BIZARRO WORLD; The NHRA's Atlanta event is full of surprises.

The only thing missing from the NHRA's Atlanta stop was an Unsolved Mysteries TV host working the commentator's mic to complete what was an utterly unexplainable national event.

One week after fouling out in round two at Bristol, Tennessee, Top Fuel points-leader Melanie Troxel advanced to her sixth final round in seven races-a spectacular show of consistency. Her opponent in the final round was Doug Kalitta, whose early-season lack of consistency had everyone puzzled.

Suddenly, Kalitta can't lose.

After winning a week ago in Bristol, Kalitta beat Troxel, 4.469 seconds at 327.59 mph to 7.234/133.55. Adding to the uncanny nature of Kalitta's back-to-back wins is that he won the same two races in succession last year.

Ron Capps also had a remarkable run of race-day momentum, having advanced to every final round but one this year and scoring his third win in Bristol. Capps' rock-steady string of round wins ended in Atlanta when he fell in the first round to Cruz Pedregon. But it was Cruz's brother Tony who shook things up in eliminations, beating all three of Team Castrol's drivers-John Force, Eric Medlen and Robert Hight-and bitter adversary Whit Bazemore, for his first win of the year. Tony Pedregon finished off Hight in the final on a holeshot, 4.740/325.69 to a quicker 4.738/321.81.

Pro Stock winner Dave Connolly was as unlikely a candidate as there was in the 16-car field to record his sixth career win. Connolly replaced crew chief Terry Adams with Tommy Utt just days before Atlanta, after experiencing a baffling run of inconsistent performances to begin the season. Connolly beat Greg Stanfield in the final, 6.695/205.69 to 7.531/127.34.

Bumper crop