SELECT COVERAGE BY DAY:
Special thanks to our event coverage sponsor Mickey Thompson. Check their wheel and tire offerings at www.mickeythompsontires.com
Sunday Morning Update
a large crowd watches on as Dave Rieff and Mike Dunn broadcast "NHRA Raceday" live on ESPN leading into todays final eliminations.
Ashley Force Hood is undeniably a favorite amongst fans at any stop on the tour, and with her great success here at Atlanta - including her first professional win in 2008 - is a favorite to win here today she leads the field into eliminations as the top qualifier.
The always popular Jack Beckman will face Matt Hagan in the opening round of Funny Car today.
Troy Coughlin has run very well here this weekend, laying down a 5.99 in the heat of the final qualifying session and sitting down Dennis Radford in the opening stanza. The JEG's Camaro will face #1 qualifier Mike Janis in todays second round.
Round 1 Eliminations
Top Fuel
In a big upset, independent racer Pat Dakin took down Antron Brown on a holeshot at the stripe by a mere .002 second.
Perennial favorite Tony Schumacher advanced with a 3.928 defeat of Steve Torrence, whose engine expired in a big fireball at half track.
Cory McClenathan was out of the gate first against Shawn Langdon and never trailed, 3.89 to 4.00.
T.J Zizzo def. Bob Vandergriff
Morgan Lucas def. David Grubnic
Tony Schumacher def. Bobby Lagana Jr.
Doug Kalitta def. Terry Haddock
Brandon Bernstein def. Terry McMillen
Funny Car
Tony Pedregon won an exciting affair with Del Worsham, 4.52 to 4.58, as both drivers began to haze the tires on the top end and struggled to the stripe.
Ashley Force Hood advanced to the second round on a single as Jeff Diehl broke and was pushed away before staging.
Jack Beckman def. Matt Hagan
Robert Hight def. Melanie Troxel
Ron Capps def. Jim Head
Bob Tasca def. Jeff Arend
Tim Wilkerson def. Cruz Pedregon
John Force def. Bob Bode
Pro Stock
In a monster upset, the young Rickie Jones took down the Mike Edwards juggernaut on a holeshot that drew a raucous applause, 6.69 to 6.64.
Johnny Gray advanced with a defeat of Bob Yonke, 6.68 to 6.69.
Greg Anderson sent Steve Speiss home early with a stellar 6.66 to 6.70 count.
Kurt Johnson edged Shane Gray on a holeshot, 6.70 to 6.69 after an .096 to .106 advantage.
Greg Stanfield def. Jason Line
Jeg Coughlin def. Ronnie Humphrey
Allen Johnson def. Warren Johnson
V. Gainesdef. Ron Krisher
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Steve Johnson ran a great 6.96, his best of the weekend, to sent Shawn Gann's 6.99 packing.
Craig Treble advanced in a holeshot defeat of Eddie Krawiec's Harley Davidson, 7.0w to 7.01.
Hector Arana went low for the round in defeating Wesley Wells with a 6.956 at 192.03.
Michael Phillips def. LE Tonglet
Karen Stoffer def. Angie Smith
Matt Smith def. Jim Underdahl
Andrew Hines def. Mike Berry
David Hope def. Gary Moreno
Pro Modified Round 2 Eliminations
Rick Stivers moved on to the semifinals with a nice 6.01 while Danny Rowe made a move to the centerline and lifted.
Mike Janis finally got the track figured out after his opening 5.91 to take the pole, and outran Troy Coughlin in a great race to the stripe, 5.95 to 5.98.
Michael Gullqvist will race in the semifinals on the heels of 5.97 lap. Scott Ray was .055 red and lifted.
Von Smith def. Jay Payne
Semifinal Round Update
Pro Modified
Michael Gullqvist took out Von Smith and the al-Anabi team with a great 5.983 to 5.951 count, and will face Mike Janis in the final round.
Top Fuel
In a matchup of heavyweights, Larry Dixon defeated rival Tony Schumacher, 3.89 to a tire-hazing 4.33. Dixon will meet Brandon Bernstein in the final round.
Funny Car
Crew chief Jimmy Prock celebrates as Robert Hight takes down Jack Beckman, 4.19 to 4.24, to advance to the final where he will meet teammate Ashley Force Hood.
Pro Stock
Rickie Jones continued his amazing run this weekend, defeating avery late Johnny Gray and will race Jeg Coughlin in the money round.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Hector Arana's son celebrates as Hector sits down heavy-hitter Matt Smith to advance to the final to meet Andrew Hines. Arana was dead late, but benefited from Smith's problems at mid track.
Final Round Eliminations
Pro Modified
Michael Gullqvist, who came all the way from Europe to drive the R2Bs Camaro for the very fist time this weekend, finished up an amazing weekend for that team by defeating Mike Janis in the final. 6.00 to 6.08.
And the crowd goes wild!
Pro Stock Motorycle
Andrew Hines defeated Hector Arana in a great final round matchup, running a 6.96 to Hector's slowing 7.04.
Pro Stock
Jeg Coughlin ended Rickie Jones' amazing run to the final, besting the kid with a 6.65 to 6.68 count after two nearly identical lights.
The win here at Atlanta marked Coughlin's 50th career victory in Pro Stock.
Funny Car
In a battle of Force Racing teammates, Robert Hight bested Ashley Force Hood, 4.18 to 4.25.
Top Fuel
Brandon Bernstein was oh-so-close to having a huge advantage on Larry Dixon in the final but was .003 red, handing the win to Dixon who ran a nice 3.91 at 311.49.