Steve Harker Atlanta preview

Harker looking to score in Atlanta
photo courtesy David Smith, www.DavesDragPics.com

<img border="0" src="http://insidetopalcohol.com/harker.jpg" width="360" height="270" align="left">COMMERCE, Ga. - Aussie NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car pilot Steve Harker will be looking to score his first win of the 2006 season going into this weekend's Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Harker enters the event hot off a runner-up finish at the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at the Texas Motorplex, and hopes to improve on that showing this weekend.

Harker, a native of Brisbane, Aus., who now lives roughly an hour from the track in Gainesville, Ga., qualified his 2001 Dodge Avenger third in the field in Dallas with a 5.778 at 250.97 mph. In reaching the final, he defeated Burl Brown in round one then defending Division 4 Champion Jimmy Jones in the semifinals. In the final, Harker lost to Kebin Kinsley when his mount went into heavy tireshake.

"It was a tricky track to run all weekend in Dallas," said Harker. "The track was pretty good in the first session, then it just seems it deteriorated from there. I misread the track in the final; I just got a little too greedy. I was trying to run a low .70, but I just don't think the track could hold it. It started shaking and I pedaled it through the shake, but it was too late then. It was just a typical outing with a reasonable result."

After fighting the changing track conditions in Dallas, Harker is looking forward to the track prep of the NHRA Safety Safari at this weekend's event.

"NHRA really does a good job prepping the tracks these days," said Harker. "We're looking forward to getting back on a national event track. We just need to win a few more rounds and earn some more points."

Qualifying begins on Friday for the alcohol cars, with two more sessions on Saturday. Eliminations begin with round one on Saturday evening and conclude on Sunday.

Contact: Will Hanna/ Pro Race Communications
Email: Will.Hanna@InsideTopAlcohol.com