If John Force was asked once about the final NHRA national event at Atlanta Dragway, he was asked a million times.

"I was at the last drag race at Lions [Drag Strip], and life moves on, and it'll move on from here," Force, the 16-time champion, said. "But when they talk about how bad I feel, I don't like it. I don't want to see it closed, but I also have 35 years of memories of fans, people, wins. Ashley won her first race here, and to me, it's not dead. We're just moving on, but the memories move on with us. That's how I feel about it."

Force admits he wasn't as sentimental early in his career when tracks closed down, although he understood the magnitude of the situations at the time.

After a hiatus of 468 days, the 400 Thunder series returns to Sydney Dragway with the Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder meeting on May 7-8. 

Since January 2020, there has been no Pro level racing in Australia due to Coronavirus and numerous State government-imposed border closures and travel restrictions.

Top Fuel has attracted only three entries - three-time champ Phil Read, Carrot king Phil Lamattina, and Sydney team owner-driver Peter Xiberras.  

 Warren "The Professor" Johnson knows Atlanta Dragway like it's the back of his hand.

Johnson raced the Commerce, Ga.-based track for decades, winning the last IHRA national event and clinching his first career series championship.

The year was 1979, and Johnson was a hired gun for Georgia-based businessman Jerome Bradford.

What gets lost in the history of the storied facility is its formative years as an IHRA sanctioned track which hosted two national events a year from 1976 until 1979, when the track closed and switched to NHRA.

After qualifying No. 1 at the first two races of the 2021 Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) season, Jim Halsey leads the way in Nitrous Wars presented by Structural Concrete. The two-time and defending world champion in Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous is also the defending champion in Nitrous Wars, the PDRA’s bonus program rewarding top performers in Pro Nitrous.
 
“It’s no surprise to see Jim Halsey, [tuner] Brandon Switzer and that whole team continue to lead the way in our Nitrous Wars program,” said Tyler Crossnoe, race director, PDRA. “Those guys won back-to-back championships for a reason, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down. We’re proud to have Jim and the baddest nitrous Pro Mod racers in the world racing with us in PDRA Pro Nitrous.”

When the 2021 NHRA national-event season kicked off in March at Gainesville, Fla., there was a notable omission from the field.

Jay Turner, the champion in the inaugural season of NHRA Top Fuel Harley racing, wasn’t among the entrants. Other bikes that he fields were, though, and a pair of those riders duked it out in the final round. Randal Andras, the 2020 kingpin in the class, downed 2018-19 titleist Tii Tharpe for the Wally.

And that trophy was all there was in the way of post-race spoils. NHRA was unable to find a sponsor for the class during the offseason when Mickey Thompson Tires declined to return in that capacity.

NHRA and Bristol Dragway have revealed the addition of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals to the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
 
The fan-favorite event will be held October 15-17, during the heat of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Drivers in all four NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series professional categories will continue their battle towards a world championship in the valley of Bristol Dragway. The seven-race Countdown kicks off at Maple Grove Raceway and will conclude at the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona.
 
“We couldn’t be happier to bring Bristol back on board for the 2021 season,” said Glen Cromwell, NHRA President. “The NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals is a staple on the NHRA circuit. The fall date will give us the opportunity to allow more loyal NHRA fans into the facility. To have the event as a Countdown race is an added bonus for both NHRA fans and competitors.”

The NHRA Factory Stock Showdown division is a favorite amongst loyal NHRA fans. Fans love to see NHRA stars push their stock cars to limits while competing at national events. Competitors in the field include Top Fuel star Leah Pruett and Pro Stock race Aaron Stanfield.

“We are excited to welcome Constant Aviation to the family of NHRA partners,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “The NHRA Factory Stock Showdown class is a very competitive field, and we look forward to seeing the class continue to grow.”

Mark Whisnant was as proud as he could be. The former drag racer who now runs a successful drag racing apparel business had his father's 1972 Duster Pro Stock car on display at the NHRA Southern Nationals.

This race car was no replica; it was the real deal car rescued by noted race car restorer McGrath Keen.

"I'm so glad we got this thing done before this last race," Whisnant said. "We had such a history here. My dad raced from the first race here and to get this '72 Duster out here, to let some of the fans see it. Again, I'm sure some guys, old-timers, have been here and seen it go down the racetrack.

"I can't be any happier than the outcome of it. His legacy will live on in this. This is the only car that's ever been restored, of my dad's old cars. Hopefully, it'll be here for years to come."

Rickie Smith won the first national event hosted by Atlanta Dragway in 1976, a track built in Georgia's Banks County back in 1975 originally intended to be an airport.

Atlanta Dragway turned out to be one of the more historic tracks in drag racing history. And Smith, who back on that monumental weekend raced a Jack Roush-powered Ford Maverick in the sportsman ranks, went on to become one of the more iconic names in fast doorslammer racing.

Friday, at the NHRA Southern Nationals, the two entities prepared for their final dance.