NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
One of NHRA’s long-established events — the race celebrated its 26th anniversary last season — this long-running belle of the South has gained a reputation as one of the tougher events on the tour to win. With summer just around the corner, warm temperatures can turn the event into "Hotlanta."
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SUNDAY FINAL - BERNSTEIN, HIGHT, ANDERSON AND STOFFER RACE TO VICTORIES AT SUMMIT RACING NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS
Second-generation driver Brandon Bernstein raced to the Top Fuel victory Sunday
at Atlanta Dragway and moved into first place in the POWERade Series standings.
The son of NHRA legend Kenny Bernstein has won the last two races and 14 in his
brief career.
Bernstein was joined in the winner's circle at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals by Robert Hight, who claimed the Funny Car title over Mike Ashley, Pro Stock points leader Greg Anderson, and Karen Stoffer, who won her second race of the year in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Bernstein posted a 4.662 at 305.01 in his his Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster to claim the Top Fuel victory over Doug Herbert, who posted a 4.714 at 297.02 in his Snap-on Tools dragster.
"It's huge to grab the points lead heading into Anheiser-Busch's backyard," said Bernstein. "They've been a part of our family for so long and to be able to go into the race on a two-race win streak and with the points lead is quite a feeling. I'd love to make it three-in-a-row and the way Tim and Kim [Richards, crew chiefs] have this Budweiser car running right now it could happen."
The Funny Car final was a classic battle between the top two qualifiers with
No. 2 Hight taking advantage of some late tire smoke from opponent Mike Ashley,
the No. 1 qualifier. The two were side-by-side most of the way down the track
until Ashley's Torco Dodge Charger started spinning its tires around 1,000 feet.
That was all Hight needed to take the win in his Auto Club Ford Mustang,
crossing the finish line with a 4.882 at 314.61 mph to Ashley's 5.167 at 229.66
mph.
With his seventh career victory, Hight cut Ron Capps' points lead to 45.
"We've got Eric Medlen and we've got Jimmy Prock and that's a pretty awesome combination," Hight said. "I think Eric is looking down on all of us out here racing but he's probably favoring these Ford Mustangs a little more than the others. Winning races sure lifts the spirits of everyone at John Force Racing and I'm happy to be able to give everyone something else to think about for a little while."
The marquee match-up of the day came in Round 1 when Ashley Force beat her
famous father John in the first 
father/daughter pro category race in NHRA
history. The 24-year-old rookie driver advanced to the semifinals in her Castrol
GTX Ford Mustang, equaling the best Funny Car effort for a female in NHRA
history.
"Today I'm a proud father," John said. "I've dreamed of this day for a long time and it makes me emotional to think it finally came true. She's a great young driver and she's probably gonna whip me a bunch, but I'm OK with it because she's my baby."
Anderson won his fourth Pro Stock race of the season to take a commanding 212-point lead in the POWERade standings. Racing his former boss Warren Johnson in an all-Pontiac final, Anderson claimed his 47th career victory by posting a 6.671 at 207.62 mph in his Summit Racing GTO to hold off the recent International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee's performance of 6.719 at 205.79 mph in his GM Performance Parts GTO.
"I'm so proud of that guy," Anderson said of Johnson, who he helped win three world championship titles during the 1990s. "He did a great job today at his home track and I'm sure all his fans here are happy for him. It still means a lot to beat him, especially in a final. We've got some great history here too and the time I spent with him here for all those years certainly didn't hurt. I love this place and winning a race that has your sponsor's name on it is important."
Stoffer's second win of the year helped her regain the points lead she held
after Gainesville and kept the 2007 streak of female winners alive in the Pro
Stock Motorcycle class. Angelle Sampey won the Houston race, the only other
event that featured motorcycles. Stoffer took an easy win on her Geico Suzuki in
the final as opponent Matt Smith's Torco Buell broke as he let the clutch out at
the start of the race.
"We've been striving for consistency for four years and it finally feels like we've found it," said Stoffer of her fifth career victory. "I never expected to be standing here after three races with two wins and the points lead. It's quite a feeling. Kudos to Gary [Stoffer, husband and crew chief] for helping me hit the lights and for setting up the perfect clutch combination."
Sampey slipped to third in the standings, 48 back of Stoffer. Smith is in between the two, 32 points off the lead.
The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship continues with the 11th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway, Madison, Ill.
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SATURDAY - FUNNY CAR FATHER-DAUGHTER JOHN AND ASHLEY FORCE TO RACE FOR FIRST TIME AT SUMMIT RACING NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS
Fuller, Mike Ashley, Anderson and Sampey earn No. 1 qualifying positions at
Atlanta Dragway
The intriguing match-up between the 58-year-old, 14-time series champion and
the 24-year-old rookie, who out-qualified her famous dad, is the first between
the sport's only father-daughter teammates.
The Battle of the Forces overshadowed No. 1 qualifiers Rod Fuller, Mike
Ashley, Greg Anderson and Angelle Sampey at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
event.
Ashley Force will have lane choice when she lines up against her father. Her
fifth-best 4.746 at 316.60 mph earned her the honor against John's 12th-best
4.785 at 311.99 mph in his identically prepared Castrol GTX Ford Mustang.
The elder Force smiled as he told his daughter she could have the day off
tomorrow, which drew laughs
"A lot of drivers might be intimidated by him," Ashley said. "But to me he's
just dad. If anyone is going to be nervous, it's him. He'll be so worried about
me and all the things he thinks might happen that I think it'll be hard for him
to focus.
"It's his own fault I'm coming after him. He's been my teacher the whole way.
The big question everybody's asking is which side of the track are my mom and my
sisters going to stand when we race?"
Fuller earned his first No. 1 qualifying effort of the year and third of his
career in Top Fuel with Friday night's pass of 4.506 at 326.71 mph in his David
Powers Motorsports dragster.
"I feel like I've aged this year," Fuller said. "We're under a tremendous
amount of pressure to perform because we don't have a major sponsor and I don't
know if people understand what it's like to race without really knowing what the
future holds. All we can do is try our best to get attention for our team and
the longer we stay
In Funny Car, Mike Ashley did more than enough Friday evening to secure his
second career top qualifying effort with his performance of 4.704 at 331.04 mph
in his Torco Dodge Charger.
"There's no substitute for experience," Mike Ashley said, "and I've got two
crew chiefs who really compliment each other well in Brian Corradi and Mark
Oswald. Plus, Mark actually tests our car for me and I don't think anyone else
has a crew chief that also tests the car. Sometimes the computer doesn't tell
you exactly what you feel in the driver's seat but Mark can overcome that
problem because he's living it. What an advantage for us."
Anderson continued his strong start to the season in Pro Stock with his third
No. 1 qualifying effort and the 54th of his career. Anderson claimed the
position with his track record run of 6.627 at 208.71 in his Summit Racing
Pontiac GTO.
"We've made really good runs every time down the track and that's the first
time I've been able to say that all year," Anderson said. "I guess we started
with a tune-up that's pretty close to what the track wanted."
Sampey raced to her second No. 1 qualifying effort of the season and 41st of
her career in Pro Stock Motorcycle with a track record time of 6.976 at 191.59
mph on her U.S. Army Suzuki.
"Being the No. 1 qualifier doesn't secure anything because we all know
anything can happen from any position once you make the field," Sampey said,
"but I like starting No 1 because it just gives you that extra bit of confidence
going into race day."
Drag racing legend John Force will try to win his first
elimination round of the season against his daughter Ashley Sunday during the
opening round of Funny Car racing the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern
Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
from a group of reporters gathered round to
interview the two opponents. Ashley declined his gracious offer and said she
would see him at the starting line.
No. 1 in the points, the more media we'll get, so our mission
has become very clear."
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Top Fuel -- 1. Rod Fuller, 4.506 seconds, 326.71 mph vs. 16. Doug Kalitta,
4.579, 323.66; 2. Doug Herbert, 4.509, 321.04 vs. 15. Larry Dixon, 4.576,
320.36; 3. Brady Kalivoda, 4.519, 323.97 vs. 14. Clay Millican, 4.567, 308.35;
4. Whit Bazemore, 4.524, 327.19 vs. 13. Cory McClenathan, 4.566, 323.97; 5.
Melanie Troxel, 4.525, 328.06 vs. 12. Doug Foley, 4.556, 324.20; 6. Tony
Schumacher, 4.526, 323.43 vs. 11. Bob Vandergriff, 4.552, 319.98; 7. J.R. Todd,
4.527, 318.17 vs. 10. Hillary Will, 4.551, 325.30; 8. Brandon Bernstein, 4.529,
329.42 vs. 9. David Grubnic, 4.545, 323.74.
Funny Car -- 1. Mike Ashley, Dodge Charger, 4.704, 331.04 vs. 16. Tim
Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, 4.801, 319.07; 2. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.710,
320.05 vs. 15. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.792, 310.13; 3. Jeff Arend,
Monte Carlo, 4.712, 327.66 vs. 14. Gary Densham, Impala, 4.792, 319.82; 4. Tony
Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 4.740, 318.84 vs. 13. Scott Kalitta, Toyota Solara,
4.786, 289.20; 5. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.746, 316.60 vs. 12. John Force,
Mustang, 4.785, 314.09; 6. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.754, 322.19 vs. 11. Jim Head,
Solara, 4.783, 321.96; 7. Kenny Bernstein, Charger, 4.763, 322.27 vs. 10. Del
Worsham, Impala, 4.783, 326.00; 8. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.765, 326.79 vs. 9.
Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.768, 322.11.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.627, 208.71 vs. 16. Tom
Hammonds, Chevy Cobalt, 6.696, 206.01; 2. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.640,
206.67 vs. 15. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.690, 206.80; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt,
6.653, 206.80 vs. 14. Greg Stanfield, GTO, 6.685, 206.20; 4. Jason Line, GTO,
6.655, 207.91 vs. 13. Erica Enders, Stratus, 6.685, 206.20; 5. Dave Connolly,
Cobalt, 6.655, 206.61 vs. 12. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.685, 206.83; 6. Richie
Stevens, Stratus, 6.659, 206.51 vs. 11. Jim Yates, GTO, 6.681, 205.94; 7. V.
Gaines, Stratus, 6.662, 206.57 vs. 10. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.678, 206.10; 8.
Kenny Koretsky, Cobalt, 6.665, 206.48 vs. 9. Mike Edwards, GTO, 6.670, 206.57.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 6.976, 191.59 vs. 16. Tom
Bradford, Buell, 7.117, 188.49; 2. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.983, 189.10 vs. 15.
Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.110, 186.05; 3. Chip Ellis, Buell, 6.999, 189.02 vs. 14.
Paul Gast, Suzuki, 7.092, 186.74; 4. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.011, 190.51 vs.
13. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.081, 188.44; 5. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson,
7.018, 191.73 vs. 12. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.078, 186.46; 6. Peggy Llewellyn,
7.055, 187.42 vs. 11. Marco Andreano, Buell, 7.077, 186.41; 7. Hector Arana,
7.061, 188.12 vs. 10. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.073, 187.78; 8. Geno Scali,
Suzuki, 7.062, 190.00 vs. 9. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.064, 191.87.
First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday
for the 27th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta
Dragway, the sixth of 23 events in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.
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FRIDAY - FULLER, ASHLEY, ANDERSON AND SMITH LEAD QUALIFYING AT SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS
Rod Fuller raced to the qualifying lead in Top Fuel Friday
at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
Mike Ashley, Greg Anderson, and Matt Smith all posted track records to lead their respective categories at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event.
Fuller has been impressive this season, leading the series standings since his victory in Phoenix. About the only thing he hasn't done is lead a qualifying field, which could change this weekend following his category best effort of 4.506 seconds at 326.71 mph in his David Powers Motorsports dragster.
"It's cool to be No. 1 in the points and No. 1 on the ladder at the same time," Fuller said. "I really expected someone to step it up and blow past us. We came into the session 14th and that was truly just a conservative tune-up because we wanted to make sure we got in. Rob [Flynn, crew chief] said we'd run a 4.50 and that's exactly what we did."
Two weeks after his first career No. 1 qualifying effort in Las Vegas, Ashley
used a 4.704 at a track record speed of 331.04 mph in his Torco Racing Fuels
Dodge Charger to top the Funny Car field once again.
"If you qualify No. 1 once, it shows potential," Ashley said. "If you do it twice, especially in a row, it shows consistency, and that's the main thing we've been after since we started."
Castrol GTX Ford Mustang driver Ashley Force out-performed her famous father John, qualifying fifth with a 4.746 to his 12th-best 4.785. If their positions remain the same following tomorrow's two qualifying sessions, they'll race each other in Round 1.
In Pro Stock, Anderson's Summit Racing Pontiac GTO led Pro Stock with a
track-record run of 6.627 at 208.30 mph. As he made the turn off the track at
the top end following his run, a small trail of fire followed his car.
"I looked like a Funny Car driver down here," Anderson said as NHRA Safety Safari members extinguished the small fire under his car. "It's fine; just burning off some oil on the firewall I would assume. Either way, we're happy to make a run like that, especially at a Summit race.
"You sit there and watch all the cars in front of you going quicker and it makes you nervous. It was 25-30 degrees cooler that Round 1 and you know the potential to go quicker is there but you still have to execute. Believe me, there's a fine line between a great run and standing up on the wheelie bars too hard and shaking the tires."
Smith was quickest in Pro Stock Motorcycle, riding his Torco Buell to a track record time of 6.988 at 187.26.
"That was an awesome run," Smith said. "We've been doing so much testing and so much extra work at the shop. It's neat when it all pays off. We've been quick at all three races now so we just might be onto something."
Three female racers -- Karen Stoffer, Peggy Llewellyn and Angelle Sampey -- followed Smith on the provisional ladder. Stoffer posted a 7.011 on her Geico Suzuki. Llewellyn went 7.055 on her Klement Racing Buell, and Sampey posted a 7.063 on her U.S. Army Suzuki.
Pro qualifying continues Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
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Results Friday after qualifying for the 27th annual Summit
Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, sixth of 23 events
in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for
Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Rod Fuller, 4.506 seconds, 326.71 mph; 2. Doug Herbert, 4.509, 321.04; 3. Brady Kalivoda, 4.519, 323.97; 4. Whit Bazemore, 4.524, 327.19; 5. Melanie Troxel, 4.525, 328.06; 6. Tony Schumacher, 4.526, 323.43; 7. J.R. Todd, 4.527, 318.17; 8. Brandon Bernstein, 4.531, 329.42; 9. David Grubnic, 4.545, 323.74; 10. Hillary Will, 4.551, 325.30; 11. Bob Vandergriff, 4.552, 319.98; 12. Doug Foley, 4.556, 324.20; 13. Cory McClenathan, 4.566, 319.22; 14. Larry Dixon, 4.576, 314.53; 15. Doug Kalitta, 4.591, 319.60; 16. Alan Bradshaw, 4.600, 299.80.
Funny Car -- 1. Mike Ashley, Dodge Charger, 4.704, 331.04; 2. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.710, 320.05; 3. Jeff Arend, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.712, 327.66; 4. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.740, 318.84; 5. Ashley Force, Mustang, 4.746, 316.60; 6. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.754, 322.19; 7. Kenny Bernstein, Charger, 4.763, 322.27; 8. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.765, 326.79; 9. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.780, 322.11; 10. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.783, 326.00; 11. Jim Head, Toyota Solara, 4.783, 321.96; 12. John Force, Mustang, 4.785, 311.99; 13. Scott Kalitta, Solara, 4.786, 289.20; 14. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 4.792, 310.13; 15. Tim Wilkerson, Impala, 4.801, 319.07; 16. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 4.805, 319.82.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.627, 208.30; 2. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.640, 206.61; 3. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt, 6.653, 206.80; 4. Jason Line, GTO, 6.655, 207.91; 5. Richie Stevens, Stratus, 6.659, 206.51; 6. Kenny Koretsky, Cobalt, 6.666, 206.48; 7. Jim Yates, GTO, 6.681, 205.69; 8. Erica Enders, Stratus, 6.685, 206.20; 9. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.685, 206.10; 10. Greg Stanfield, GTO, 6.685, 206.01; 11. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.687, 206.39; 12. Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.690, 206.80; 13. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.691, 206.57; 14. Mike Edwards, GTO, 6.695, 206.16; 15. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt, 6.702, 206.01; 16. Max Naylor, Stratus, 6.705, 205.57.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.988, 187.26; 2. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.011, 189.84; 3. Peggy Llewellyn, 7.055, 187.42; 4. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 7.063, 188.65; 5. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.080, 190.92; 6. Chip Ellis, Buell, 7.080, 189.02; 7. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.084, 190.00; 8. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.097, 185.51; 9. Hector Arana, 7.100, 186.67; 10. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.105, 187.63; 11. Paul Gast, Suzuki, 7.111, 186.18; 12. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.120, 187.65; 13. Marco Andreano, Buell, 7.126, 185.26; 14. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.134, 187.05; 15. Barry Henson, Suzuki, 7.139, 186.23; 16. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.143, 186.05.
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| THURSDAY, April 26, 2007 | |
| Spectator Gates Open | 8:00 AM |
| Registration and Tech Inspection continues (all categories) | 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Sportsman Qualifying | 9:00 AM |
| Dart Dash Qualifying | 2 & 4:30 PM |
| Comp Eliminator Qualifying Session | 4:00 PM |
| Secure Track | 6:00 PM |
| FRIDAY, April 27, 2007 | |
| Spectator Gates Open | 7:30 AM |
| Final Registration and Tech Inspection (Pro's, TAD/TAFC & Comp only) |
8:30 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Sportsman Qualifying/Eliminations | 9:00 AM |
| Dart Dash Qualifying | 11:30 AM |
| Comp Eliminator Qualifying Session | 12:00 PM |
| Top Alcohol Qualifying Session (Funny Car/Dragster) | 2:00 PM |
| Comp Eliminator Qualifying Session | 2:45 PM |
| Pro Mod Qualifying Session | 3:15 PM |
| Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle/PS Car) | 3:30 PM |
| Nitro Qualifying Session (Funny Car/Top Fuel Dragster) | 4:30 PM |
| Top Alcohol Qualifying Session (Funny Car/Dragster) | 5:30 PM |
| Pro Mod Qualifying Session | 6:15 PM |
| Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle/PS Car) | 6:30 PM |
| Nitro Qualifying Session (Funny Car/Top Fuel Dragster) | 7:30 PM |
| Secure Track | 9:00 PM |
| SATURDAY, April 28, 2007 | |
| Spectator Gates Open | 7:30 AM |
| Sportsman Eliminations | 8:00 AM |
| Dart Dash Eliminations | 10:00 AM |
| Comp Eliminator Qualifying Session | 10:30 AM |
| Pro Mod Qualifying Session | 11:15 AM |
| Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle/PS Car) | 11:30 AM |
| Nitro Qualifying Session (Top Fuel Dragster/Funny Car) | 12:30 PM |
| Top Alcohol Qualifying Session (Funny Car/Dragster) | 1:30 PM |
| Pro Mod - Round 1 | 2:15 PM |
| Pro Stock Qualifying Session (PS Motorcycle/PS Car) | 2:30 PM |
| Nitro Qualifying Session (Top Fuel Dragster/Funny Car) | 3:30 PM |
| Top Alcohol (Funny Car/Dragster) Round 1 | 4:30 PM |
| Secure Track | 7:00 PM |
| SUNDAY, April 29, 2007 | |
| Spectator Gates Open | 7:30 AM |
| Sportsman Eliminations (including Dart Dash) | 9:00 AM |
| Pre-Race Ceremonies | 10:00 AM |
| Final Eliminations | 11:00 AM |
| Secure Event | 4:30 PM |
