{"id":869316,"date":"2021-05-13T11:15:23","date_gmt":"2021-05-13T18:15:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bangshift.com\/?p=869316"},"modified":"2021-05-13T11:15:23","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T18:15:23","slug":"antron-brown-bob-tasca-iii-greg-anderson-scotty-pollacheck-win-40th-and-final-lucas-oil-nhra-southern-nationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bangshift.com\/bangshift1320\/antron-brown-bob-tasca-iii-greg-anderson-scotty-pollacheck-win-40th-and-final-lucas-oil-nhra-southern-nationals\/","title":{"rendered":"Antron Brown, Bob Tasca III, Greg Anderson & Scotty Pollacheck Win 40th And Final Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals!"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Photos by Mike Burghardt and Jeff Burghardt)<\/strong><\/em> — Antron Brown couldn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s Rocky Balboa right there (referencing Torrence) and I\u2019m Apollo,\u201d Brown said. \u201cTo 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\u2019s just so special. Atlanta has just been so special to all of us.\u201d\u00a0Torrence 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.<\/p>\n

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Tasca III picked up his second straight victory in Funny Car, with Sunday\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThere\u2019s nobody who has done it better than Force over the years and it\u2019s an honor to roll up next to him, but there\u2019s nobody I get up for more and to beat him in the final, it\u2019s great,\u201d Tasca said. \u201cI want to thank all the Atlanta fans. It\u2019s so special to be here and see this place sold out. There\u2019s so many great memories and it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt was an absolute dream weekend. My DENSO Chevy, it was absolutely flawless all weekend long,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cI\u2019ve never made four smoother, nicer runs on raceday than this. It\u2019s just been an awesome day and a storybook deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThis whole team did so well with two bikes in the final round, and Matt is the man,\u201d said Pollacheck, who jumped to second in points, just three behind Smith. \u201cHe gave me one there because mine bogged down in the finals, but it\u2019s going to be a big celebration tonight. This was awesome and it\u2019s just a great team.\u201d \u00a0Smith reached his 60th career final round and second in 2021 thanks to round wins against Steve Johnson, Joey Gladstone and Eddie Krawiec.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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***<\/p>\n

COMMERCE, Ga. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 40th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.\u00a0The race is the third of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.<\/p>\n

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TOP FUEL:<\/p>\n

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  1. Antron Brown; 2.\u00a0Steve Torrence; 3.\u00a0Brittany Force; 4.\u00a0Shawn Langdon; 5.\u00a0Mike Salinas; 6.\u00a0Justin Ashley; 7.\u00a0Billy Torrence; 8.\u00a0Josh Hart; 9.\u00a0Doug Foley; 10.\u00a0Doug Kalitta; 11.\u00a0Buddy Hull; 12.\u00a0Leah Pruett; (above)<\/strong> 13.\u00a0Arthur Allen; 14.\u00a0Joe Morrison; 15.\u00a0Clay Millican.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    FUNNY CAR:<\/p>\n

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    1. Bob Tasca III; 2.\u00a0John Force; 3.\u00a0Matt Hagan; 4.\u00a0J.R. Todd; 5.\u00a0Tim Wilkerson; (above)<\/strong> 6.\u00a0Blake Alexander; 7.\u00a0Ron Capps; 8.\u00a0Dave Richards; 9.\u00a0Cruz Pedregon; 10.\u00a0Paul Lee; 11.\u00a0Robert Hight; 12.\u00a0Terry Haddock; 13.\u00a0Jim Campbell; 14.\u00a0Alexis DeJoria.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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      PRO STOCK:<\/p>\n

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      1. Greg Anderson; 2.\u00a0Vincent Nobile; 3.\u00a0Erica Enders; 4.\u00a0Deric Kramer; 5.\u00a0Matt Hartford; 6.\u00a0Kenny Delco; 7.\u00a0Aaron Stanfield; 8.\u00a0Kyle Koretsky; (above)<\/strong> 9.\u00a0Chris McGaha; 10.\u00a0Dallas Glenn; 11.\u00a0Fernando Cuadra Jr.; 12.\u00a0Mason McGaha; 13.\u00a0Fernando Cuadra; 14.\u00a0Val Smeland; 15.\u00a0Cristian Cuadra; 16.\u00a0Troy Coughlin Jr..<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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        PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:<\/p>\n

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        1. Scotty Pollacheck; 2.\u00a0Matt Smith; 3.\u00a0Eddie Krawiec; (above)<\/strong> 4.\u00a0Angelle Sampey; 5.\u00a0Joey Gladstone; 6.\u00a0Andrew Hines; 7.\u00a0Ryan Oehler; 8.\u00a0Angie Smith; 9.\u00a0Kelly Clontz; 10.\u00a0Karen Stoffer; 11.\u00a0John Hall; 12.\u00a0Jim Underdahl; 13.\u00a0Michael Phillips; 14.\u00a0Jerry Savoie; 15.\u00a0Steve Johnson; 16.\u00a0Cory Reed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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          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:<\/p>\n

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          Top Fuel — Antron Brown, 3.752 seconds, 325.22 mph\u00a0def. Steve Torrence, 3.794 seconds, 323.81 mph.<\/p>\n

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          Funny Car — Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.004, 326.48\u00a0def. John Force, Chevy Camaro, 4.015, 321.81.<\/p>\n

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          Pro Stock — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.568, 209.04\u00a0def. Vincent Nobile, Camaro, 6.598, 208.78.<\/p>\n

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          Pro Stock Motorcycle — Scotty Pollacheck, EBR, 6.921, 198.35\u00a0def. Matt Smith, EBR, Foul – Red Light.<\/p>\n

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          Pro Modified — Justin Bond, Pontiac Firebird, 5.738, 249.49\u00a0def. Steve Jackson, Chevy Camaro, 5.724, 252.43.<\/p>\n

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          Top Alcohol Dragster — Rich McPhillips Jr., 5.183, 280.14\u00a0def. Jackie Fricke, 9.273, 91.17.<\/p>\n

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          Top Alcohol Funny Car — Matt Gill, Chevy Camaro, 5.522, 271.02\u00a0def. Bob McCosh, Camaro, 5.542, 265.59.<\/p>\n

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          Super Stock — Kent Hanley, Chevy Cavalier, 9.434, 131.86\u00a0def. Brett Candies, Ford Mustang, 9.456, 141.65.<\/p>\n

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          Stock Eliminator — Greg Rowe, Chevy Camaro, 11.655, 103.78\u00a0def. Adam Davis, Chevy Nomad, 11.903, 101.72.<\/p>\n

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          Super Comp — Chuck Trotter, Ford Thunderbird, 8.907, 173.23\u00a0def. Kent Hanley, Dragster, 8.906, 170.06.<\/p>\n

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          Super Gas — Luke Bogacki, Chevy Corvette, 9.905, 162.24\u00a0def. Jonathan Anderson, Corvette, 9.884, 163.41.<\/p>\n

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          Super Street — Tony Jones, Chevy Camaro, 10.873, 140.01\u00a0def. Keith Mayers, Porsche, 10.865, 147.94.<\/p>\n

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          Top Sportsman presented by Vortech Superchargers — Dylan Stott, Ford Mustang, 6.614, 212.69\u00a0def. Sandy Wilkins, Chevy Camaro, 6.525, 208.49.<\/p>\n

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          CHECK OUT THIS PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE 40TH AND FINAL NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS! \u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

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