The annual NHRA Gatornationals roars into the Gainesville Raceway today through the weekend. It is the annual spring opener for NHRA and it always brings thousands of race fans into Gainesville and Alachua County.
Doug Kalitta, (Top Fuel) Robert Hight, (Funny Car) Allen Johnson, (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are defending champions at the event.
One driver trying to win in Gainesville this weekend is NHRA funny car driver Alexis DeJoria who says if the track conditions are right, fast times could happen this weekend as they have in the past at Gainesville Raceway.
“I think a combination of the fact that it (the racetrack) is in the middle of a forest, you know, there’s a lot of oxygen in the air, it’s close to sea level and I mean it’s always been fast as long as I can remember.”
DeJoria is the first woman in funny car competition to make a sub four second run and she is proud of that accomplishment.
“It was really special because I kind of felt that we just, you know, we kept getting passed on those things…it was like all these other girls were getting the first for this, the first for that, I’m like man when are we going to get our first,” DeJoria said.
The 37 year old also says the competition is tough in her category.
“It’s very competitive; I mean, everybody is stepping up and there’s a lot of cars that can run in the three’s now.”
All the big names are here, all the big race teams are here for this year’s Gatornationals!
For Alexis DeJoria’s full audio quotes, click on the links below.
Alexis DeJoria says its special to be the first woman to make a sub 4 second run
Alexis DeJoria talks about the sport being more competitive now
Alexis DeJoria on why the track in Gainesville is fast