(Photos by Mike Burghardt and Jeff Burghardt) — Antron Brown couldn’t have dreamed of a better way to close out the famed Atlanta Dragway on Sunday, becoming the winningest Top Fuel driver at the historic facility with his fifth victory at the 40th and final Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals.
Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Scotty Pollacheck (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won in their respective categories at the third race of the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season as the NHRA held the last race at the historic track, having recently been sold.
Brown defeated three-time reigning world champ Steve Torrence (above) in a thrilling final round, going 3.752-seconds at 323.81 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Matco Tools dragster to beat Torrence’s 3.794 at 323.81. Brown, a three-time world champ, beat Doug Kalitta, No. 1 qualifier Billy Torrence and Brittany Force to advance to the final round, making his best run of the weekend when it counted. Brown leaves Atlanta Dragway with seven overall victories, including two that came in Pro Stock Motorcycle, while Sunday’s triumph also gave him 68 carer wins. It was a meaningful victory for Brown, who beat his close friend Torrence in the final pair of NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series competitors to go down Atlanta Dragway.
“That’s Rocky Balboa right there (referencing Torrence) and I’m Apollo,” Brown said. “To get this win, it was truly remarkable. We just built on it every lap. Any time you can do this and get one of these (Wally trophies), it’s just so special. Atlanta has just been so special to all of us.” Torrence advanced to his 64th Top Fuel final round on the strength of wins against Buddy Hull, Justin Ashley and Shawn Langdon, staying in the points lead.
Tasca III picked up his second straight victory in Funny Car, with Sunday’s triumph against John Force one he will always remember. He went 4.004 at 326.48 in his 11,000-horsepower Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang in the final round, beating Force’s 4.015 at 321.81, claiming his eighth career victory. Tasca maintained his points lead in the class, cemented himself as a certain championship contender and won for the first time in Atlanta. He picked the perfect time, adding a historic win at the final race at Atlanta Dragway to his growing resume.
“There’s nobody who has done it better than Force over the years and it’s an honor to roll up next to him, but there’s nobody I get up for more and to beat him in the final, it’s great,” Tasca said. “I want to thank all the Atlanta fans. It’s so special to be here and see this place sold out. There’s so many great memories and it’s so great to leave with the trophy. For all those Ford fans and all the Ford family members that called me (after the last race) after winning Vegas, we did it again.”
Tasca beat Paul Lee, Blake Alexander and defending world champ Matt Hagan to reach the final round. Force (above) reached his 257th final round with victories against Cruz Pedregon, Ron Capps and J.R. Todd, producing a series of entertaining runs for the huge crowd at Atlanta Dragway on Sunday.
There was no stopping points leader Anderson on Sunday in Atlanta, as the four-time Pro Stock world champion furthered his dominant start to the 2021 season with a superb performance on Sunday. He took out Vincent Nobile in the final round in his DENSO Chevrolet Camaro, going 6.568 at 209.04 against Nobile’s 6.598 at 208.78. It handed Anderson his second victory this year and 96th in his career, putting him one away from tying Warren Johnson for the most in Pro Stock history.
“It was an absolute dream weekend. My DENSO Chevy, it was absolutely flawless all weekend long,” Anderson said. “I’ve never made four smoother, nicer runs on raceday than this. It’s just been an awesome day and a storybook deal.”
Anderson beat Fernando Cuadra Sr., Matt Hartford and defending world champ Erica Enders to reach his 160th final round. Making his first appearance since 2018, Nobile beat Troy Coughlin Jr., Aaron Stanfield and Deric Kramer to advance to his 26th final.
In an all-Matt Smith Racing final round, Scotty Pollacheck claimed the victory over his teammate, as Matt Smith went red by a mere .001, handing the victory to Pollacheck. Pollacheck, who was the No. 1 qualifier, went 6.921 at 198.35 to claim his second career victory, with the first one also coming after he qualified No. 1. He was solid throughout eliminations, beating Jerry Savoie, Ryan Oehler and Angelle Sampey to reach his ninth career final round.
“This whole team did so well with two bikes in the final round, and Matt is the man,” said Pollacheck, who jumped to second in points, just three behind Smith. “He gave me one there because mine bogged down in the finals, but it’s going to be a big celebration tonight. This was awesome and it’s just a great team.” Smith reached his 60th career final round and second in 2021 thanks to round wins against Steve Johnson, Joey Gladstone and Eddie Krawiec.
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action May 14-16 with the NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte.
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COMMERCE, Ga. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 40th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. The race is the third of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
- Antron Brown; 2. Steve Torrence; 3. Brittany Force; 4. Shawn Langdon; 5. Mike Salinas; 6. Justin Ashley; 7. Billy Torrence; 8. Josh Hart; 9. Doug Foley; 10. Doug Kalitta; 11. Buddy Hull; 12. Leah Pruett; (above) 13. Arthur Allen; 14. Joe Morrison; 15. Clay Millican.
FUNNY CAR:
- Bob Tasca III; 2. John Force; 3. Matt Hagan; 4. J.R. Todd; 5. Tim Wilkerson; (above) 6. Blake Alexander; 7. Ron Capps; 8. Dave Richards; 9. Cruz Pedregon; 10. Paul Lee; 11. Robert Hight; 12. Terry Haddock; 13. Jim Campbell; 14. Alexis DeJoria.
PRO STOCK:
- Greg Anderson; 2. Vincent Nobile; 3. Erica Enders; 4. Deric Kramer; 5. Matt Hartford; 6. Kenny Delco; 7. Aaron Stanfield; 8. Kyle Koretsky; (above) 9. Chris McGaha; 10. Dallas Glenn; 11. Fernando Cuadra Jr.; 12. Mason McGaha; 13. Fernando Cuadra; 14. Val Smeland; 15. Cristian Cuadra; 16. Troy Coughlin Jr..
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
- Scotty Pollacheck; 2. Matt Smith; 3. Eddie Krawiec; (above) 4. Angelle Sampey; 5. Joey Gladstone; 6. Andrew Hines; 7. Ryan Oehler; 8. Angie Smith; 9. Kelly Clontz; 10. Karen Stoffer; 11. John Hall; 12. Jim Underdahl; 13. Michael Phillips; 14. Jerry Savoie; 15. Steve Johnson; 16. Cory Reed.
COMMERCE, Ga. — Sunday’s final results from the 40th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. The race is the third of 22 in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Antron Brown, 3.752 seconds, 325.22 mph def. Steve Torrence, 3.794 seconds, 323.81 mph.
Funny Car — Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.004, 326.48 def. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.015, 321.81.
Pro Stock — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.568, 209.04 def. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.598, 208.78.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.921, 198.35 def. Matt Smith, EBR, Foul – Red Light.
Pro Modified — Justin Bond, Pontiac Firebird, 5.738, 249.49 def. Steve Jackson, Chevy Camaro, 5.724, 252.43.
Top Alcohol Dragster — Rich McPhillips Jr., 5.183, 280.14 def. Jackie Fricke, 9.273, 91.17.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — Matt Gill, Chevy Camaro, 5.522, 271.02 def. Bob McCosh, Camaro, 5.542, 265.59.
Super Stock — Kent Hanley, Chevy Cavalier, 9.434, 131.86 def. Brett Candies, Ford Mustang, 9.456, 141.65.
Stock Eliminator — Greg Rowe, Chevy Camaro, 11.655, 103.78 def. Adam Davis, Chevy Nomad, 11.903, 101.72.
Super Comp — Chuck Trotter, Ford Thunderbird, 8.907, 173.23 def. Kent Hanley, Dragster, 8.906, 170.06.
Super Gas — Luke Bogacki, Chevy Corvette, 9.905, 162.24 def. Jonathan Anderson, Corvette, 9.884, 163.41.
Super Street — Tony Jones, Chevy Camaro, 10.873, 140.01 def. Keith Mayers, Porsche, 10.865, 147.94.
Top Sportsman presented by Vortech Superchargers — Dylan Stott, Ford Mustang, 6.614, 212.69 def. Sandy Wilkins, Chevy Camaro, 6.525, 208.49.
CHECK OUT THIS PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE 40TH AND FINAL NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS!
