Toyota NHRA Atlanta Preview
ATLANTA PLAYED CRUCIAL ROLE FOR WORSHAM – As one of just three drivers ever to win both Top Fuel and 
Funny Car world championships, Del Worsham is considered one of the great drivers in NHRA history. Yet, if it hadn’t been for the 1991 Southern Nationals, history may have looked much different. At the time Worsham was a rookie just trying to make it through the season with his family-owned and run team. As they went to Atlanta, the team was preparing to shut down operations after the race and return home looking to save money to, hopefully, return to action that summer. Instead, the 21-year-old went on to defeat Mark Oswald (now Antron Brown’s co-crew chief) in the final to become the youngest winner in Funny Car history. It also provided the money the team desperately needed to fund the remainder of the season, which would include a second win and Rookie of the Year honors.
ODDS ARE IN BROWN’S FAVOR – Antron Brown will be looking to become the first Top Fuel driver in history to win five Southern Nationals with a victory this weekend and If past history is any indication, he may be a big favorite. Brown has won each of the last three races run in odd-numbered years at Atlanta – 2015, 2013 and 2011. Brown’s fourth Georgia win came during his rookie season in 2008. Of course, there’s a pretty good chance that the three-time world champion is going to be a winner any time he takes to the track. Over the last five-plus seasons, Brown has 31 victories – almost double the total of the next highest Top Fuel driver (16).
KALITTA DEFENDING ATLANTA CHAMP – Doug Kalitta returns to Atlanta as the defending Top Fuel champion after winning an historic final in 2016 against teammate J.R. Todd, where his margin of victory was less than .0000 of a second. The race was the closest Top Fuel race in history. It was Kalitta’s third Southern Nationals victory after previously winning in 2005 and 2006.
TODD TRENDING UP: J.R. Todd advanced to his first-ever Funny Car final round this past weekend in Charlotte in just his sixth race in the DHL Camry. Todd has climbed up to eighth in points.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT ATLANTA:
Del Worsham: “Atlanta means a lot to me. It was the place where I won my first race as a 21-year-old rookie in 1991. Atlanta was going to be my last race on the tour, basically my dad and I were out of money. We thought we’ll go to Atlanta, then we’ll go home and try to save some money to race in the summer-time. We won the race and basically that $20,000 is what propelled us to keep going and to where I am today.”
Antron Brown: “Atlanta is one of my favorite go-to tracks because it reminds of the old school tracks that I grew up going to. Winning five would be pretty incredible. It’s always a good race course to go to . It changes so much that it’s always testament to win there. Sometimes at Atlanta you get four different seasons all in one weekend. Cool at night, beginning summer, a summer race, a hot Denver race – that’s what makes it so challenging, yet so rewarding when you win. win.
Doug Kalitta: “There’s a lot of history at Atlanta. We’ve been real fortunate there. To win that race with J.R. (by less than 0.0000 seconds) was about as close as you can get and we squeezed one off there. You never really know how close it was until you turn that corner. To win four races at one track would be really strong. We’ll be gunning for it.”
