GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As a part of the season-opening kickoff to NHRA’s seventy fifth anniversary in 2026, the NHRA High Gas All-Star Callout returns to Gainesville Raceway, going down on Saturday, March 7 as a part of the 56th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
The specialty race includes a loaded eight-car discipline, together with defending Callout winner and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta. He earned the highest seed within the distinctive bonus race that provides a giant purse and bragging rights to open the milestone marketing campaign.
The remainder of the sphere, so as, consists of Kalitta’s teammate, Shawn Langdon, 2025 Gatornationals winner Antron Brown, racing legend Tony Stewart, Justin Ashley, Clay Millican, Shawn Reed and 2023 Callout winner Josh Hart.
With the distinctive Callout format, Kalitta will get to choose his opening-round opponent. Langdon will get the subsequent choice till all of the first-round matchups are set. The quickest profitable driver within the opening spherical will get to name his shot for the semifinals, too, setting one of many matchups.
Kalitta may also attempt to develop into the primary High Gas driver to earn a number of wins within the Callout, which presents a complete purse of $130,000.
“It was an excellent occasion final yr and we ended up profitable it, so undoubtedly hoping we are able to pull it off once more this yr,” Kalitta mentioned. “We ended up calling out Clay (Millican) for the primary spherical. Anytime you get a possibility to have these specialty races, they often are simply lots of enjoyable. It’s the primary race of the yr, too, and Gainesville actually packs within the folks. It’s at all times good to have an additional race on Saturday and simply type of have some enjoyable with it. Our Mac Instruments group is unquestionably wanting ahead to a different alternative this yr. We hope to have some enjoyable with it for certain and choose up proper the place we left off final season.”
Final season, Kalitta defeated Millican within the opening spherical after which knocked off Brown earlier than taking down two-time world champ Brittany Drive within the finals.
With a giant purse, a particular Callout trophy and loads of bragging rights on the road, it may possibly additionally present the proper enhance to open the season at one of the historic races on the NHRA schedule. This yr’s loaded discipline options three NHRA High Gas world champions, whereas all eight members have High Gas victories.
