Southern Nationals set for this weekend

NHRA Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson, who lives in nearby Sugar Hill, will be looking to score win number 98 at the Southern Nationals. Johnson and his son Kurt will be campaigning both of their machines at the Southern Nationals.

Tony Schumacher is bringing the strength of his team and the Army Top Fuel Dragster to try and claim two wins in a row, but he has Larry Dixon, Cory McClenathan and Doug Kalitta to contend with, all ahead of him in the points series. In addition, 2009 Southern Nationals winner Morgan Lucas and one of the crowd favorites, Antron Brown, are will also vie for the win.

Ashley Force Hood, now in her third full season of NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car racing, will seek her fourth overall Fuel Funny Car win. However, Jack Beckman, who defeated three members of Force racing, including Ashley in the final to earn the 2009 Southern Nationals win, hopes to repeat.

Force Hood, the 2007 NHRA professional Rookie-of-the-Year, earned her first ever Funny Car win at Atlanta Dragway in 2008, becoming the first female to win in that class.

Many local racers are also looking forward to their chance to compete in the Stock, Super Stock, Super Comp, Top Sportsman and Competition Eliminator classes.

In addition to a nearly new racing surface (re-done in 2008 with 660 feet of concrete and another 660 feet of specially prepared asphalt), racers also have a brand new shutdown area to help bring their cars safely to a stop after 300 mph-plus passes.

For tickets and other information, log on to www.atlantadragway.com or call 800-884-6472 or 404-249-6400.