Thu, 17 Mar 2005, 12:41 PM Gainesville Event Preview

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2005 Auto Imagery, Inc.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. --

Tony Schumacher

In Top Fuel, defending series champ Tony Schumacher has raced out to the points lead after winning the second race of the season in Phoenix. Schumacher is the defending race winner at Gainesville, and with Alan Johnson supplying the tune-up, has a very good chance to repeat. He will be challenged by two-time Gatornationals runner-up Scott Kalitta, who is part of a trio of ultra-quick Kalitta Motorsports dragsters that also includes Dave Grubnic and Doug Kalitta. Upstart Morgan Lucas, who has been to three final rounds in the last four races, is making his first pro start in Gainesville and is a top contender, along with '03 winner Brandon Bernstein, a rejuvenated Doug Herbert and two-time series champ Larry Dixon, a three-time Gatornationals winner.

John Force

While John Force has owned the Gatornationals in the Funny Car world for most of the last two decades, he will be pushed to the limit this season by a host of challengers. Current series points leader Phil Burkart leads that charge, along with Winternationals winner Tommy Johnson Jr. and Phoenix runner-up Ron Capps. Besides Force's seven victories at the track - his last coming in '01 - only four active drivers have won the historic race, including Gary Densham, Cruz and Tony Pedregon and Del Worsham. Others to watch in the 7,000 horsepower category include Whit Bazemore, Gary Scelzi, Eric Medlen and rookie Robert Hight.

Allen Johnson

The current Pro Stock points leader took a wild tumble at the Gatornationals in 1999, as his car went out of control and flipped multiple times in one of the most spectacular crashes in the history of the 200 mph category, but Allen Johnson hopes to add a better memory at 'The Swamp' this season. After moving into the points lead for the first time in his career with a victory at Phoenix, Johnson would like to drive his J&J Racing Dodge Stratus into the winner's circle at Gainesville Raceway and keep the positive momentum going. He will be challenged by an energized Warren Johnson - nine time winner of the Gatornationals -- who is making his final appearance as a driver at the storied track this season. Two other veterans that have been making noise early in '05 include two-time Gainesville winner Jim Yates and Phoenix runner-up Ron Krisher. It will be an important race for two-time defending series champ Greg Anderson, who will try to turn his season around after getting off to a sluggish start. Other top contenders include Winternationals winner Dave Connolly, '01 Gatornationals winner Jeg Coughlin and Kurt Johnson, a winner here in '03.

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