders, 6.494, 211.93 def. C. Cuadra, 18.386, 39.84.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE — John Hall, 6.785, 197.77 def. Hector Arana Jr, 6.775, 200.83; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.691, 203.61 def. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 15.402, 45.78; Marc Ingwersen, 6.834, 197.16 def. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.897, 197.31; LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 6.756, 201.40 def. Bud Yoder II, Buell, 7.049, 186.33; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.724, 201.97 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.829, 197.39; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.765, 199.14 def. Ryan Oehler, 6.859, 196.67; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.751, 203.22 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.867, 196.62; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.639, 204.35 def. Joey Gladstone, Buell, 6.949, 194.16;
QUARTERFINALS — A. Smith, 6.737, 202.12 def. Johnson, 6.831, 197.91; M. Smith, 6.826, 199.40 def. Ingwersen, Foul – Red Light; Tonglet, 6.878, 197.80 def. Gadson, Foul – Red Light; Herrera, 6.629, 204.54 def. Hall, 6.801, 201.37;
SEMIFINALS — M. Smith, 6.722, 201.43 def. Tonglet, 6.777, 200.95; Herrera, 6.684, 202.27 def. A. Smith, 6.735, 202.91;
FINAL — Herrera, 6.636, 204.39 def. M. Smith, 6.748, 200.83.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Point standings (top 10) following the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the first of 21 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel
1. Shawn Langdon, 125; 2. Steve Torrence, 86; 3. Billy Torrence, 81; 4. Antron Brown, 76; 5. Mike Salinas, 60; 6. (tie) Justin Ashley, 53; Doug Kalitta, 53; 8. Josh Hart, 52; 9. Tony Schumacher, 34; 10. Tony Stewart, 32.
Funny Car
1. J.R. Todd, 114; 2. Austin Prock, 106; 3. Bob Tasca III, 84; 4. Chad Green, 74; 5. Ron Capps, 59; 6. Matt Hagan, 55; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 53; 8. John Force, 52; 9. Cruz Pedregon, 33; 10. (tie) Blake Alexander, 32; Terry Haddock, 32; Paul Lee, 32.
Pro Stock
1. Erica Enders, 125; 2. Cristian Cuadra, 104; 3. (tie) Greg Anderson, 77; Dallas Glenn, 77; 5. (tie) Jeg Coughlin, 53; Aaron Stanfield, 53; 7. (tie) David Cuadra, 52; Brandon Foster, 52; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., 35; 10. Matt Hartford, 34.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Gaige Herrera, 127; 2. Matt Smith, 103; 3. LE Tonglet, 77; 4. Angie Smith, 74; 5. Steve Johnson, 56; 6. (tie) Richard Gadson, 54; John Hall, 54; 8. Marc Ingwersen, 52; 9. Chase Van Sant, 33; 10. (tie) Hector Arana Jr, 32;
Kelly Clontz, 32; Jianna Evaristo, 32.
Greg has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.