For three days in May, Commerce, Georgia, home of Atlanta Dragway, will experience the thunder of nitromethane powered Top Fuel race cars that routinely exceed 300mph on the race course. Top Fuel racing delivers a visual and sensory experience unlike any other form of motorsport. In addition to Top Fuel Dragster and Top Fuel Funny Car, nine other classes will be contested. Best of all, any ticket to the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals is also a pit pass, allowing anyone to "rub elbows" with all the racers involved in the series.
Although the Southern Nationals includes participants from all over the world, dozens of local racers who can claim Atlanta Dragway as their home track have already pre-entered the event, including Melanie Troxel who is now based in nearby Duluth. Troxel is piloting both a Top Fuel Funny Car and a Pro Mod. Many time Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson from nearby Sugar Hill will be the master of ceremonies for the event and a Pro Stock participant. Johnson's son, Kurt is also campaigning a Pro Stock car. Bob Vandergriff Jr from Alpharetta is bringing his Top Fuel Dragster to the event. Junior Pippin from Conyers has already entered his Pro Stock Motorcycle. Roger Burgess of Duluth has a Pro Mod entered. Sportsman racers Jeremy Hancock (Super Comp), PJ Raines (Super Comp), James Noel (Super Comp), Jacob Rutledge (Stock), Arnold Reed (Super Gas), Keith Fulp (Super Gas), Jerry Sosebee (Super Comp) and Ronnie Davis (Top Sportsman) have already put their cars in line for the event. All are top contenders in their class.
However, don't look for the 2010 Southern Nationals winners to give up without a fight. Larry Dixon (Top Fuel) and Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) accompanied Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) in the 2010 Atlanta winner's circle.
For 2011, Larry Dixon is currently 95 points behind leader Del Worsham in Top Fuel Dragster and Robert Hight is 18 points behind team mate and points leader Mike Neff in Top Fuel Funny Car. Jason Line is currently leading in Pro Stock, and Eddie Krawiec is on the top in Pro Stock Motorcycle coming into the event.
The spectator gates open each day at 7:30am. Friday and Saturday are qualifying days for the professional classes, and Sportsman eliminations begin Saturday. Sunday is the big elimination day, where everything is put on the line in the chase to win the highly coveted winner's trophy, also called a "Wally" by racers.
