The excitement mounts as NHRA’s first event of a 20-race Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule commences next week with the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on Gainesville Raceway’s dragstrip outside the central Florida city. In addition to season-starter competition in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, the first specialty race of the year takes place on Saturday (March 8) of the three-day race meeting.
The Right Trailers All Star Top Fuel Callout is an eight-car bonus race offering big money, along with year-long bragging rights and a special trophy, to the winner of the competition and brings up the possibility of a major double-up weekend to start the year. The eight drivers that will be racing in this bonus competition qualified through their 2024 performances. With one exception: while he qualified to race in the All Star Callout, Tony Schumacher had to give up his spot, without a current position that would allow him to compete. Because of his absence, second-year competitor Tony Stewart gets the eighth slot.
The first Right Trailers All Star Top Fuel Callout was held in 2022, when persistent rain caused it to be postponed until the U.S Nationals on Labor Day weekend. Steve Torrence, a four-time dragster champion won that first race, while local Ocala, Fla. competitor Josh Hart produced a feel-good story in 2023. Last March, it was Antron Brown who earned the money and trophy, en route to his fourth Top Fuel championship, earned in the final day of 2024 competition.
But that’s all past history. The 2025 Top Fuel Callout field, in order of their seedings are: Steve Torrence, Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, Justin Ashley, Antron Brown, Brittany Force, Clay Millican and, taking Schumacher’s spot in this bonus race, 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year Tony Stewart. Five of the above are NHRA Top Fuel champions; only Justin Ashley, Clay Millican and Tony Stewart are still looking for their first NHRA Top Fuel titles.
As the No. 1 seed, Torrence gets to call out his first-round opponent on Friday, when the first choices are divulged at the crack of noon in the track’s Top Eliminator Club. If not chosen by Torrence, 2023 dragster champ Doug Kalitta gets the next choice, followed by Shawn Langdon and Justin Ashley. The bottom half of this field are Antron Brown, Brittany Force, Clay Millican and Tony Stewart.
The opening round of Callout competition is scheduled for 12:15 PM Saturday, March 8, with the semifinals following at 2:20 PM and the final round set for 3:30 PM. A special Right Trailers Top Fuel Callout broadcast airs on Saturday night at 9 PM ET on FS1.
Last year’s Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals were won by Shawn Langdon in Top Fuel, J.R. Todd’s Toyota GR Supra in Funny Car, Elite Motorsports’ Erica Enders for Pro Stock, taking her first victory at this historic racetrack and by Gaige Herrera, kicking off successful defense of his first Pro Stock Motorcycle championship, riding a Suzuki Hayabusa3. Last year’s Winner’s Circle marked the first time Kalitta Motorsports has “doubled up” for victory in its illustrious history. This year’s race features four rounds of qualifying for Sunday eliminations, at 2 and 4:30 PM ET on Friday, March 7 and 12:30 and 3 PM ET on Saturday March 8. Callout competition takes place within Saturday’s qualifying sessions.
Stewart, now in his second full season of NHRA pro competition, is “looking forward to competing in the Top Fuel Callout at Gainesville,” he said. “The field is stacked with talent and we won’t know who we are up against until we get there, so that adds an exciting element to the event. Hopefully,” Stewart said, “we’re able to bring home the trophy and some extra bonus money for the team, for all of their hard work.”
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