Cruz Pedregon knocked out John Force in the first round of eliminations, but then lost to Jim Head in the next.

Words compiled by Kay Burk
Photos by Ron Lewis

They don’t call it Hot-lanta for nothing. With the track temperature at almost 135 degrees during Sunday’s final rounds, crew chiefs and drivers were challenged to get the combination just right to make enough power to get the win without losing traction. There were surprises in Top Fuel and Funny Car as two drivers got their first wins of the year at the May 4-6 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.

TOP FUEL

Steve Torrence earned his first career Top Fuel victory and in the process denied Tony Schumacher from finally getting a victory at Atlanta Dragway, the only track on the circuit where the seven-time world champ has yet to win.

It was a remarkable first victory for Torrence and the Torrence Racing/Capco Contractors Inc. team and came in only its 10th professional race and seventh of the season.

“This was one unbelievable weekend,” Torrence said. “Richard Hogan (crew chief), Bryan Shipman and everyone on this whole team worked their tails off. It was hot and the track was hot – but it was good. It was a tricky situation and my guys prevailed and we got that win for Capco and Torrence Racing. I could not be happier.”

“I never in my wildest dreams would have expected to be here as a family-owned, one-car team and come out here and run the way we are.“

Torrence was the number two qualifier – not far behind Schumacher – after his most consistent qualifying showing and Hogan followed it with another superb tuning effort. He was right on in the finale. Torrence’s 3.893 at 320.66 mph were more than enough because Schumacher’s car spun the tires and slowed to a 4.913 at 169.44.

“We set out this year to be competitive, be able to run well and do the best we possibly could,” commented Torrence. “We brought the car out for three races last year and it ran fairly well. And then we came out this year and ran well and we felt we had a competitive car.”