Pre-Race Report: Gainesville

NHRA Gatornationals

Event 1 of 20

Gainesville Raceway

Gainesville, Fla.

March 7 – 9, 2025

SHAWN REED

Driver of the Reed Trucking & Excavating Top Fuel Dragster

NHRA Gatornationals Event Highlights:

• 2018 event runner-up

2024 NHRA Gatornationals Recap:

Qualified 15th; First round exit (defeated by Steve Torrence in E1)

Noteworthy:

• Made his professional debut at the 2015 Gatornationals aboard Barry Paton’s Top Fuel dragster

• Advanced to his career-first Top Fuel final round at the 2018 event

• Enters the weekend after having recently claimed his first Top Fuel victory when he powered to the win at the PRO Superstar Shootout pre-season event in Bradenton, Fla. last month

Fan Events:

• Wednesday, 7 – 8:30 p.m., NHRA Fanfest at Burnyzz Speed Shop (1 Aspen Rd., Ocala)

Quotable:

“I can’t tell you how stoked we are to begin the season here in Gainesville. Totally different than last year. We as a team feel like we are way more prepared to begin this season, especially after that win at the PRO Superstar Shootout in Bradenton last month. The guys are really stoked to try and continue down that road and I know I am too, as a driver and an owner. Hats off to all the guys who maintain this car and got all of the parts and pieces ready to go for this year. We’re looking forward to running a full field down here in Gainesville. To win this thing would be incredible and I can’t wait to match up next to anyone on race day and see what we can do. We’re focused on continuing our success. It’s the beginning of a long season but as we proved last year, every race counts, and every single round counts. We’re definitely looking forward to putting our best foot forward and competing against the best. So, hopefully, we’ll have some luck on our side this weekend. Our heads are high and our hopes are big. Let’s do it.”