Mon, 06 May 2019, 15:57 PM Castellana Claims Event Title

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2019 Auto Imagery, Inc. At Atlanta at 39th Annual Arby's NHRA Southern Nationals

COMMERCE, Ga. - Mike Castellana claimed his second victory in three years at Atlanta Dragway in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service on Sunday, winning the 39th annual Arby's NHRA Southern Nationals, where the series was presented by FuelTech. It is the fourth of 12 races during the 2019 season.

Mike Castellana defeated Jose Gonzalez Red Light

Castellana ran 5.825-seconds at 248.29 mph in his supercharged Al-Anabi Performance Chevrolet Camaro, picking up the final-round win when Jose Gonzalez suffered a red-light start.

Mike Castellana and crew celebrate win.

It marks the ninth career E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod victory for Castellana, who qualified ninth and also earned round wins over Brandon Snider, Jeremy Ray and defending world champion Mike Janis, running a 5.809 at 248.48 in the semifinals.

Mike Castellana celebrates ninth win.

"I knew everything would come together, but I didn't expect it this quick," said Castellana, who failed to qualify at the first three races of the season. "(Crew chief) Frank (Manzo) and my team do a great job. We feel real confident now. We're making progress with the car and we'll be ready for Virginia."

The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service continues May 17-19 with the Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond, Va.

Final round-by-round results from the 39th annual Arby's NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, the fourth of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

ROUND ONE -- Mike Castellana, Chevy Camaro, 5.883, 248.11 def. Brandon Snider, Chevy Corvette, 6.016, 239.14; Doug Winters, Chevy Chevelle, 5.874, 247.25 def. Rickie Smith, Ford Mustang, 5.903, 248.75; Todd Tutterow, Camaro, 5.803, 247.75 def. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 5.997, 202.52; Jeremy Ray, Corvette, 9.778, 89.19 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, Foul - Red Light; Chad Green, Camaro, 5.816, 250.37 def. Clint Satterfield, Camaro, 7.499, 158.58; Jose Gonzalez, Camaro, 5.844, 249.86 def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.397, 232.19; Mike Janis, Camaro, 6.278, 200.14 def. Steven Whiteley, Camaro, 12.181, 71.45; Sidnei Frigo, Camaro, 5.853, 254.47 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.062, 252.57;

QUARTERFINALS -- Castellana, 5.851, 247.25 def. Ray, 6.717, 145.99; Gonzalez, 7.965, 133.54 def. Frigo, Foul - Red Light; Janis, 5.856, 247.07 def. Tutterow, 7.917, 120.63; Winters, 6.044, 223.91 def. Green, Foul - Centerline;

SEMIFINALS -- Castellana, 5.809, 248.48 def. Janis, 5.860, 240.98; Gonzalez, 5.865, 254.71 def. Winters, Broke - No Show;

FINAL -- Castellana, 5.825, 248.29 def. Gonzalez, Foul - Red Light.

Point standings (top 10) following the 39th annual Arby's NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, the fourth of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

1. Steve Jackson, 334; 2. Todd Tutterow, 333; 3. Mike Janis, 301; 4. Jose Gonzalez, 274; 5. Jeremy Ray, 222; 6. Chad Green, 207; 7. Rickie Smith, 202; 8. Steven Whiteley, 178; 9. Erica Enders, 177; 10. Sidnei Frigo, 160.