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Atlanta Dragway Results
RACE DATE: March 22, 2003FROM: Tim Glover EVENT: Summit / Hayes ET series event at Atlanta Dragway in 2003 FOUR PREVIOUS TRACK CHAMPIONS RETURN TO CLAIM VICTORY AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY (Commerce, GA - March 22) The good news was there weren't as many oil downs as the past two races. The bad news was three oildowns plagued progress of today's event, making the drivers wait longer before they could race. Brothers had a good day in Super Pro and Trophy Street; Jimmy and Junior Raper in Super Pro and J.D. and Joe Goddard in Trophy Street. Others pulling double duty included Ashley Dumas and Jesse Young, with Ashley winning 13-17 Jr. Dragster and competing in High School. Young won High School and ran in Super Pro. Danny Edwards also pulled double duty; in Motorcycle and Super Pro, winning Motorcycle. Four former track champions earned a victory tonight, Jacob Rutledge (Sportsman), Mardy Kennedy (Trophy Street), Danny Edwards (Motorcycle) and Matt Gillen (8-12 Jr. Dragster). Even the test and tune competitors were interesting to watch. Brian McSwain from Easley, SC brought his "Beetlejuice" '63 Volkswagon Beetle to the track for the first time. The 406 small block chevy powered monster turned in straight as a string 9.90, 134mph passes, and he wasn't even playing with the nitrous oxide. Two local racer's daughters were getting closer to competition in their dad's dragsters. Regina McKelvey was making passes in her dad Jim McKelvey's car, and Tiffany Howard was doing the same in the dragster her dad Brad Howard bought for her. Art Walls from Alpharetta, GA was scaring himself with fast trips down the track in a '69 Woody Gilmore front engine dragster powered by a supercharged 509 cubic Shafiroff engine. The air became chilly toward the end of the event, causing traction to become less optimal, which benefited door car racers in Super Pro. By semifinal time, all the dragsters were loaded up in the trailers, and door cars had their day. Easley, SC racer Jimmy Raper agreed earlier in the day to sell his immaculate, uncut '55 Chevrolet to local racer Brad Howard, with the stipulation Howard would not take possession of the car until the race was over. Howard had a long wait, because Raper went on to win Super Pro against first time finalist, Gary "Cat Daddy" Hanson's '69 Chevrolet Chevelle. The Loganville, GA based Hanson nailed his reaction time in the final, with an almost perfect .501, but his car went just a tad too quick, breaking out with a 6.83, 100.00mph (6.85 dial-in). Raper's machine went 7.60, 90.18mph on a 7.59 target. Hanson, who has been racing at Atlanta Dragway for three years, said he was in a bit of trouble with his wife this morning for buying a new fire suit and weather station. He definitely earned more than enough to pay for them with the runner up purse. Team PTI racer Clay Fanchum ('81 Camaro - Conyers, GA) made it to the semi-finals, along with Junior Raper (race winner Jimmy Raper's brother - '78 Corvette, Honea Path, SC). "This one's for my dad," said defending Sportsman track champ Jacob Rutledge from Braselton, GA after his Sportsman win in a '79 Mercury Capri. Rutledge's father, Dan, who was always a big supporter, passed away last week. The 2002 Mallory cup winner took on Bert Chapman's Gainesville, GA based '72 Nova in the final. Rutledge's machine slowed to a 12.16, 104.41 (12.10 dial), but got the win light when Chapman broke out by .001 seconds, with a 11.279, 118.43 (11.28 dial). Chapman, who runner upped in the March 8 Summit race two weeks ago, took over the Sportsman points lead with his runner up finish. "Evidently, I had a good co-pilot tonight," added Rutledge. Andy Mitchell ('95 Camaro - Milledgeville, GA) and Jim Wood ('67 Barracuda - Laurens, SC) finished in the semifinals. Trophy Street winner and former track champ Mardy Kennedy experienced several ups and downs in the past two days. Although his group of friends experienced different mechanical maladies with their cars in competition, he managed to pull out the final round win with his Auburn, GA based '64 "Banana Boat" Ford Econoline pickup. Kennedy was second off the starting line and second across the finish line with a breakout 13.06, 102.28mph (13.09 dial). However, J.D. Goddard from Lithonia, GA, who also runner upped in the March 8 Summit race, broke out worse with a 17.51, 76.53mph pass in his '90 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Kennedy's day was made even better by the news he is going to be a grandpa soon. J.D. Goddard's brother, Joe Goddard ('98 Chevrolet Silverado - Stockbridge, GA) and defending track champion Brian Harris ('00 Ford Mustang - Toccoa, GA) were the semi-final pair. Talking Rock, GA racer Danny Edwards, Atlanta Dragway's Motorcycle track champion in the mid 1990s, claimed yet another Motorcycle win tonight. Edwards got an easy win with with his '84 Kawasaki against Steve Bishop. Bishop's Winder, GA based '78 Kawasaki had difficulty leaving the starting line, resulting in a late reaction time. It then spun the tires and slowed to a 13.61, 104.17mph (13.00 dial). Edwards turned in a way off, but winning, 12.29, 105.89 (11.02 target). March 8 winner Stewart Taft ('00 Kawasaki - Riverview, FL) and Danny Marr ('81 Suzuki - Hiram, GA) earned a semi-final finish. Jesse Young from Danielsville, GA, won High School tonight against Joseph Satterfield. Young got the final round win light with his '00 Chevrolet S10 when Satterfield, who lives in Baldwin, GA, broke out with his '98 Dodge RAM. Young had a better react, and went 10.56, 66.86mph (10.58 dial). Satterfield's machine went 11.95, 57.84 (11.97 target). Both Young and Satterfield also compete in Super Pro. 13-17 Jr. Dragster winner Ashley Dumas from Commerce, GA finished in the semi-finals in a '98 Firebird, along with Todd Mayfield from Hiram, GA. Mayfield debuted his gorgeous '69 Chevrolet Camaro, and also finished in the semi-finals. Another previous track champ, 11 year old Matt Gillen from Gainesville, GA, struggled earlier this year, but pulled off the win in 8-12 year old Jr. Dragster. Gillen, like Trophy winner Mardy Kennedy, was second off the starting line and second across the finish line with his Young Guns Motorsports machine, running 8.99, 72.35mph on an 8.90 dial-in. However, his opponent, Harvey Snelgrove (11 - Dahlonega, GA) crossed the finish line too soon, running 10.32, 60.89mph (10.41 dial), handing Gillen the win. Gillen thanked God, and then his dad, Bill Gillen III, for all his work helping him win. Another PTI racer, Lauren Turner (12 - Jefferson, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Sixteen year old Ashley Dumas from Commerce, GA, kept herself busy, hopping back and forth from her 13-17 class Jr. Dragster to her '98 Firebird. Dumas ended her evening with the 13-17 Jr. Dragster win against another top competitor, Alton Clements III. Dumas took over the points lead with a dead-on 8.27, 78.81mph pass, while Clements, 15, went just a tad too quick in his Central, SC based machine, 7.85, 78.12 (7.90 dial) for the runner up spot. "Wild Kyle" Denton (13 - McDonough, GA) earned the semi-final trophy for his efforts. Sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2003 events, including the 23rd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac on May 1 - 4, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com. NOTE: If you would like this report via email, please contact me, tim.glover@stork.com or call the track. PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Jimmy Raper '55 Chevrolet Easley, SC 7.60 90.18 (7.59) R/U: Gary Hanson '69 Chevelle Loganville, GA 6.83 100.00 (6.85) Semi: Junior Raper '78 Corvette Honea Path, SC Semi: Clay Fancher '81 Camaro Conyers, GA SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Braselton, GA 12.16 104.41 (12.10) R/U: Bert Chapman '71 Nova Gainesville, GA 11.27 118.43 (11.28) Semi: Andy Mitchell '95 Camaro Milledgeville, GA Semi: Jim Wood '67 Barracuda Laurens, SC TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Mardy Kennedy '64 Econoline Auburn, GA 13.06 102.28 (13.09) R/U: J.D. Goddard '90 Cutlass Lithonia, GA 17.51 76.53 (17.57) Semi: Joe Goddard '89 Silverado Stockbridge, GA Semi: Brian Harris '00 Mustang Toccoa, GA MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Danny Edwards '84 Kawasaki Talking Rock, GA 12.29 105.89 (11.02) R/U: Steve Bishop '78 Kawasaki Winder, GA Semi: Stewart Taft '00 Kawasaki Ridgeview, FL Semi: Danny Marr '81 Suzuki Hiram, GA HIGH SCHOOL CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Jesse Young '00 S10 pickup Danielsville, GA 10.56 66.86 (10.58) R/U: Joseph Satterfield '98 RAM pickup Baldwin, GA 11.95 57.84 (11.97) Semi: Ashley Dumas '98 Firebird Commerce, GA Semi: Todd Mayfield '69 Camaro Hiram, GA JR. DRAGSTER 8-12 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: "Mad Matt" Gillen 11 Gainesville, GA 8.99 72.35 (8.90) R/U: Harvey Snelgrove 11 Dahlonega, GA 10.32 60.89 (10.41) Semi: Lauren Turner 12 Jefferson, GA Semi: JR. DRAGSTER 13-17 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN Win: Ashley Dumas 16 Commerce, GA 8.27 78.81 (8.27) R/U: Alton Clements 15 Central, SC 7.85 78.12 (7.90) Semi: Kyle Denton 13 McDonough, GA Semi:
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