Gatornationals TAN Preview

Previous Winners/Runners-up
Top Alcohol Dragster
2011-Chris Demke/Randy Meyer
2010-Duane Shields/Darren Nicholson
2009-Duane Shields/Bill Reichert
2008-John Finke/Ken Perry
2007-Randy Meyer/Bill Reichert
2006-Ashley Force/Randy Meyer
2005-Aaron Olivarez/Ashley Force
2004-Arthur Gallant/Marty Thacker
2003-Tony Bartone/Bill Reichert
2002-Arthur Gallant/Cliff Bozzelli

Top Alcohol Funny Car
2011-Mickey Ferro/Paul Gill
2010-Frank Manzo/Mickey Ferro
2009-Frank Manzo/Steve Harker
2008-Frank Manzo/Marc White
2007-Mickey Ferro/Paul Gill
2006-David Ray/Cy Chesterman
2005-Bob Newberry/Mark Billington
2004-Cy Chesterman/Bob Newberry
2003-Bob Newberry/Jeff Craig
2002-Frank Manzo/Todd Veney

Fast Facts

Top Alcohol Dragster driver-turned-Top Fuel driver-turned-Top Alcohol Dragster driver Doug Foley will be driving the Randy Meyer tuned and owned A/Fuel car this year. As a driver, Meyer reached the finals here three times during the past ten years, winning in 2007. Can the Foley/Meyer team do it again in 2012?

2002 and 2004 race winner Arthur Gallant is returning with driver and car builder Dan Page. The team performed well in 2011, winning the Lebanon Valley D1 meet and taking runner up at the following Epping race.

California-based Chris Demke is heading east again as the defending Gatornationals winner. After a dominating win at the season-opening Winternationals, Demke and the Peen Rite blown alcohol dragster team look stout heading in to one of the most prestigious races of the year.

Swedish racer Leif Andreasson will be running at the east coast opener in Top Alcohol Funny Car. The 3-time Top Methanol champ in Europe is a 25% owner of the new Tierp Arena in Sweden, a $20 million facility based on the Houston track. Leif plans on running a few races in the States following the Gatornationals.

Cassie Simonton will return to the site of her 5.56 pass of last season. Veteran tuner and former driver Randy Anderson will once again tune the Kon Rodz Racing TAFC. Team owner Spiro Kontos also brought on Adam Rhoades to assist in the clutch department.

Kokomo, Indiana-based Jerry Powell will be making his A/Fuel debut after driving a blown dragster for the past few seasons. Powell is driving a former Robin Samsel car.

Ontario, Canada-based Ken Perry will be back after sitting out the 2011 season. Perry will be returning with his Fontana-powered Spitzer blown alcohol dragster.

Some of the big names in the alcohol classes have been testing in the days leading up to the Gatornationals. Bill Reichert ran 5.31 at 263 mph on his first pass out of the trailer. John Finke was the quickest of the Top Alcohol Dragster in attendance at Valdosta, 5.28 at 267 mph. Cassie Simonton ran 5.56 at 258 mph on her second pass in the Kon Rodz Top Alcohol Funny Car. Frank Manzo also made a few passes, with the best being a 5.61. (All times as of Tuesday)