Anderson Sets Top Speed for the Fourth Time this Season

Greg Anderson was fast during qualifying at the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway and claimed Top Speed of the Meet with a 210.11 MPH pass. This was the fourth time Anderson claimed the Number One qualifier award this season, and it is the 97th of his career.

In Round One of eliminations, Val Smeland was a no-show, allowing Anderson to advance to Round Two. Anderson won with a 6.632/209.01 pass to Deric Kramer’s tire rattling 22.631/34.07.

In the semifinals, Vince Nobile took the win with a 6.610/209.14 pass to Anderson’s 6.631/209.85.

“Our formula for race day is off, and we need to stop repeating the same crime on Sundays,” said Anderson, who has reached the semifinals at each of the last two events. “We’re going to test before Topeka. We’ll figure it out and have better cars on Sunday. We won’t rest until we do.”

Jason Line qualified eighth this weekend. In Round One of eliminations, Line faced Deric Kramer, but Line rattled the tires to hand Kramer the win.

“We’ll be back for Topeka, and it will be better,” said Line. “We definitely have to rethink the way we’re doing things, that’s all.”

Reigning Pro Stock world champion Butner made it to Round Two of eliminations, but Drew Skillman took the win with a 6.625/208.84 pass to Butner’s 6.632/209.20.

Tim Wilkerson, driver of the Levi, Ray and Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car, moved into 10th in the points standings, up from 12th.

In Round One of eliminations, Wilkerson faced Shawn Langdon. Langdon smoked the tires and Wilkerson took the win with a 4.185/259.01 pass.

In the Round Two of eliminations, Wilkerson and Courtney Force left the starting line nearly in unison, but it was Force with the win, 4.144/297.35 to Wilk’s 4.410/257.92.

“That’s okay, we’re going to go on to Topeka and see what we can do there,” said Wilkerson. “I like being in the top half of the field like we were here, and maybe we can keep this going.”

Final Round Results
Top Fuel—Leah Pritchett (3.74/322.42) defeated  Blake Alexander (Foul, Red Light)

Funny Car—Courtney Force (4.046/313.73) defeated Matt Hagan (4.148/291.13)

Pro Stock—Vincent Nobile (6.599/209.72) defeated Tanner Gray (6.614/209.52)

Pro Stock Motorcycle—Eddie Krawiec (6.922/194.91) defeated Scotty Pollacheck (6.958/193.18)

What’s Next
The next event on the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series tour is the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kansas, May 18-20.

For more information and complete race results visit DragRaceCentral.com.