Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 22 hours ago
The Professional Racers Organization preseason test session is officially in the books — and the Top Fuel category delivered historic performance two weeks ahead of the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
From Tuesday morning through Friday afternoon, more than 300 test runs were made as teams prepared for the 2026 NHRA season. While none of the numbers count as official NHRA records, the performances turned heads across the nitro landscape.
Shawn Langdon and Kalitta Motorsports left Gainesville with the quickest and fastest runs ever recorded in drag racing testing, including a blistering 345 MPH blast that reset the tone for the Top Fuel field.
“Very, very happy for my team, happy for the guys,” Langdon said. “It's always nice to come out testing in the first couple days and just all the hard work that goes into preparation in the off-season and just give the guys some results and reward for their hard work.”
The 340 MPH club expanded as well.
Josh Hart, in his first pass as a member of John Force Racing, went 340.4 MPH — the first car down the track during the test session — delivering one of the most impressive opening statements of the week. Hart is now behind the wheel of the dragster formerly driven by Brittany Force.
“To be the first in the lanes, first down the track first, right out of the box, 340.4, can't put it into words,” Hart said. “It was smooth. It was straight. These guys are awesome. … I'm over-the-moon excited.”
Justin Ashley added his name to the 340 club with the revamped SCAG Racing team, while Leah Pruett made her first preseason test appearance since maternity leave, solidifying her return to Top Fuel competition.
Tony Stewart made his initial Gainesville test runs in the Elite Motorsports Top Fuel dragster tuned by Richard Freeman.
Veteran Clay Millican joined Hart as a first-time driver of a canopy-style Top Fuel dragster.
“I've been wearing the same pair of shoes for 27 years and they were broke in,” Millican said. “So 28 year I got a new pair of shoes and it's going to take a little break-in period. But it's different. But so far, so good.”
Two drivers completed Top Fuel licensing runs during the session — Maddi Gordon in the Ron Capps Motorsports dragster and Jaron Mott driving multi-time champion Larry Dixon’s dragster.
With 13 Top Fuel dragsters participating and performance numbers pushing new boundaries, Gainesville once again proved to be a launchpad for milestone runs before the season opener.
The countdown to the Gatornationals has officially begun.
#NHRA #TopFuel #Gatornationals #DragRacing #PROTest #KalittaMotorsports #JohnForceRacing #EliteMotorsports #CompetitionPlusTV #PEAKSquad
The Professional Racers Organization preseason test session is officially in the books — and the Top Fuel category delivered historic performance two weeks ahead of the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
From Tuesday morning through Friday afternoon, more than 300 test runs were made as teams prepared for the 2026 NHRA season. While none of the numbers count as official NHRA records, the performances turned heads across the nitro landscape.
Shawn Langdon and Kalitta Motorsports left Gainesville with the quickest and fastest runs ever recorded in drag racing testing, including a blistering 345 MPH blast that reset the tone for the Top Fuel field.
“Very, very happy for my team, happy for the guys,” Langdon said. “It's always nice to come out testing in the first couple days and just all the hard work that goes into preparation in the off-season and just give the guys some results and reward for their hard work.”
The 340 MPH club expanded as well.
Josh Hart, in his first pass as a member of John Force Racing, went 340.4 MPH — the first car down the track during the test session — delivering one of the most impressive opening statements of the week. Hart is now behind the wheel of the dragster formerly driven by Brittany Force.
“To be the first in the lanes, first down the track first, right out of the box, 340.4, can't put it into words,” Hart said. “It was smooth. It was straight. These guys are awesome. … I'm over-the-moon excited.”
Justin Ashley added his name to the 340 club with the revamped SCAG Racing team, while Leah Pruett made her first preseason test appearance since maternity leave, solidifying her return to Top Fuel competition.
Tony Stewart made his initial Gainesville test runs in the Elite Motorsports Top Fuel dragster tuned by Richard Freeman.
Veteran Clay Millican joined Hart as a first-time driver of a canopy-style Top Fuel dragster.
“I've been wearing the same pair of shoes for 27 years and they were broke in,” Millican said. “So 28 year I got a new pair of shoes and it's going to take a little break-in period. But it's different. But so far, so good.”
Two drivers completed Top Fuel licensing runs during the session — Maddi Gordon in the Ron Capps Motorsports dragster and Jaron Mott driving multi-time champion Larry Dixon’s dragster.
With 13 Top Fuel dragsters participating and performance numbers pushing new boundaries, Gainesville once again proved to be a launchpad for milestone runs before the season opener.
The countdown to the Gatornationals has officially begun.
#NHRA #TopFuel #Gatornationals #DragRacing #PROTest #KalittaMotorsports #JohnForceRacing #EliteMotorsports #CompetitionPlusTV #PEAKSquad
