Great weather brings record-setting Gatornationals

Jason Line won his second-straight Gatornationals title this past weekend, making him the only driver to win a race in the first two Pro Stock races of the 2011 NHRA season thus far.

Instead of a rain-soaked drag strip and mud-bogged parking lots, thousands of race fans poured into Gainesville Raceway this weekend for a record-setting 42^nd annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals.

Both Jason Line and Eddie Krawiec each notched their second Gatornationals championships in as many years in the Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle categories, respectively.

In Top Fuel, former Funny Car pilot Del Worsham became only the 15^th in NHRA history to capture victories in Top Fuel and Funny Car categories.

And Mike Neff, who is taking Ashley Force Hood’s spot in the John Force Racing stable while she’s on maternity leave, sped to his first-ever Gatornationals win.

Worsham’s 3.858-second pass at 318.99 mph. just barely edged four-time Gatornationals champ and seven-time world champ Tony Schumacher’s pass of 3.866 seconds at 318.39 mph.

The win became Worsham’s first in the Top Fuel category after notching 25 victories during his Funny Car career that began in 1990.

“It feels great,” a happy Worsham said later about winning in both classes.

“I had a chance at the U.S. Nationals in 1993, could have won in Top Fuel, and I made a huge mistake, red-light against Kenny Bernstein.

“It’s kind of weighed on me for 20 years.”

Neff, who pulls the rare double life as driver and crew chief, wheeled his Castrol GTX Mustang to a dominating win over former champ Cruz Pedregon in the Funny Car final.

Pedregon smoked the tires on his ride, allowing Neff to speed away for his second-career win and first at Gainesville.

“It’s just a great day for our whole team,” Neff said.

“The hardest part is just trying not to mess it up as a driver.”

There was no question which race team would win the Pro Stock final, just which teammate in the Summit Racing stable would be hoisting the trophy in the winner’s circle.

Line – who won the Pro Stock season opener in Pomona two weeks ago – beat his teammate Greg Anderson despite running a slower elapsed time (6.554 to 6.545) and a lower speed (211.96 to 212.43).

It was Line’s reaction time off the starting line that allowed him to take his second-consecutive Gatornationals victory and spoil Anderson’s 50^th birthday (the following day).

Krawiec enjoyed what would end up being the easiest way to the winner’s circle when Karen Stoffer red-lighted off the starting line, gift-wrapping Krawiec’s second-straight Gatornationals title.

National records were set in both the Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle classes at the Gatornationals during qualifying.

Former Gatornationals champ Hector Arana set the national record for elapsed time at 6.777 seconds, while Krawiec set the national speed record at 199.26 mph. in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category.

In fact, the entire Pro Stock Motorcycle field combined to record the three quickest and three fastest runs in class history.

In Pro Stock, both the national records for elapsed time and speed were smashed when Rodger Brogdon laid down a lightning-quick pass of 6.495 seconds and later Erica Enders ran the fastest-ever Pro Stock run at 213.57 mph.

Overall, this year’s Gatornationals Pro Stock field recorded the seven quickest elapsed times in category history, as well as establishing the 10 fastest speeds in class history.

Former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch made his Pro Stock debut in Gainesville and met mixed results.

Busch struggled, for the most part, in the four qualifying rounds, but eventually made the starting field of 16 cars for Sunday’s eliminations.

Paired against Enders in the first round, few gave Busch – who will return to his “real” job next Sunday in Bristol – much of a chance based on his inconsistent qualifying performances.

However, the race between Enders and Busch couldn’t have gotten much closer.

Enders barely edged out Busch by .031 seconds at the finish line, bringing the crowd to their feet.

The 42^nd edition of this event, in conjunction with NHRA’s 60^th anniversary, saw several dedications to some heroes of Gatornationals past.

Legendary drivers “Big Daddy” Don Garlits and Kenny Bernstein were each honored this past weekend at the prestigious race track.

During pre-race ceremonies, Garlits – who owns the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum just south of Gainesville in Belleview – had the TEC grandstands dedicated in his honor, and now the former TEC Grandstand at Gainesville Raceway will now be forever known as the Don Garlits Grandstand.

Bernstein, who broke the 300-mph barrier at the Gatornationals by making a pass at 301.70 mph. in his Top Fueler in 1992, was honored earlier, as the NHRA and Gainesville Raceway named the quarter-mile strip “301 Bernstein Way.”