COMMERCE, Ga. — The 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season marks the 30th season of racing for Pro Stock Motorcycle (PSM) veteran Steve Johnson.
But even as the longtime rider enters his third decade in the class, Johnson fully admits there is still plenty to learn. The never-ending process to improve continues at this weekend’s 36th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, where Johnson will hope to get on track after suffering a pair of first round losses to open the season.
“I feel like I’m getting better as an owner,” Johnson said. “I want to get better as a rider. The area where I’m learning is race team ownership. The areas where I want to improve on are my riding and my decision-making process at the racetrack. The decision-making process is something I struggle with when it comes to tune-up calls. I really want to get better at making quicker decisions and at the same time I do want to work on my riding. But I feel like I’m getting better as a team owner.”
Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event. The race will be televised on FOX Sports 1 with qualifying shows on Friday and Saturday and three hours of finals coverage on Sunday. The race also marks the third of 16 events in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class in 2016.
For Johnson, it’s the next chance to move forward and continue to make improvements on his Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki. He feels ready heading into Atlanta, working hard on all areas following an early exit at the most recent PSM race in Charlotte, N.C. He joked that, “everything I learned in racing, everybody already knows,” but the preparation process has been a major focus for him in 2016.
Being a rider as well as a team owner is an all-encompassing task, but Johnson, who has six career victories, gladly accepts that role and believes he is on a good path heading to Atlanta.
“We tried to prepare really, really well,” Johnson said. “Making sure your rolling race shop is prepared is really just another job. Not only is the motorcycle ready, I think our truck and trailer is ready as well.
“Even when you’re caught up, you’re preparing for the next race. I always talk about being all in. Everything I do is for this racing company.”
That means constantly looking for ways to improve, both on and off the track. Johnson diligently searches for ways to better the team, whether through sponsorship, outside-the-box thinking or simply getting his motorcycle running well.
Following the slow start in Gainesville, Fla., and Charlotte, Johnson has focused on making sure the bike is ready to compete against a loaded field in Atlanta. That’s where preparation before the race comes into play, an aspect Johnson has tried to improve on early in the 2016 season. He hopes that pays off in Atlanta, as well as down the road this year.
“I’m always amazed at how much I’ve learned now in my 30th year of racing,” Johnson said. “It’s amazing how you can do something this long and still learn. Having said that, I’m still extremely excited about where we can go. I don’t know if we can win a championship this year, but I feel like we can win some races and compete and be a threat.”
To have success in Atlanta, Johnson will have to be in top form against another big field boasting plenty of championship-level talent. It starts with current points leader Eddie Krawiec and reigning world champion Andrew Hines, a two-time Atlanta winner who won in Charlotte. But with 25 participants in the field this weekend, there are a host of competitors gunning for the Wally, including four-time Atlanta winner Angelle Sampey, Jerry Savoie, 2011 event winner LE Tonglet, Hector Arana Jr., Chip Ellis, Hector Arana Sr. and 21-year-old rookie Melissa Surber.
It’s a meaningful race for Johnson in that it’s the closest event to his race shop in Birmingham, Ala., meaning plenty of friends will be on hand. But with another massive field it’s the latest example of why Johnson loves the direction the class is headed.
“For me, I’m proud that others would invest their time and money into our sport and especially our category,” Johnson said. “It is so fulfilling to put a professional team together, race with the largest sanctioning body on the planet and be able to do it with FOX coverage to legitimize what we’re doing. You can have all this fun and turn it into a career as well. I’m so proud that people would choose to be involved in our class. When I see 25 motorcycles coming to Atlanta, I’m just so proud and it’s really exciting.”
In Top Fuel, Brown raced to his second victory of the 2015 season when he defeated Leah Pritchett in the Atlanta final one year ago, finishing off his year with a world championship. He has tallied four victories at Atlanta, the most of active Top Fuel drivers, but defending his Atlanta title will not be easy. Points leader Brittany Force picked up her second win of the season in Charlotte, while others to watch include Texan Steve Torrence, eight-time world champ Tony Schumacher, who has yet to win the Southern Nationals, three-time event winner Doug Kalitta, who recently won in Houston, Terry McMillen, Clay Millican, J.R. Todd, 2014 Rookie of the Year Richie Crampton and Shawn Langdon.
Wilkerson raced to the Funny Car title at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals last year and already has two wins in 2016. The star-studded class also includes standouts like Alexis DeJoria, who won in Las Vegas, reigning world champ Del Worsham, three-time Atlanta winner Robert Hight, seven-time event winner John Force, Jack Beckman, Pomona winner Ron Capps, Courtney Force, who moved into the points lead with Wilkerson by winning in Houston, Chad Head and two-time world champ Cruz Pedregon.
In Pro Stock, Line outlasted his Summit Racing Equipment Chevrolet Camaro teammate Greg Anderson in the 2015 final in Atlanta. This season, Line and Anderson have dominated thus far in the redesigned factory hot rod class, splitting the first six races. Line has three of those wins and the points lead, but the competition will be tough in Atlanta. Jeg Coughlin and Allen Johnson are the only other two active drivers with wins at Atlanta Dragway, while two-time and defending world champ Erica Enders, Drew Skillman, Bo Butner and Chris McGaha are also expected to make a push for the Wally.
The sleek new Pro Stock cars feature fuel-injected engines, shorter wheelie bars, flat hoods and a 10,500 RPM rev-limiter.
The race will also feature plenty of thrilling action in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series, which makes its third stop of 2016.
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.
Qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta will feature two rounds at 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 13 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, May 14, at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 15.
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.
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SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 36th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, the seventh of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. Competition in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series and the NHRA Lucas Oil Series also will be featured at this event.
WHERE: Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Ga. I-85 to Exit 149 (Hwy 441). After exiting the freeway, go north on Highway 441 to Steven Tanger Blvd. Take left on Tanger and then go right on Ridgeway Road.
COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 1,100 feet above sea level; Track direction is southeast to northwest.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, May 13-15, 2016
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, May 13 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 3:15 and 5:45 p.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 4 and 6:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, May 14- LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 12:45 p.m. Round 1 of eliminations at 3:15 p.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:30 and 4 p.m.
SUNDAY, May 15 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Friday, May 13, FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 7:30 p.m. (ET).
Saturday, May 14, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 10 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, May 15, FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 4:30 p.m. (ET).
2015 EVENT WINNERS: Antron Brown, Top Fuel; Tim Wilkerson, Funny Car; Jason Line, Pro Stock, Hector Arana, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
MOST VICTORIES: Dave Schultz, 8, PSM; John Force, 7, FC; Antron Brown, 6, TF/PSM; Warren Johnson, 5, PS; Kenny Bernstein, 4, TF/FC; Larry Dixon, 4, TF; Angelle Sampey, 4, PSM; Greg Anderson, 4, PS; Lee Shepherd, 4, PS.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.732 sec. and 328.86 mph by Doug Kalitta, May ’14.
Funny Car – 4.010 sec. by Cruz Pedregon, May ’15; 320.58 mph by Courtney Force, May ’14.
Pro Stock – 6.493 sec. by Erica Enders, May ’14; 213.00 mph by Jason Line, May ’14.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.794 sec. and 197.54 mph by Eddie Krawiec, May ’14.
NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.680 sec. by Antron Brown, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.
Funny Car – 3.879 sec. by Jack Beckman, March ‘16, Gainesville, Fla.; 331.45 mph by Matt Hagan, Nov. ’15, Pomona, Calif.
Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.
PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.
TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets.
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NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the sixth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel: 1. Brittany Force, 464; 2. Doug Kalitta, 463; 3. Antron Brown, 445; 4. Steve Torrence, 417; 5. Clay Millican, 355; 6. J.R. Todd, 316; 7. Tony Schumacher, 295; 8. Leah Pritchett, 291; 9. Richie Crampton, 275; 10. Terry McMillen, 259.
Funny Car: 1. (tie) Courtney Force, 439; Tim Wilkerson, 439; 3. Ron Capps, 417; 4. Robert Hight, 404; 5. John Force, 384; 6. Jack Beckman, 379; 7. Del Worsham, 376; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 339; 9. Chad Head, 303; 10. Matt Hagan, 280.
Pro Stock: 1. Jason Line, 689; 2. Greg Anderson, 610; 3. Bo Butner, 508; 4. Drew Skillman, 399; 5. Chris McGaha, 339; 6. Allen Johnson, 318; 7. Vincent Nobile, 262; 8. Erica Enders, 257; 9. Jeg Coughlin, 255; 10. Alex Laughlin, 220.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Eddie Krawiec, 232; 2. Andrew Hines, 197; 3. Hector Arana, 154; 4. Chip Ellis, 135; 5. Jerry Savoie, 108; 6. LE Tonglet, 107; 7. Michael Ray, 104; 8. Matt Smith, 93; 9. Angelle Sampey, 92; 10. Jim Underdahl, 84.
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