Campus may have been quiet during Spring Break, but the Gainesville Raceway was not.
The 41st annual Gatornationals drag racing competition took place Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
About 100,000 tickets were sold, and the event brought dozens of drivers from all across the country to participate in one of the National Hot Rod Association’s most prestigious events.
Gatornationals held races for several classes of vehicles, which included motorcycles, funny cars, and alcohol-burning dragster cars.
The dragsters, which are known as “top fuel” vehicles, can reach speeds of more than 300 mph and sounds exceeding 120 decibels.
They can be heard more than five miles away.
“If you’ve got delicate ears, you’d better stay away from here,” said 72-year-old Gene Wester, who has worked at the event for 14 years.
Though he is not a racing fan, Wester said he keeps coming back to work each year because he loves the people the event attracts.
“I love the smells and the sounds,” he said. “It’s in your blood.”
Top fuel racer Tony Schumacher won his category Sunday with runs that reached speeds of 324.98 mph and 322.04 mph, according to a release on the NHRA Web site.
