NHRA postpones portion Gatornationals

Ken Miele · 03-12-2020, 01:26 PM

From NHRA...

In consideration of the ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with the recommendation of the Florida governor, NHRA officials are postponing a portion of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Some Sportsman racing will be contested this weekend without ticketed spectators, but the majority of the event has been postponed to a later date.

In consideration of the ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with the recommendation of the Florida governor, NHRA officials are postponing a portion of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.

The Sportsman categories of Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Top Dragster presented by Vortech Superchargers, and Top Sportsman presented by Vortech Superchargers will be contested on Thursday at Gainesville and will complete competition this weekend without ticketed spectators.

Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Mod, Factory Stock Showdown, Top Fuel Harley, Top Alcohol Dragster, and Top Alcohol Funny Car will compete at a later date to be determined.

Current tickets will be honored at the rescheduled event or ticketholders may opt to use their tickets as a credit toward the 2021 Gatornationals.

NHRA will determine next steps for moving forward as additional information becomes available.

We appreciate the patience of our competitors and fans.

pmrphil · 03-12-2020, 01:34 PM

How angry are the spectators going to be when they show up and are turned away? Only to be told they CAN'T watch the sportsman races? I'd be pretty P.O.'d.

Tom P · 03-12-2020, 01:57 PM

No kidding, I flew from Vancouver there years ago and I only got to see Thursday sportsman action before it was rain delayed for a week. That was disappointing but Mother Nature wasn't there for me to confront. The poor people manning the gates are probably in for a rough time.

I would imagine all the Pro Teams are already there and how unusual that the Sportsman classes get to run while they don't.

MR DERBY CITY · 03-12-2020, 02:00 PM

Not as ANGRY if they entered the track and watched a full day of racing and.....two weeks later they showed symptoms of the virus....

bykr · 03-12-2020, 02:32 PM

Wow, how crazy is that , the sportsman racers getting to race and the pro's have to go home!

James Perrone · 03-12-2020, 02:35 PM

At least Nhra is allowing sportsman racing to finish out.
Great call

Bob Gullett · 03-12-2020, 02:56 PM

Curious if Vegas will get the same deal or if they will cancel the event. If they do I hope we get advanced notice.

Lenny5160 · 03-12-2020, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmrphil

How angry are the spectators going to be when they show up and are turned away? Only to be told they CAN'T watch the sportsman races? I'd be pretty P.O.'d.

That happened to the parents of a friend. They arrived at the track today and were told to turn around.

jwsamuel · 03-12-2020, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmrphil

How angry are the spectators going to be when they show up and are turned away? Only to be told they CAN'T watch the sportsman races? I'd be pretty P.O.'d.

When the angry spectator gets there, I am sure NHRA can mollify him with some swag or something.

Mark Yacavone · 03-12-2020, 06:26 PM

Curious..I haven't looked. With this postponement, they must have an alternate date in mind. I assume it has to jive with the Eastern swing? Maybe not.
Of course, with a few more postponements, ...let's just say I wouldn't want that job..There go the bonuses this year ;-)

03-12-2020, 01:26 PM	#1
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,861 Likes: 456 Liked 16,554 Times in 1,522 Posts	NHRA postpones portion Gatornationals From NHRA... In consideration of the ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with the recommendation of the Florida governor, NHRA officials are postponing a portion of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Some Sportsman racing will be contested this weekend without ticketed spectators, but the majority of the event has been postponed to a later date. In consideration of the ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with the recommendation of the Florida governor, NHRA officials are postponing a portion of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. The Sportsman categories of Comp, Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Top Dragster presented by Vortech Superchargers, and Top Sportsman presented by Vortech Superchargers will be contested on Thursday at Gainesville and will complete competition this weekend without ticketed spectators. Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Mod, Factory Stock Showdown, Top Fuel Harley, Top Alcohol Dragster, and Top Alcohol Funny Car will compete at a later date to be determined. Current tickets will be honored at the rescheduled event or ticketholders may opt to use their tickets as a credit toward the 2021 Gatornationals. NHRA will determine next steps for moving forward as additional information becomes available. We appreciate the patience of our competitors and fans.

03-12-2020, 01:34 PM	#2
pmrphil Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CT Posts: 457 Likes: 1,798 Liked 347 Times in 151 Posts	Re: NHRA postpones portion Gatornationals How angry are the spectators going to be when they show up and are turned away? Only to be told they CAN'T watch the sportsman races? I'd be pretty P.O.'d. __________________ Phil Molski PMR Performance S/C 1623

03-12-2020, 01:57 PM	#3
Tom P Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 707 Likes: 30 Liked 239 Times in 94 Posts	Re: NHRA postpones portion Gatornationals No kidding, I flew from Vancouver there years ago and I only got to see Thursday sportsman action before it was rain delayed for a week. That was disappointing but Mother Nature wasn't there for me to confront. The poor people manning the gates are probably in for a rough time. I would imagine all the Pro Teams are already there and how unusual that the Sportsman classes get to run while they don't.

03-12-2020, 02:00 PM	#4
MR DERBY CITY VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Derby City, USA Posts: 3,637 Likes: 1,083 Liked 7,934 Times in 1,518 Posts	Re: NHRA postpones portion Gatornationals Not as ANGRY if they entered the track and watched a full day of racing and.....two weeks later they showed symptoms of the virus....

03-12-2020, 02:32 PM	#5
bykr Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: SoCal Posts: 232 Likes: 274 Liked 167 Times in 81 Posts	Re: NHRA postpones portion Gatornationals Wow, how crazy is that , the sportsman racers getting to race and the pro's have to go home! __________________ Tim Schmackpfeffer 762 SS

03-12-2020, 02:35 PM	#6
James Perrone VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: LONG ISLAND N.Y. Posts: 1,676 Likes: 3,374 Liked 1,820 Times in 425 Posts	Re: NHRA postpones portion Gatornationals At least Nhra is allowing sportsman racing to finish out. Great call __________________ james perrone 1290 STK

03-12-2020, 02:56 PM	#7
Bob Gullett VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,106 Likes: 57 Liked 504 Times in 116 Posts	Re: NHRA postpones portion Gatornationals Curious if Vegas will get the same deal or if they will cancel the event. If they do I hope we get advanced notice. __________________ 68 Chevy11 327 F/S

03-12-2020, 06:26 PM	#10
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,815 Likes: 2,903 Liked 5,120 Times in 1,951 Posts	Re: NHRA postpones portion Gatornationals Curious..I haven't looked. With this postponement, they must have an alternate date in mind. I assume it has to jive with the Eastern swing? Maybe not. Of course, with a few more postponements, ...let's just say I wouldn't want that job..There go the bonuses this year ;-) __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers