GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 04, 2026) — Competing in his third full Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season, Dave Richards and the BlueBird Turf / Versatran Funny Car team are eager to open the year with high expectations at this weekend’s Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
With the offseason behind them and a new season ahead, Richards and his team are focused on carrying their steady progression into 2026. After two years of building experience together, along with the addition of crew chief Aaron Brooks, the BlueBird Turf / Versatran group is determined to translate that growth into consistent performance. The team also spent time testing this week in preparation for the Gatornationals, utilizing additional track time to gather data and build confidence.
“It felt great to shake off the rust and settle back into the seat during testing this week,” said Richards. “It’s hard to believe it had been nearly four months since we last made a run. I’m really proud of my whole team for the countless hours they’ve put in over the off-season to get this car ready. We’re excited to start the season off strong with Florida Outdoor Equipment and all the SCAG Power Equipment dealers in Gainesville.”
The Gatornationals have historically served as a tone-setter for the season, and a strong start in Gainesville would provide early momentum in the championship chase. Richards is aiming for a solid qualifying effort Friday and Saturday to put his team in position to turn on win lights Sunday and begin stacking round wins.
The Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals begins with four rounds of qualifying Friday, March 6th, at 2:30 and 5 p.m. and Saturday, March 7th, at 12:35 and 3 p.m. Eliminations are scheduled to begin Sunday, March 8th, at 10:00 a.m. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with a qualifying show on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET and eliminations at 12 p.m.
