Andrew Hines set a new national record of 6.720 at 199.94 mph on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson during the last qualifying session on Friday. He had set the previous record of 6.728 seconds in October 2012.

“The guys on our team are doing a great job making sure that we get motorcycles that are flawless and making sure that we go to the start line with no problems,” Hines said. “I was really hoping to go 200. That was really the point to strive for and it would’ve been nice to get that one out of the way.”

He went on to the final round, where his 6.752/199.17 (.019 RT) got the best of teammate Eddie Krawiec’s very close 6.762/198.90 (.020 RT). Hines last won at Gainesville in 2004 and he had not won any event since the 2017 World Finals at Pomona. (Tom McCarthy photo) [03/18/19]

Matt Smith ran 200.95 mph in his first qualifying run and maintained the Top Speed with a new record 201.76 in Q2, where he and Krawiec made the first side-by-side 200-mph pass (200.17 for Krawiec).  (Tom McCarthy photo)   [03/18/19]

“Stevie Fast” Jackson set the Pro Modified national speed record in the final round at the Gatornationals, but it was not enough for the win as Todd Tutterow got the holeshot. Jackson’s 5.643 at 253.95 mph was quicker and faster than Tutterow’s 5.662/251.86 but his .036 to .008 Reaction Time made all the difference.   [03/18/19]

Not to be left out of the record books at Gainesville, Tak Shigematsu set a new record for the Top Fuel Harleys during Friday qualifying with his 6.01 ET at 233.68 mph – and that’s with a .112 RT. He qualified No. 1 and got the first-round win over Jacob Stordeur on Sunday, but killed an engine and could not make the second round. (Tom McCarthy photo)  [03/18/19]

Mike Castellana, of Muttontown, NY, had a wild ride during Q3 of Pro Mod. He was in the right lane and got loose, ended up in the left lane, doing a great job driving and missing Chad Green, who went 6.95 while driving to avoid Mike. Castellana’s Camaro suffered a broken rear axle that sent the car off with a mind of its own. Upon glancing impact with the wall, the car’s right rear tire broke away and bounced harmlessly to the wayside as the car spun around before coming to a stop. He did not qualify for the field. (Tom McCarthy photo)   [03/18/19]

Richie Crampton got the Top Fuel win at the Gatornationals, marking his first victory since the event last year. His holeshot was the difference over Clay Millican, whose new team has found their footing. Crampton turned in a 3.769/323.89 run to Millican’s quicker and faster 3.756 at 324.67.  (Tom McCarthy photo)

Tim Wilkerson had his Mustang running better than earlier in the season, qualifying at No. 2, but it was not quite enough to get past No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight in the Funny Car final as Wilkerson’s car was up in smoke at the green. It was the first time in the history of the Gatornationals that the top two Funny Car qualifiers met in the final round.

In Pro Stock, a resurgent Bo Butner took a single for the win when Alex Laughlin’s Camaro had ignition problems on the starting line. Butner’s fiancée, Randi Lyn Shipp, was the winner in Stock, making for a memorable weekend.   [03/18/19]

Thanks to enthusiast and industry outreach in recent weeks, Utah state lawmakers have appropriated $5 million towards a program to restore the Bonneville Salt Flats.

SEMA reports that while this news is encouraging, the work is not complete. In the near future supporters will be asked to relay this same message to federal lawmakers in the U.S. Congress. In the meantime, please encourage others to get involved with the cause. Supporters can stay informed on this and other important issues by signing-up for the SEMA Action Network (SAN) without cost or obligation.   [03/18/19]