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30th Annual Summit
Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals coming back to “Hotlanta”
by Tim Glover
Once again, Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia will experience the thrill and excitement of 8000 horsepower, ground-pounding Top Fuel Dragsters and Fuel Funny Cars during the weekend of May 14-16, 2010 for the 30th annual running of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. Top Fuel Dragsters and Fuel Funny Cars will be headlining the show, along with Pro Stock Cars and Pro Stock Motorcycles. New for 2010 is the wild and wooly Pro Modified class, along with hundreds of NHRA Sportsman racers in Competition Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp and Top Sportsman, all vying for the chance to win the big prize, an NHRA “Wally” trophy.
NHRA Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson, who lives in nearby Sugar Hill, enjoyed his 97th career win at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals two weeks ago, and will be looking to score win number 98 at the Southern Nationals. Johnson and his son Kurt will be campaigning both of their machines at the Southern Nationals. However, rest assured that 2009 Southern Nationals Pro Stock winner Mike Edwards will be there to try and stop them, along with Summit Racing Equipment racers Jason Line and Greg Anderson and 21 of the best Pro Stock teams in the nation.
Tony Schumacher is bringing the strength of his team and the Army Top Fuel Dragster to try and claim two wins in a row, but he has Larry Dixon, Cory McClenathan and Doug Kalitta to contend with, all ahead of him in the points series. In addition, 2009 Southern Nationals winner Morgan Lucas and one of the crowd favorites, Antron Brown, are also hungry for another win.
Ashley Force Hood, now in her third full season of NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car racing, will be gunning for her fourth overall Fuel Funny Car win. However, 2009 Southern Nationals winner Jack Beckman, who defeated three members of Force racing, including Ashley in the final, to earn the 2009 Southern Nationals win, will be there to try for a repeat. Force Hood, the 2007 NHRA professional Rookie-of-the-Year, earned her first ever Funny Car win at Atlanta Dragway in 2008, becoming the first female to win in that class. She finished second place in the 2009 points series, right behind her teammate Robert Hight who earned the 2009 championship, and is currently fifth in the 2010 points chase.
Many local racers are also looking forward to their chance to compete in the Stock, Super Stock, Super Comp, Top Sportsman and Competition Eliminator classes.
In addition to a nearly new racing surface (re-done in 2008 with 660 feet of concrete and another 660 feet of specially prepared asphalt), racers also have a brand new shutdown area to help bring their cars safely to a stop after 300mph plus passes. Atlanta Dragway has a reputation as one of the tougher events on the schedule to win. With summer fast approaching, warm temperatures can turn the event into “Hotlanta” and throw crew chiefs a curve as they try to make their machines stick to the track en route to a winning pass.
For tickets and other information, log on to www.atlantadragway.com or call: (800) 884-NHRA (6472); (404) 249-6400
Atlanta Dragway is about 65 miles north of Atlanta on Interstate 85 at U.S. Highway 441. From Atlanta, take I-85 north to Exit 149 (Highway 441). Travel north on Highway 441 to Steven Tanger Boulevard. Go left on Tanger Boulevard, then right on Ridgeway Road, and follow the signs to the track (approximately a half-mile on the right).
Visitor Information: Atlanta Dragway, (706) 335-2301; Banks County Chamber of Commerce, (706) 677-2108; Banks County Convention and Visitors Bureau, (706) 677-5265
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