Andrew Hines ready to smoke the competition at Atlanta Dragway

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Andrew Hines knows what it feels like to taste success at Atlanta Dragway, doing it three times in his Pro Stock Motorcycle career, including the most recent visit to the track. But to win the 40th and final race in Atlanta at this weekend’s Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, he’ll have to do it on a brand new motorcycle.
 
The six-time NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series world champion will debut a new Vance & Hines V-Twin Buell this weekend, as Hines will make his first appearance of the 2021 season. A perfect first race of the season would include finishing as the final winner at Atlanta Dragway, something Hines, who has the most wins in Pro Stock Motorcycle history, believes is possible after a solid day of testing with the new bike on Tuesday.

 
“It would be pretty phenomenal to win on a brand new bike at the final race in Atlanta,” said Hines, who has 56 career wins. “The first time on the bike was pretty successful and we’re making good horsepower, so we’ll see what we can do. Atlanta is one of those tracks where we’ve always seemed to run well, and it would certainly be cool to win this last one. There’s nothing stopping me from doing it other than all these other fast motorcycles in the class.”

 
The last racing action at Atlanta took place in 2019, where Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all picked up victories. This year’s race will be televised on FOX Sports 1, including finals coverage of the historic race taking place on Sunday, May 2. It is the third overall race of the 2021 season, but just the first for Hines, who will try to make up for lost ground by winning in Atlanta one last time. 

 
To walk away with the win, Hines will have to get past a star-studded and deep field in Atlanta. A total of 22 bikes will be competing to send out Atlanta Dragway in style, including the likes of defending world champ and Gainesville winner Matt Smith, Las Vegas winner Ryan Oehler, teammates Eddie Krawiec and Angelle Sampey, Angie Smith, Scotty Pollacheck and Steve Johnson.
 
”To get all three of us qualified will be a feat in itself with this field,” Hines said. “Atlanta has always been a good race for the bikes and looking at the entry list, it’s filled with riders who have won a race. There’s going to be a lot of top-notch bikes and, with only two qualifiers, we’re going to have to be on our ‘A’ game and make sure each run counts.”

 
In Pro Stock, the biggest storyline may come down to the veteran who is trying to add one last Atlanta triumph facing off against several hungry drivers hoping to make history with their first victory at the track. Greg Anderson has four victories in Atlanta, putting him one away from the most in Pro Stock history at the track with one last race remaining. He’s off to a strong start in 2021 as well, winning the first race of the season in Gainesville.

 
Meanwhile, no other active driver in the class has a victory in Atlanta, including defending and four-time world champ Erica Enders, who won in Las Vegas. Beyond that, it’s a talented group of rising stars in the class, all who want to grab a piece of Atlanta history at the finale. That includes Kyle Koretsky, a promising second-year driver who would like nothing more than his first career Pro Stock victory to come in his Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro at his sponsor’s race.

 
“When it’s your first and last opportunity to race and win in Atlanta, you better have the right mindset,” Koretsky said. “I’m going into this race focusing on trying to win my first NHRA event in Pro Stock and also help people remember why Team Lucas Oil is number one.”

 
Top Fuel’s Torrence was the most recent Atlanta winner, and the three-time world champ also won in Las Vegas. He’ll look to stay hot against the likes of Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force, Antron Brown, Leah Pruett, Shawn Langdon and Gainesville winner Josh Hart.

 
Capps will look for his third Atlanta win in the last four outings but will have to contend with a loaded Funny Car field that includes defending world champ Matt Hagan, Las Vegas winner Bob Tasca, John Force, Robert Hight and Gainesville winner J.R. Todd.

 
The race also includes thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where future stars of the sport hone their skills. The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service will make its second appearance in 2021. Jose Gonzalez won the opening race, while Mike Castellana won in Atlanta in 2019. Alsum Farms/Wisconsin Potatoes is the presenting Pro Mod sponsor in Atlanta.

 
The Southeast Nostalgia Pro Stock Association will also be in action during the weekend at Atlanta Dragway. Several classic Pro Stock cars will make runs throughout the weekend, and all the cars will be on display in a special pit display at the track. A total of six racers are scheduled to make a run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
 
Fans also have the chance to walk the fabled quarter-mile strip during the Southern Nationals Final Event SealMaster Track Walk on Sunday. Past race winners John Force, Antron Brown, Angelle Sampey, Eddie Krawiec, Greg Anderson, as well as Pro Stock icon Warren Johnson will be on hand to welcome fans. The Track Walk will be limited to 250 people, and fans can purchase tickets for $50. Each guest will also receive a limited-edition Warren Johnson mini helmet (a number of which will be signed by Johnson) and a limited edition poster.

 
Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds on Saturday, May 1 at 12:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. ET. Final eliminations are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 2.
 
Tickets are on sale now for Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals and may be purchased by visiting NHRA.com or calling 800-884-NHRA.
 

 

(Courtesy of NHRA Communications)

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