COMMERCE, Ga. – Two wins to open the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season has put Matt Hagan in a good place. The two-time Funny Car world champion is the current points leader in the star-studded class and the fast start continues to be beneficial for the standout.

He will try to maintain that impressive pace in his 10,000-horsepower Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T as he heads to Atlanta Dragway for the 37th annual NHRA Southern Nationals, May 5-7. It finishes off a stretch of three straight race weekends, but the two early wins have provided early momentum and an additional boost for Hagan, who is also the defending Atlanta winner.

“The benefits of starting well is confidence and confidence is key in this sport,” said Hagan, who has 24 career wins. “You roll in and feel good about what you’re doing. When you roll into a track on Friday and go right down the track, that’s big. Anytime you do well in qualifying, that’s usually dependent on that first qualifying session. It sets you up for a good first session and a good weekend. We’ve got a consistent car and I’m feeling really comfortable in the seat.”

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also last year’s winners of the event that will be televised on FOX Sports 1, including finals coverage starting at 6:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, May 7. It marks the seventh of 24 events during the 2017 and things have gone according to plan for Hagan thus far.

Hagan started the year with wins at Pomona and Phoenix, and then a semifinal berth at Gainesville as he pushes towards a third Funny Car world championship. Plenty of season remains, and Hagan must overcome a number of top challengers, including defending world champ and Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps, Las Vegas winner Tommy Johnson, seven-time Atlanta winner John Force and Courtney Force, but Hagan likes the path his team is on.

Early-season success can be difficult to maintain over a grueling 24-race season, but Hagan knows his team, led by crew chief Dickie Venables, is focused on the task at hand.

“You look at the season and you just try to win as many races as you can,” Hagan said. “The last part (of the regular season), you’re fine-tuning to get ready for the Countdown (to the Championship), but I want to put as many trophies as I can on the mantle. But I also feel like if you do well early, you will do well later when the Countdown starts and those conditions come back.”

The conditions start to really change by the time the NHRA stars arrive in Atlanta and then move toward the summer months. Finding consistency on hot and tricky tracks can be difficult, but Hagan believes that is one area where his team thrives. That proved important in winning at Atlanta Dragway last year and Hagan it will be a factor again in 2017.

“It’s one of the hotter race tracks we go to and your crew chief has to be able to adapt,” Hagan said. “A lot of it is just getting down the racetrack, and you have to put those things into consideration and become more of a racer. But I think that’s where Dickie shines. He’s a great racer on Sunday because he knows how to race the track. Dickie is so methodical about things and he really thinks about the process and what we need in every situation.”

Kalitta’s fourth Atlanta win tied him with Antron Brown and Larry Dixon for most in Top Fuel history at the track. But back-to-back world champ Brown, points leader Tony Schumacher, who has won at every NHRA track but Atlanta, and two-time 2017 winner Leah Pritchett pose stiff challenges.

Line’s second straight Pro Stock win at Atlanta helped his title run, but he will be pushed by 2017 season winners Greg Anderson, Shane Gray and his son, rookie Tanner Gray.

Krawiec has Atlanta Pro Stock Motorcycle victories two of the past three years, but he’ll have to get past Andrew Hines, defending world champ Jerry Savoie and four-time winner Angelle Sampey.

The NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series makes its fourth of 12 stops in 2017 at Atlanta Dragway. The event also features thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, showcasing the future stars of the sport. After Nitro qualifying Friday, fans can watch the spectacular Larsen Motorsports jet dragsters sponsored by Florida Tech and Matrix System, and Douthit Motorsports Black Pearl Nostalgia Jet Funny Car. Jet cars are thrust driven propelled by jet engines with exciting pre-run flame shows.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers. Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:15 and 6:45 p.m. on Friday, May 5 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, May 6, at 1:15 and 3:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 7.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. To honor the Salute to First Responders, military and first responders can save 20 percent on general admission tickets at the gate. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

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NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS

WHAT:              37th annual NHRA Southern Nationals, the seventh of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. 

WHERE:           Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Ga. – I-85 to Exit 149 (Hwy 441). After exiting the freeway, go north on Highway 441 to Steven Tanger Blvd. Take a left on Tanger and then go right on Ridgeway Road.

WHEN:              Friday through Sunday, May 5-7

SCHEDULE:    FRIDAY, May 5 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 3:45 p.m. and 6 p.m.           
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 4:15 and 6:45 p.m.

SATURDAY, May 6 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 12:45 p.m. and Round 1 of eliminations at 3:15 p.m.    

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:15 and 3:45 p.m. 

SUNDAY, May 7 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10:00 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:  Friday, May 5, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET).

                            Saturday, May 6, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 1 a.m. (ET).

                            Sunday, April 7, FS1 will televise three hours of elimination highlights at 6 p.m. (ET)

2016 EVENT

WINNERS:        Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Matt Hagan, Funny Car; Jason Line, Pro Stock; Eddie Krawiec, Pro Stock Motorcycle.

MOST                 

VICTORIES:     Antron Brown, 4, TF; Larry Dixon 4; Doug Kalitta 4;  John Force, 7, FC; Warren Johnson, 5, PS; Dave Schultz 8 PSM.

TRACK            

RECORDS:      Top Fuel – 3.731 sec. by Doug Kalitta, May ’16; 328.86 mph by Kalitta, May ‘14.

                            Funny Car – 3.906 sec. by Matt Hagan, May. ’16; 329.02 mph by Hagan, May. ’16.

                            Pro Stock – 6.493 sec. by Erica Enders, March ‘14; 213.00 mph by Jason Line, March ‘14.

                            Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.794 sec. and 197.54 mph by Eddie Krawiec., May ‘14.

NATIONAL

RECORDS:      Top Fuel – 3.658 sec. by Leah Pritchett, Feb. ‘17, Phoenix; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.

            Funny Car – 3.822 by Matt Hagan, Aug. ’16, Brainerd, Minn.; 335.57 mph by Hagan, May ’16, Topeka, Kan.

Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.;  215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ’14, Englishtown N.J.

                            PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.

TICKETS:         Order tickets by phone at (800) 884-6472. Tickets also are available online at www.atlantadragway.com  

Story and photos courtesy of the NHRA