Southern Nationals hits Commerce this weekend

The hills of North Georgia will be echoing thunder coming from Atlanta Dragway again April 16-19 when the 29th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals rolls into its sixth stop of the season at the Atlanta Dragway.

The Southern Nationals features the best drag racers from all over the world, all competing on the quarter mile surface to claim the coveted winner’s trophy.

The wildly popular Funny Car racer Ashley Force-Hood will be gunning for her third win.

Force-Hood 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.

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.

This event is the third on the schedule to feature the high-revving 190-mph Pro Stock Motorcycles. Local standout Junior Pippin is entered, along with his protégé, first year racer Douglas Horne, who finished runner up at the O’Reilly event.

Six-time Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson from nearby Sugar Hill is already on the entry list, along with his son Kurt Johnson.

Recognizing the tough times currently faced by fans across the country, NHRA has announced several fan-relief programs for the 2009 season, including reduced-priced general admission tickets, the admittance of children 12 and under for free, and a military appreciation offer. For details, please visit www.nhra.com or www.atlantadragway.com.