Gainesville Raceway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Gainesville Raceway

Aerial view of the Gainesville Raceway
Location	Gainesville, Florida, United States
Time zone	UTC−5
Coordinates	29°45′29.00″N 82°16′29.00″W / 29.7580556°N 82.2747222°W / 29.7580556; -82.2747222
Capacity	30,000
Owner	NHRA
Operator	NHRA
Address	11211 N, N County Road 225
Opened	1969
Major events	Current: NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals (1970–present)
Drag Strip
Surface	Concrete
Length	0.25 mi (0.402 km)

Gainesville Raceway, March 2018

Gainesville Raceway is a super-fast quarter-mile dragstrip located near Gainesville, Florida. It first opened its doors in 1969. This famous track is best known for hosting the exciting NHRA's Gatornationals event every year since 1970. A cool fact: Kenny Bernstein was the first drag racer to go over 300 miles per hour here! He set this amazing record on March 20, 1992, during the Gatornationals.

About Gainesville Raceway

Gainesville Raceway can hold up to 30,000 fans. It started in 1969 and held its first big Gatornationals race in 1970. This track is known as one of the fastest places for drag racing. Many drivers have set new speed records here, including the first 260, 270, and even 300-mile-per-hour runs in the Top Fuel category. In 2000, during the Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals, eight out of ten national records were broken in the professional racing classes!

Track Upgrades and Safety

Over the years, Gainesville Raceway has had many improvements to make it even better and safer.

• New Racing Surface: After the 2003 racing season, the track got a big makeover. The concrete starting area was made longer. The rest of the racing surface and the shutdown area were repaved. This helps cars get a better grip and stop safely.
• Safety First: In 2009, the track made major safety upgrades. The gravel trap, which helps slow down cars that go off track, was extended by 400 feet. It was also made deeper. New, taller catch nets were installed, along with a backup set of nets. These are followed by special barrels and a strong catch fence to keep everyone safe.
• Modern Facilities: The track also built new buildings for fans and staff. In 2006, The Pavilion was completed. It's a large, open-air building used for special events and hospitality. In 2007, new skybox suites were built. These offer great views of the races from 50 feet up, with air conditioning and TVs. A new race control tower was built in 2008. This tower helps manage the races and provides a modern space for the press and media.
• Better Restrooms: In 2011, the restrooms were updated with new, water-saving fixtures.
• Full Concrete Track: Before 2019, part of the track was concrete and part was asphalt. Now, the entire racing surface, from behind the starting line to 1,500 feet down the track, is made of concrete. This makes the track even faster and more consistent for racers. The shutdown area also got new asphalt.

Other Events at the Raceway

Besides the famous Gatornationals, Gainesville Raceway hosts many other exciting events each year. These include the Lucas Oil Division 2 Race, an NHRDA event, Import Face-Off, and Grassroots Challenges. There are also weekly races during the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

How to Get There

The track is located on County Road 225. It's about eight miles north of the Gainesville Regional Airport.

• From I-75 North: Take Exit 382 (Williston Road/CR 331). Turn left (east). Williston Road becomes Waldo Road (State Route 24) after you cross U.S. 441. Continue on Waldo Road to NE 53rd Avenue, turn left, then immediately right onto CR 225. Drive 3.5 miles to the track.
• From I-75 North or South: Take Exit 390 (39th Avenue/SR 222). Go east to Waldo Road (SR 24), turn left. Go to NE 53rd Avenue, turn left, then immediately right onto CR 225. Continue 3.5 miles to the track.

Current Track Records

Check out some of the fastest times and speeds ever recorded at Gainesville Raceway! "E.T." stands for Elapsed Time, which is how long it takes a car to go down the track.