Defending NHRA Gatornationals Funny Car Champion Chad Green made it two in a row last weekend with an impressive performance in his CGM Bond-Coat Ford Mustang at Gainesville Raceway in the season opener for the 75th anniversary of the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series.

Green, the Midland, Tex., businessman when he isn’t driving his nitro-burning Funny Car, was an upset winner last March in the Gatornationals, but the veteran racer was a top contender after his stellar 3.926 qualifying run on Friday night. And the popular driver continued that performance through the final round victory over Alexis DeJoria with the quickest time of eliminations at 3.959.

Green opened his winning ways Sunday with a first-round victory over veteran Terry Haddock, 4.022 to 6.650 followed by a “holeshot” win over four-time World Champion Matt Hagan, 3.975 to Hagan’s quicker 3.967. In the semifinals, Chad clocked a 3.980 to defeat Jordan Vandergriff’s 4.068, and then a 3.959 at 329.91 miles per hour to DeJoria’s 5.003.

“It was one of those great days of racing when I never saw another car next to me when I left the starting line,” said Green. “I knew Hagan would be tough in the second round and I cut a good (starting line) light to win on a holeshot. That was a big one. Then the crew gave me a great car for the semis and the finals. We had a good testing session a few weeks ago and the crew guys learned a lot about this track. This weekend, though, the track was tricky with hot and humid conditions as well as some rain delays. So, they knew what to do at the right time and that puts us back in the winner’s circle. “It’s so hard to win any race. But to win the Gatornationals back-to-back is very special. It’s a
legendary race on the NHRA national schedule — and I thought how nice it would be to win one of those ‘Diamond Wally’ trophies in the 75th year. And now we did right out of the box in the first race.”

Chad Green and CGM teammate Blake Alexander — will be in the Funny Car lineup in the upcoming FMP Factory Motor Parts Arizona Nationals on March 20-22.

NHRA Amalie Gatornationals – Funny Car Class Summary

WIN: Chad Green – 3.959 secs 329.91 mph (Career win #3)
R/UP: Alexis DeJoria – 5.003 secs 167.59 mph
Low ET: Ron Capps – 3.890 secs
Top MPH: JR Todd – 334.15 mph
Bump: 4.188
Entries – 19 cars

Posted with files by Tom Blattler & Bruce Biegler
Photos by Dave DeAngelis & Courtesy of CGM

Link to more Gatornationals Funny Car class photos at our LMLC Media event gallery: HERE