GeorgiaDragRacing.com - Information about Georgia drag racing history, personalities, activities and events.
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Atlanta Dragway Results
RACE DATE: September 7, 2002FROM: Tim Glover EVENT: Mopar show featuring Mopar vs. the world at Atlanta Dragway THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS, THREE REPEAT WINNERS AT HAYES MOPAR SHOW The annual Hayes Chrysler Plymouth Mopar show, backed by Ingles Supermarkets, Budweiser and Coke and helped by Lake City Cruisers and the North Georgia Mopar Club, was back in town this weekend, featuring more Mopars than ever. Mopar machines were featured in all the final rounds (except Jr. Dragsters) this year. As always, the event featured thousands of spectators, a huge car show, swap meet, manufacturers midway and hundreds of Mopar machines. The Dodge Boys, Pro Stock racers Darrell Alderman and Gene Wilson, along with Funny Car racer Dean Skuza came to Atlanta Dragway to sign autographs and showcase the Hemi Powered Neons. Allen Johnson, who also races a Mopar in Pro Stock, made the weekend even better for the Mopar fans with his appearance. The fastest mph recorded by the Pro Stock Neons last year was 197, but Darrell Alderman improved greatly on that today with a 6.89 second, 200 mph blast this year. Skuza impressed the fans with a low five second pass in his nitromethane powered Top Fuel Funny Car. Announcer Jeremy Hayes said he figured there were enough parts in the swap meet and manufacturer's midway to build a Mopar machine. Those who chose to look through the midway were treated to all kinds of Mopar parts, from Shelby dual overhead cam engines to early Hemi iron, six pack intakes and more. The car show is what the early Mopar shows were all about, and is still a huge portion of the event, with gorgeous Mopar machines from the thirties all the way to the present display their owner's attention to detail on cars that look even better than the day the rolled out of the factory. Superbirds, Darts, PT Cruisers, Pickups, Racecars and more were on display all day Saturday for spectator's viewing pleasure. All show car entrants were allowed to do a parade lap in front of all the fans, showing off pristine examples of Mopar machinery. The first runs by race cars this weekend were done Friday evening, where Mopars and other cars mixed it up in time trial action. The gates opened at 8:00 am Saturday, and the car show, car corral, manufacturer's midway, swap meet and bracket race went smoothly all day, with few interruptions. All the regular bracket races today were contested in a "Mopar vs. the World format", where Mopar racers squared off against "X brand" machinery driven by fellow racers. Mopar racers were in every final, winning four out of five car classes. After time runs and before the Saturday bracket race, a Run for the Money competition was held, where the racers guess how quick their car will go by putting an estimated elapsed time (dial-in) on their window. The racer in each of three classes who ran the closest to their dial-in time won a portion of the pot, as well as a first round bye run. Chris Phillips won the Electronics portion of the program with his '76 Vega Wagon, Steve St. Laurent won the No Electronics purse with his '01 Dakota, and Johnny Turner won in Jr. Dragster. Another attraction was the Tires Plus Super Mopar Burnout Competition. Kevin Robinson from McDonough, GA was the crowd favorite with his Cummins powered '98 Dakota, ending the three year domination of this event by the Minette family. Three winners from the 2001 Mopar Show made it back to the 2002 bracket race winner's circle, Russ Glover (Super Pro), Pete Mansolillo (Viper Shootout) and Michael Krause (8-12 Jr. Dragster). When Dennis "The Menace" Calvert, who hails from Spartanburg, SC, was talking with his pit neighbor, Russ Glover during the day, he had no idea he would be meeting him in the final round. Calvert made it to the Super Pro final in his '65 Dodge Dart with near perfect .50 second reaction times all evening. However, his slightly too quick .497 second red light in the final gave the Hedman Husler Hedders backed '81 Speedcraft dragster piloted by Cumming, GA racer Russ Glover the automatic final round win light. Before the final, Glover's worst competition reaction time was .518. Glover's machine went 5.79 seconds at 117.81mph (5.77 dial), while Calvert's '65 Dart was a bit closer with a 6.82, 99.56 (6.81 dial). Glover thanked the good Lord first, then said thanks to Chris Vandergriff of Hedman Hedders for the wheels on his dragster and letting him practice on their new full size Port-A-Tree practice tree (for reaction time training). He also thanked his Papa Russell for helping out, Bill Gillen III for helping fix a stumble in the carburetor, David Simmons for selling him a badly needed set of rear tires, mom and dad, and Yank Torque Converters for all their help. This was Dennis and Vicki Calvert's first Mopar Show, but Dennis added he has wanted to come for a long time. Today was also the Calvert's 11th wedding anniversary, which was made better by his final round appearance. Calvert also won on Vicki's birthday (July 28) a few weeks ago at Greer Dragway. "Bad Brad" Howard ('02 Miller dragster - Gainesville, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Two Mopars graced the Sportsman final. Monroe, GA racer Brent Wheeler wheeled his '74 Charger to the Sportsman win, running an 11.21, 119.69 on his 11.25 target. Wheeler's opponent, Jay Johnson from Deatsville, AL was set to run against Wheeler with his '68 Dart, but he then noticed his oil pressure had dropped below 20 psi. Johnson elected not to hurt his engine further and let Wheeler take the single victory. Local racer Joe Haddon ('67 Chevy II - Oxford, GA) and Mike Behrendsen ('70 GTX - Toccoa, GA) were the semifinal pair. The Diesel Performance Motorsports Diesel Shootout gave new meaning to the term Dodge... Different. More smoke emanated from the exhaust pipes on these vehicles than the tires. Some entries were bone stock, while others were wild, including a dual turbocharged race-only truck with the exhaust pipe coming out of the hood in front of the windshield. In a class dominated by diesel powered Dodge Trucks from many different states, McDonough, GA racer Kevin Robinson drove his souped up Cummins powered '98 Dakota to the winner's circle. Robinson won on a holeshot (better react) turning in a 12.31, 101.81 (12.25 dial), crossing the finish line .011 seconds ahead of Wesley Purvis' Leesburg, GA based '01 Ram pickup. Robert Patton ('98 RAM - Alpharetta, GA) was the semi-final finisher. Although the Viper Shootout changed this year from heads up to a dial-in format, Peter Mansolillo from Suwannee, GA adapted quickly and won for the second year in a row. Mansolillo met Eyal "Al" Yarden's '97 Viper in the final, and although Yarden had the reaction time advantage, his car fell way off the pace, running 13.10, 111.67 (12.60 dial). Mansolillo's '97 Viper ended up running 12.54, 97.83 (12.30 dial). Eric Jordan ('98 Viper - Sugar Hill, GA) finished in the semi-finals. Kevin Poole from Dewy Rose, GA won Trophy Street with his '68 Charger against Grayson, GA racer Brian White's '69 Roadrunner. Poole's reaction time advantage was the key to his win, when he ran 16.53, 82.42 (16.45 target). White broke out with a 12.97, 99.78 (13.00 dial). Anthony "Tony" Cellana brought his '00 Dakota all the way up from St. Pete, FL, and was rewarded with a semi-final finish. Roger Ozbolt, Jr. ('95 Corvette - Loganville, GA) was the other semi-finalist. For the second year in a row, 12 year old Micheal Krause from Peachtree City, GA won the Mopar Show in the 8-12 Jr. Dragster class with his Clements Electric entry. Krause met first year racer Lauren Turner (11 - Lawrenceville, GA), who has already been to six finals this year, and used a better react to collect the winner's trophy. Krause's react allowed him to run a 9.27, 68.70 (9.21 target), crossing the finish line .031 seconds ahead of Turner, who was closer to the dial with a 9.24, 70.42 (9.21). Scott Digby (10 - Walhalla, SC) earned the semi-finalist trophy. Krause thanked his pit crew for all their help. The "Doll from Demorest", Jessica Moore (16) won tonight's 13-17 year old class, her first win this year. The former division champ met Alton Clements III (14 - Central, SC) in the final, and although she had a good 9.46, 68.08 (9.36 dial), the race was over as soon as Clements left the line with the cherry colored foul bulb glowing. Clements elected to run his car out anyway, and went 8.12, 80.36 on his 8.10 target. Heath Snelgrove (14 - Dahlonega, GA) finished in the semi-final round. PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Russ Glover '81 Speedcraft dragster Cumming, GA 5.79 117.81 (5.77) R/U: Dennis"The Menace" Calvert '65 Dodge Dart Spartanburg, SC (foul) 6.82 99.56 (6.81) Semi: "Bad Brad" Howard '02 Miller dragster Gainesville, GA Semi: SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Brent Wheeler '74 Charger Monroe, GA 11.21 119.69 (11.25) R/U: Jay Johnson '68 Dart Deatsville, AL (broke - no time) Semi: Mike Behrendsen '70 GTX Toccoa, GA Semi: Joe Haddon '67 Chevy II Oxford, GA DIESEL SHOOTOUT CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Kevin Robinson '98 Dakota McDonough, GA 12.31 101.81 (12.25) R/U: Wesley Purvis '01 RAM Leesburg, GA 17.27 77.85 (17.25) Semi: Robert Patton '98 RAM Alpharetta, GA Semi: VIPER SHOOTOUT CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Pete Mansolillo '97 Viper Suwannee, GA 12.54 97.83 (12.30) R/U: Eyal "Al" Yarden '97 Viper Lawrenceville, GA 13.10 111.67 (12.60) Semi: Eric Jordan '98 Viper Sugar Hill, GA Semi: TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Kevin Poole '68 Charger Dewy Rose, GA 16.53 82.42 (16.45) R/U: Bryan White '69 Roadrunner Grayson, GA 12.91 99.78 (13.00) Semi: Anthony "Tony" Cellana '00 Dakota St. Pete, FL Semi: Roger Ozbolt, Jr. '95 Vette Loganville, GA JR. DRAGSTER, 8-12 years AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Michael Krause 12 Peachtree City, GA 9.27 68.70 (9.21) R/U: Lauren Turner 11 Lawrenceville, GA 9.24 70.42 (9.21) Semi: Scott Digby 10 Walhalla, SC Semi: JR. DRAGSTER, 13-17 years AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Jessica Moore 16 Demorest, GA 9.46 68.08 (9.36) R/U: Alton Clements III 14 Central, SC (foul) 8.12 80.36 (8.10) Semi: Heath Snelgrove 14 Dahlonega, GA Semi:
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