Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals UPDATE

A quick check of the NHRA website reveals that some entry numbers are increasing, as we now have a total of 21 Top Alcohol Dragsters, but just seven Funny Cars as one racer (Bob McCosh Jr.) withdrew. In the PRO ranks, Top Fuel and Pro Stock have very healthy numbers, with 21 entries each, while Funny Car has 16 and Pro Stock Motorcycle has also gathered a full field. Pro Mod, which was slow to build has now got a full field of 16 entries. There's quite a difference in the Top Alcohol classes though, with 21 dragsters entered, and only seven Funny Cars. Despite that shortfall, it looks like a good turnout of racers in most categories for one of the major events on the NHRA Camping World Schedule.

There's also a bonus event on tap: The Pep Boys NHRA All-Star Top Fuel callout, a new creation featuring the top eight qualifiers from the past season and the first two events of 2022. The most unique feature of the race-within-a-race will be the ability of the #1 qualifier (b>Steve Torrence) to "call-out" his first round opponent. He not only has lane choice but his choice of competitor. While an 8-car format usually pairs the #1 and #8 qualifier, he can pick anyone else in the field, not simply the lowest qualified. And just like regular competition, lane choice and choice of opponent in each round goes to the quicker car in the previous round. It's a made for television event, but it's a new twist on an all-star format and could be very interesting.