ScottRod Racing opened the 2026 NHRA Top Fuel season with a career-best 298.73-mph run during qualifying at the historic 57th Annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
The event marked the season opener of NHRA’s 75th anniversary year and drew a sold-out crowd to the legendary Florida facility.
The independent Connecticut-based team, owned by managing partner Michelle Torromeo and driver/crew chief Scott Farley, continues to build its Top Fuel program while competing part-time against full-season teams. Torromeo has taken on an expanded role overseeing the team’s operations and race-weekend management as the program continues to grow, while Car Chief Tim Dillon has stepped further into the technical leadership of the team.“The car showed some real potential,” said Farley. “Running nearly 300 mph tells us we’re moving in the right direction.”
Although the team narrowly missed the 16-car field, the weekend ended with valuable data and a clear path forward. Following qualifying, several of the sport’s respected nitro minds — including Dave Leahy, Tony Shortall, and Todd Paton — joined Farley in reviewing the car’s electronic systems to determine what limited the dragster’s performance.
By Sunday, the group had identified the underlying issue.
“That’s one of the things that makes this sport special,” said Farley. “There are a lot of smart people in this pit area, and when everyone starts looking at the data together you can usually find the answer.”
With the issue identified, ScottRod Racing now turns its focus to its next scheduled national event.
“We learned a lot this weekend,” said Torromeo. “Opening the season at the Gatornationals during NHRA’s 75th anniversary was special for us. Now we apply what we learned and come back ready to make the show.”
Fans can follow ScottRod Racing throughout the 2026 season by visiting www.scottfarley.com.
This story was originally published on March 10, 2026. 
