COMMERCE, Ga. -- At every NHRA POWERade national event, the end of eliminations is marked with celebrations as the professional winners gather in the winner's circle to receive their trophies, prize money and well-deserved adulation from the fans. Rarely are the disappointed losers given a second thought as they shake off their defeat and prepare for the next race.
The Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway saw Larry Dixon, Tony Pedregon, Warren Johnson and Geno Scali go the distance in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Bike, respectively. But who took home the biggest share of heartbreak over the course of the weekend?
Here are the most likely candidates:
Brandon Bernstein qualified No. 1 and needed to at least keep pace with Dixon to hold onto the points lead, which he earned with his win last week in Bristol, Tenn. But Bernstein was upset by IHRA champ Clay Millican in the second round and that allowed Dixon to regain the points lead with his victory.
John Force was hoping to snap his slump on his birthday and, for a while, it looked as if he was on his way. He qualified No. 1 with his quickest elapsed time of the year, a 4.76, but only got as far as the semifinals, where he lost to Johnny Gray.
Whit Bazemore returned to Atlanta as the defending event champion, the place he enjoyed his most recent win. He met Pedregon in the semifinals and was primed to beat the driver who had engaged him in a war of words after their Houston matchup. Bazemore, however, smoked the tires and lost to Pedregon, who then went on to win the event.
Greg Anderson advanced to the final round this weekend after two previous chances to win the race in 2001 and '02. Two years ago, he lost to Jim Yates in the final when he fouled out. Last year, he lost to Allen Johnson when his engine blew. This year, following holeshot losses in the first round at the two previous events, Houston and Bristol, Anderson lost the Atlanta final, also on a holeshot, to Johnson.
Angelle Savoie had a perfect season heading into Atlanta: she was 2-for-2 with wins in Gainesville, Fla., and Houston. And there was every indication she would remain hot at Atlanta. But she ended her own weekend with a surprising redlight in the first round against Matt Smith, son of Pro Stock veteran Rickie Smith. To add insult to injury, Scali won the race and took over the points lead.
The NHRA will take the Mother's Day weekend off and fire back up in two weeks with the K & N Supernationals in Englishtown, N.J. For those listed above, it will be their next chance to put Atlanta's frustrations behind them.
Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
