Mon, 22 Feb 2016, 13:33 PM NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Powers into Florida

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2016 NHRA/National Dragster For the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The NHRA NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to the swamps of Gainesville, Fla., March 17-20, for the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals - the third event of the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello season.

Fans in the Sunshine State will be in for a treat at the circuit's traditional East Coast opener at Gainesville Raceway as the world's best drag racers power their 10,000 horsepower, fire-breathing machines down the strip in pursuit of championship points and early-season momentum. Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year's winners of the event that will be televised on FOX Sports 1, including live finals coverage at 1 p.m. (ET).

The excitement and energy of NHRA racing on the track will be as adrenaline-pumping as ever, but in 2016, the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is shifting gears and venturing boldly into a brand new era. It's one of the most eagerly anticipated seasons for the NHRA community in many years.

New TV partner FOX Sports will aim its cameras at the exciting side-by-side racing on the dragstrip and showcase the sport with live coverage of Sunday eliminations at 17 events - including the Gainesville race - and provide more than 500 hours of NHRA programming on its family of networks. There are new rules for the Pro Stock category that will help the factory hot rods recapture the 200 mph magic that makes the class a fan-favorite. There are many new rules in place to improve competition in other classes, and there's even a bold new NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series logo.

Spencer Massey, Ron Capps, Greg Anderson and Karen Stoffer celebrate last year's win.

In addition, NHRA will ask its legion of fans and highly-skilled drivers what they love about the sport in the new "MY NHRA is." marketing campaign. NHRA's celebration of the 50th anniversary of Funny Car is sure to be a fan-favorite attraction as well.

While there will be a lot of newness floating around the Gainesville track during the event, one thing fans can count on is the same high-intensity, drama-filled competition that they have become accustomed to.

Gainesville Raceway never fails to disappoint, as it has long been known as one of the fastest tracks on the NHRA circuit. The legendary track is home to the first 260-, 270- and 300-mph Top Fuel runs, while perhaps the most memorable of those was Kenny Bernstein's historic first 300 mph Top Fuel pass in 1992. With so much history around the track, drivers at this year's Gatornationals will be inspired to make some history of their own.

The Pro Stock Motorcycle class will make its 2016 season debut at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. The two-wheeled class races at 16 events throughout the season and provides some of the series' most thrilling action. Pro Stock Motorcycle racers will be looking to start fast, and many will have their crosshairs on reigning world champ, Andrew Hines.

Hines powered his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson to four victories last season en route to his second consecutive world championship and fifth of his career. Hines hasn't won the Gainesville event in more than a decade, so he'll have his eyes set on a return to the winner's circle. Trying to prevent him from getting there will be teammate and three-time event winner Eddie Krawiec, 2015 event winner Stoffer, Louisiana alligator farmer Jerry Savoie, and two-time world champion Matt Smith.

In Top Fuel, Steve Torrence will bring the confidence he gained from his win at the Winternationals in Southern California to the tradition-rich Florida race. The driver of the Capco Contractors/Torrence Racing dragster qualified No. 1 on his way to victory at the opening race of the season and took control of the points lead for the first time in his career. The Texan does not plan to forfeit control of the points, but drivers like world champion Antron Brown, four-time event winner Tony Schumacher, 2014 event winner Doug Kalitta and raising star Leah Pritchett will do everything in their power to knock him off the top.

Capps came out victorious in Funny Car at the Gatornationals in 2015 and will hope to do so again this year. He's off to a hot start in his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T, with one win already under his belt from the season-opener. Capps defeated John Hale in a tough final round at Gainesville last year and will have another task at hand with the extremely competitive Funny Car field.

The 2015 Funny Car world champion, Del Worsham, didn't lose a beat over the offseason and started 2016 with a final round appearance at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Worsham has one Funny Car win at Gainesville Raceway, but will look to add another in his DHL Toyota Camry while he continues a hot streak that started last season during the Countdown to the Championship. Alexis DeJoria and Courtney Force will each have the chance to become the first female driver to earn a Funny Car victory in Gainesville, but seven-time event winner John Force, Robert Hight, Jack Beckman and Tommy Johnson Jr. will put up a solid challenge.

Nitro Alley

For the all-new Pro Stock class, Anderson will ride into Gainesville looking to defend his 2015 Gatornationals title. Anderson defeated teammate Jason Line in the final round of the event last year and also opened the 2016 season at the Winternationals in the exact same fashion. The Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro tandem has combined for seven victories at Gainesville Raceway, but getting another will not be an easy feat. Expect tough competition from reigning world champion Erica Enders in her new Mopar/Elite Motorsports Dodge Dart GT, and from two-time Gators winners Allen Johnson and Jeg Coughlin Jr., and category young guns, Drew Skillman, Vincent Nobile and Bo Butner.

The sleek new Pro Stock cars feature fuel-injected engines, shorter wheelie bars, flat hoods and a 10,500 RPM rev-limiter.

As part of NHRA's ongoing celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Funny Car class, one legendary Funny Car driver will be honored during pre-race ceremonies.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they're granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA's popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

The event also will serve as the season-opening race for the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series and feature plenty of thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:45 and 4:15 p.m. on Friday, March 18 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, March 19, at 12 and 3:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 20.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult.