News and notes from Thursday at the 41st annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals from Gainesville Raceway. Compiled by the National DRAGSTER staff.

THURSDAY
Last update: 12:30 p.m.Easterm

Over and done: 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.

WFO radio at Gainesville: 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.

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

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 WFORadio.com for updates.

Gainesville TV update: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will air its coverage of Full Throttle Series qualifying from the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals Saturday evening at midnight Eastern (9 p.m. Pacific) but will rebroadcast the show the following morning, Sunday, at 10 a.m. Eastern for the convenience of race fans.

The qualifying show also will include highlights from the continuation of Pro Stock eliminations from the NHRA Arizona Nationals, which was postponed last month due to track conditions and weather. The second round of Pro Stock from Arizona will be run during Friday’s second qualifying session and the semfinal and final rounds completed during Satudary’s first and second sessions, respectively.

The repeat qualifying showing will lead right into the NHRA Race Day presented by Lucas Oil pre-race show at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

Final eliminations will air in prime time on the East Coast, from 6-9 p.m. and air again on March 17. Highlights of Lucas Oil Series competition from the event also will air March 17 while coverage of the kickoff race of the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series will air March 21.