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April 2-5, 2009
5th of 24 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Events
First of Two Events at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
First of Three Summit Racing Equipment Sponsored '09 NHRA Events
SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, Atlanta
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk

Event Schedule | Entry List | Team Reports | Live Sunday Audiocast (WMPlayer Direct) | Results
2008 Winners: TF Cory McClenathan ~ FC Tim Wilkerson ~ PS Jason Line ~ PSM N/A
Fans Assistance KBase | Tickets | Weather: Las Vegas Race Track
Surface Maps: U.S. West IR Satellite Wind | Live Radar: WU NWS Storm Loop
Forecasts may be inaccurate. Las Vegas Spring weather is unpredictable and can change on short notice.

      04.01.09-22:00 FlA Says: Pro Stock Motorcycles don't race this weekend. Their next race is April 16-19 at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals Atlanta, GA. This weekend we may see a Déjà vu of the 2009 Spring Nationals as to weather. See my next post "Déjà vu? Maybe yes but I hope not". Last year's "Vegas1" NHRA event was marred by two situations of very poor judgments by NHRA "brass". One turned the event into a National media covered debacle and NHRA did it on purpose. I expressed my thought about this fiasco on thread post #41 * here * . Last year's nitro action was also poor due to the track getting very hot and it was windy.
      About The Strip: While opinions vary on the track, The Strip is an outstanding A+ facility. The inaugural NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals was held at The Strip on April 6-9, 2000. The winners were, Top Fuel: Kenny Bernstein, Funny Car: Jim Epler, Pro Stock: Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Pro Stock Motorcycle: Angelle Sampey. There was still construction going on when many of the NHRA pro's arrived at the track. Workers were laying asphalt, painting and putting in glass just about everywhere you looked, according to Pro Stock legend Warren Johnson. But, it was ready to go for the first qualifying session. Early on the track had some surface and other problems. It reminded me of the problems Speedway Motorsports experienced after they built Texas Motor Speedway to host NASCAR events, but the problems at The Strip were not as serious.
      As to the drag strip, many veterans don't like the down the hill, up the big hill surface. When I first attended a NHRA championship event at The Strip in 2003, I didn't like the Top Fuel chassis compression at the bottom of the hill after the speed traps. This was the period of time when several TF chassis had snapped in half at the top-end. Frankly, I didn't like the whole thought process on how the drag strip was designed and built. I also don't like that when it's windy sand blows on the track making traction difficult. In 2007, we were talking to some guys sitting in front of us during a break in the action. The subject of what I thought about the track came up. I told them I was a Southerner and liked our flat and long drag strips. They said some of their friends were not that hot about the track(layout) but The Strip had the best round-trip ET for getting cold beers of any track they had been to. I laughed and said yes this is a first class facility in all regards.
      Due to the track's proximity to California, many NHRA pro teams test at The Strip during the off-season. I will now yield to 2009 Miss Nevada USA, Georgina Vaughan, to tell you more about the NHRA event this weekend at The Strip. She's much hotter than I am. - 03.30.09 Video: This Week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals ESPN2 Coverage (ET)
Sat, 04.04: Qualifying 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Sun, 04.05: NHRA Race Day 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Sun, 04.05: Eliminations 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. (1)
Fri, 04.10: Repeat Eliminations 3:00 - 5:00 a.m.
(1) Watch Full Coverage On-Line at ESPN 360

Inaugural NHRA SummitRacing.Com Nationals
Finals Pre-Race Ceremonies, April 9, 2000
(L) Speedway Motorsports Inc.'s Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith - Track Owner/Builder
(R) NHRA's new President Tom Compton(Jan 2000) & NHRA Founder Wally Parks(2007, RIP)

Team Summit

Home: The FR 2009 NHRA Championship Drag Racing Thread
FlAttorney's FR Racing

29th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals
April 16-19, 2009
6th of 24 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Events
Second of Three Summit Racing Equipment Sponsored '09 NHRA Events
SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, Atlanta
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk

Event Schedule | Entry List | Team Reports | Live Sunday Audiocast (WMPlayer Direct) | Results
2008 Winners: TF Antron Brown ~ FC Ashley Force ~ PS Mike Edwards ~ PSM Andrew Hines
Fans Assistance KBase | Tickets | Weather: Commerce Race Track
Surface Maps: U.S. Southeast IR Satellite Wind | Live Radar: WU NWS Storm Loop

Forecasts may be inaccurate. Commerce-Atlanta Spring weather is unpredictable and can change on short notice.

Atlanta Dragway was built in Commerce, Georgia in 1975 by Gene Bennett. The drag strip is located 69 miles northeast of Atlanta. Originally it had been graded out for an airport. The original airport tower served as the original timing tower, and the track direction was the same as the airport without asphalt, just Georgia red clay. In 1980, the track was sold to Norman Pearah and became an NHRA-sanctioned track. Back then, the track was only opened twice a year for major events. The track was purchased in 1987 by Pro Stock driver Gary Brown and partners J.D. Stevens and Rudy Bowen. The track underwent major reconstruction to put in new aluminum grandstand seating, permanent restrooms and rebuilt concession buildings. In 1989, the thirteen year-old track was resurfaced with a concrete launching pad and a new timing system. In addition to the track modification, a reconditioned VIP tower complete with a timing deck, press center and corporate suites was built in 1990. NHRA purchased the track in 1993. In 1999, they resurfaced the track and added an updated timing system. The tower restrooms were remodeled and all concession, tower and ticket buildings were rewired. In 2003, the track’s FM radio and public address system were both upgraded.
Last year’s Southern Nationals Top Fuel Dragster winner, Antron Brown, is doing well in his sophomore season. Brown was leading the points chase until six time world champion Tony Schumacher took yet another win at Las Vegas on April 5, but look for Brown to claw his way back to the top. The rest of the class, including third place Brandon Bernstein and fourth place Larry Dixon, are hot on his heels. Funny Car driver Ashley Force Hood will be gunning for her third NHRA win. In the Finals, Force beat her legendary dad John Force (14 time Funny Car champion) to earn her first win at the 2008 Southern Nationals and is hot off her O’Reilly Spring Nationals win at Houston Raceway Park. However, points leader Ron Capps will have something to say about that. Six-time NHRA Pro Stock Champion Warren Johnson, from nearby Sugar Hill, will be looking for his first Wally this season along with his son Kurt Johnson. This event is the third on the Full Throttle schedule to feature the high-revving 195-mph Pro Stock Motorcycles, piloted by drivers like the ever popular Steve Johnson, who hails from nearby Alabama. Local standout Junior Pippin is entered, along with his protégé, first year racer Douglas Horne, who finished runner up at the O’Reilly event. Five more divisions are on tap along with many exhibition runs.

2008 NHRA Southern Nationals: Ashley Force Hood becomes the first female driver
to win an NHRA Funny Car Championship event.
April 2009 Video: John Force Discusses Three Things Fans Don't Know About Him

Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals ESPN2 Coverage (ET)
Sat, 04.18: Qualifying 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Sun, 04.19: NHRA Race Day 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Sun, 04.19: Eliminations 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. (1)
Thu, 04.23: Repeat Eliminations 1:00 - 3:00 a.m.
(1) Watch Full Coverage On-Line at ESPN 360

2008: Major celebrities frequently attend the NHRA Southern Nationals

Home: The FR 2009 NHRA Championship Drag Racing Thread
FlAttorney's FR Racing