Championship Drag Racing

Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals
Atlanta, GA
(May 4-7)

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Team Reports News and notes from NHRA's Pro teams at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. These reports will be updated and new ones added as they become available. About these reports

Sunday Bob Vandergriff: Vandergriff gets back on track in Atlanta Brandon Bernstein: Bernstein is No. 1 qualifier Clay Millican: Millican loses close one, Kloeber rediscovers tune-up Cory McClenathan: McClenathan runs well in opening-round-loss Doug Herbert: Herbert out early Doug Kalitta: Kalitta wins again, repeats his 2005 repeat Hillary Will: Will edged in Round 2 Larry Dixon: Dixon drives to semifinal finish Melanie Troxel: Troxel still hot, lands in sixth final round of year Morgan Lucas: Lucky Lucas races to semifinal finish Rod Fuller: Fuller continues to post round wins Scott Weis: Weis guys get a handle on car, racetrack Tony Schumacher: Schumacher out in second round Saturday Clay Millican: It's Millican vs. Fuller in first round Cory McClenathan: Cory Mac improves, runs 4.580 on hot track Doug Herbert: Team making rapid progress Hillary Will: After qualifying No. 5 Will’s focus now on winning Larry Dixon: Dixon remains in No. 6 position Melanie Troxel: Troxel is No. 4 qualifier Morgan Lucas: Lucas versus Herbert first round Tony Schumacher: Schumacher qualifies seventh Friday Larry Dixon: Dixon finishes sixth, posts top speed of opening day Tony Schumacher: Schumacher seventh after opening day Pre-race Bob Vandergriff: Vandergriff ready for party in Atlanta Brandon Bernstein: Budweiser team looking to continue turn-around season Clay Millican: Can Millican add another career highlight at Atlanta Dragway? Cory McClenathan: McClenathan ready to climb back into Fram Boost dragster Dave Grubnic: Grubnic needs a bit more boost for Atlanta Doug Herbert: Herbert working hard to regain winning performance Doug Kalitta: Kalitta hopeful to repeat his repeat performance in Atlanta Hillary Will: Will looks for breakthrough event at Atlanta Larry Dixon: Dixon to reach another career milestone in Atlanta Melanie Troxel: Top Fuel points leader Troxel set for Atlanta Morgan Lucas: Lucas set for hard racing in Hot’lanta Rhonda Hartman-Smith: Hartman-Smith to continue momentum in Atlanta Rod Fuller: 'Hot Rod' Fuller ready to rock Atlanta Scott Weis: Weis ready for continuing growth in Atlanta Tony Schumacher: Schumacher eyes continued improvement

Sunday Cruz Pedregon: Pedregon reaches quarterfinals in Atlanta Del Worsham: Worsham earns first semifinal finish of '06, the hard way Gary Scelzi: Scelzi DQ'd in second round Robert Hight: Hight earns runner-up honors in Atlanta Ron Capps: Capps out in first round, maintains points lead Tim Wilkerson: Great track conditions were too much for Wilkerson Tommy Johnson: Johnson Jr. drives to first-round effort Tony Pedregon: Pedregon wins Atlanta Whit Bazemore: Bazemore first-round finisher Saturday Del Worsham: Saturday "0-fer" leaves Worsham in 3rd spot Gary Scelzi: Scelzi's feeling good, qualifies No. 5 Phil Burkart: "Live by the thousandth.... die by the thousandth" Ron Capps: Capps takes No. 10 Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson holds on to the No. 13 spot Tommy Johnson: Dramatic Johnson Jr. makes the field Whit Bazemore: Bazemore's confidence up with strong performance Friday Del Worsham: Worsham connects on a big one, lands 3rd Phil Burkart: Burkart goes one-for-two, ends in 16th Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson sneaking up on desired performance Pre-race Bob Gilbertson: Gilbertson looking to rebound at Atlanta Cruz Pedregon: Cruz has been to Atlanta's promised land before Del Worsham: Worsham aims to crank it up in Atlanta Eric Medlen: Medlens hope to celebrate win in return to Atlanta Dragway Gary Scelzi: Scelzi's got his car back, heads to Atlanta John Force: 13-time series champ defends title in Southern Nationals Mike Ashley: Ashley plans on rebound in Atlanta Phil Burkart: Burkart ready to create new economies of Commerce Robert Hight: .002 of a second away last year Hight is re-loaded for Atlanta Ron Capps: Capps riding wave into Atlanta Tim Wilkerson: Wilkerson can see light at the end of the Atlanta quarter-mile Tommy Johnson: Johnson Jr. aims to gain ground on leaders Tony Pedregon: Pedregon set for return to where it all started Whit Bazemore: Bazemore nostalgic about return to Atlanta Dragway

Sunday Dave Connolly: Connolly is surprise winner Erica Enders: Enders in the thick of a tough points chase Greg Anderson: Anderson turned back in opening round Jason Line: Line suffers first-round loss Jim Yates: Yates advances to semifinals Kurt Johnson: Lane choice bites KJ Mike Thomas: Thomas loses close race Saturday Dave Connolly: Connolly will start 14th Greg Anderson: Anderson earns 45th career No. 1 Jason Line: Line takes 3rd Jim Yates: Yates qualifies fourth Kurt Johnson: KJ will start second Mike Thomas: Thomas races Yates Sunday; Northrop misses field Richie Stevens: Stevens Jr. misses the cut Shaun Carlson: A gremlin strikes Carlson Warren Johnson: WJ quietly qualifies seventh Friday Kurt Johnson: A quick KJ sits second Warren Johnson: WJ opens in ninth Pre-race Dave Northrop: Northrop ready to build on Bristol success Greg Anderson: For Anderson, Atlanta Dragway one of his favorite tracks Jason Line: Momentum in Line’s favor Jim Yates: Yates zeroes in on winning at Atlanta Kurt Johnson: K.J. maximizes short work week to prepare for Atlanta Mike Thomas: Thomas closing in on breakthrough weekend Richie Stevens: Stevens Jr. ready to capitalize on consistency Shaun Carlson: Carlson eager to start Southern Nationals Warren Johnson: W.J. hopes to reap the benefits of his DRCE R&D

Sunday Andrew Hines: Hines rides into final round, closes gap on points lead Angelle Sampey: Sampey out in first round Antron Brown: Brown takes first victory of season Karen Stoffer: Stoffer climbs to fifth in POWERade points Ryan Schnitz: Sunday ends early for Schnitz Steve Johnson: DNQ ruins Johnson’s weekend Tom Bradford: Bradford advances Saturday Angelle Sampey: Sampey qualifies fifth Antron Brown: Brown takes pole Ryan Schnitz: Schnitz squeaks into show Tom Bradford: Bradford tucked safely in the middle Friday Andrew Hines: Hines, Tonglet race to the top Angelle Sampey: Sampey qualified 13th Pre-race Angelle Sampey: Sampey looking for three in a row Chip Ellis: Ellis attempting to flex some muscle at hometown race GT Tonglet: Tonglet ready to defend first career Harley victory Matt Smith: Smith looking to move up in spirited point chase

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