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Billy Kleinspehn our in house drag racing prognosticator has made his picks for the Gators and all things racing for the second weekend of March. As usual, Billy’s choices are just for entertainment. Please no gambling

Ladies and Gentlemen Boys and Girls of all ages it’s time to fire up the 2026 NHRA Season and boy what a season do we have this year! 

This year is shaping up to a magical year for the sport with a ton of positives following in the sport and with NHRA celebrating its 75th anniversary let’s pull into the water box and hook up the starter and let’s give you my 5 picks for the East Coast Season Opener the Gatornationals! 

Number 5 Top Fuel Call Out

Each March the best 8 Top Fuel drivers in the world battle it out for in the Top Fuel Callout presented by Right Trailers. The event which was hampered by rain and held at Pomona in 2025 returns to Gainesville and is once again shaping up to one of the best specialty races of the season. 

Number 4 A Step Back In Time

The month of March means a lot of things to everyone the beginning of Spring the Ides of March and March Madness all come to mine. 

But if you’re a fan of the nostalgia drag racing or of the golden age of the sport the month of March means one thing the famed March Meet. The event which is part of the Hot Rod Heritage Series is one of the most anticipated races of the Nostalgia season and definitely one race everyone should attend in their lifetime. 

Number 3 Unfinished Business 

With NHRA celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2026 the NHRA is going big celebrating its past and present and one special event taking place this weekend in Gainesville is the special legends race with Joe Amato Bruce Larson Kenny Bernstein and Warren Johnson. The race which will take place Friday and Saturday is one you don’t wanna miss. 

Number 2 The Hall is Calling

One of the major highlights of the annual gators is something that happens each Thursday Night of the event. While Baseball has Cooperstown and Football has Canton Drag Racing has Ocala Florida and the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. 

Each year a select group of legends from the over 130 year history of the sport has their names etched in Drag Racing History at its annual ceremony which celebrates the rich history and the individuals that have made Drag Racing one of the most popular and respected sports World Wide. 

Number 1 Rookie Debuts 

One of the biggest stories this weekend heading into the Gatornationals’ is the Pro Debuts of Maddie Gordon and Cody Anderson. 

Maddie who will be racing Top Fuel for Ron Capps and Cody who will be racing for KB Titan in Pro Stock will bring a boatload of youth and exuberance into the pro classes and could they add their names to rookies that have won in their pro debuts? 

Billy Kleinspehn