Thu, 1 May 2008, 05:08 PM 28th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals Special Awards

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

COMMERCE, Ga. -- Special awards from the 28th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals.

U.S. Smokeless Showdown award ($4,000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car) - Tim Wilkerson, Springfield, Ill., Levy Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS, 4.774 seconds, 325.92 mph.

K&N Filters Horsepower Challenge award ($3,000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock) - Ron Krisher, Warren, Ohio, Valvoline Chevy Cobalt, 6.644 seconds, 207.69 mph.

Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle award ($1,000 to the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcycle) - Andrew Hines, Brownsburg, Ind., Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley Davidson, 6.950 seconds, 192.28 mph.

Strange Engineering "Perfectly Strange" performance award ($250 bonus to the first racer in Super Stock, Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street who wins an elimination round by running dead-on their dial-in or index) - Super Stock: Leon Miranian, Queensbury, N.Y. Stock Eliminator: Tom Watts, Hayward, Calif. Super Comp: Karsten Blume, Maumee, Ohio Super Gas: Mark Philbrick, Strasburg, Colo. Super Street:

Hedman Hedders Best Engineered Vehicle ($1,000 to the best engineered vehicle) - Aragona Racing Super Stock entry. Driver: Frank Aragona, Jr., Freehold, N.J.

NHRA Best Appearing Crew - Charter Communications Chevy Cobalt Pro Stock crew. Driver: Dave Connolly, Elyria, Ohio

NHRA Best Appearing Car - Giu Seppes Steel City Pizza Super Stock entry. Driver: Joseph Mialki, Port Orange, Fla.

Full Throttle Pit Crew Championship ($3,000 each to Top Fuel and Funny Car's top crew, $1,500 to Pro Stock's top crew, and $750 to Pro Stock Motorcycle's top crew) Driver/crew chief:
Top Fuel: Cory McClenathan/Mike Green, FRAM dragster
Funny Car: Tim Wilkerson/Fred Mandoline, Levy Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS crew
Pro Stock: Ron Krisher/Tommy Utt, Valvoline Chevy Cobalt crew
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Andrew Hines/Matt Hines, Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines Harley Davidson