Chad Green of Midland, Texas started the 2025 NHRA Funny Car season by winning the 56th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on Sunday at Gainesville Raceway. NHRA photo

By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio

Chad Green kicked off his 2025 Funny Car season in dominant fashion, claiming victory at the 56th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on Sunday at Gainesville Raceway.

The win marked Green’s second career Funny Car victory and his first-ever Gatornationals title, launching him into the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series points lead for the first time in his career.

Chad Green won the NHRA Funny Car race at 56th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on Sunday at Gainesville Raceway. NHRA photo

Green, 51, from Midland, Texas, made a statement in the final round by running a blistering 3.921 seconds at 329.18 mph run in his 11,000-horsepower Bond-Coat Ford Mustang, defeating three-time Funny Car world champion Ron Capps.

Capps, who previously held a 5-1 advantage over Green in head-to-head matchups, got off the starting line first but lost traction about 200 feet into the run. He attempted to pedal but couldn’t regain control, finishing with a disappointing 6.500 at 110.23 mph in his Toyota GR Supra.

“It’s the Gatornationals—it’s historical,” Green said after the win. “So many big things have happened at this race over the years, and to get this win means everything to me. My very first time on a track at a race was here at this track, so to come back and win is incredible.”

This victory marked Green’s fourth career final-round appearance. He previously lost to J.R. Todd in Sonoma and Robert Hight in Reading during the 2023 season. His first career Funny Car win came in 2023 at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, California, where he defeated Tim Wilkerson.

Despite qualifying 13th, Green showcased remarkable consistency throughout the elimination rounds. He took down Paul Lee, Buddy Hull, and former world champion Matt Hagan en route to the finals, steadily improving his performance. His semifinal run was nearly identical to his final-round pass, running 3.922 seconds before sealing the deal with a 3.921-second pass in the championship round.

Chad Green celebrates with his race team after winning the NHRA Funny Car race at 56th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on Sunday at Gainesville Raceway. NHRA photo

Prior to the semifinal race against Hagan, Green and his race team were late to the starting line and almost missed the race. Green credited his team for their resilience and hard work, especially after facing mechanical setbacks before the final two rounds.

“We threw a rod out on the run before, so we had to do a complete motor swap,” Green revealed. “Our second crew from next door came over to help, and I had to just jump in the car and go full speed to the water box. But once I got there, everything calmed down, and we made a monster run.”

Green added, “I don’t know how long those guys waited for us, but I do want to say hats off to TSR, Hagan and that whole group. Hats off to them for waiting for us.”

Green also praised his longtime crew members, Dean Marinis and Joe Serna, for their dedication and growth. “Dean has been with me since my Pro Mod days. I convinced him to join me in Funny Car even though he wasn’t sure at first. Now, six years later, he’s become an incredible crew chief. Joe has been with me since I started driving Funny Cars, and he’s been a key part of our team. They stepped up big today, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Looking ahead, Green believes the early-season momentum is crucial in the highly competitive NHRA Funny Car class.

“The first race is one of the most important because if you start off bad, you’re already behind the eight ball,” Green said. “These guys out here are tough, so you have to take every opportunity. Thankfully, we did that today.”

Adding to the excitement for Green’s team, they have expanded to a two-car operation this season. The second car will be driven primarily by Blake Alexander and occasionally by Green’s son, Hunter. They both played a vital role in Sunday’s success, providing assistance in the pits and further strengthening the team’s overall performance.

“These guys, they’re good out here,” Green said. “So, you got to take advantage of every opportunity you got and thank goodness we were able to do that today.”

The next NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series event will be the 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix on March 21-23.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 56th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the first of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

1. Antron Brown; 2. Shawn Langdon; 3. Steve Torrence; 4. Jasmine Salinas; 5. Tony Stewart; 6. Clay Millican; 7. Dan Mercier; 8. Doug Kalitta; 9. Doug Foley; 10. Shawn Reed; 11. Krista Baldwin; 12. Justin Ashley; 13. Josh Hart; 14. Brittany Force; 15. Ida Zetterstrom; 16. Tripp Tatum.

FUNNY CAR:

1. Chad Green; 2. Ron Capps; 3. Matt Hagan; 4. Alexis DeJoria; 5. Jack Beckman; 6. Bobby Bode; 7. Buddy Hull; 8. Bob Tasca III; 9. Daniel Wilkerson; 10. Terry Haddock; 11. John Smith; 12. Blake Alexander; 13. J.R. Todd; 14. Cruz Pedregon; 15. Austin Prock; 16. Paul Lee.

PRO STOCK:

1. Dallas Glenn; 2. Greg Anderson; 3. Jeg Coughlin; 4. Cory Reed; 5. Eric Latino; 6. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 7. Mason McGaha; 8. Derrick Reese; 9. Deric Kramer; 10. Kenny Delco; 11. Chris McGaha; 12. Brandon Miller; 13. Matt Hartford; 14. Aaron Stanfield; 15. Erica Enders; 16. Greg Stanfield.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

1. Gaige Herrera; 2. Matt Smith; 3. Chase Van Sant; 4. Angie Smith; 5. Richard Gadson; 6. Kelly Clontz; 7. Jianna Evaristo; 8. John Hall; 9. Ron Tornow; 10. Ryan Oehler; 11. Brandon Litten; 12. Chris Bostick; 13. Marc Ingwersen; 14. Brayden Davis; 15. Geno Scali; 16. Lance Bonham.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Sunday’s final results from the 56th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the first of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel — Antron Brown, 3.673 seconds, 333.99 mph def. Shawn Langdon, 3.684 seconds, 332.67 mph.

Funny Car — Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 3.921, 329.18 def. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 6.500, 110.23.

Pro Stock — Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.549, 211.13 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, Broke.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.722, 200.23 def. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.723, 203.19.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Final round-by-round results from the 56th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the first of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE — Clay Millican, 4.365, 283.49 def. Josh Hart, 6.599, 94.69; Tony Stewart, 3.722, 329.91 def. Brittany Force, 8.643, 74.73; Shawn Langdon, 5.020, 235.19 def. Justin Ashley, 5.682, 130.61; Antron Brown, 4.664, 253.18 def. Krista Baldwin, 5.241, 183.67; Doug Kalitta, 5.575, 193.13 def. Ida Zetterstrom, 11.004, 74.49; Dan Mercier, 4.161, 308.28 def. Tripp Tatum, Foul – Outer Boundary; Steve Torrence, 3.749, 335.15 def. Doug Foley, 3.757, 318.47; Jasmine Salinas, 3.753, 330.23 def. Shawn Reed, 4.100, 275.79;

QUARTERFINALS — Brown, 3.721, 333.25 def. Millican, 3.772, 324.90; Salinas, 3.751, 333.99 def. Mercier, 3.848, 310.91; Torrence, 3.975, 278.63 def. Kalitta, 4.051, 281.07; Langdon, 3.739, 333.82 def. Stewart, 3.742, 331.53;

SEMIFINALS — Langdon, 3.727, 332.84 def. Salinas, 3.777, 328.94; Brown, 3.754, 324.36 def. Torrence, 3.773, 329.10;

FINAL — Brown, 3.673, 333.99 def. Langdon, 3.684, 332.67.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE — Buddy Hull, Dodge Charger, 4.048, 313.37 def. Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 4.177, 322.88; Chad Green, Mustang, 3.959, 324.20 def. Paul Lee, Charger, 13.373, 54.52; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 5.161, 209.62 def. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 13.050, 56.62; Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.964, 325.30 def. John Smith, Charger, 5.644, 132.14; Jack Beckman, Camaro, 4.359, 309.42 def. Blake Alexander, Charger, 6.782, 95.47; Bobby Bode, Mustang, 5.811, 159.70 def. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 7.190, 104.54; Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.921, 329.75 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.202, 280.19; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.275, 221.20 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 10.461, 77.23;

QUARTERFINALS — Green, 4.106, 312.78 def. Hull, 5.293, 146.56; Hagan, 3.987, 327.74 def. Beckman, 4.678, 214.48; Capps, 3.951, 330.07 def. Bode, 5.155, 145.03; DeJoria, 3.999, 322.58 def. Tasca III, 6.565, 103.18;

SEMIFINALS — Green, 3.922, 330.88 def. Hagan, 3.988, 324.20; Capps, 4.012, 280.78 def. DeJoria, 5.949, 115.35;

FINAL — Green, 3.921, 329.18 def. Capps, 6.500, 110.23.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE — Derrick Reese, Ford Mustang, 6.594, 208.75 def. Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 13.199, 67.63; Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.932, 207.75 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.983, 206.20; Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.555, 210.18 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 7.237, 153.51; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 9.193, 110.95 def. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.547, 210.93 def. Brandon Miller, Dodge Dart, 6.746, 198.12; Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.539, 210.08 def. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.610, 209.33; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.540, 210.44 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.657, 207.85; Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.538, 211.03 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.630, 208.26;

QUARTERFINALS — Glenn, 6.571, 209.65 def. Coughlin Jr., 6.591, 209.36; Anderson, 6.541, 209.56 def. Reese, 13.207, 64.75; Reed, 6.539, 209.69 def. M. McGaha, 6.622, 207.18; J. Coughlin, 6.565, 208.97 def. Latino, 6.553, 210.31;

SEMIFINALS — Anderson, 6.541, 210.54 def. J. Coughlin, 6.572, 209.23; Glenn, 6.542, 210.60 def. Reed, Foul – Red Light;

FINAL — Glenn, 6.549, 211.13 def. Anderson, Broke.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE — Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.827, 197.83 def. Ryan Oehler, 6.907, 194.02; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.818, 196.73 def. Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 7.078, 191.92; John Hall, 6.885, 195.99 def. Ron Tornow, Foul – Red Light; Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.809, 199.88 def. Marc Ingwersen, 7.015, 192.63; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.857, 198.12 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.996, 193.79; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.821, 198.38 def. Brandon Litten, Suzuki, 6.990, 190.16; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.753, 201.91 def. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.291, 181.54; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.766, 200.11 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light;

QUARTERFINALS — Van Sant, 6.790, 198.29 def. Gadson, 6.814, 198.82; A. Smith, 6.810, 198.99 def. Evaristo, 6.872, 199.11; Herrera, 6.765, 199.23 def. Clontz, 6.833, 196.64; M. Smith, 6.763, 202.21 def. Hall, 6.914, 194.94;

SEMIFINALS — Herrera, 6.764, 198.88 def. Van Sant, Foul – Red Light; M. Smith, 6.738, 202.15 def. A. Smith, 6.819, 195.22;

FINAL — Herrera, 6.722, 200.23 def. M. Smith, 6.723, 203.19.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Point standings (top 10) following the 56th annual AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the first of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel

1. Antron Brown, 121; 2. Shawn Langdon, 99; 3. Steve Torrence, 75; 4. Jasmine Salinas, 72; 5. Doug Kalitta, 57; 6. Clay Millican, 53; 7. Tony Stewart, 52; 8. Dan Mercier, 51; 9. Tripp Tatum, 39; 10. Brittany Force, 35.

Funny Car

1. Chad Green, 111; 2. Ron Capps, 97; 3. Alexis DeJoria, 73; 4. Matt Hagan, 72; 5. Jack Beckman, 64; 6. Bob Tasca III, 59; 7. Bobby Bode, 54; 8. Buddy Hull, 52; 9. Paul Lee, 37; 10. Daniel Wilkerson, 35.

Pro Stock

1. Dallas Glenn, 119; 2. Greg Anderson, 101; 3. Jeg Coughlin, 72; 4. Cory Reed, 71; 5. (tie) Troy Coughlin Jr., 55; Eric Latino, 55; 7. Derrick Reese, 53; 8. Mason McGaha, 52; 9. Deric Kramer, 39; 10. Matt Hartford, 36.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

1. Gaige Herrera, 123; 2. Matt Smith, 102; 3. Angie Smith, 78; 4. Chase Van Sant, 74; 5. Richard Gadson, 55; 6. Jianna Evaristo, 54; 7. John Hall, 53; 8. Kelly Clontz, 52; 9. Ryan Oehler, 33; 10. (tie) Chris Bostick, 32. Marc Ingwersen, 32. Ron Tornow, 32.