When the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series visits Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA, May 3-5, for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, Bob Vandergriff Jr. will be racing at a track less than an hour from his house.
Vandergriff won the SpringNationals in Baytown, TX, just last weekend and the resident of Alpharetta, a suburb north of Atlanta, will be looking for his fourth career Top Fuel victory with many of his friends and family in the stands rooting him on.
Bob Vandergriff Jr.
“Between the employees for all of our family companies and friends from the golf course and people we do business with it’s usually about 100 people in the stands,” Vandergriff said.
Having the extra support at the track is something that Vandergriff looks forward to, but with it comes responsibilities that he doesn’t have at other events.
“You have all your friends and family there to cheer you on so the support is great,'” he stated. “On the other hand you have all your friends and family there, so making sure everyone is taken care of and enjoying themselves can be somewhat overwhelming at times.”
For the 2013 season Vandergriff expanded his Bob Vandergriff Racing Top Fuel team expanded to a two-car operation. Clay Millican and his Parts Plus dragster joined the team and brings years of experience and knowledge to the group. Millican has seen success this season as he raced to a final-round appearance at Gainesville.
The Top Fuel category has seen some incredible racing thus far this season with Tony Schumacher holding a slight lead over his Don Schumacher Racing teammates Antron Brown in second and Spencer Massey in third. Others to watch in the Top Fuel category include Doug Kalitta, Brandon Bernstein, Shawn Langdon, Morgan Lucas, Dave Grubnic and Khalid alBalooshi.
This story was originally published on May 3, 2013. 
