Bold, Bellemeur, and Rodger Brogdon take wins at the Baby Gatornationals in Gainesville Florida

Phil Hutchison Drag Racing Action Online

Images Rhonda McCole

McKenna Bold, Sean Bellemeur, and Rodger Brogdon led the list of winners as the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Southeast Division was in action at Gainesville Raceway with the 11th annual Baby Gators event.

A week after the NHRA National Gatornationals in Gainesville Florida was held, the Lucas Oil Sportsman showed up in mass for the second Division Two event of the 2026 season

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

It was Canadian racer McKenna Bold from Red Deer Alberta driving the Randy Meyer owned A/FD to her second NHRA Lucas win.

Nine cars were on hand to qualify for the 8 car show with eventual runner up James Stevens on the bump with a 5.283. Bold was one spot ahead in the 7^th slot with a 5.273. Local racer Sarah Allen driving the Allen family dragster was #1 with a 5.213.

With the field in a tight spread, it was anyone’s race. Bold took out NJ racer Jackie Fricke and engine builder Jamie Noonan in earlier rounds as Stevens got around second-generation racer Melanie Johnson and low qualifier Allen to get to meet Bold in the finals.

Stevens got a little antsy in the finals leaving 0.025 too soon putting Bold and the Meyer crew in the winner’s circle

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

Defending NHRA Alcohol Funny Car champ Sean Bellemeur from Placentia Calif. won his 32^nd career Lucas Wally taking the win over Ohio racer Phil Esz in the finals.

Bellemeur ran a 5.401 to Esz’s close 5.433 in the final

COMPETITION ELIMINATOR

Texas racer Roger Brogdon took his B/SR to a win in Comp beating the H/SM Camaro of Steve Johnson in the finals. Brogdon’s Street Roadster got the better light and ran a -0.464 under 7.766 for his 15^th career Lucas win.

SUPER STOCK

It was a pair of Chevy’s in the finals of Super Stock with Don Shuford from Connely Springs N.C. taking the win with his GT/MA Camaro over the FSS/F ’15 Camaro of PA. racer David Barton.

In a double breakout final Shuford was only under -0.003 his 10.19 index with a 10.187 as Barton pushed his COPO Camaro to a -0.020 under 9.13 on his 9.15 dial.

The win at Gainesville was Shuford’s second career Lucas win.

STOCK

Long time California racer Doug Lambeck who now calls Thompson Station Tenn home, drove his A/SA ’69 Camaro to the Baby Gators win over the FS/B COPO Camaro over Jeff Adkinson from Damascus GA.

Both racers were nearly identical on the tree, and it went down to who was closer to their index as Lambeck ran a 10.056 on his 10.04 dial as Adkinson ran too quick with a breaking out 9.14 on his 9.15 index.

The win for Lambeck was his 26^th Lucas Series Wally.

SUPER COMP

Orlando LODRS winner John Labbout Jr from Goodlettsville, Tenn was in his second Lucas race in a row but this time he was up against Vance Houston from Newland N.C.

Both drivers were on their game with a 0.013 light for Houston and a 0.014 for Labbous. On the top end it was Houston with a 8.902 on the 8.90 index with Labbous right there with a 8.908 in the loss. It was that close.

Houston’s win at the Baby’s was his third Lucas Series Wally.

SUPER GAS

The finals of Super Gas were over at the hit as the ’19 Corvette Roadster of Tim Powell from Ty Ty GA. went red giving the S-10 Chevy of Jim Perry from Niota GA. the win. The win was the 14^th of Perry’s career.

SUPER STREET

Delaware racer and long time player in Super Gas and Super Street drove his Porsche to the win at Gainesville over local racer Brendan George in his Mustang.

Both racers cut the tree with a 0.006 RT for George and a 0.009 for Mayers. At the stipe it was Mayer’s right on 10.906 for the win as George went too quick with a 10.871 in the loss. Mayer’s left the Baby’s with is 18^th Lucas win.

TOP SPORTSMAN

Local racer Carl Freeman from Fernandina Beach Fla. took his ’04 Cavalier to a an easy 8.991 on his dial as his competition, the ’94 Camaro of Tom Patterson from Canada left too soon giving Freeman his second Lucas Oil Wally.

TOP DRAGSTER

In a battle of two D2 racers James Brown from Smiths Ala. got the win over Greenville Fla. Clint Riley in the finals Brown got the better light and hung on for a 6.91 win on his 6.88 dial as Riley trailed with a 6.268 on his 6.20. Brown’s win was his 7^th Lucas win.