Todd wins Gatornationals to end streak, spoil Force’s return

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — J.R. Todd’s victory at the season-opening Gatornationals ended the NHRA’s longest winning streak by one juggernaut and spoiled the muchhyped return of another.

Todd beat Robert Hight in the Funny Car finale Sunday at Gainesville Raceway, crossing the finish line first after both drivers had trouble getting traction on a hot and slippery track. Hight was looking to give John Force Racing a dramatic return to the drag-racing series after the team sat out most of last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But it was Todd celebrating with a Wally Trophy in one hand and a bottle of champagne in the other. Todd cracked open a can of beer in his pit stall as he reflected on one of the biggest wins of his career at a track where longtime friend Eric Medlen died in 2007. Todd already had notched wins at three of the NHRA’s four majors: the U.S. Nationals, the Winternationals and the NHRA Finals.

Josh Hart, who lives in nearby Ocala, was the surprise winner in Top Fuel. The owner/driver beat Shawn Langdon to win his first national series event. Greg Anderson won the pro stock class on his 60th birthday, and Matt Smith won the pro-stock motorcycle division.

Hart had been scheduled to make his Top Fuel debut last year with Bob Vandergriff Racing. But after the pandemic, Vandergriff and Hart decided it would be best for Hart to own his own team.

“Obviously, it’s not always going to be this easy,” Hart said.