Gainesville Raceway
ActiveActive Still racing today.
Also known as Gainesville Dragway
NHRA-owned quarter-mile northeast of Gainesville, home of the Gatornationals since 1970. Beyond the national event it runs Night of Fire, big bracket and Jr. Dragster races, and NHRA divisional events.
- Home of the NHRA Gatornationals since 1970
- First 300 mph Top Fuel run came at the 1992 Gatornationals
- First 260 mph runs in Top Fuel and Funny Car came here in 1984
- Raced
- 1969-present
- State
- Florida
- Raced on
- Built as a drag strip
- First race
- 1969
- Sanction
- NHRA Division 2
- Track
- 1/4 mile
- Address
- 11211 N County Road 225
Gainesville, FL 32609 - People
- James Raulerson, builder and original owner (1969)
- Elevation
- 169 ft (51 m)
- Coordinates
- 29.75746, -82.26861
Big races
NHRA Gatornationals
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event and one of the oldest stops on the tour, traditionally the first eastern race of the season.
History
James Raulerson built and owned the track, which opened in 1969 as Gainesville Dragway and hosted the first Gatornationals in 1970. When NHRA’s Wally Parks announced it as the site, he said it was picked for its excellent facilities and convenient location. The first Gatornationals ran February 13-15, 1970, with more than $140,000 in prize money, and Dave Chenevert (top fuel), Leonard Hughes (funny car) and Bill Jenkins (pro stock) won. In 1971 Jimmy King won top fuel, Leroy Goldstein funny car and Ronnie Sox pro stock. The Gatornationals produced the first 260 mph runs in Top Fuel and Funny Car in 1984, and the first 270 mph and 300 mph runs in Top Fuel in 1986 and 1992. Around 1974 the name changed to Gainesville Raceway.
More in Florida
- Nothing left No longer racing, and nothing of the track remains. Amelia Earhart Field (Hialeah) 1956-62
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Boca Raton Airfield 1953-54
- Active Still racing today. Bradenton Motorsports Park 1971-present
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Brooksville Municipal Airport 1954-59
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Buccaneer Drag Strip (Fernandina Beach) 1961-65
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Buckingham Field/Drag Strip (Fort Myers) 1954-66
- Active Still racing today. Central Florida Dragway/Orlando Speed World Dragway 1966-present
- Nothing left No longer racing, and nothing of the track remains. Central Florida Speedway (Casselberry) 1954
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Corry Field (Pensacola) 1967-70
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Countyline Dragway (Pembroke Pines) 2007-14
- Nothing left No longer racing, and nothing of the track remains. Davie Drags 1959-61
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Daytona International Speedway 1961-62