2009 NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
One of NHRA’s long-established events — the race celebrated its 28th anniversary last season — this belle of the South has gained a reputation as one of the tougher events on the tour to win. With summer approaching, warm temperatures can turn the event into “Hotlanta” and throw crew chiefs a curve as they try to glue their charges to the facility’s 660-foot concrete launchpad. The event is the third on the schedule to feature the high-revving 190-mph Pro Stock Motorcycles.
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MONDAY RECAP - EDWARDS CLOSES OUT RAIN-DELAYED SOUTHERN NATIONALS WITH FIRST WIN OF 2009
The wait was worth it for Mike Edwards, who dropped the curtain on the rain-delayed Summit Racing NHRA Southern Nationals Monday morning with a clean 6.645-second pass to easily outrun Pro Stock points-leader Jeg Coughlin.
It was the first win of 2009 for Edwards, who solidified his third-place position in the Pro Stock standings; Coughlin, who slowed to a 7.190 in the final round, remained in first place after six of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season have been completed.
“It doesn’t matter if you win on Sunday or Monday … it’s an unbelievable challenge to win (a Pro Stock race). You can’t make a mistake and win in this class,” Edwards said.
The other three categories were decided late Sunday night and the winners were: Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
For Edwards, the win was a bit of personal vindication as his A.R.T./Young Life Pontiac GXP has been at the head of the ultra-competitive Pro Stock category with a class-best three No. 1 qualifiers, but no wins before Monday.
“Our performance has been good all year, as good as anybody’s in (Pro Stock). We’ve just had a little bit of trouble on Sunday (raceday),” Edwards said. “If that’s what it takes to win (racing on Monday instead of Sunday), we’ll come back on Monday every race.”
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SUNDAY ELIMINATIONS - LUCAS ENDS FIVE-YEAR WAIT WITH FIRST NHRA FULL THROTTLE SERIES WIN
Beckman, Krawiec also collect wins; Pro Stock delayed to Monday
After enduring multiple rain delays, Morgan Lucas defeated Spencer Massey in a thrilling pedal-fest to win the Top Fuel title at the 29th annual Summit Racing NHRA Summer Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
The other winners at the sixth of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Series season were Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). Pro Stock was postponed by rain with Jeg Coughlin and Jason Line scheduled to meet in the final round Monday morning.
It took Lucas five years and five final-round appearances to get his first win so waiting out the five hours of rain delays was only a minor hurdle. The 26-year old Lucas pedaled his GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil dragster to a 5.231 at 162.86 to narrowly beat the 27-year old Massey’s tire-spinning 5.418 at 145.25 in his U.S. Smokeless dragster.
“I’ve had five years to think about this … this is probably one of the most exciting moments of my life, if not the most exciting moment. I don’t even know how to talk right now I’m so excited,” said Lucas, who was competing in his 107th career race. “This is what I’ve dreamt about for years.”
Beckman ran a 4.128 at 303.43 in his Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger to defeat the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang team and driver Ashley Force Hood, who lost power near the finish line and slowed to 4.157 at 248.39.
“On paper, Ashley’s car had us whupped,” said Beckman, who lost to Force Hood two races earlier in final round in Houston. “That car’s been the class of the field for eight, nine months. That’s why we race, though. Anything can happen when you have 8,000 horsepower of nitro in the tank. It is such an awesome feeling … we got whupped by Ashley (in Houston) and to get back in there and (beat her) is awesome.”
Beckman defeated a quartet of Ford Mustangs – including Robert Hight, John Force and Tim Wilkerson – en route to his first win of the year and seventh of his career. And by day’s end Beckman moved up from seventh to second place and Force Hood remained in third place.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Eddie Krawiec earned his first career win aboard his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson with a fleet 6.902 at 192.91 to defeat rookie Douglas Horne (6.949, 191.13).
“This is something I was waiting for … to get my first Wally and be able to put it up on my mantle next to my (2008 NHRA Full Throttle Series) championship trophy is just awesome,” Krawiec said.
The NHRA Full Throttle Series resumes in two weekends with the 13th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals May 1-3 at Gateway International Raceway.
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RAIN DELAY UPDATE
The 29th annual Summit Racing NHRA Southern Nationals has been delayed by rain several times today. As of 8 p.m. ET, the NHRA Safety Safari is drying the track in hopes of completing the race.
Top Fuel (Spencer Massey vs. Morgan Lucas), Funny Car (Ashley Force Hood vs. Jack Beckman) and Pro Stock Motorcycle (Douglas Horne vs. Eddie Krawiec) are all in the final round; Pro Stock (Greg Anderson vs. Jeg Coughlin; Mike Edwards vs. Jason Line) is in the semifinals.
SATURDAY QUALIFYING - SNAKE RACING ROOKIE SPENCER MASSEY RACES TO FIRST CAREER NO. 1 QUALIFIER IN TOP FUEL
All three other No. 1's remain same from Friday: Force Hood in FC, Anderson in PS and Hines in PSM
Rookie driver Spencer Massey was the only driver to supplant one of the overnight qualifying leaders at the 29th annual Summit Racing NHRA Southern Nationals when he raced to the top spot in Top Fuel on Saturday.
The other provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the sixth of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series were Ashley Force Hood (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Massey, who drives for NHRA legend Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, earned his first career No. 1 qualifier when he laid down a 3.820-second pass at 311.20 mph on Saturday to move the U.S. Smokeless dragster around Morgan Lucas and the GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil team.
“I’m still living the dream. I’m still trying to wake up from it, especially being No. 1 qualifier here in Atlanta, it’s awesome,” said Massey. “I knew (Snake) was happy. I saw the crew guys’ faces and I knew it was a good run. They were shooting for mid-80s, they wanted to get it first, second, third or fourth and it surprised me with the 82. We were all happy.”
In Funny Car, Force Hood will start from the pole – her 4.073 at 310.05 from Friday held up Saturday – as she seeks to repeat her historic win from a year ago when she defeated her father, John Force, to become the first female in NHRA history to win a Funny Car race.
But it won’t be easy. Her reward for placing the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang on the pole is a first-round matchup with 22-time winner Del Worsham and the Al-Anabi Toyota Solara team, who just got in the field with a 4.210 at 298.34.
“Not that I know who I want to have, but I know I don’t want to have Del. That’s a great team and he’s a great driver, but you know what, that’s race day,” Force Hood said. “Funny Car is super competitive. There’s not going to be an easy round all day.”
Interestingly, she has defeated Worsham en route to each of her two career wins and she also met Worsham in the first round at Atlanta last year.
The draw was no better for Pro Stock’s No. 1 as Anderson’s reward for winning the pole was a first-round matchup with 39-time NHRA Full Throttle Series winner Kurt Johnson, who just got his ACDelco Chevy Cobalt in the field with a 6.638 at 208.81.
“There has never been much room for error (in Pro Stock) and there’s none now,” Anderson said. “It’s going to be a battle-royale. If you win one of these races, you definitely feel good because you’ve conquered the mountain.”
Anderson’s Summit Racing Pontiac GXP was the best car throughout qualifying as he set the track record Friday with 6.568 and then he improved the track e.t. record on Saturday with a 6.557 (Warren Johnson set the track speed record, 211.26 mph).
“I said we weren’t going to see conditions like (Friday) again … and boy was I an idiot. What we did yesterday was great, but that wasn’t going to get us anything. We were going to have to go out (Saturday) and run faster if we wanted to (stay) No. 1 and fortunately we got all the round pegs in the round holes,” Anderson said.
Hines’ official No. 1 qualifying run aboard his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson on Friday included the track record e.t. of 6.877 with a 195.03 mph speed. On the second run Saturday, with a strong tailwind, he proceeded to set the track record for speed by topping out at 195.25 mph.
“It’s fun to come out here and go fast,” said Hines, who will open with No. 16 Mike Berry on Sunday in what is forecast to be more overcast and more humid conditions. “My brother (Matt) is a really good tuner so whatever conditions we face (Sunday), I feel really confident going into (Sunday).
The race begins at 11 a.m. ET Sunday.
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First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 29th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, the sixth of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs for each category listed after pairings.
Top Fuel -- 1. Spencer Massey, 3.820 seconds, 311.20 mph vs. 16. Troy Buff, 3.997, 259.91; 2. Brandon Bernstein, 3.824, 315.64 vs. 15. Bobby Lagana Jr., 3.976, 304.19; 3. Morgan Lucas, 3.844, 310.70 vs. 14. Joe Hartley, 3.959, 304.19; 4. Tony Schumacher, 3.851, 309.98 vs. 13. Terry McMillen, 3.958, 304.32; 5. Antron Brown, 3.867, 311.99 vs. 12. Clay Millican, 3.917, 311.92; 6. Bob Vandergriff, 3.878, 314.39 vs. 11. Terry Haddock, 3.915, 301.47; 7. Larry Dixon, 3.881, 310.98 vs. 10. Cory McClenathan, 3.901, 307.86; 8. Shawn Langdon, 3.886, 305.98 vs. 9. Doug Kalitta, 3.891, 310.41. Did Not Qualify: 17. Todd Paton, 4.038, 285.05; 18. Luigi Novelli, 4.180, 296.96; 19. Chris Karamesines, broke.
Funny Car -- 1. Ashley Force Hood, Ford Mustang, 4.073, 310.05 vs. 16. Del Worsham, Toyota Solara, 4.210, 298.34; 2. John Force, Mustang, 4.100, 306.19 vs. 15. Jerry Toliver, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.201, 299.13; 3. Ron Capps, Dodge Charger, 4.101, 299.26 vs. 14. Mike Smith, Monte Carlo, 4.192, 297.75; 4. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.104, 303.71 vs. 13. Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.160, 301.33; 5. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.114, 303.84 vs. 12. Cruz Pedregon, Solara, 4.154, 303.23; 6. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.120, 304.53 vs. 11. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.148, 297.81; 7. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.120, 304.05 vs. 10. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.144, 299.86; 8. Mike Neff, Mustang, 4.125, 303.43 vs. 9. Jim Head, Solara, 4.142, 300.66. Did Not Qualify: 17. Andy Kelley, 4.401, 279.90.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 6.557, 210.93 vs. 16. Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.638, 209.10; 2. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.565, 210.28 vs. 15. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.629, 208.55; 3. Jason Line, GXP, 6.570, 211.13 vs. 14. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt, 6.625, 208.65; 4. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.574, 209.69 vs. 13. Rodger Brogdon, GXP, 6.624, 208.94; 5. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.578, 210.14 vs. 12. V. Gaines, Dodge Stratus, 6.617, 208.26; 6. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.581, 210.01 vs. 11. Rickie Jones, Stratus, 6.616, 208.94; 7. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.582, 209.85 vs. 10. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.604, 209.14; 8. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.598, 211.26 vs. 9. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.599, 209.14. Did Not Qualify: 17. Ronnie Humphrey, 6.640, 208.71; 18. Justin Humphreys, 6.692, 207.66; 19. Dave Northrop, 6.723, 207.62; 20. Erica Enders, 6.731, 204.63; 21. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.769, 204.01.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.877, 195.25 vs. 16. Mike Berry, Buell, 7.081, 187.83; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.881, 195.05 vs. 15. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, 7.077, 188.78; 3. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.890, 194.63 vs. 14. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.003, 189.71; 4. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.912, 193.24 vs. 13. Angie McBride, Buell, 6.992, 188.44; 5. Douglas Horne, Buell, 6.915, 193.57 vs. 12. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 6.987, 195.08; 6. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.924, 194.02 vs. 11. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 6.986, 191.21; 7. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.929, 194.52 vs. 10. Matt Guidera, Buell, 6.963, 191.13; 8. Junior Pippin, Buell, 6.938, 192.25 vs. 9. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.959, 190.27. Did Not Qualify: 17. David Hope, 7.107, 187.96; 18. Katie Sullivan, 7.120, 186.46; 19. Ryan Schnitz, 7.139, 185.28; 20. Darin McCurdy, 7.152, 186.92; 21. Bailey Whitaker, 7.157, 185.56; 22. Joe DeSantis, 7.200, 189.82; 23. Redell Harris, 7.463, 180.00; 24. James Surber, broke.
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FRIDAY QUALIFYING - FORCE HOOD PICKS UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY; LUCAS LEADS WAY IN TOP FUEL
Both ends of track records set in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle
Funny Car driver Ashley Force Hood returned to Atlanta Dragway for the first time since her historic win here a year ago and she picked up right where she left off, earning the provisional No. 1 qualifying position at the 29th annual Summit Racing NHRA Southern Nationals.
The other provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the sixth of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series were Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
A year ago in Atlanta, Force Hood became the first female in the history of the NHRA Funny Car category to win a race when she defeated her father, John Force, in the final round. Fast forward a year and Force Hood is again best in class, posting a performance of 4.073 seconds at 310.05 mph in her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to assume the overnight lead. If her time holds through Saturday's two rounds of qualifying, it will be her first No. 1 of 2009 and fourth of her career.
“There might be something to (drivers fitting certain race tracks),” Force Hood said. “There are just certain (tracks) that people do great at so maybe this is our track. Hopefully it will be.”
In Top Fuel, Morgan Lucas delivered a stunning 3.844 at 308.21 in his 
GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil dragster for what would be his first No. 1 qualifier since the 2005 season.
“It’s been a long time since we ran this good … ” said Lucas, who qualified No. 1 at Atlanta and Las Vegas 2 during that 2005 season for the only previous No. 1s in his career. “This gave us a little shot in the arm and gave my dad (Forrest) a shot in the arm. I just got off the phone with him and he’s about as happy as they get right now.”
Anderson’s Summit Racing Pontiac GXP was the best car in both rounds of qualifying as he set the track record for time and speed with his 6.574 at 210.93 on his first pass and then he improved the track record time on the second pass (6.568 at 210.77).
“We knew today was going to be a special day,” Anderson said. “When we got here this morning, we looked at the weather meters and we thought they were broken. It’s never been this dry and the barometer this high and the weather this cool.”
The conditions were just as beneficial for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class and Hines was simply the one who took greatest advantage, setting the track e.t record on his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson with a performance of 6.877 at 195.03.
“The weather conditions were like Candyland out there,” Hines said. “It was really nice for Atlanta – it was 70-80 percent humidity last year on Sunday when we were going rounds and this year, the air is dry and there’s a tailwind which our Harleys like. It makes it really fun to come out here and race.”
The track record for speed in Pro Stock Motorcycle (195.08) was set by Michael Phillips.
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Results Friday after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 29th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, sixth of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Top Fuel -- 1. Morgan Lucas, 3.844 seconds, 308.21 mph; 2. Brandon Bernstein, 3.866, 310.48; 3. Antron Brown, 3.869, 310.13; 4. Bob Vandergriff, 3.878, 314.39; 5. Larry Dixon, 3.881, 310.98; 6. Tony Schumacher, 3.884, 309.98; 7. Doug Kalitta, 3.891, 310.41; 8. Spencer Massey, 3.910, 307.44; 9. Shawn Langdon, 3.912, 305.98; 10. Terry Haddock, 3.915, 301.47; 11. Bobby Lagana Jr., 3.976, 304.19; 12. Todd Paton, 4.038, 285.05. Not Qualified: 13. Cory McClenathan, 4.458, 176.77; 14. Troy Buff, 4.499, 175.14; 15. Terry McMillen, 4.580, 168.47; 16. Chris Karamesines, 4.692, 261.98; 17. Clay Millican, 5.898, 107.68; 18. Joe Hartley, 6.255, 100.67; 19. Luigi Novelli, 8.993, 89.82.
Funny Car -- 1. Ashley Force Hood, Ford Mustang, 4.073, 310.05; 2. John Force, Mustang, 4.100, 306.19; 3. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.114, 303.84; 4. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.116, 298.27; 5. Jack Beckman, Charger, 4.120, 304.05; 6. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.137, 301.47; 7. Cruz Pedregon, Toyota Solara, 4.154, 303.23; 8. Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.158, 298.27; 9. Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.160, 301.33; 10. Jim Head, Solara, 4.189, 295.46; 11. Jerry Toliver, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.225, 287.47; 12. Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.244, 286.68. Not Qualified: 13. Andy Kelley, 4.349, 279.90; 14. Del Worsham, 4.557, 198.85; 15. Mike Smith, 4.778, 175.00; 16. Bob Tasca III, 5.492, 129.03; 17. Mike Neff, 5.512, 127.51.
Pro Stock -- 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GXP, 6.568, 210.93; 2. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.578, 210.11; 3. Jason Line, GXP, 6.582, 210.70; 4. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 6.588, 209.85; 5. Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.599, 209.75; 6. Johnny Gray, Stratus, 6.599, 209.14; 7. Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt, 6.610, 209.85; 8. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.613, 208.78; 9. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.615, 210.14; 10. Tom Hammonds, Cobalt, 6.625, 208.65; 11. V. Gaines, Stratus, 6.625, 208.26; 12. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.629, 209.46. Not Qualified: 13. Rickie Jones, 6.630, 208.59; 14. Kurt Johnson, 6.632, 209.10; 15. Steve Spiess, 6.639, 208.55; 16. Justin Humphreys, 6.645, 207.66; 17. Dave Northrop, 6.659, 207.62; 18. Rodger Brogdon, 6.661, 208.04; 19. Ronnie Humphrey, 6.670, 208.71; 20. Erica Enders, 6.723, 204.63; 21. John Gaydosh Jr, 6.763, 203.89.
Pro Stock Motorcycle -- 1. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.877, 195.03; 2. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 6.881, 194.49; 3. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.912, 193.02; 4. Hector Arana, Buell, 6.924, 194.02; 5. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 6.929, 194.52; 6. Matt Smith, Suzuki, 6.932, 193.49; 7. Douglas Horne, Buell, 6.934, 193.57; 8. Junior Pippin, Buell, 6.964, 190.27; 9. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.971, 188.23; 10. Matt Guidera, Buell, 6.984, 191.13; 11. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 6.986, 191.21; 12. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 6.995, 195.08. Not Qualified: 13. Steve Johnson, 6.996, 189.34; 14. LE Tonglet, 7.047, 188.78; 15. David Hope, 7.071, 187.96; 16. Mike Berry, 7.102, 187.83; 17. Bailey Whitaker, 7.143, 185.28; 18. Joe DeSantis, 7.178, 189.04; 19. Darin McCurdy, 7.194, 184.25; 20. Ryan Schnitz, 7.210, 183.05; 21. Angie McBride, 7.241, 160.79; 22. Katie Sullivan, 7.284, 179.21; 23. Redell Harris, 7.425, 180.00; 24. James Surber, 7.675, 149.17.
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EVENT PREVIEW: TOP FUEL VETERAN MCCLENATHAN BONDING WITH NEW TEAM; IS A COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER ONCE AGAIN
In the sport of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing, Cory McClenathan has been there and done that.
He’s been on fire, flipped upside down and walked away from spectacular
wild rides. He’s won races at just about every track on the circuit and
chased the world championship title into the sunset many times. He
knows what a good hot rod is supposed to feel like just by easing into
the throttle.
He can also tell when all the pieces are in place for a very good race team to become great.
So that’s why he’s excited about the opportunity in front of him in 2009.
McClenathan has embraced a new crew on his 7,000 horsepower FRAM Tough
Guard dragster, led by co-crew chiefs Phil Shuler and Todd Okuhara, and
they are quickly hitting their stride. In just five events they have
produced two final round appearances, allowing McClenathan to display
the driving form that has led him to 30 victories in 53 final round
appearances and four second-place championship points finishes during
his 18-years behind the wheel.
“They make this FRAM car go down the track,” McClenathan said. “It will
go from A to B all the time and it can run with everybody else. And
everybody realizes that.”
Even with all that experience, past success and strong early season
performances McClenathan is sometimes overlooked as one of the
favorites in his category. However, hardcore fans and his opponents
know that McClenathan is always a major threat to win.
That’s especially true at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern
Nationals, April 16-19 at Atlanta Dragway, where the intense and
focused driver has had much past success. Antron Brown, Ashley Force
Hood, Mike Edwards and Andrew Hines are the defending winners in their
respective categories at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
event that will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD.
McClenathan, the top qualifier at this event one year ago, is a
three-time winner at the popular Georgia drag strip. His last win here
came in 2004. He also posted victories in 1995 and 1998.
“There’s something about going to a track where you’ve done well that
excites you,” McClenathan said. “We’ve had a good time there, we’ve
always done well there, qualified well, won a lot of races there. You
feel a lot more comfortable going to a track that you’ve had a lot of
success at.”
After racing to runner-up finishes this year at Gainesville and
Houston, McClenathan is hungry to finish the deal and give his former
Funny Car tuners their first victory in Top Fuel. He’s also looking to
improve on his fifth place points position in the NHRA Full Throttle
Countdown to the Championship.
“These guys are jelling very well,” McClenathan said. “You’d never have
thought two races ago that these were all Funny Car guys working on a
Top Fuel car. They're adapting very well. They've had help from [DSR
team manager] Lee Beard, but Todd and Phil run this car. They run it
the best and the safest way they can. They make me feel very at home,
very comfortable in this race car. So, I'm excited.”
“I think you're going to see different winners this year,” McClenathan said. “You're not going to see one team winning six, seven, eight races. That's just not going to happen. This year you're going to see a lot more parity in the class than we've had in the past two years.
“It will definitely make it interesting for the fans, interesting for the race teams and it's going to come down to the best tuner/driver relationship. The more the tuners and the drivers communicate the better the teams will be each and every weekend. And it's going to get tougher as we get along.”
Much tougher.
Schumacher has already won back-to-back races, and Larry Dixon has proved that his new Al-Anabi Racing team is going to be a major threat to the title. Rookie Shawn Langdon has shown great potential in his Dixie Chopper/Lucas Oil dragster. And, meanwhile, defending race winner Brown has led the point standings and Brandon Bernstein has also posted two runner-up finishes. And you can’t forget about Pomona winner Doug Kalitta and another promising rookie, Spencer Massey.
It’s a crowded playing field with a heavy list of favorites that can sometimes make a well-decorated veteran driver feel like – well, an underdog.
A confident McClenathan thrives in that role.
“I find that kind of funny, actually,” he said. “Every time we come up they know we’re a car that’s to be reckoned with. They know they have to beat us because 90 percent of the time we’re going to go from A to B. I truly believe that we’re definitely the underdog here. If we weren’t, they wouldn’t be forgetting about us. At the same time it’s one of those things where it’s fun to kind of slide in underneath the radar and jump up and surprise some of these guys. And that’s exactly what we plan on doing. It’s funny to listen to them talk about Larry Dixon, Tony Schumacher, Brandon’s right in there with them, and Antron. It’s funny because they forget some of the other players, such as ourselves. They certainly know that we can go out there and run the numbers.”
And in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing it is all about the numbers – from the winning elapsed times to the final point standings in the Countdown to the Championship. McClenathan feels like his Don Schumacher-owned team has the talent and resources to compete at the top level and produce the numbers it takes to win races and championship titles.
“At times it’s kind of fun to fly underneath the radar, but that’s only going to happen for so long, because this FRAM Tough Guard car is going to stand up and start showing its muscle,” McClenathan said. “Pointswise they’ll figure it out pretty soon if they haven’t already.”
In
Funny Car, Force Hood will try to defend her event title with a little
more confidence as she recently claimed her second race victory with a
win in Houston in her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang. However, in order to do
it she’ll need to hold off red-hot Ron Capps, current points leader and
winner of three races this season in his NAPA Dodge Charger. Rookie
Matt Hagan advanced to his first final in Las Vegas and is hungry for a
win. Others to watch include 14-time world champ John Force who is a
seven-time winner at Atlanta Dragway. Two-time world champ Tony
Pedregon has won this event three times.Warren Johnson has raced to five Pro Stock victories at his home track, his last win here coming in 2003. Greg Anderson also has proven that he has the right combination for the Georgia track with three victories in his Summit Racing Pontiac GXP. One of the hottest drivers on the circuit is Edwards, the defending winner who has claimed three No. 1 qualifying positions this season in his very quick ART Pontiac GXP. Vegas winner, defending champ and current points leader Jeg Coughlin, who won this race in 2000, also seems to be hitting his stride in his JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt. Other past Pro Stock winners here that are included in the favorites this weekend include Allen Johnson, Kurt Johnson and Larry Morgan.
While Hines is the defending winner in Pro Stock Motorcycle, the two winners so far this season are a couple of veterans – Hector Arana and Craig Treble. Points leader Matt Smith has been fast on his Schumacher Racing-owned Nitro Fish Ultimate Gear Suzuki and currently leads the point standings, but hasn’t came through with a victory yet. He’ll be battling the others, along with rookie Douglas Horne, two-wheel showman Steve Johnson and defending world champ Eddie Krawiec for the Atlanta win.
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