Mike Castellana powered to the No. 1 qualifier Saturday during the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service portion of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Dragway. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing, presented Jerry Bickel Race Cars, is the first of 12 events this season.

Castellana ran a 5.750-second pass at 253.56 mph in the fourth qualifying session in his Al Anabi Racing ’69 Camaro to take the No. 1 slot. Castellana used the final pass to better his time and speed from Friday evening to earn the top spot at the opening race for the category.  

“It feels great to start off the season with a No. 1 qualifier, especially after struggling in Gainesville last year,” Castellana said. “We had such a great beginning of the year in 2017, and even though we did fall off a little at the end, we can’t complain because it was such a tremendous season.”

Steve Jackson qualified second with a 5.754 at 250.60 and Shane Molinari is in third with a 5.771 at 256.16.

Castellana finished the 2017 season second in the Pro Mod points standings and chases his first category championship in 2018.

E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service eliminations begin on Sunday.

Sunday's first-round pairings for eliminations for the 49th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the first of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Pro Modified -- 1. Mike Castellana, Chevy Camaro, 5.750, 253.56 vs. 16. Carl Stevens, Camaro, 5.832, 254.47; 2. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.754, 250.60 vs. 15. Jose Gonzalez, Camaro, 5.830, 256.45; 3. Shane Molinari, Pontiac Firebird, 5.771, 256.16 vs. 14. Doug Winters, Chevy Chevelle, 5.829, 246.75; 4. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.776, 250.64 vs. 13. Bob Rahaim, Camaro, 5.823, 246.30; 5. Steven Whiteley, Cadillac CTS-V, 5.787, 253.47 vs. 12. Jim Whiteley, Camaro, 5.801, 248.11; 6. Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.787, 248.84 vs. 11. Dan Stevenson, Camaro, 5.801, 255.34; 7. Chad Green, Chevy Corvette, 5.793, 248.93 vs. 10. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 5.800, 250.92; 8. Todd Tutterow, Camaro, 5.795, 249.72 vs. 9. Jeremy Ray, Corvette, 5.798, 247.66.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Sidnei Frigo, 5.843, 253.71; 18. Pete Farber, 5.847, 246.30; 19. Michael Biehle, 5.854, 252.52; 20. Jeffery Barker, 5.859, 254.42; 21. Chuck Little, 5.860, 246.39; 22. Rick Hord, 5.875, 248.80; 23. Danny Rowe, 5.882, 247.61; 24. Harry Hruska, 5.884, 250.37; 25. Melanie Salemi, 5.905, 243.24; 26. Eric Latino, 5.918, 247.47; 27. Kenny Lang, 5.936, 243.63; 28. Steve Matusek, 5.963, 246.71; 29. Bill Glidden, 6.013, 235.47; 30. Chip King, 6.021, 243.99; 31. Richie Stevens, 6.051, 231.36; 32. Rick Distefano, 6.149, 240.89; 33. Clint Satterfield, 6.542, 238.93; 34. Brandon Pesz, 7.398, 132.33; 35. Ruben Tetsoshvili, 11.255, 66.07.