GeorgiaDragRacing.com - Information about Georgia drag racing history, personalities, activities and events.
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Atlanta Dragway Results
RACE DATE: October 26, 2002FROM: Tim Glover EVENT: Second to last bracket race at Atlanta Dragway plus rainout plus 10th Anniversary Challenge YOUNG VALERIE CLEMENTS IN THREE DIFFERENT FINALS WITH HER CLEMENTS ELECTRIC MACHINE Atlanta Dragway got to wrap up three races today in spite of the gloomy forecast of rain. First, the rained out race from October 21 was completed, next, National Dragster 10th Anniversary Jr. Dragster Challenge trophies were awarded in the 8.90 and 12.90 heads up class. The day was wrapped up with a bracket race for all categories. Six South Carolina racers nailed down nine top four finishes, with three wins and two runner ups. Nine year old Valerie Clements from Central, SC, an aspiring concert pianist and straight A student from Ravenel Elementary school in Seneca, SC, was knocking on the door of victory all day today. She finished in no less than three Jr. Dragster finals today, and won her first ever race tonight against newly crowned 8-12 champ "Mad Matt" Gillen (11) in today's event. Clements' holeshot was what she needed to win, causing Gillen to break out with an 8.88, 74.50 (8.90 dial). Clements went 12.98, 50.22 on her 12.90 target. Michael Krause (12) and Taylor Ramsey (9) finished in the semi-finals. "It was her turn. Definitely. She tried hard," commented her dad, Alton Clements II. When asked what she thought about her brother, Alton III, finishing runner up in the 13-17 year old finals, Valerie said, "He's mad because he didn't win." Casey Free took the 13-17 Jr. Dragster victory tonight against Valerie Clements' brother, Alton Clements III. Unfortunately for Alton, his machine experienced torque converter problems in the final, causing him to run off pace, 8.84, 70.98 on an 8.62 target. Free was ready to win, running a near-perfect 9.852, 64.01 on his 9.85 dial-in time. Cody Martin (14), who won the 8.90 heads up class and the rain delayed race earlier in the day and Ashley Dumas (16) were the semi-final pair. "Smokey Joe" Smith used his many years of experience to deal with a tricky track tonight and take the Super Pro win against Thomas Bell. Smith ran a dead-on 5.16, 131.59 in his Camping Time '00 Miller Dragster while Bell's Undercover dragster fell off a little with a 5.08, 135.96 (5.05 dial). Matthew Bates was in a Jr. Dragster last year, and finished in the semi-finals tonight in the family's JBS '77 Camaro. Stacy Hooper, a previous Sportsman standout, also finished in the semis with his '78 LUV truck. Who would have ever thought two Dodges from Walhalla, SC would ever meet in the Sportsman final? Tom Moran, running a Bill Boomhower powered '72 Swinger, took on friend Bill Boomhower himself in the final, and Moran's better react forced Boomhower's Ray Barton Hemi powered '65 Belvedere to break out ever so slightly, 10.071, 133.14 (10.08 dial). Moran put down a dead-on 10.98, 115.69 pass to seal the victory. "He wins either way," commented Moran, who had to buy supper for both crews as part of the agreement they made before the final. "I'm proud of it, added Boomhower, who built the 408 inch stroker engine. Travis Bryant ('68 Camaro) was the lone semi-finalist. Newly crowned Trophy Street champ Brian Harris has been dominating all year, and in a repeat of the August 24 final, Harris, who declared he wanted some Internet "Luv" for his accomplishments, got the win light. As it turned out, the race was over as soon as opponent Kim Callahan left the starting line before his time, leaving the big bad red bulb glowing. Both chose to run their cars out through the finish line, with Harris turning in a 13.95, 98.90 (14.05 dial) and Callahan running 13.19, 101.81 (13.15 dial). Steve Marcum won earlier this year, and finished tonight in the semis with his '00 Dakota, along with Deanna Everett ('90 Mustang). Although he said he didn't think he had a chance, Sportsman champ Jacob Rutledge won the Mr. Gasket Contingency Connection Challenge, which pitted the "big car" track champs against each other, with the best package winning $2500 in contingency awards, a trip to the PRI show and a chance to win $5000 at the PRI show. Rutledge had a .513 tree, and ran 12.001 on a 11.98 dial, which was a .034 second package. Super Pro champ "John Boy" Smith had a .545 react and went 5.030 on a 5.02 target, a .055 package, and Trophy Street champ Brian Harris had a .161 package. The gates opened early today to allow the remaining racers from the rained out September 21 Summit ET series to finish. Although Sportsman, Motorcycle and Super Pro were decided in September, the Trophy Street class and both Jr. Dragster classes were continued today. Phillip Wigington has been to the Trophy Street winner's circle before, but not in 2002. That changed today when he found himself facing Shan Moxley in the rain delayed final. Wigington put a 16.60 dial in time on his '94 S10, and proceeded to lay down a close 16.62, 81.37 to get the win light. However, three seconds into Wiginton's pass, Moxley left the red eye glowing at the starting line, negating his otherwise good 13.49, 92.03 (13.44 dial). Josh Harris (Mustang) was the semi-final finisher. Wigington thanked all the guys in the Brat Pack for all their encouragement. He then donated his winner's check to the Blake Shaw fund, which RFC (Racers for Christ) is holding a benefit for next week. Eleven year old Scott Digby won his first ever race today in the 8-12 year old Jr. Dragster competition. Digby took on Valerie Clements (9) and got the automatic win when Clements squeezed the tree just a little too much, going .498 red. Digby's machine turned in an 8.93, 72.81 for the win, and Clements went 13.12, 49.39 on a 13.04 target. Newly crowned track champ "Mad Matt" Gillen (11) and Ashton Shubert (9) took home semi-final trophies for their efforts. Former track champion Cody Martin (14) took home the first of two trophies today in 13-17 Jr. Dragster. Martin met Heath Snelgrove of the Snelgrove racing family, and used a better react to take the win, running 8.99, 70.09 (8.90 dial). Snelgrove (14) was a little closer to the mark, but second across the finish line with a 10.41, 61.64 (10.38 dial). Kelly Moore (15) was the lone semi-finalist. NATIONAL DRAGSTER 10TH ANNIVERSARY JR. DRAGSTER CHALLENGE Martin continued his roll in the 8.90 Heads Up Jr. Dragster class, meeting Ashley Dumas (16) in the final. Martin again used a better react to take the win, running 8.96, 72.00 (8.90 index). Dumas came close to nailing the index with an 8.91, 73.05, but was the second one across the finish line. Kelly Moore (15) was the semi-final finisher. Martin thanked his parents Lennon and Karen for their support, along with his sister Lindsey. Seventeen year old Kristen Neal is facing "retirement" from the Jr. Dragster ranks at the end of this year, but took home the big trophy in the 12.90 heads up class. Her car's best time was 9.20 seconds, which was not competitive in the 8.90 class, so she opted for the only other class available, pedaling the car on the big end to slow it down. She used an incredible string of reacts, including a .526, .508, .500 and .539 to win. Neal met Valerie Clements in the final and used the better react to cross the finish line first with a 13.20, 48.07 (12.90 index). Clements went 13.03, 50.11 (12.90 index). Neal thanked Bill "Bubba" Satterfield for the engine work, and her dad Sid Neal for the chassis work and support. OCTOBER 26 RACE PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: "Smokey Joe" Smith '00 Miller dragster Lawrenceville, GA 5.16 131.59 (5.16) R/U: Thomas Bell Undercover dragster Toccoa, GA 5.08 135.96 (5.05) Semi: Stacy Hooper '78 LUV truck Hiawassee, GA Semi: Matthew Bates '77 Camaro Loganville, GA SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Tom Moran '72 Swinger Walhalla, SC 10.98 115.69 (10.98) R/U: Bill Boomhower '65 Hemi Belvedere Walhalla, SC 10.07 133.14 (10.08) Semi: Travis Bryant '68 Camaro Georgia Semi: TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Brian Harris '94 Cobra Toccoa, GA 13.95 98.90 (14.05) R/U: Kim Callahan '67 Camaro Dawsonville, GA (foul) 13.19 101.81 (13.15) Semi: Steve Marcum '00 Dakota Bogart, GA Semi: Deanna Everett '90 Mustang Blairsville, GA JR. DRAGSTER 8-12 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Valerie Clements 9 Central, SC 12.98 50.22 (12.90) R/U: "Mad Matt" Gillen 11 Gainesville, GA 8.88 74.50 (8.90) Semi: Taylor Ramsey 9 Commerce, GA Semi: Michael Krause 12 Peachtree City, GA JR. DRAGSTER 13-17 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Casey Free 14 Buford, GA 9.85 64.01 (9.85) R/U: Alton Clements III 15 Central, SC 8.84 70.98 (8.62) Semi: Ashley Dumas 16 Commerce, GA Semi: Cody Martin 14 Buford, GA COMPLETION OF RAIN DELAYED SEPTEMBER 21 RACE TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Phillip Wigington '94 S10 Canton, GA 16.62 81.37 (16.60) R/U: Shan Moxley car Hiawassee, GA (foul) 13.49 92.03 (13.44) Semi: Josh Harris Mustang Toccoa, GA Semi: JR. DRAGSTER 8-12 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Scott Digby 11 Walhalla, SC 8.93 72.81 (8.90) R/U: Valerie Clements 9 Central, SC (foul) 13.12 49.39 (13.04) Semi: Ashton Shubert 9 Commerce, GA Semi: "Mad Matt" Gillen 11 Gainesville, GA JR. DRAGSTER 13-17 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Cody Martin 14 Buford, GA 8.99 70.09 (8.95) R/U: Heath Snelgrove 14 Dahlonega, GA 10.41 61.64 (10.38) Semi: Kelly Moore 15 Westminster, SC Semi: COMPLETION OF NATIONAL DRAGSTER 10TH ANNIVERSARY JR. DRAGSTER CHALLENGE JR. DRAGSTER 8.90 HEADS UP AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX Win: Cody Martin 14 Buford, GA 8.96 72.00 (8.90) R/U: Ashley Dumas 16 Commerce, GA 8.91 73.05 (8.90) Semi: Kelly Moore 15 Westminster, SC Semi: JR. DRAGSTER 12.90 HEADS UP AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX Win: Kristen Neal 17 Snellville, GA 13.20 48.07 (12.90) R/U: Valerie Clements 9 Central, SC 13.03 50.11 (12.90) Semi: Ashton Shubert 9 Commerce, GA Semi: Joshua Sisson 8 Gainesville, GA
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