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NHRA Pro Mod team owner Mel Bush started the ADRL Hardees Georgia Drags in Valdosta, Ga., with a smile.

When Friday’s lone qualifying session was over, team owner Bush was a happy man.

His Pro Extreme ’62 Bel Air driven by Tommy D’Aprile posted a very
impressive 3.819 at 196.64 mph run and was firmly planted into the top
half of the field at the dragstrip in Cecil, Georgia.

Then, things changed dramatically.

News reached the team pits early Saturday morning that Bush had been
taken to a local Georgia hospital to be treated for symptoms stemming
from complications from surgery performed earlier in the month. Bush
was admitted to the local hospital and then later transferred to a
hospital near his Port Saint Lucie, Florida home.

Hard to Believe but Neither Schumacher or Capps Have Won Hot-Lanta …

Two of the current NHRA pro points leaders have one common denominator outside of the fact they drive for the same team owner.

In their years of competing at the NHRA Summit Southern Nationals
neither nitro frontrunner Tony Schumacher or Ron Capps has won in
Commerce, Ga.

It’s hard to imagine there’s a stop on the 24-race Full Throttle tour
where the five-time champion Schumacher hasn’t won considering he’s won
58 races over a 14-year span.

Atlanta Dragway Has Been a Home Race Since the 1980s …

There
are no long lines at the airport when you race at home, no delayed
flights either. There are no rental-car shuttles, and no extended hotel
stays.

Life couldn’t be grander at this moment than it is for Kurt Johnson
this weekend at the NHRA Summit Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga.
About the toughest the travel gets for the second-generation driver is
a short 30-minute drive north up I-85 from their race shop in Sugar
Hill to a race venue they know very well.

The 2007 IHRA Top Fuel World Champion, Bruce Litton, is quite an
intimidating presence when behind the wheel of his 300+ mph dragster.
But when the helmet comes off, it’s a different story. Bruce’s big
heart shines through his welcoming smile to everyone he meets. Starting
at the upcoming Spring Nationals in Rockingham, N.C. Bruce’s big heart
will shine through his Lucas Oil dragster as well, as it displays a
decal commemorating the life of a very special individual.

Karsyn Bell only graced this earth for four years, but her impact was
widely felt in her short time. The daughter of Brad and Anne Bell of
Bristol, Ind., Karsyn was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor when she
was only two and a half years old. She fearlessly fought a long battle
and won many victories, but on January 23, 2009 she passed from this
life, leaving behind a lasting legacy that lives on in the memories of
all who knew her. Her story is filled with unimaginable pain and grief
but is laced with a grace and strength so incredible that it continues
to stretch way beyond her four year old frame to touch the lives of all
who knew her and even many others who didn’t.

Tested and Ready, U.S. Smokeless Team Looks to Break Out of 2009 Funk …

He’s
not about to declare a sophomore jinx because technically he’s a
freshman on the NHRA Full Throttle tour, but Spencer Massey can’t help
but relive past successes headed into this weekend’s NHRA Summit
Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga.

Massey is in new territory as the driver of Snake Racing’s U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company dragster this year.

Last year at this point in the season, he could do no wrong winning the
first two IHRA events of the season and also winning this event last
year driving a Top Alcohol Dragster. That victory was the second in
back-to-back Atlanta Dragway triumphs.

Everyone Likes To Pick On a Rookie; Hagan Picks Back …

Matt
Hagan is quickly learning that being a rookie on the NHRA Full Throttle
Funny Car tour can sometimes be hell. The first year driver of the
Shelor.com Dodge Charger for Don Schumacher Racing has taken a few
lumps along the way, but as of late, the Christianburg, Va.native has
given back a few jabs in return.

Clearly the 27-year old cattle farmer knows that’s the only way he’ll
survive in what has become the most competitive nitro division on the
tour.

Pro Modified team owner Paul Trussell admits that he didn’t get as angry as he could have been Saturday evening at the ADRL Hardees Georgia Drags in Valdosta, Ga.

Trussell’s supercharged Camaro was competing in the Pro Extreme division when driver Ed Hoover got out of shape and crossed the centerline on the burnout. Tommy D’Aprile, in the other lane, had time to get out of the throttle to prevent a collision.

Veteran NHRA Safety Safari member Jim Frizzell died April 12 after a brief illness. He was 68.

Frizzell joined the Safety Safari team in themed 1970s and worked with
them for nearly 30 years on a part-time basis, primarily manning
Emergency 1, the starting-line safety vehicle.

Bob Tasca III, driver of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car, will visit Coca-Cola
world headquarters in Atlanta Wednesday, April 15, in advance of his
participation in this weekend's Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern
Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.