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PRO STOCK DEBUT

Chris Garner, from nearby Alpharetta, GA, made his first appearance in a Pro Stock car at the Southern Nats. Teamed up with Mike Thomas, the former Super Gas racer is running Finish Line engines in a Jerry Bickel-built 2003 Cavalier. He managed a best pass of 7.032 secs at 196.96 mph in qualifying that placed him 32nd of 33 entries, but remained pleased with the effort. "Pro Stock is where I've always wanted to be, right from the start," he said. "I just had to wait a while until I could afford it, 'cause I didn't want to starve to go racing."

PRO STOCK BIKE

Redlights were the order of the day for the two-wheeled crowd at Atlanta Dragway, with eight of the 15 Pro Stock Bike elimination pairings being decided by premature starts. Even Angelle Savoie, two- time defending series champion and winner of the first two races this year, fell prey to the angry red bulb (or LED, as the case may be). Race winner Geno Scali actually won all four of his elimination rounds courtesy of false starts, making him only the second rider to accomplish the feat. His final-round opponent in Atlanta, Antron Brown, won at Dallas in 1999 under the same conditions.

NEW FACE IN THE CROWD

Matthew Smith, son of NHRA Pro Stock and Pro Mod driver Rickie Smith, qualified for the first time in Pro Stock Bike after missing the cut in Gainesville and Houston. He then made it past Angelle Savoie when she redlit in the opening round and beat Mike Berry before finally being stopped by Antron Brown in the semis. With help from Red Line, Victory 1, and Web Cam, Smith is racing a 2000 Hyabusa with a 1500 cc Suzuki engine built by Rick Ward. In addition to cutting great lights, Smith credited his father's help with reading the track and conditions for his success in Atlanta.

ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR

After 23 runnings of the Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, Frank Manzo (far lane) and Bob Newberry (near lane) have accounted for 14 wins between them in Alcohol Funny Car competition. This year was no different, with the two pairing off in the final and number-one qualifier Manzo earning his 52nd career win.