From NHRA Communications

Persistent rain showers and a forecast for more showers and thunderstorms throughout the day forced NHRA officials to postpone Thursday’s scheduled racing at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals at historic Gainesville Raceway.

Weather permitting, racing will begin Friday at 8 a.m.  Friday’s Full Throttle Drag Racing Series qualifying sessions are scheduled for noon and 2:45 p.m. Saturday’s two qualifying sessions also are set for noon and 2:45 p.m. Sunday’s eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

Among the highlights of the weekend include the completion of three rounds of Pro Stock eliminations from the weather-delayed Phoenix event; NASCAR champ Kurt Busch’s NHRA debut in the ultra-competitive Super Gas category in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series; the debut of NHRA’s newest touring series, the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Series; the first race of the 2010 season for the Pro Stock Motorcycle category; and plenty of exciting racing in the NHRA’s marquee Full Throttle Series as points leaders Cory McClenathan (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car), and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) race to build on their championship point leads.

From Ford Racing

Gainesville, Fla. — After missing the first two races in the 2010 season for testing, Erica Enders, driver of the Dragstar Pro Stock Ford Mustang, will return to Gainesville Raceway with a new body and engine.Enders talks about her off season and getting back into the drivers seat at the NHRA Gatornationals this weekend.ERICA ENDERS – DRIVER DRAGSTAR PRO STOCK FORD MUSTANG
DID YOU DO ANY OFF SEASON TESTING WITH THE NEW FORD PRO STOCK PACKAGE?
“A little bit, we didn’t do much of it. We just put in the new blocks and heads from Ford, and we are working on some development stuff.”We only were able to go to one test session and Jim [Cunningham] drove. We had a few issues we wanted to address, so we went back to the shop, worked on some things, and decided to skip the first two races of the year to fine-tune the new developments on the car.”We’re excited to get back out to the track for Gainesville.”WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW MUSTANG?
“The new car is awesome. The 2010 body is great with the aerodynamic. We ran it the last couple of races in 2009 and it was way different than the 2008 body.”We are making huge steps in the right direction. We just have not had enough time to do some testing with the new engine and that is kind of why we are a little bit behind the eight ball, but we’re very optimistic about things for this year. The new motor seems to be promising.”Larry Morgan’s crew thinks he can find some additional horsepower with the new parts. I’m definitely looking forward to this year.”DURING THE OFF SEASON YOU ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A USO TOUR.
“I did, it was me and three other drivers. We went to Germany for a week to visit and it was pretty cool.”We were visiting mostly wounded soldiers and it was very eye opening experience. I went to Iraq in 2008 for 17 days and that was a completely different trip because we were in the battle zone, but we were able to fly in helicopters, and meet all of the soldiers.”The Germany tour was a little more low-key, but it was definitely cool to go before Christmas and lift the spirits of the soldiers that are serving our country.”It was Morgan Lucas, Doug Horne and Spencer Massey and me. I enjoy doing stuff like that. My dad was in the Air Force so I grew up in a military house and I have the utmost respect for all of the soldiers. To give a little thanks from people back home just really seems to brighten their day.”WAS IT HARD TO WATCH THE FIRST TWO RACES OF THE SEASON NOT BEING ABLE TO BE THERE TO COMPETE?
“It’s always hard to watch once you’ve driven, and it’s not the easiest thing in the world to be a spectator.”There is a lot to be optimistic about going into Gainesville. I did miss out on some seat time during the off season with not testing a lot and seat time is priceless. I’ll be excited to get back in my car and head back out on the tour for the rest of the races this year.”WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT GAINESVILLE COMPARED TO OTHER TRACKS YOU HAVE VISITED?
“Gainesville is one of the first tracks I learned to drive a Pro Stock car at. We had a two-week long test session in 2004, right before I made my pro debut in 2005 and I have a lot of track time there.”I actually got to the finals at Gainesville in the spring of 2006. It was the second time I made the finals in my career [Chicago 2005]. I definitely have a lot of great memories at the Gatornationals.”The fans are always awesome there and it’s always packed. The weather is beautiful in Florida. There is a lot to look forward to so I’m very excited to go back to Gainesville.” 

WFO RADIO LIVE FROM NHRA GATORNATIONALS*
*

Guests Include Kurt Busch, Ashley Force Hood, Darrell Gwynn
**

GAINESVILLE, FL (March 11, 2010) – *Race fans have the opportunity to
experience more unprecedented coverage of the NHRA Full Throttle Series when
*WFO Radio with Joe Castello *broadcasts live from this weekend’s NHRA
Gatornationals in Gainesville, FL.

WFO Radio will broadcast live 10 a.m. – noon ET on both Friday, March 12 and
Saturday, March 13 from the media center at the Gainesville Raceway. To
listen live, on-demand, or to download, go to
*http://www.wforadio.com*<http://www.wforadio.com/>

NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch is scheduled to appear on Friday’s
edition of WFO Radio. Busch will be coming off his first day of competition
in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Super Gas category.

Drag Racing stars appearing on the special live edition of WFO Radio include
Ashley Force Hood, Darrell Gwynn, Doug Kalitta, Tony Pedregon, Melanie
Troxel, Morgan Lucas, Shawn Langdon, Allen Johnson, Angie Smith, Matt Smith,
Kenny Koretsky, Jeff Arend, Rodger Brogdon, and Paul Lee.

In addition to celebrity guest appearances, WFO Radio will be providing race
fans with on-location reports from the Gatornationals throughout the race
weekend. Check back often to WFORadio.com for updates.

*WFO Radio with Joe Castello *airs live every Monday and Tuesday, 7 – 8 p.m.
ET and will expand to four nights per week during the motorsports regular
season. *WFO Radio NHRA Tuesday* features interviews with the stars of the
NHRA Full Throttle Series as well as expert analysis from veteran NHRA
announcer Alan Reinhart each week.

WFO Radio can be listened to on PC, Mac, I-Phone, Blackberry, Google Phone,
Droid, Wii and PS3. WFO Radio is also available on iTunes and as a free
iPhone application. To listen live, on demand, or to download, go to *
http://www.wforadio.com* <http://www.wforadio.com/ >
*

WFO Radio Live Broadcast Schedule
*

Friday, March 12: 10 a.m. – noon ET (7 – 9 a.m. PT)

Saturday, March 13: 10 a.m. – noon ET (7 – 9 a.m. PT)

* Replays throughout the weekend