2nd Annual PRO Hot Rod and Muscle Car Nationals in Atlanta GA., Thanks All!

SANTA ANA, Calif. – September 14, 2003 – Thousands of spectators at Atlanta Dragway this weekend witnessed some of the most dramatic racing of the year in the PRO-Edelbrock Fastest Street Car Drag Racing Series. This year's 2nd Annual PRO Hot Rod & Muscle Car Nationals was greeted with sunshine and beautiful weather over the entire event, in contrast to last year's show, which was a wash out. All three days, large crowds came out to see the best in street legal drag racing, along with the Car Craft sponsored Auto Show, vendor midway, burnout contest and more.

Perhaps the biggest success for muscle car and hot rod lovers was the tremendous turnout in the Auto Show Spectacular, presented by Car Craft Magazine. Over 170 of the finest chromed out and spit- shined muscle machines were on the property attracting lots of attention both days. On Saturday, Wayne Andrews of Eatonton, Ga., earned the Best of Show award with his sparkling '58 Chevrolet Convertible. Car Craft Magazine Editor's choice was the '68 Camaro of Henry Higgins of Columbiana, Ala., Sunday's prestigious Gold Choice Awards was headlined by a pair of flawless Chevy's, of Jack Jenkins, of Easley, South Carolina took 1st Place Best of Show in his '55 Chevy, and Johnny Johnson of Centerville, GA took the runner up with his '69 Camaro.

In the headlining Denso Pro Street class, superstar Marc Dantoni of Staten Island, NY took his first PRO win of the year over a 'broken' Steve Miller with his S-10 twin turbocharged truck. Miller had run best e.t. of the event with a 6.611, but was unable to make the call for the final round after experiencing breakage. The points race between Pat Musi and Steve Miller took an interesting turn when Musi lost in the 2nd round due to a holeshot by Kevin McCurdy, who won despite a slower e.t. It was up to Musi teammate Dantoni to defeat McCurdy, which he did in the semi-finals, and then Miller in the finals to keep Miller from gaining valuable round points.

Kenny Bennett of Cincinnati, Ohio grabbed the Nitto Super Street victory in Tony Kenny Bennett of Cincinnati, Ohio grabbed the Nitto Super Street victory in Tony Bischoff's '95 Olds Achieva, taking out Bill May and Bobby Joysey in the process. Along the way, Bennett qualified number one with a 7.478 and ran top mph at 191.38. Joel Greathouse ran into mechanical trouble during the first round of eliminations which put him out early.

Always a fan favorite, ATI ProCharger's Top Dog Shootout is hosted on Saturday afternoon during the third round of qualifying. In a format where the top qualifier's from the Pro Street and Super Street class square off, where cat-like reaction time is the magic elixir to the victory. Steve Miller took the win over Kenny Bennett with a consistent 6.65 on a 6.64 index, to Bennett's 7.60 on a 7.45.

Flowmaster Nostalgia Pro Street rivals Rob Golobo and Ross Stomp did battle in the finals at Atlanta Dragway, with Golobo taking the win with a 7.661 at 182.30 mph. Dale Pittman was the top qualifier with a 7.671 at 180 mph, but broke in the semi-finals. Stomp, the current PRO Nostalgia Pro Street points leader, had endured a late-night thrash to repair carnage done to his 632 Chevrolet big-block during qualifying which required replacing pistons and cylinder head repair.

The Vortech Xtreme Street and TCI/FAST Pro Stock classes both featured PRO-Edelbrock first time event winners. Nick Rinehart took out some tough Vortech Superchargers Xtreme Street competition, defeating Bob Curran of Bartlett, IL in the finals with a 8.503, 165.33 to Curran's 11.720, 120.13. In TCI/FAST Pro Stock, it was the battle of the Ford Mustangs, as Shane Long of Greenville, S.C. defeated Mike Demayo of West Sunbury, Pa., 9.273, 146.85 to 9.373, 143.58

In Car Craft Magazine Cheap Street, controversy erupted as Jeremy Taylor's nitrous plate legality was called into question, and Scott Black's Ford Mustang returned to competition with a different driver behind the wheel. Taylor's vehicle was subject to a PRO official teardown after qualifying and was deemed legal by PRO Tech Official Mike Bruns. Taylor defeated Tim Hendricks '95 Pontiac Firebird in the final 9.985, 133.54 to 10.230, 129.24.

Other finals from the PRO event at Atlanta Dragway were equally exciting. Hamburger's Oil Pan's Nostalgia Super Stock was won by Jeff Puckett of Newland, N.C., who defeated Jimmy Gardner. In DTS Nostalgia Muscle Car, the '74 Nova of David Parris found the winner's circle, defeating a 21-car field and Brad Crumley of Roan Mountain, Tenn.

Superchips Open Comp featured an exciting final between Walter Doyle and Jamie Rickman, with Doyle taking the win.

MSD True Street saw Bobby McNair of Seneca, S.C., become the new King of Georgia, as he averaged 10.93 with his 1968 Ford Mustang. Other winners included Thomas Garrett, 12-second winner and Rudy Bennett, 14-second winner.

In the Performance Wheel Outlet Burnout Contest, a full field of 10 entrants did their best to outsmoke each other. The winner was Nostalgia Muscle Car racer Ralph Seran, who entered his 1970 Super Bee. Runner up, Kevin Rich's 2001 Dodge Pick-up got the fan's nod for the second place.

Follow the PRO Hot Rod & Muscle Car Nationals & PRO-Edelbrock Drag Racing Series as we travel to Memphis Motorsports Park for the World Finals, October 3-4-5.