HTML Sandbox

This Sandbox is devoted to giving you a place to practice basic HTML, and to get some coaching.

Go to michigander's [ HTML Bootcamp (Cyber patriot training)] and learn there how to change font color, font size, font face, and the like.
THERE'S A WEALTH OF INFORMATION THERE NOT COVERED HERE (so as to avoid duplication).
Learn there also how to post a link and an image, then come back here to practice.

If you're having problems, folks will drop by occasionally to give you pointers and help you troubleshoot.

NEWCOMERS TIP: I just reread the FreeRepublic posting guidelines. They're worth a read by all newcomers [click here].

The Basics

These codes can be "nested" to produce multiple effects at the same time. For instance:

where "URL" is the URL address you want to link to (and you gotta use the double quotes), and Link Description is whatever you want to call your link. For example:

"COLOR" is often a Hexidecimal Code for whatever Color you want, but color names are also supported.
Examples:

To be sure I turn off the formatting I TYPE THE "OFF" COMMAND AT THE SAME TIME AS THE "ON" COMMAND.

An example:
I want to respond to a line in a post by another brilliant Freeper.
I type "" 
I then "cut and paste" his remarks between the quotes:
" You are a poopy head " 
And type my equally brilliant response: "No, you're a poopy head!"
The result:

Actually, the <ul> tag is for a bulleted list and stands for unordered list. The missing part is the list item tag (<li>) Here's an example:

NHRA No. 30 Greatest: What Chris Karamesines lacks in NHRA national event wins (none) he's more than made up for in near-mythical tales generated during a six-decade career. Equipped with a fearless driving style that was largely influenced by his stint behind the wheel of stock cars on dirt tracks in the early 1950s, "the Greek" has probably saved more runs in his popular series of Chizler dragsters from full-throttle wheelstands or completely sideways launches than any other driver would dare claim.
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America: The vast majority of inductees in the Motorsports Hall of Fame have amassed astounding records on the track, but there’s more to a successful career than a checklist of wins and losses. Numerous individuals have had dramatic impacts on their chosen fields of competition without ever having challenged the statisticians, and such is the case with the man known from Coast to Coast as “The Greek,” Chris Karamesines. Just as Hall of Famers “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney and “TV Tom” Ivo played significant roles in helping make drag racing an accepted form of motorsports, so too has Chris Karamesines, but unlike those mentioned, “The Greek” is still driving his 7,000 horsepower Top Fuel dragster in his seventh decade! To understand Karamesines’s impact on the sport one must look far beyond his unofficial breaking of the 200 MPH barrier back in the early 60s. Prior to the time of Karamesines’s remarkable run at Alton Dragway in Illinois the Windy City native had impressed West Coast fans with his showmanship, competitive performances and, most importantly, his unmatched personality. Soft-spoken to a fault and bearing an often uncanny resemblance to movie star Caesar Romero at the height of his box office appeal, when “The Greek” climbed out of his car and said things like, “I went so fast that time my mustache almost caught fire!” people listened –and didn’t forget.

TEST ~ TAB

March 12-15, 2009
3rd of 24 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Events
Event Schedule | Entry List | Team Reports | Live Audiocast (WMPlayer Direct) | Results
2008 Winners: TF Tony Schumacher ~ FC Tony Pedregon, ~ PS Jeg Coughlin ~ PSM Matt Guidera
Tickets | Fans Assistance KBase | Gainesville Chamber of Commerce
The Gatornationals attracts significant crowds. Many good local area hotels are booked months in advance.
Parking can be problematic so all fans must arrive several hours before championship racing starts.
Weather: Gainesville Race Track Maps: US Surface SEast: Surface IR Satellite Live Radar: 1 2 3
Forecasts may be inaccurate. Florida's Spring weather is unpredictable and can change on short notice.

      The Gatornationals is the NHRA East Coast opener and the season’s first of seventeen(17) events for Pro Stock Motorcycle riders. It's one of the sport’s most revered races with a rich tradition of history-making performances. It also typically hosts one of the largest event attendance of the NHRA championship drag racing season. And with good weather, the 40th Annual NHRA ACDelco Gatornationals should be no different with cash and contingency awards totaling more than $2 million. This hallowed race track has produced the first 260 mph Top Fuel and Funny Car runs in 1984, and the first 270 mph and 300 mph Top Fuel passes in 1986 and 1992, respectively. During the 2000 NHRA Gatornationals, eight of ten National records were set in the professional classes. Gainesville Raceway's starting line 675 feet concrete launchpad, flat racing surface, and very long shutdown area, makes it one of the drivers' favorite on the tour.
      Gainesville Raceway opened in 1969 and held its first Gatornationals event in 1970. It’s the fourth oldest event on the NHRA Championship Drag Racing annual tour, behind the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, and the Winternationals and NHRA Finals at Pomona. Following the 2003 season, Gainesville Raceway has continued to undergo significant renovations. In 2008, a new $2.6 million three-story state-of-the-art control tower was completed, which is located directly behind the drag strip’s starting line. The track offices are on the first floor, race-control operations on the second floor, and a spacious media center on the top floor.
      Gainesville Raceway is the home of Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School, which for twenty-four years has been the leading school for drivers competing in the NHRA. Gainesville, and Gainesville Raceway, are also home to the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. On Thursday, March 12, 2009, the 2009 inductees will be honored at the Annual International Hall Of Fame Banquet being held at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, Gainesville. The Gatornationals is noted for attracting a "who's who" of NHRA legends. Many attend unannounced and can be found in the pit areas. Don Garlits, NHRA No. 1 Greatest, will be attending the full Gatornationals event. Darrell Gwynn, NHRA No. 32nd Greatest, will be attending the Finals, on Sunday, March 15, 2009, in behalf of the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, which is an official charity of the NHRA. ~ FlA

The Four Championship Drag Racing Divisions Event Schedule
Fri. 03.13.09: Pro Stock Qualifying Session 1 (PS Motorcycle; PS Car): 11:30 am
Nitro Qualifying Session 1 (Funny Car; Top Fuel Dragster): 12:30 pm
Pro Stock Qualifying Session 2 - 2:30 pm
Nitro Qualifying Session 2 - 3:30 pm
Sat. 03.14.09: Pro Stock Qualifying Session 3 - 11:30 am
Nitro Qualifying Session 3 - 12:30 pm
Pro Stock Qualifying Session 4 - 2:30 pm
Nitro Qualifying Session 4 - 3:30 pm
Sun. 03.15.09: Pre-Race Ceremonies: 10:00 am
Final Eliminations: 11:00 am

ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals Coverage (ET)
Sun, 03.15 Qualifying 2:00 am - 4:00 am (ESPN2)
Sun, 03.15 Repeat Qualifying 10:00 am - 11:30 am (ESPN2)
Sun, 03.15 NHRA Race Day 11:30 am - 12:00 pm (ESPN2)
Sun, 03.15 Eliminations 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm (ESPN) (1)(2)
Wed, 03.18 Repeat Eliminations 2:30 am - 4:30 am (ESPN2)
(1) Note channel change from ESPN2 to ESPN
(2) Watch Full Coverage On-Line at ESPN 360

Can’t get interviews from some of the NHRA drivers.
No problem, ESPN sends in a Brut Girl to get “the dirt”.

Photos, Greg & Kim Anderson: The media often calls John Force the Dale Earnhardt Sr. of drag racing. But the person that most reminds me of Dale is, without question, 3 time (2003-5) NHRA Pro Stock World Champion Greg Anderson. Greg has many of Dale’s mannerism, is a great guy, and a very tough competitor with 57 NHRA event wins. 2009 will be Greg’s 11th NHRA racing season. His wife Kim is on the starting line every time Greg makes a 1/4 mile pass. And, the male drag racing fans love her – more like lust for her. NHRA Profile | His Site Bio | Racing History ~ fla

Courtesy FlAttorney FR Racing

TEST ~ TAB

The FR 2009 NHRA Championship Drag Racing Thread
No Turns. . . No Pit Stops. . . Just White Knuckles Ground Pounding Speed

NHRA-CDR: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle <> HRH: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Groups 1 & 2
Drag School Locations: Gainesville & Pomona ~ Frank Hawley, 2 Time NHRA Funny Car World Champion
NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series Schedule - Full Nostalgia Drag Racing Schedule

2009 NHRA Full Throttle Championship Drag Racing Schedule
For Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock cars there are twenty-four(24) racing events in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Series divided between a regular season and playoffs format. The regular season eighteen(18) “Countdown to 10” races concludes at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis. The final six(6) playoffs “Countdown to 1” races begins at the NHRA Nationals, Charlotte and concludes at the NHRA Finals, Pomona. After the first 18 races, only the top 10 drivers in each of the divisions advance to the Countdown to 1, based on total points won. Their points are reset to within 10 of each another except for the points leader who will have a 30-point advantage over second place. The drivers will then compete for NHRA Full Throttle Championships. Drivers earn NHRA national event points as follows: Winner 100; Runner-up 80; Third-round loser 60; Second-round loser 40; First-round loser 20. Additional points are awarded at national events as follows: 10 points to all contestants - 1 qualifying run required. Qualifying positions earn points as follows: 1st 8; 2nd 7; 3rd 6; 4th 5; 5th & 6th 4; 7th & 8th 3; 9th thru 12th 2; 13th thru 16th 1. For the highly popular Pro Stock Motorcycles, they follow the same championship format as the other three divisions. However, their 2009 regular season is twelve(12) Countdown to 10 races, which begins at the legendary NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville. Their Countdown to 1 playoffs is the final five(5) races, which like the other three divisions, begins at the NHRA Nationals, Charlotte, and concludes at the NHRA Finals, Pomona. However, they do not race at the October 9-11th Virginia NHRA Nationals, Richmond. ~ fla

NHRA RaceDay | Full Throttle Championship Drag Racing | Classic NHRA

Watch NHRA Finals On-Line ESPN begins its ninth consecutive year of NHRA action with same-day coverage of qualifying and eliminations on ESPN2 and ESPN2-HD. Paul Page anchors the coverage with analysis by 22-time NHRA winner Mike Dunn. Gary Gerould and Dave Rieff report from the pits. Rieff and Dunn also host NHRA RaceDay to set the stage for that day’s eliminations action. NHRA drag racing is also being broadcast on the American Forces Network and for the eighth year on TSN (Canada). Websites: Paul Page Blog | Mike Dunn
Paul and Mike are an outstanding broadcasting team and a major asset. NHRA would not be the same without these two in the booth. Here’s a great “inside look” article Paul wrote on Feb. 6, 2009.

Auto Imagery – 2009 NHRA
NHRA: Photos | Videos | Full Throttle TV || Competition Plus | Flickr-NHRA

NHRA Top 50 Greatest Drivers | Greatest Races | Photos: Legends in Action '09 Photos 1974-2008 NHRA World Champions | Quarter-Mile Record Holders (1,000 feet nitro records not recognized)
NHRA Founder Wally Parks RIP Tribute | MotorSports Hall of Fame-NHRA
Petersen Automotive Museum
Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing 741 Photos | Smithsonian: Don Garlits "Swamp Rat XXX"

About the "Wally" Winners Trophy | Drag Racing Basics
Lingo: Drag Racing | Racers Definitive List | Nostalgia Racers
What's occurs in the pits between a race: The 75 minute turaround(PDF)
The Sound’s of NHRA Nitro Racing: Nitro Motor Start-up | Top Fuel Dragster “Pass”
(Windows Media Player Direct Links)

Remembering Drag Racers Lost doing what they and we love

Additional Resources, Off-Thread Items, and Comments
FlAttorney's FR Racing - NHRA

March 27-29, 2009
4th of 24 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Events
First of Five O'Reilly Auto Parts Sponsored '09 NHRA Events
Spring Nationals, Houston ~ Midwest Nationals, St. Louis ~ Summer Nationals, Topeka
Fall Nationals, Dallas ~ Mid-South Nationals, Memphis
Event Schedule | Entry List | Team Reports | Live Audiocast (WMPlayer Direct) | Results
2008 Winners: TF Antron Brown ~ FC Del Worsham ~ PS Greg Anderson ~ PSM Matt Smith
Fans Assistance KBase | Tickets | Weather: Baytown Race Track
Surface Maps: U.S. SCentral SC IR Satellite | Live Radar: Multi NWS Severe Storm Loop
Forecasts may be inaccurate. Houston Spring weather is unpredictable and can change on short notice.

      FlA Says: After the legendary NHRA Gatornationals comes the legendary Spring Nationals. While this is the 22nd event at Houston Raceway Park, the first Spring Nationals was held in 1965 - Champion Spark Plugs NHRA Spring Nationals, Bristol Dragway - which makes this event the third oldest on the NHRA tour. Prior to moving to Houston, the Spring Nationals was held at National Trail Raceway, Columbus Ohio, since 1972. Before Columbus, it was held at Dallas International Motor Speedway from 1969-71 after Bristol Dragway switched to AHRA sanction.
      NHRA Funny Car driver and visionary Billy Meyer built the Texas Motorplex supertrack south of Dallas in Ennis. Debuting in 1986, it was a state-of-the art facility with an all concrete drag strip. With the long standing Dallas-Houston rivalry we(my hometown of Houston) demanded a new drag racing supertrack. Houston Raceway Park("HRP") was built in 1988 by Greg(President) and Seth Angel(Track Manager, "Angel Brothers" Enterprises) and is situated on 500 acres on the eastern edge of the greater Houston metropolitan(Harris County) area in Baytown. The drag strip has a large three story tower building that incorporates 23 VIP suites, a media center, and race control facilities equipped with state-of-the-art timing and scoring equipment.
      HRP's first NHRA national event, in the Fall of 1988, established it as one of the sport’s quickest with NHRA’s first four-second Top Fuel quarter-mile pass and a new national record. Since then, the track has been host to a dizzying array of record runs, including the first sub-4.5 seconds Top Fuel quarter-mile pass by Larry Dixon in 1999. The current HRP quarter-mile track records are Top Fuel dragster: ET 4.480 secs, Gary Scelzi, Oct 1999 - MPH 335.32, Tony Schumacher, Apr 2005; Funny Car: ET 4.695 secs, John Force, Mar 2006 - MPH 328.06, John Force, Mar 2006; Pro Stock: ET 6.649 secs, Jeg Coughlin, Mar 2007 - MPH 208.59, Greg Anderson, Mar 2007; and Pro Stock Motorcycle: ET 6.947 secs, Angelle Sampey, Mar 2007 - MPH 195.73, Andrew Hines, Apr 2005.
      The largest problem for the Spring Nationals is the annual Spring rains and/or overcast, humid, and windy conditions. Also, daily weather fluctuations this time of year can make the track very tricky for the pro drivers and crew-chiefs. It appears the track will be tricky again this year with a weather forecast of isolated thunder storms for Friday's Day 1 Qualifying, from a front passing through the area that will drop the temperature 10-15 degrees. For Saturday's Day 2 Qualifying, a humid, windy, and partly cloudy high of only 65 degrees. For Sunday's Final Eliminations, a sunny high of 72 degrees with moderate winds and lower humidity.
      Over the last decade, the other problem has been the east side of Harris County has experienced several significant flood events that affected HRP's drag strip. Again, at last year's Spring Nationals, one lane had a significant problem due to a drop-off at the end of the concrete launch pad where the track transitions to asphalt. It was so bad that, for some nitro and pro stock cars, it unloaded their rear drag slicks when they went over it. In September 2008, Hurricane Ike - the third most destructive hurricane to ever make U.S. landfall - addressed this problem by causing over $100,000 of damage to Houston Raceway Park. Not only did Ike damage the track, it completely destroyed the two top-end scoreboards, and damaged the control tower.
      From insurance proceeds, the Angel Brothers had everything repaired and updated the facility. The entire drag strip was completely repaired and resurfaced, using an expensive road construction machine(see photo, 2nd post down), in two phases. The second phase, which consisted of resurfacing the concrete eighth-mile starting line launchpad, was completed in January 2009. The shutdown area gravel trap and catch-net was extended from 150 feet to 250 feet. For additional safety, the new finish-line scoreboards were placed 35 feet away from the retaining walls. The spectator parking lot was expanded along with new permanent lighting infrastructure. And, all VIP luxury suites and the HRP media center was completely remodeled and outfitted with 42-inch plasma TVs. HRP is now a newly renovated facility and drag strip with possibly the best racing surface on the NHRA tour.
      NHRA continues to experience reduced attendance at their 2009 Full Throttle events. Accordingly, they are again discounting selected tickets for the Spring Nationals. Their reduced selected tickets prices didn't appear to help attendance at the Gatornationals. It will be interesting to see what attendance is for the Spring Nationals. In the past, it has attracted very large crowds.
      The other good thing about having the Gatornationals and the Spring Nationals together is that, I strongly believe, Floridian and Texas women are the hottest in the Country. . . but I only waste one eye. My girlfriend likes a number of the NHRA drivers (more like she has the hots for some of them *lol*) so she enjoys our time in the pits when I get to tech talking too much. This will be my 17th time to attend the NHRA Spring Nationals. We fly to Houston Thursday evening, March 26, and are attending all three days of pro racing and hanging out in the pits with our group. It's my first trip back home since Christmas to see family and friends.

O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals ESPN2 Coverage (ET)
Sat, 03.28: Qualifying 8:00 - 9:00 pm (1)
Sun, 03.29: NHRA Race Day 11:00 - 11:30 am
Sun, 03.29: Eliminations 4:30 - 7:30 pm (2)
Mon, 03.30: Repeat Eliminations 2:30 - 4:30 am
(1) Only 1 hour, instead of 2, due to NCAA Basketball March Madness
(2) Watch Full Coverage On-Line at ESPN 360

Home: The FR 2009 NHRA Championship Drag Racing Thread
FlAttorney's FR Racing

Top Fuel Tony Schumacher, Funny Car Ashley Force Hood, Pro Stock Ron Krisher
and Pro Stock Motorcycle Craig Win at NHRA Spring Nationals during a Day of Upsets
and more National, Track, and Personal Career Records Set

Pro Winners (l-r): Treble,
Krisher, Schumacher, Force Hood

Sunday March 29 2009, Baytown, Texas -- Ashley Force Hood raced to her second career victory on a record-setting day at the 22nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals Sunday at Houston Raceway Park.

Ashley Force Hood

The 26-year old Force Hood defeated her former drag racing instructor, Jack Beckman, to earn the win that vaulted her up from 10th to third place in the Funny Car standings. The other winners at the fourth of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series were Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Ron Krisher (Pro Stock) and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

"Our first win was against my dad (14-time NHRA champion John Force in the final round at Atlanta, 2008) . so to be able to race against another team's driver in the final and win it, we're maybe a bit more cheerful than after that first win," said Force Hood, who ran a 4.122 at 306.19 mph in the final found to nose out Beckman's 4.227 at 303.43.

Schumacher's win - a holeshot 3.881 at 314.75 (0.059 RT) in his U.S. Army dragster to Cory McClenathan's 3.880 at 313.66 (0.098 RT) in his FRAM dragster -- was his first of the season and the first for the U.S. Army team since parting ways with longtime crew chief Alan Johnson, who tuned the Army dragster to five straight NHRA Full Throttle Series Top Fuel world championships.

Tony Schumacher

"Everyone knows we don't have (Alan Johnson) anymore, and people said we couldn't win without him, so we had to dig deep, and I love 'suck it up' moments - bottom of the ninth, bases loaded - and that's what we had all day," said Schumacher, who moved up from fifth place in the TF points all the way to second place with his 57th career win (breaking a tie with Joe Amato; he's now solo sixth place on the all-time NHRA wins list).

The victory celebration was perhaps made just a bit sweeter for Schumacher as he used another holeshot to defeat Larry Dixon in the Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing dragster in the semifinals - 3.895 with a 0.082 RT to Dixon's 3.889 with a 0.104 RT.

"Winning on a holeshot, those are just numbers, man," Schumacher said. "Unless you have a great car that can leave like that, it doesn't mean anything, it takes the whole team. Take that exact same car with different pressure behind the barrel valve and it wouldn't leave at all. It's a group of guys doing a job and making me look good."

Ron Krisher

In Pro Stock, Krisher ran a solid 6.587 in his Valvoline Chevy Cobalt to defeat Jeg Coughlin's struggling 7.051 in his JEGS.com Chevy Cobalt.

"We did real good all day until the last round," Krisher said. "I let out the clutch and the car just spun and didn't go anywhere. We lost about six-hundredths to 60 feet and my light went right away with it. It was shaking and moving around, but I looked over and Jeggie was in worse shape than me so I decided I was going to stick with it."

Craig Treble

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Craig Treble steered his Team Scream Suzuki to a 6.915 that was more than enough to beat the 7.260 from first-year rider Douglas Horne, (Aberdeen, Md.), who was making just his second career start.

"Running out of my own pocket, I originally I had planned on cutting it off after Atlanta, but this buys us some time to try to find some financial backing, probably through Madison," Treble said.

This race, though, may be remembered as much for what happened before the final rounds as what happened in the final rounds. Fans who were in their seats early witnessed two national records, a spectacular Top Fuel explosion (by European champion Urs Erbacher), the first heads-up duel between Larry Dixon and Tony Schumacher (won by Schumacher in the semifinals) and the third heads-up duel between Ashley Force Hood and John Force (won by Force Hood in the quarterfinals).

The new national records were set by Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). Smith broke Angelle Sampey's nearly two-year-old record for elapsed time when he ran a 6.865 in a second-round win over defending series champion Eddie Krawiec. Mike Edwards set the new record for speed when he became the first Pro Stocker to surpass 212 mph with his 212.03 mph run in his semifinal loss to Ron Krisher.

Sunday's NHRA Full Throttle Final Results:
Top Fuel: Tony Schumacher, 3.881 seconds - 314.75 m.p.h. def. Cory McClenathan, 3.880 - 313.66
Funny Car: Ashley Force Hood, 4.122 - 306.19 def. Jack Beckman, 4.227 - 303.43
Pro Stock: Ron Krisher, 6.587 - 211.00 def. Jeg Coughlin 7.051 - 165.94
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Craig Treble 6.915 - 193.46 def. Douglas Horne 7.260 - 155.60

The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Series resumes in a week with the April 2-5 SummitRacing.Com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. - Credit DRC, edits by JJ

TAB

April 2-5, 2009
5th of 24 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Events
First of Two Events at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
First of Three Summit Racing Equipment Sponsored '09 NHRA Events
SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, Atlanta
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk

Event Schedule | Entry List | Team Reports | Live Sunday Audiocast (WMPlayer Direct) | Results
2008 Winners: TF Cory McClenathan ~ FC Tim Wilkerson ~ PS Jason Line ~ PSM N/A
Fans Assistance KBase | Tickets | Weather: Las Vegas Race Track
Surface Maps: U.S. West IR Satellite Wind | Live Radar: WU NWS Storm Loop
Forecasts may be inaccurate. Las Vegas Spring weather is unpredictable and can change on short notice.

      04.01.09-22:00 FlA Says: Pro Stock Motorcycles don't race this weekend. Their next race is April 16-19 at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals Atlanta, GA. This weekend we may see a Déjà vu of the 2009 Spring Nationals as to weather. See my next post "Déjà vu? Maybe yes but I hope not". Last year's "Vegas1" NHRA event was marred by two situations of very poor judgments by NHRA "brass". One turned the event into a National media covered debacle and NHRA did it on purpose. I expressed my thought about this fiasco on thread post #41 * here * . Last year's nitro action was also poor due to the track getting very hot and it was windy.
      About The Strip: While opinions vary on the track, The Strip is an outstanding A+ facility. The inaugural NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals was held at The Strip on April 6-9, 2000. The winners were, Top Fuel: Kenny Bernstein, Funny Car: Jim Epler, Pro Stock: Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Pro Stock Motorcycle: Angelle Sampey. There was still construction going on when many of the NHRA pro's arrived at the track. Workers were laying asphalt, painting and putting in glass just about everywhere you looked, according to Pro Stock legend Warren Johnson. But, it was ready to go for the first qualifying session. Early on the track had some surface and other problems. It reminded me of the problems Speedway Motorsports experienced after they built Texas Motor Speedway to host NASCAR events, but the problems at The Strip were not as serious.
      As to the drag strip, many veterans don't like the down the hill, up the big hill surface. When I first attended a NHRA championship event at The Strip in 2003, I didn't like the Top Fuel chassis compression at the bottom of the hill after the speed traps. This was the period of time when several TF chassis had snapped in half at the top-end. Frankly, I didn't like the whole thought process on how the drag strip was designed and built. I also don't like that when it's windy sand blows on the track making traction difficult. In 2007, we were talking to some guys sitting in front of us during a break in the action. The subject of what I thought about the track came up. I told them I was a Southerner and liked our flat and long drag strips. They said some of their friends were not that hot about the track(layout) but The Strip had the best round-trip ET for getting cold beers of any track they had been to. I laughed and said yes this is a first class facility in all regards.
      Due to the track's proximity to California, many NHRA pro teams test at The Strip during the off-season. I will now yield to 2009 Miss Nevada USA, Georgina Vaughan, to tell you more about the NHRA event this weekend at The Strip. She's much hotter than I am. - 03.30.09 Video: This Week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals ESPN2 Coverage (ET)
Sat, 04.04: Qualifying 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Sun, 04.05: NHRA Race Day 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Sun, 04.05: Eliminations 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. (1)
Fri, 04.10: Repeat Eliminations 3:00 - 5:00 a.m.
(1) Watch Full Coverage On-Line at ESPN 360

Inaugural NHRA SummitRacing.Com Nationals
Finals Pre-Race Ceremonies, April 9, 2000
(L) Speedway Motorsports Inc.'s Chairman and CEO Bruton Smith - Track Owner/Builder
(R) NHRA's new President Tom Compton(Jan 2000) & NHRA Founder Wally Parks(2007, RIP)

Team Summit

Home: The FR 2009 NHRA Championship Drag Racing Thread
FlAttorney's FR Racing

29th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals
April 16-19, 2009
6th of 24 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Events
Second of Three Summit Racing Equipment Sponsored '09 NHRA Events
SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, Atlanta
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk

Event Schedule | Entry List | Team Reports | Live Sunday Audiocast (WMPlayer Direct) | Results
2008 Winners: TF Antron Brown ~ FC Ashley Force ~ PS Mike Edwards ~ PSM Andrew Hines
Fans Assistance KBase | Tickets | Weather: Commerce Race Track
Surface Maps: U.S. Southeast IR Satellite Wind | Live Radar: WU NWS Storm Loop

Forecasts may be inaccurate. Commerce-Atlanta Spring weather is unpredictable and can change on short notice.

Atlanta Dragway was built in Commerce, Georgia in 1975 by Gene Bennett. The drag strip is located 69 miles northeast of Atlanta. Originally it had been graded out for an airport. The original airport tower served as the original timing tower, and the track direction was the same as the airport without asphalt, just Georgia red clay. In 1980, the track was sold to Norman Pearah and became an NHRA-sanctioned track. Back then, the track was only opened twice a year for major events. The track was purchased in 1987 by Pro Stock driver Gary Brown and partners J.D. Stevens and Rudy Bowen. The track underwent major reconstruction to put in new aluminum grandstand seating, permanent restrooms and rebuilt concession buildings. In 1989, the thirteen year-old track was resurfaced with a concrete launching pad and a new timing system. In addition to the track modification, a reconditioned VIP tower complete with a timing deck, press center and corporate suites was built in 1990. NHRA purchased the track in 1993. In 1999, they resurfaced the track and added an updated timing system. The tower restrooms were remodeled and all concession, tower and ticket buildings were rewired. In 2003, the track’s FM radio and public address system were both upgraded.
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 on April 5, but look for Brown to claw his way back to the top. The rest of the class, including third place Brandon Bernstein and fourth place Larry Dixon, are hot on his heels. Funny Car driver Ashley Force Hood will be gunning for her third NHRA win. In the Finals, Force 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. However, points leader Ron Capps will have something to say about that. Six-time NHRA Pro Stock Champion Warren Johnson, from nearby Sugar Hill, will be looking for his first Wally this season along with his son Kurt Johnson. This event is the third on the Full Throttle schedule to feature the high-revving 195-mph Pro Stock Motorcycles, piloted by drivers like the ever popular Steve Johnson, who hails from nearby Alabama. Local standout Junior Pippin is entered, along with his protégé, first year racer Douglas Horne, who finished runner up at the O’Reilly event. Five more divisions are on tap along with many exhibition runs.

2008 NHRA Southern Nationals: Ashley Force Hood becomes the first female driver
to win an NHRA Funny Car Championship event.
April 2009 Video: John Force Discusses Three Things Fans Don't Know About Him

Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals ESPN2 Coverage (ET)
Sat, 04.18: Qualifying 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Sun, 04.19: NHRA Race Day 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Sun, 04.19: Eliminations 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. (1)
Thu, 04.23: Repeat Eliminations 1:00 - 3:00 a.m.
(1) Watch Full Coverage On-Line at ESPN 360

2008: Major celebrities frequently attend the NHRA Southern Nationals

Home: The FR 2009 NHRA Championship Drag Racing Thread
FlAttorney's FR Racing

Final Qualifying Results After Four Sessions
TOP FUEL

  Psn Driver               Vehicle                           ET   Speed
   1. Spencer Massey       US Smokeless Dragster           3.820  311.20 
   2. Brandon Bernstein    Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster    3.824  315.64 
   3. Morgan Lucas         Geico Powersport/ Lucas Oil     3.844  310.70 
   4. Tony Schumacher      U.S. Army Dragster              3.851  309.98 
   5. Antron Brown         Matco Tools Dragster            3.867  311.99 
   6. Bob Vandergriff      Speedco Dragster                3.878  314.39 
   7. Larry Dixon          Al-Anabi Racing Dragster        3.881  310.98 
   8. Shawn Langdon        Lucas Oil/Dixie Chopper Drag    3.886  305.98 
   9. Doug Kalitta         Kalitta M'Spts No.50 Dragster   3.891  310.41 
  10. Cory McClenathan     Fram Dragster                   3.901  307.86 
  11. Terry Haddock        Dragster                        3.915  301.47 
  12. Clay Millican        MPE Motorsports Dragster        3.917  311.92 
  13. Terry McMillen       Amalie Oil Dragster             3.958  304.32 
  14. Joe Hartley          Hartley Racing Dragster         3.959  304.19 
  15. Bobby Lagana Jr.     NTB Dragster                    3.976  304.19 
  16. Troy Buff            Bill Miller Racing/Okuma Drags  3.997  259.91 
          --------- Not Qualified ---------
  17. Todd Paton           Tim Horton's Dragster           4.038  285.05 
  18. Luigi Novelli        National Machine Repair Dragst  4.180  296.96 
  19. Chris Karamesines    Strange/Chizler Dragster         NT

FUNNY CAR

  Psn Driver               Vehicle                           ET   Speed
   1. Ashley Force Hood    Castrol GTX Mustang             4.073  310.05 
   2. John Force           Castrol GTX Mustang             4.100  306.19 
   3. Ron Capps            NAPA Auto Parts Charger         4.101  299.26 
   4. Tony Pedregon        Herzog/Palms Impala             4.104  303.71 
   5. Matt Hagan           Shelor.com Charger              4.114  303.84 
   6. Tim Wilkerson        Levi, Ray, Shoup Mustang        4.120  304.53 
   7. Jack Beckman         Valvoline/MTS Charger           4.120  304.05 
   8. Mike Neff            JFR/Ford Mustang                4.125  303.43 
   9. Jim Head             Team Strange Apparel Solara     4.142  300.66 
  10. Robert Hight         AAA of So. Cal Mustang          4.144  299.86 
  11. Bob Tasca III        Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang   4.148  297.81 
  12. Cruz Pedregon        Advance Auto Parts Solara       4.154  303.23 
  13. Jeff Arend           DHL Solara                      4.160  301.33 
  14. Mike Smith           Diamond Trucking Monte Carlo    4.192  297.75 
  15. Jerry Toliver        Canidae Pet Food Monte Carlo    4.201  299.13 
  16. Del Worsham          Al-Anabi Racing Solara          4.210  298.34 
          --------- Not Qualified ---------
  17. Andy Kelley          Serenity Limousine Stratus      4.401  279.90

PRO STOCK

  Psn Driver               Vehicle                           ET   Speed
   1. Greg Anderson        Summit Racing Equipment GXP     6.557@ 210.93 
   2. Mike Edwards         Young Life/Penhall GXP          6.565  210.28 
   3. Jason Line           Summit Racing Equipment GXP     6.570  211.13 
   4. Ron Krisher          Valvoline Cobalt                6.574  209.69 
   5. Jeg Coughlin         Jegs.com Cobalt                 6.578  210.14 
   6. Greg Stanfield       Attitude Apparel GXP            6.581  210.01 
   7. Allen Johnson        Mopar/JJ Racing Stratus         6.582  209.85 
   8. Warren Johnson       KN Filters GXP                  6.598  211.26&
   9. Johnny Gray          Johnny Gray Racing Stratus      6.599  209.14 
  10. Larry Morgan         Lucas Oil Stratus               6.604  209.14 
  11. Rickie Jones         Quarter-Max/RJ Stratus          6.616  208.94 
  12. V. Gaines            Kendall Oil Stratus             6.617  208.26 
  13. Rodger Brogdon       Charter GXP                     6.624  208.94 
  14. Tom Hammonds         Race For Achievement Cobalt     6.625  208.65 
  15. Steve Spiess         Spiess Construction Cobalt      6.629  208.55 
  16. Kurt Johnson         AC Delco Cobalt                 6.638  209.10 
          --------- Not Qualified ---------
  17. Ronnie Humphrey      Troy Humphrey Stratus           6.640  208.71 
  18. Justin Humphreys     RaceRedi Motorsports GXP        6.692  207.66 
  19. Dave Northrop        Nitro Fish Wear Stratus         6.723  207.62 
  20. Erica Enders         Dragstar Racing Mustang         6.731  204.63 
  21. John Gaydosh Jr      Gaydosh Performance GTO         6.769  204.01 
  ##  @ = Track ET Record | & = Track Speed Record

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

  Psn Rider                Vehicle                          ET    Speed
   1. Andrew Hines         Screamin' Eagle/Vance-Hines     6.877@ 195.25&
   2. Eddie Krawiec        Screamin' Eagle/Vance-Hines     6.881  195.05 
   3. Matt Smith           Nitrofish Suzuki                6.890  194.63 
   4. Karen Stoffer        Geico Suzuki                    6.912  193.24 
   5. Douglas Horne        Horne Racing Buell              6.915  193.57 
   6. Hector Arana         Lucas Oil Buell                 6.924  194.02 
   7. Craig Treble         Team Scream Suzuki              6.929  194.52 
   8. Junior Pippin        Stone Mtn-Granite Mtn           6.938  192.25 
   9. Shawn Gann           Rum Bum Racing Buell            6.959  190.27 
  10. Matt Guidera         Rocklin Motorsports Buell       6.963  191.13 
  11. Wesley Wells         Kendall Suzuki                  6.986  191.21 
  12. Michael Phillips     MPR-Damn Sport Suzuki           6.987  195.08 
  13. Angie McBride        NitroFish/MSR/Redline Oil       6.992  188.44 
  14. Steve Johnson        Steve Johnson Racing Wyotech    7.003  189.71 
  15. LE Tonglet           Suzuki                          7.077  188.78 
  16. Mike Berry           MB Machining/LAT Racing Oil     7.081  187.83 
          --------- Not Qualified ---------
  17. David Hope           VRoom Racing Buell              7.107  187.96 
  18. Katie Sullivan       Susuki                          7.120  186.46 
  19. Ryan Schnitz         Team Muzzy Kawasaki             7.139  185.28 
  20. Darin McCurdy        GM Racing Suzuki                7.152  186.92 
  21. Bailey Whitaker      Rum Bum Buell                   7.157  185.56 
  22. Joe DeSantis         Javelina H-D Green H-D Suzuk    7.200  189.82 
  23. Redell Harris        Master P/No Limit Record Suzuk  7.463  180.00 
  24. James Surber         South County Cycles Racing       NT   
  ##  @ = Track ET Record | & = Track Speed Record

Qualifying Notes & Track Update:
Atlanta Dragway's racing surface was ground smooth during the off-season. The sand trap was also updated. Per track reports, both lanes were about the same during the four qualifying sessions.

TF Don Prudhomme's rookie driver Spencer Massey ran very fast in all four rounds of qualifying and is #1 with a 3.820 @ 311.20. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. skipped the final session to save parts and settled for #6.

FC Princess and Pop's Force remained strong in Q4 and finished at #1 and #2. Will John play dead possum again tomorrow? Team Force Robert Hight is on John's side of the eliminations ladder. Ashley and Mike Neff are on the other side. If both Ashley and Mike win E1 they face each other in E2. Same for John and Robert.

PS Q3: For the third time this weekend Anderson resets track ET record and is still No. 1 qualifier:
1. Greg Anderson Summit Racing Equipment GXP 6.557 @ 210.93
--- After four sessions, Greg is still King of the Hill.

PSM Andrew Hines' Screamin' Eagle is screaming this weekend. In Q2 he set a track ET record and Q4 set a track MPH record.

Sunday Weather Forecast: Chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning...then showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Some thunderstorms may be severe in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70-80%. -- The current hourly forecast calls for light rain to start at 10 am tomorrow and turn into thunder showers by 1 pm, lasting the rest of daylight hours. # JJ

Credit: NHRA, Summit FastNews, NWS, FlA & Co.

MAR, JJ

FR 2009 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals homepage

04.20.09: Hot Racing at Rainy Atlanta. In a rare Sunday night Finals, Morgan Lucas wins Top Fuel; Jack Beckman, Funny Car; and Eddie Krawiec, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Monday morning, Mike Edwards wins the Southern Nationals Pro Stock "Wally".
Video: ESPN Atlanta Wrap Up

Morgan Lucas

Sun, 04.19.09 -- After enduring multiple rain delays, Morgan Lucas defeated rookie Spencer Massey in a thrilling pedal-fest to win the Top Fuel title at the 29th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.

The other winners at the sixth of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Series season were Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). Pro Stock was postponed by rain with Jeg Coughlin and Mike Edwards scheduled to meet in the final round Monday morning.

It took Lucas five years and five final-round appearances to get his first win so waiting out the five hours of rain delays was only a minor hurdle. The 26-year old Lucas pedaled his GEICO Powersports/Lucas Oil dragster to a 5.231 at 162.86 to narrowly beat the 27-year old Massey's tire-spinning 5.418 at 145.25 in his U.S. Smokeless dragster.

"I've had five years to think about this. It's probably one of the most exciting moments of my life, if not the most exciting moment. I don't even know how to talk right now I'm so excited," said Lucas, who was competing in his 107th career race. "This is what I've dreamed about for years." It was also Massey's best NHRA event of the season.

Jack Beckman

Beckman ran a 4.128 at 303.43 in his Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger to defeat the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang team and driver Ashley Force Hood, who lost power near the finish line and slowed to 4.157 at 248.39.

"On paper, Ashley's car had us whipped," said Beckman, who lost to Force Hood two races earlier in final round in Houston. "That car has been the class of the field. But, that's why we race. Anything can happen when you have 8,000 horsepower of nitro in the tank. It's such an awesome feeling after losing to Ashley at the Spring Nationals."

Beckman defeated a quartet of Ford Mustangs - including Robert Hight, John Force and Tim Wilkerson - en route to his first win of the year and seventh of his career. And by day's end Beckman moved up from seventh to second place and Force Hood remained in third place in the Full Throttle Points Standings.

Eddie Krawiec

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Eddie Krawiec earned his first career win aboard his Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson with a fleet 6.902 at 192.91 to defeat rookie Douglas Horne (6.949, 191.13).

"This is something I was waiting for - to get my first Wally and be able to put it up on my mantle next to my (2008 NHRA Full Throttle Series) championship trophy is just awesome," Krawiec said.

Mike Edwards Closes Out Rain-delayed Southern Nationals with first 2009 Pro Stock Win

Edwards (near lane) vs Coughlin

Mon, 04.20.09 -- The wait was worth it for Mike Edwards, who dropped the curtain on the rain-delayed Summit Racing NHRA Southern Nationals Monday morning with a clean 6.645-second pass to easily outrun Pro Stock points-leader Jeg Coughlin.

It was the first win of 2009 for Edwards, who solidified his third-place position in the Pro Stock standings; Coughlin, who slowed to a 7.190 in the final round, remained in first place after six of 24 races in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season have been completed.

Mike Edwards

"It doesn't matter if you win on Sunday or Monday - it's an unbelievable challenge to win (a Pro Stock race). You can't make a mistake and win in this class," Edwards said.

For Edwards, the win was a bit of personal vindication as his A.R.T./Young Life Pontiac GXP has been at the head of the ultra-competitive Pro Stock category with a class-best three No. 1 qualifiers, but no wins before Monday.

"Our performance has been good all year, as good as anybody's in (Pro Stock). We've just had a little bit of trouble on Sunday (raceday)," Edwards said. "If that's what it takes to win (racing on Monday instead of Sunday), we'll come back on Monday every race."

Southern Nationals NHRA Full Throttle Series Final Results:
Top Fuel: Morgan Lucas, 5.231 seconds @ 162.86 mph defeats Spencer Massey, 5.418 @ 145.25
Funny Car: Jack Beckman, 4.128 @ 303.43 def Ashley Force Hood, 4.157 @ 248.39
Pro Stock: Mike Edwards, 6.645 @ 208.17 def Jeg Coughlin, 7.190 @ 155.11
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Eddie Krawiec, 6.902 @ 192.91 def Douglas Horne, 6.949 @ 191.13

04.19.09: John Force Racing Final Atlanta Report: “Fast Jack” Beckman avenged a final round loss to Ashley Force Hood at last month’s O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park, spoiling what could have been a career day for the driver of the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang at Atlanta Dragway. Beckman, who taught Ashley and her sisters to drive in the Super Comp class, saved his best run for last Sunday and his 4.128 second effort was just good enough to hold off Ashley’s No. 1-qualifying Ford, which encountered problems down track and slowed to 4.157 at only 248.39 miles per hour in the final round of the 29th annual Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals.
It was an unexpected result, especially since Ashley had recorded the quickest time and fastest speed during the qualifying phase and then repeated that performance in each of the first three rounds with times of 4.078, 4.082 and 4.079 seconds. Her three best speeds on race day – 310.48, 311.41 and 312.13 mph – were the three fastest since the course was shortened from a quarter mile to 1,000 feet last year following the death of two-time world champion Scott Kalitta.
While Ashley was turning heads with the performance of her green-and-white Mustang, the other three Team Castrol Fords were making an early exit and two of them also were victimized by Beckman’s Dodge. Robert Hight was the first to fall in the Automobile Club of Southern California Ford and, after Mike Neff had lost to Ashley, John Force fell to Beckman by a margin of .003 of a second. The victory enabled Beckman to move up to second in points behind teammate Ron Capps, one point ahead of Force Hood, who was bidding for her second straight victory at Atlanta Dragway.

2009 NHRA Full Throttle Championship Points Standings

The NHRA Full Throttle Series resumes May 1 - 3 with the 13th annual O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway, St. Louis. FlA & Co. has news and insider updates to be posted the first week of May. -- Credits: DRO, Summit FastNews Network, JFR, edits/adds FlA & Co.

FR 2009 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals homepage

TAB

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