<< PREVIOUS PAGE

Warren Johnson's GM Performance Parts team is based not far from Atlanta
Dragway in Sugar Hill, GA, making his fifth win at "Georgia's House of Speed" a
popular one with the fans.

Scali enjoyed an almost perfect weekend in Pro Stock Bike after qualifying number one, running low elapsed time in eliminations, scoring the event win, and vaulting into the two-wheeled points lead. His only flaw came when he redlit by .014 seconds in the final round against Antron Brown -- but still managed to win since Brown left .023 secs too soon, bringing the NHRA's "worst or first" rule into play.

In Atlanta, Geno Scali became the second rider in NHRA history to win all four of his elimination rounds courtesy of redlight starts in the opposite lane.

TOP FUEL

One of the biggest moments in Atlanta (pun intended!) came when "Big Daddy" Don Garlits held on to qualify for the first time since 1987 in Top Fuel with a 4.788-secs pass at 319.98 that put him 16th on the ladder and slotted against rookie sensation Brandon Bernstein in the opening round. Surprisingly, Garlits and Brandon's father Kenny had never faced off, so it marked the first time the two legendary names were paired in competition.

It was youth versus experience in qualifying, as 18-year-old Josh Starcher (far lane) lined up with 71-year-old Don Garlits. Starcher beat "The Old Man" this time, but in the end, Garlits was in the field and Starcher went home early.

When it came time to race, Garlits left first by .015, but Bernstein's superior power secured the round win. Still, the Summit-backed legend was thrilled with his performance. "That was our best pass all weekend," he pointed out. "We can't run with those guys (Bernstein); we don't have the parts, we don't have the crew, we don't have the money; but all it would've taken would be a little bobble from him and we could have won." Indeed, the 4.737 that Garlits recorded would've been good enough to win three of the other first-round pairings.

NEXT PAGE >>