Contributed by TJ Pruitt

GAINESVILLE, FL - Todd "Bones" Ewing won his first 2012 National event win at the rain delayed 43rd annual tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals presented by napafilters.com. This win was one of the "big ones" of Ewing's career, who has been on a streak in his 2011 Mullis Dragster. Ewing used a near perfect .002-second reaction time to defeat Frank Altilio in the finals that was contested on Monday.

Ewing held off Altilio in the final round after defeating Richard Taylor, Kevin Brannon, and Buddy Goolsby in the previous rounds. Ewing has now won multiple national events during his seasons as a class racer and "big dollar" bracket racer but that kind of success does not make early round racing any easier. His recent success includes a $20,000 victory at the 2011 Million Dollar Bracket Race, and two final round appearances at Montgomery Motorsports Park's Super 7 Series Season Opener. This success is only a fraction of Ewing's overall career success.

In the final round at historic Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville, Smith powered his Huntsville Engine trademarked 2011 Mullis dragster past Altilio with a 8.933, 169mph.

Ewing also made a stellar performance in Stock Eliminator at the event, losing to Fitzsimmons in Round #4.

Ewing heads to Belle Rose, LA this weekend for the JEGS NHRA Cajun SPROTSnationals at No Problem Raceway Park. This facility is no strange place for the Cullman, AL racer who won the 2010 SPORTSnationals and a dominating $50,000 weekend at the 2010 Great American Bracket Race.

As many as 500 of the nations best drivers from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series are expected to attend the event this weekend, which is now celebrating its ninth season.

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