DIXON, HIGHT, COUGHLIN AND HINES WIN SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY
COMMERCE, Ga. – Larry Dixon tied Joe Amato for second on the NHRA Top Fuel wins list by racing to his 52nd career victory Sunday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at  Atlanta Dragway.
Robert Hight, Jeg Coughlin and Andrew Hines also were winners in their respective categories at the eighth of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
Dixon powered his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to his fourth win of the season and increased his series lead by outrunning Brandon Bernstein in the final round. Dixon covered the race distance in 3.913 seconds at 311.49 mph, but ultimately didn’t need the performance as Bernstein suffered a rare red-light start in his Copart/Lucas Oil dragster.
"[Brandon] took a shot at the Tree and went .003 red, but if he goes .003 green he has a chance to win the race," Dixon said. "He has a good car and if you get eight-hundredths on a guy, there's not eight-hundredths between our cars. We went up there with what we thought the track could take, and you have to hope it's enough, and today it was. The car was flawless; we had a really tight package. To have seven runs between an .86 and a .91 that's pretty stout, and then to have an .82 for the pole just adds to it.”
Dixon beat Steve Torrence, T.J. Zizzo and rival Tony Schumacher in earlier rounds for his fourth Atlanta Dragway win. A strong student of NHRA history, Dixon is humble about tying five-tim e world champ Amato, a legendary figure in the sport.
"I feel the same way [about tying Amato] as I do against the other people I grew up looking up to: Unworthy,” said Dixon, who now leads second place Cory McClenathan by 112 points as he works on earning his third world championship title. “To be able to reach a number that [Amato] got ... well, I'm a few championships behind him still. The guys I looked up to didn’t get 23 chances a year to win."
Defending Funny Car world champ Hight earned his second consecutive victory of the season, holding off recent Atlanta Dragway dominator Ashley Force Hood in the final round. Hight posted a winning run of 4.185 at 298.01 in his Auto Club Ford Mustang, while Force Hood’s Castrol GTX Mustang trailed with a 4.232 at 297.48 in her third-consecutive event final.
"No matter what, we couldn't lose, it was going to be a Force win," said Hight, who beat Melanie Troxel, Tim Wilkerson and defending event winner Jack Beckman to advance to the final. "But to leave here 1-2-3 in points is pretty big right now, especially this early in the season. We were real happy with the way we finished last season and were looking forward to this year, but like last year we struggled again. We didn’t get it turned around until Sunday morning in Madison when Jimmy Prock made a wholesale change to the car and we haven't looked back since. This Ford Mustang has been unbelievable all weekend. Jimmy definitely has a handle on the car; to run .18, .18, .19, and .18 again, that's unheard-of in these fuel cars."
John Force maintained his series lead despite a second round loss to the eventual runner-up. Force Hood and Hight are second and third in the standings respectively.
Coughlin became the fourth Pro Stock racer in NHRA history and the ninth in the Full Throttle Series to earn 50 victories when he outran Rickie Jones in the final round. Coughlin took his second win at Atlanta Dragway with a performance of 6.659 at 207.21 in his JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt to hold off the hard-charging Elite Motorsports Pontiac GXP of the 22-year-old Jones, who finished in 6.686 at 206.35.
"I was fortunate to eclipse the 50-win mark – including my Lucas Oil wins – a few years ago and thought I was done with 50 but was reminded here lately of the next plateau,” said Coughlin, who outran Ronnie Humphrey, V. Gaines and top qualifier Allen Johnson in earlier rounds. “To celebrate it here, in JEGS' 50th anniversary year, I'm very happy."
Coughlin said he was ready for the quick-reacting Jones in the final. Jones used a series of holeshot starts to upset series points leader Mike Edwards in the first round, three-time world c hamp Greg Anderson in the quarterfinals and Johnny Gray in the semis to advance to his second career final.
"Rickie used to come to the ropes when he was 11 or 12 years old and wanted to hit the practice 'Tree against me and he's been telling me for years he's coming after us," Coughlin said. "It's neat to see him growing and getting to do what he loves to do, so congratulations to him. He had a great day.”
Coughlin moved to third in the point standings with the win, behind leader Edwards and second place Johnson.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, three-time world champ Hines raced to the victory over defending series champ Hector Arana. Hines earned his second win of the season and 20th of his career with a 6.968 at 190.24 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson in the final, while Arana’s Lucas Oil Buell slowed with a 7.047 at 188.12.
Hines raced to early round wins over Mike Berry,  Craig Treble and David Hope.
“This is about as good as it gets,” Hines said. “It was a good, clean race in the final. I had to push it in the final. I knew Hector was strong. He had been running good all weekend, and he qualified No. 1, so I held onto the clutch lever with just the lightest amount of pressure that I could, and I was .006. That was a little closer than I wanted it, but I’ll take it. He’s a tough competitor. He’s the world champ from last year, and it doesn’t put a bigger smile on our face than to beat him.”
With his third runner-up finish of the season, Arana maintained his series lead over Matt Smith and Hines, who moved to third overall with the win.
Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 30th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. The race is the eighth of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL
01. Larry Dixon
02. Brandon Bernstein
03. Tony Schumacher
04. Doug Kalitta
05. T.J. Zizzo
06. Morgan Lucas
07. Cory McClenathan
08. Pat Dakin
09. Bob Vandergriff
10. Antron Brown
11. Shawn Langdon
12. Bobby Lagana Jr.
13. Terry McMillen
14. David Grubnic
15. Steve Torrence
16. Terry Haddock
FUNNY CAR
01. Robert Hight
02. Ashley Force Hood
03. Bob Tasca III
04. Jack Beckman
05. John Force
06. Tony Pedregon
07. Tim Wilkerson
08. Ron Capps
09. Cruz Pedregon
10. Del Worsham
11. Jeff Arend
12. Matt Hagan
13. Bob Bode
14. Melanie Troxel
15. Jim Head
16. Jeff Diehl
PRO STOCK:
01. Jeg Coughlin
02. Rickie Jones
03. Allen Johnson
04. Johnny Gray
05. Greg Anderson
06. Kurt Johnson
07. V. Gaines
08. Greg Stanfield
09. Mike Edwards
10. Ron Krisher
11. Shane Gray
12. Bob Yonke
13. Steve Spiess
14. Warren Johnson
15. Jason Line
16. Ronnie Humphrey
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
01. Andrew Hines
02. Hector Arana
03. David Hope
04. Matt Smith
05. Michael Phillips
06. Steve Johnson
07. Craig Treble
08. Karen Stoffer
09. Shawn Gann
10. Eddie Krawiec
11. LE Tonglet
12. Jim Underdahl
13. Gary Moreno
14. Mike Berry
15. Wesley Wells
16. Angie Smith
Sunday's final results from the 30th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. The race is the eighth of 23 in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
Top Fuel
Larry Dixon, 3.913 seconds, 311.49 mph def. Brandon Bernstein, foul
Funny Car
Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.185, 298.01 def. Ashley Force Hood, Mustang, 4.232, 297.48
Pro Stock
Jeg Coughlin, Chevy Cobalt, 6.659, 207.21 def. Rickie Jones, Pontiac GXP, 6.686, 206.35
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.968, 190.24 def. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.047, 188.12
Final round-by-round results from the 30th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, the eighth of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
TOP FUEL
ROUND ONE
T.J. Zizzo, 3.903, 310.91 def. Bob Vandergriff, 3.952, 308.57; Morgan Lucas, 3.962, 299.26 def. David Grubnic, 4.076, 284.15; Pat Dakin, 4.002, 303.09 def. Antron Brown, 4.000, 297.88; Tony Schumacher, 3.928, 310.91 def. Bobby Lagana Jr., foul; Larry Dixon, 3.879, 311.27 def. Steve Torrence, 4.927, 168.75; Doug Kalitta, 3.869, 317.34 def. Terry Haddock, 5.295, 138.24; Brandon Bernstein, 3.921, 313.44 def. Terry McMillen, 4.054, 296.18; Cory McClenathan, 3.897, 312.93 def. Shawn Langdon, 4.003, 308.71
QUARTERFINALS
Bernstein, 3.955, 308.92 def. Dakin, broke; Schumacher, 4.258, 209.79 def. McClenathan, 9.068, 72.47; Dixon, 3.882, 311.56 def. Zizzo, 3.946, 306.33; Kalitta, 3.895, 316.67 def. Lucas, 4.006, 295.40
SEMIFINALS
Bernstein, 4.001, 299.66 def. Kalitta, 4.392, 240.04; Dixon, 3.890, 312.06 def. Schumacher, 4.332, 222.99
FINAL
Dixon, 3.913, 311.49 def. Bernstein, foul
FUNNY CAR
ROUND ONE
Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.219, 299.46 def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 5.082, 144.30; Tony Pedregon, Chevy Impala, 4.520, 248.80 def. Del Worsham, Toyota Solara, 4.587, 287.05; Ashley Force Hood, Ford Mustang, 4.199, 284.33 def. Jeff Diehl, Chevy Monte Carlo, broke; Robert Hight, Mustang, 4.182, 297.75 def. Melanie Troxel, Charger, 6.314, 107.81; Ron Capps, Charger, 4.363, 233.03 def. Jim Head, Solara, 7.278, 90.90; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.189, 299.40 def. Jeff Arend, Solara, 4.874, 177.91; Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.236, 292.46 def. Cruz Pedregon, Solara, 4.301, 290.19; John Force, Mustang, 4.219, 290.26 def. Bob Bode, Chevy Impala SS, 5.175, 210.80
QUARTERFINALS
Beckman, 4.202, 298.67 def. Capps, 5.404, 152.80; Force Hood, 4.200, 296.89 def. Force, 4.206, 295.92; Tasca III, 4.194, 296.31 def. T. Pedregon, 4.411, 251.11; Hight, 4.182, 296.96 def. Wilkerson, 4.573, 196.04
SEMIFINALS
Force Hood, 4.241, 294.05 def. Tasca III, 4.232, 295.01; Hight, 4.197, 297.55 def. Beckman, 4.249, 294.95;
FINAL -- Hight, 4.185, 298.01 def. Force Hood, 4.232, 297.48
PRO STOCK
ROUND ONE
Kurt Johnson, Chevy Cobalt, 6.705, 206.32 def. Shane Gray, Pontiac GXP, 6.696, 206.48; Greg Anderson, GXP, 6.662, 206.67 def. Steve Spiess, Cobalt, 6.700, 205.91; Greg Stanfield, GXP, 6.679, 206.23 def. Jason Line, GXP, 6.722, 204.79; Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 6.656, 207.43 def. Ronnie Humphrey, GXP, 6.757, 205.54; Johnny Gray, GXP, 6.682, 206.73 def. Bob Yonke, GXP, 6.696, 206.13; Rickie Jones, GXP, 6.698, 205.85 def. Mike Edwards, GXP, 6.641, 208.23; Allen Johnson, Dodge Avenger, 6.644, 208.04 def. Warren Johnson, GXP, 6.719, 205.91; V. Gaines, Avenger, 6.685, 206.10 def. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.676, 206.80
QUARTERFINALS
J. Gray, 6.672, 206.70 def. Stanfield, 6.694, 205.82; Jones, 6.690, 205.47 def. Anderson, 6.669, 206.39; Coughlin, 6.662, 207.40 def. Gaines, 6.693, 206.13; A. Johnson, 6.660, 207.94 def. K. Johnson, 6.690, 206.10
SEMIFINALS
Jones, 6.701, 205.94 def. J. Gray, 7.477, 139.75; Coughlin, 6.657, 207.50 def. A. Johnson, 6.655, 206.67
FINAL
Coughlin, 6.659, 207.21 def. Jones, 6.686, 206.35
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
ROUND ONE
Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.964, 189.52 def. Shawn Gann, Buell, 6.990, 188.17; Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.026, 187.91 def. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.013, 187.26; Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.006, 190.62 def. LE Tonglet, Suzuki, foul; Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.011,186.72 def. Angie Smith, Buell, 32.018, 61.58; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.960, 189.84 def. Jim Underdahl, Suzuki, 7.063, 186.61; Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 6.973, 189.18 def. Mike Berry, Buell, 7.177, 182.23; David Hope, Buell, 6.983, 186.30 def. Gary Moreno, Buell, 7.176, 183.59; Hector Arana, Buell, 6.956, 192.03 def. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.241, 179.97
QUARTERFINALS
Hope, 6.986, 185.56 def. Phillips, 6.992, 191.10; Hines, 6.999, 188.78 def. Treble, 7.024, 189.47; M. Smith, 7.114, 185.64 def. Stoffer, 7.085, 182.85; Arana, 6.964, 190.43 def. Johnson, 6.995, 191.08
SEMIFINALS
Hines, 6.994, 188.81 def. Hope, 6.993, 188.94; Arana, 7.040, 190.54 def. M. Smith, 8.873, 98.35
FINAL
Hines, 6.968, 190.24 def. Arana, 7.047, 188.12
NHRA Lucas Oil Series winners at the 30th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway
Competition Eliminator
Vinny Barone, Roadster, 7.826, 169.15 def. Al Ackerman, Dragster, 8.037, 165.58
Top Sportsman
Jeffrey Barker, Chevy Camaro, 7.001, 198.26 def. Gilmer Hinshaw, Chevy Cobalt, 6.773, 201.04
Super Stock
Todd Ewing, Chevy Camaro, 10.203, 121.61 def. Slate Cummings, Chevy Cavalier, 9.004, 142.32
Stock Eliminator
Anthony Fetch, Chevy Camaro, 10.942, 114.00 def. Adam Davis, Chevy Malibu, 12.735, 95.25
Super Comp
Ray Miller, Dragster, 8.821, 176.84 def. Bubba Watts, Dragster, foul
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DIXON, HIGHT, COUGHLIN AND HINES WIN SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY