Atlanta: Chip King Friday note

Commerce, GA - In one of drag racing's most attention-grabbing stories this season, Chip King and his belligerent Hemi-powered Dodge R/T continue to dish out high-powered punishment to their fellow Pro Modified competitors. Running experimental Mopar engines built by sponsor Indy Cylinder Head Company, the Semora, North Carolina businessman qualified number two at the previous NHRA exhibitions at Gainesville and Bristol.

This weekend, true to form, King again found himself in the middle of the dogfight for top spot after the first day of qualifying at the Advance Auto Parts Southern Nationals.

In round one, he wheeled his stealthy silver Dodge smoothly through the top end in 6.358 seconds at a speed of 221.56, a strong showing considering the hot, humid conditions. The muggy air, which can adversely effect the efficiency of supercharged powerplants, had little apparent impact on King's feisty Bill Barrett-tuned Hemi, and his round two numbers back that up. Another straight-down-Broadway lap resulted in a posting of 6.322 at 223.88, good enough for third on the grid after day one.

King and his team have single-handedly brought the venerable Hemi back to the forefront in Pro Mod this season, a fact celebrated by legions of Chrysler fans, if not by his fellow racers.

-HC