SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS FACT SHEET

The NHRA season continues this weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. Check out the latest news and notes leading to this week’s event.

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 29th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, the sixth of 24 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Drivers in four categories — Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle — earn points leading to 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Ga. I-85 to Exit 149 (Hwy 441). After exiting the freeway, go north on Highway 441 to Steven Tanger Blvd. Take left on Tanger and then go right on Ridgeway Road.

WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, April 16-19.

SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY, April 16 - Sportsman qualifying begins at 9 a.m.

FRIDAY, April 17 - Sportsman qualifying and eliminations begin at 8 a.m.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3 and 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, April 18 - Sportsman eliminations begin at 8 a.m.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

SUNDAY, April 19 - Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:

Saturday, April 18, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 6 p.m. (ET).

Sunday April 19, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).

Sunday, April 19, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).

2008 EVENT WINNERS: Antron Brown, Top Fuel; Ashley Force Hood, Funny Car; Mike Edwards, Pro Stock; Andrew Hines Pro Stock Motorcycle

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel* - 4.448 seconds by Tony Schumacher, May ‘06; 331.28 mph by Schumacher May ‘06

Funny Car* - 4.680 seconds by Robert Hight, May ‘06; 331.04 mph by Mike Ashley, April ‘07

Pro Stock - 6.627 seconds by Greg Anderson, April ‘07; 208.71 mph by Anderson, April ‘07

Pro Stock Motorcycle - 6.943 seconds by Chip Ellis, April ’08; 192.60 mph by Ellis, April ‘08

(*performance records will not be officially recorded in Top Fuel and Funny Car at this event)

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel* - 4.428 sec. by Tony Schumacher, Nov. ’06, Pomona, Calif.; 336.15 mph by Schumacher, May ’05, Columbus, Ohio

Funny Car* - 4.659 sec. by Tony Pedregon, Feb. ’07, Chandler, Ariz.; 333.66 mph by Jack Beckman, Nov. ’06, Pomona, Calif.

Pro Stock - 6.528 sec. by Greg Anderson, Feb. ’09, Pomona, Calif.; 212.03 mph by Mike Edwards, March ’09, Baytown, Texas

PS Motorcycle - 6.865 sec. by Matt Smith, March ’09, Baytown, Texas; 197.45 mph by A. Hines, March ‘05, Gainesville, Fla.

(*performance records will not be officially recorded in Top Fuel and Funny Car at this event)

2009 NHRA FULL THROTTLE DRAG RACING SERIES STANDINGS

Updated 4/5/2009 (Following five of 24 events; season victories in parentheses)

TOP FUEL

Place Driver Points

1. Tony Schumacher, Chicago, U.S. Army dragster (2) 412

2. Antron Brown, Indianapolis, Matco Tools dragster (1) 394

3. Brandon Bernstein, Indianapolis, Budweiser/ Lucas Oil dragster 388

4. Larry Dixon, Indianapolis, Al-Anabi Racing dragster (1) 335

5. Cory McClenathan, Indianapolis, FRAM dragster 324

6. Morgan Lucas, Indianapolis, GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil dragster 263

7. Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich., Kalitta Motorsports dragster (1) 256

8. Shawn Langdon, Indianapolis, Lucas Oil/Dixie Chopper dragster 248

9. Joe Hartley, Portland, Ore., Hartley Racing dragster 219

10. Spencer Massey, Indianapolis, U.S. Smokeless dragster 190

FUNNY CAR

1. Ron Capps, Carlsbad, Calif., NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T (3) 408

2. Matt Hagan, Christiansburg, Va., Shelor.com Dodge Charger 302

3. Ashley Force Hood, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GTX Ford Mustang (1) 296

Del Worsham, Chino Hills, Calif., Al-Anabi Racing Toyota Solara 296

5. Tony Pedregon, Chino Hills, Calif., Herzog/Q Horsepower Chevy Impala SS 290

6. Bob Tasca III, Hope, R.I., Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang (1) 289

7. Jack Beckman, Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger R/T 282

8. Robert Hight, Yorba Linda, Calif., Auto Club Ford Mustang 273

9. John Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Castrol GXT High-Mileage Ford Mustang 253

10. Mike Neff, Fishers, Ind., Ford Drive One Mustang 252

PRO STOCK

1. Jeg Coughlin, Delaware, Ohio, JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt (2) 430

2. Jason Line, Troutman, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GXP (2) 418

3. Mike Edwards, Broken Arrow, Okla., ART Pontiac GXP 344

4. Greg Anderson, Charlotte, N.C., Summit Racing Pontiac GXP 325

5. Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., J&J Racing Team Mopar Dodge Stratus 294

6. Greg Stanfield, Bossier City, La., Attitude Apparel Pontiac GXP 282

7. Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Valvoline Chevy Cobalt (1) 257

8. Kurt Johnson, Lawrenceville, Ga., ACDelco Chevy Cobalt 251

9. Rickie Jones, Galesburg, Ill., Quarter-Max/RJ Race Cars Dodge Stratus 220

10. Larry Morgan, Newark, Ohio, Lucas Oil Dodge Stratus 199

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE (following two of 17 events)

1. Matt Smith, King, N.C., Nitro Fish Ultimate Gear Suzuki 194

2. Hector Arana, Milltown, Ind., Lucas Oil Buell (1) 172

3. Andrew Hines, Indianapolis, Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson 152

4. Craig Treble, New Orleans, Team Scream Suzuki (1) 151

5. Douglas Horne, Aberdeen, Md., Horne Concrete Buell 125

6. Eddie Krawiec, Indianapolis, Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson 107

7. Steve Johnson, Birmingham, Ala., Snap-on Tools/Wyotech Suzuki 105

8. Shawn Gann, Stoneville, N.C., Racegirl/Pure Power Lube Buell 104

9. Karen Stoffer, Minden, Nev., GEICO Powersports Suzuki 87

10. Matt Guidera, Folsom, Calif., Mohegan Sun Rocklin Motorsports Buell 84