NHRA Predicts Tough Competition and Record Speeds for ATSCO Nationals

02/07/96

The NHRA has predicted that the ATSCO Nationals this month at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona. According to NHRA pre-season test sessions indicate that Drag Racing has entered a new era of competition.

The prize pot for the 12th annual ATSCO Nationals is $1,411,550, and total pot for the Winston Drag Racing Series in 1996 is $27 million. The Atsco nationals are the second event of the series, and NHRA is looking forward to the quickest field in Top Fuel history, but racers will have to beat the record set when Shelly Anderson finished first (4.718) and Scott Kalitta finished 16th (4.887) in October, 1994 at Pomona, CA.

NHRA says to keep your eyes on top contender Kenny Bernstein. During a test session Bernstein drove his Budweiser King Dragster 305 mph (4.708 seconds) to break the track record set by Blaine Johnston's during the 1995 ATSCO Nationals (4.723 seconds).

Check out the NHRA's whole story

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel