Burnyzz & NHRA Gatornationals FanFest and Car Show

16X NHRA Funny Car champion John Force waves to fans on the red carpet during the Burnyzz & Gatornationals FanFest and Car Show at Burnyzz Speed Shop in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The 4th annual NHRA fan focused celebration was a chance for fans to get up close with drivers and the excitement for the kickoff of the NHRA Gatornationals. The event was hosted by Josh Hart and his wife Brittanie, the owners of Burnyzz Speed Shop. Hart is the new driver of the John Force Racing Top Fuel Car and is replacing Top Fuel champion, Brittany Force, who retired at the end of the last NHRA season. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2026.

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Posted March 5, 2026 | Photos By Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette

Story by Andy Fillmore

Drag racing fans by the thousands flocked to the fifth annual Burnyzz Fanfest 2026 held March 4 at Burnyzz American Classic Horsepower Speed Shop on Southeast Baseline Road.

The event, hosted by Burnyzz owners Josh and Brittanie Hart, saw many fans headed for the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida, stop in the Ocala area to meet and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drag racing drivers and top contenders in the upcoming NHRA Gatornationals drag races.

The NHRA Gatornationals run Friday, March 5, through Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Gainesville Raceway.

The Fanfest event included an estimated 500-entry car show, live music and food trucks.

Fan favorites on hand for a meet-and-greet autograph session included Hall of Fame drag racer Darrell Gwynn; eight-time world champion Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher; 1989 Funny Car World Champion Bruce Larson; NASCAR star and Top Fuel dragster Tony Stewart; racing legend John Force; and more.

Stewart said it’s “too early to tell” what the program at the Gatornationals will look like, but he’ll be chasing the best time whatever it takes.

Gwynn, paralyzed in a 1990 drag racing crash, has been a staunch supporter of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis since the 1980s. Gwynn promoted a “Won’t You Walk for Those Who Can’t” benefit walk for the MPCP, which will be held at Gainesville Raceway on March 8, 2026. Information on the benefit walk can be found at miamiproject.org/chapters/darrellgwynn.

The John Force Racing 2026 “new era” team members, according to a team promotional card, include Funny Car drivers Jordan Vandergriff, Alexis Dejoria and “Fast” Jack Beekman.

Vandergriff said it “feels great” to drive one of the championship-level Force cars. He is hoping to run in the 3.8 or even 3.6 seconds elapsed time range in the Gatornationals.

Burnyzz Speed Shop owner Josh Hart is now racing Top Fuel as part of the John Force Racing team, according to the team promotional card. Josh Hart wore a John Force Racing/Burnyzz shirt at the Fanfest.

Josh Hart said an estimated 7,000 people attended Fanfest 2025 and upwards of 8,000 were expected at this year’s event.

The couple’s son, Banks, 3, and their daughter, Londyn, 6, were on hand for the event.

Fans waited an hour or more in line for the centerpiece driver autograph event, where fans passed by tables where drivers sat signing car and driver photo cards.

The first three people waiting in the autograph line were all set to meet the NHRA stars.

Honorea Garner of Pembroke Pines, Florida, was first in line. Garner, a race fan since 1972 who has family in the Ocala area, sought multiple driver autographs.

Joe Van Ostenbridge, from Detroit, Michigan, is a truck driver with Chrysler. He flew to Central Florida to attend the four days of the Gatornationals.

Van Ostenbridge brought along a Top Fuel dragster engine Dayco Racing blower belt to have signed at the event. He obtained the belt from Kalitta Motorsports and plans to use the signed memorabilia as a decoration at his home.

Van Ostenbridge mentioned an NHRA race coming to Michigan later this year. Their website indicates the NHRA Great Lakes Nationals will be held on Sept. 18-20, 2026, in Martin, Michigan.

Judi and Jay Leininger are from Ocala. Jay is a Pro Stock race driver. The couple had a safety helmet to be signed by the lineup of popular drivers.

Race fan John J. Sargo greeted several of the arriving drivers. He has followed local drag race icon Don Garlits and joked he collected some loose parts on the racetrack from Garlits’ cars.

Drivers also featured on the autograph line included:

• Rydin and Zandir Cook, racing in the 13- to 17-year-old class, accompanied by their dad, Ricky.

• Scott Farley, Scott Rod Racing. The former MD-11 jet cargo pilot has a Top Fuel dragster running 300 mph, sub-4-second elapsed times, according to his autograph card.

• Chad Green, NHRA Nitro Funny Car driver with career best 332 mph and 3.861 elapsed time, according to his literature. Chad Green Motorsports.

• Hunter Green, four-time national event winner in Top Alcohol Dragster. He made his rookie debut in Nitro Funny Car last year.

• Gary Pritchett, Foley-Lewis Racing; car owned by Doug Foley.

• Daniel Wilkerson, NHRA Nitro Funny Car driver who finished fifth in NHRA points in 2025, his second full season driving.

• Del Worsham, Nitro Funny Car driver; DC Motorsports/Toyota Gazoo Racing. The 2011 Top Fuel World Champion and 2015 Funny Car World Champion.

• Frank Hawley, for Frank Hawley Drag Racing School. A former multi-class drag racer, he has operated the school for 24 years with many famous drivers listed on his autograph card as former clients.

Team Underdawg Racing had a spot on the autograph line. The team had a top-10 points finish for 2024 in the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown and received the 2023 NMCA Bob Curran Sportsman of the Year Award.

Team Underdawg’s mascot, Myles the dog, had a warm welcome ready for autograph seekers.

Jasmine Salinas, 34, debuted in Top Fuel in 2024, according to her autograph card. Her father, Mike Salinas, is a nine-time NHRA Top Fuel winner, and her sister, Jianna Evaristo, races Pro Stock motorcycles, the card stated.

Jasmine Salinas races for Scrappers Racing Team. Her response to why she’s drawn to the smoke and speed: “I like it,” she said.