NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series heads to the Deep South and historic Atlanta Dragway for the seventh event of the 2016 season, the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. “Georgia’s House of Speed” has hosted an NHRA national event since 1981 and has been home to some of the most memorable moments in the sport’s history.

Here’s look at some of this year’s major storylines:

Women on a roll
There has been a female winner in the nitro ranks at the last five national events, and sisters Brittany and Courtney Force both sit atop the standings in their respective Top Fuel and Funny Car classes, so to say that it has been the year of the women would be an understatement. After wins by Steve Torrence and Ron Capps to start the season, Leah Pritchett and Brittany Force (pictured) won Top Fuel back to back in Phoenix and Gainesville, respectively, Alexis DeJoria topped the Funny Car class in Las Vegas, Brittany won again in Charlotte, and Courtney got her first win of the season in Houston. Historically speaking, Atlanta has been good to female racers with past victories by Shirley Muldowney, Lucille Lee, and Lori Johns in Top Fuel; Ashley Force Hood in Funny Car; and Angelle Sampey and Karen Stoffer in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Leah to DSR
Pritchett’s roller-caster season continues as the popular Top Fuel driver will slip into her third different car in seven events this season when she joins the Don Schumacher Racing camp in Atlanta. After driving (and winning) for Bob Vandergriff Racing during the season’s first four races, BVR disbanded prior to the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte. Pritchett quickly found herself a ride in the Lagana family dragster for that event and then got the BVR band back together for a swan song in Houston with original crew chiefs Mike Guger and Joe Barlam, both of whom have also joined the DSR effort.

When will they win?
Tony Schumacher, Shawn Langdon, John Force, Jack Beckman, Del Worsham, Matt Hagan, Cruz Pedregon, Allen Johnson, Erica Enders, Jeg Coughlin Jr., Hector Arana Sr., LE Tonglet, Matt Smith, and Angelle Sampey. What do all of these racers have in common? Well, sure, they’re all reigning or past NHRA Mello Yello world champs, but it’s also a list of drivers who have yet to win a national event this season. When you add in other hitters like J.R. Todd, Richie Crampton, Tommy Johnson Jr., Vincent Nobile, Jerry Savoie, and Chip Ellis, who also are no-hitters this season, one can only wonder how long this can go on. The smart money says at least one of those droughts ends in Atlanta.

Speaking of Tony Schumacher …
It’s hard to believe, but Atlanta Dragway is the only venue on the current schedule where “the Sarge” has yet to earn his winning stripes. He has scored 80 wins at tracks from coast to coast, and not only has he never won at Atlanta Dragway, but he has also advanced to only four final rounds in almost 20 appearances there.

To the Summit, again?
People keep asking how much longer the Team Summit/KB Racing team can maintain a monopoly in Pro Stock, and while other teams certainly have made major strides in their fuel-injected efforts, Atlanta might not be the place where their six-race dominance ends. Racing at the event sponsored by Summit, the duo have been tough in defending their turf: At least one KB car has been in the final four for the last five years, and three of those four featured both Anderson and Line.

The bikes are back
The event will also mark the third race of the season for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, following appearances in Gainesville and Charlotte, which were won, respectively, by Harley-Davidson teammates Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec. In much the same way that the KB Racing team has dominated Pro Stock, the Harleys have monopolized not only the winner’s circle but the final rounds as well, as each of the duo’s victories came over the other. Although the Harleys have dominated the win sheet, qualifying results from both races show that the Buells of Chip Ellis and Angelle Sampey, the Victory Gunner of Matt Smith, and the Suzukis of Jerry Savoie and LE Tonglet are not far behind.

Track records
Top Fuel - 3.732 sec. and 328.86 mph by Doug Kalitta, May ’14.
Funny Car - 4.010 sec. by Cruz Pedregon, May ’15; 320.58 mph by Courtney Force, May ’14.
Pro Stock - 6.493 sec. by Erica Enders, May ’14; 213.00 mph by Jason Line, May ’14.
Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.794 sec. and 197.54 mph by Eddie Krawiec, May ’14.

Schedule
Qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta will feature two rounds at 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 13, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, May 14, at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 15.

Tickets
For tickets call 800-884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets.