Julie Nataas and the Oslo Tapet & Gulvbelegg (OTG) Top Alcohol Dragster picked up their second win of the season for Randy Meyer Racing on Sunday at the 2023 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Coming off a win at the Baby Gators held at Gainesville Raceway just one weekend prior.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better car to start the season with. It’s a huge difference from how we ended last year so the off-season work has really paid off. You can see it in these first couple races. This car was hauling ass every pass,” Nataas said. “This win was all about the guys.”
Nataas entered eliminations from the No. 2 spot after laying down a 5.200-second pass at 279.96 mph in the first qualifying session setting her up for a first-round matchup against Sarah Allen. Nataas would handle her OTG machine to a 5.170 pass at 280.60 to outrun Allen’s 5.460 at 258.91. In the second round, Nataas raced to a 5.259-second pass at 279.38 mph that would overtake Jeff Veale who smoked the tires.
Coming into the semifinals on Sunday, Nataas would have Brad McBride waiting for her. Nataas would earn a bid into her second final round of the season with a 5.263-second pass at 274.89 mph bettering McBride’s 5.494 at 266.53.
Racing against No. 1 qualifier Cody Krohn in the finals, Nataas would rocket to a stellar 5.147-second run at 276.18 mph, the quickest run of the weekend to hand Krohn and his 5.213 pass at 277.77 the runner-up finish.
“Randy put up the exact run we needed in the final. I still can’t believe we ran a 5.14 ET and 276 mph. But it’s exactly what we need to beat Cody,” Nataas said. “I’m so proud of this team. I have to thank OTG, Lucas Oil, Right Trailers, NGK Spark Plugs and Gunk Cleaners.”
Nataas won’t be away from a racetrack long, she’ll be competing in the Funny Car Chaos Championship Tour March 24-26 at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas just outside of Dallas. She’ll return to the seat of her OTG Top Alcohol Dragster for the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at the newly named In-N-Out Burger Pomona Drag Strip in Pomona, California on March 30-April 02.