Matt Hagan earned his second straight Gatornationals win on Sunday. (Photo by Matt Butcosk)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In a matchup of the last two Funny Car winners at the 54th Annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, Matt Hagan drove past JR Todd on the final lap Sunday to close the 2023 season of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series open. also bring Tony Stewart a second straight win at Gainesville Raceway.
Mike Salinas (Top Fuel), Troy Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the first of 21 races during the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
Hagan clocked 3.926 seconds at 329.34 mph in his 11,000 horsepower Dodge Direct Connection Charger SRT Hellcat and won the Gatornationals for the second straight year. Both Hagan and Todd showed identical reaction times at the start line, but Todd ran into trouble late in the run and Hagan claimed his 44th career win. He also defeated Tim Wilkerson, Bob Tasca III and Alexis DeJoria by making three straight runs in the 3.80 seconds to make the final lap. After a career without a win at Gainesville, Hagan, a three-time world champion, now has back-to-back victories at the historic race.
“We were just strong for this team and to win the first race of the season is just incredible,” said Hagan, who is fourth all-time in Funny Car wins. “I’m in awe of our team right now.
“I knew it was going to be a good race and honestly JR peeked out in front of me and then something happened to him over there and we went around him and put on the winning light. This car just runs strong. It’s just an honor to even be in that caliber of riders is incredible. It is a great honor for me to always be fourth.”
Todd, who won at Gainesville to open the 2021 campaign, also impressed on Sunday as he defeated Blake Alexander, Robert Hight and Chad Green to reach his 42nd career finals.
Mike Salinas. (Photo by Matt Butcosk)
In Top Fuel, Salinas won for the first time at Gainesville and the eighth time of his career, slipping past Steve Torrence on the final lap with a 3.700 at 330.31 in his 11,000hp Valley Services Dragster. After winning a career-best four races last year, Salinas was determined to do better in 2023. He also impressed in all eliminations, beating Justin Ashley, defending champion Brittany Force and Leah Pruett to reach the final lap and run as fast as 3.669 on race day.
“I think we’re going to be really good all year, but we’re fighting with the best in the world,” said Salinas. “The teams out here are no joke. Better bring your A game every time, but everyone is beatable. It’s special what we have right now. These guys taught me how to win and it’s a mindset. You appreciate those victories because they are so hard to come by.”
Torrence, the four-time world champion, reached the final lap for the 82nd time in his career, beating out Scott Palmer, Tony Schumacher and Doug Kalitta, who set the track ET record earlier in the day with a 3.646 run.
Coughlin’s magical weekend in Pro Stock ended with his first Gatornationals win as he finished the day with a 6.637 to 208.71 run in his JEGS.com/White Castle/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro to beat Mason McGaha on the last lap to defeat. It’s the third career win for Coughlin, who also qualified No. 1 and defeated Larry Morgan, Deric Kramer and Dallas Glenn to set up the matchup with McGaha. Coughlin excelled at the start line, cementing his strong start to the 2023 season.
Troy Coughlin Jr. scored his first Gatornationals win. (NHRA photo)
“I was a little excited today,” Coughlin said. “At Elite Motorsports, it’s a bit newer than the so-called Legacy of JEGS. It’s not from 1960, but to me it’s the same kind of honor. You look at Erica (Enders), she’s a five-time world champion and you drive for a championship-winning team. They have the same behavior when driving through the gates. They expect to win and we’re one big family. That’s the coolest part. If a car breaks down, we all work together.”
McGaha defeated Fernando Cuadra, Kyle Koretsky and five-time world champion Greg Anderson to advance to his second round of finals.
Herrera ended a star weekend with a final dominant performance on the final lap. He rode 6.706 by 202.15 on his Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Suzuki to beat Angie Smith and take his first career NHRA win. It was also Herrera’s first career race with Vance & Hines and the young standout put in a wonderful performance, qualifying No. 1 while setting the course speed record. He knocked out Ron Tornow, teammate Eddie Krawiec and Jianna Evaristo to reach the final lap and made the fastest pass of each session before finishing the job in the finals.
“It’s a dream,” Herrera said. “Working with Vance & Hines is so great. They help so much and it shows. I’m lost for words. I’m just out here enjoying myself and I can’t believe I’m holding this Wally. Making this Vance & Hines team happy is just an amazing feeling. Winning here in front of all these fans is just amazing.”
Smith reached her second straight final round in Gainesville, finishing 6.845 to 181.84 in the championship round. She knocked out John Hall, Joey Gladstone and rookie Chase Van Zant earlier in the day.
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns March 24-26 with the NHRA Arizona Finals, the final race at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix.
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