GeorgiaDragRacing.com - Information about Georgia drag racing history, personalities, activities and events.
 |
|
GeorgiaDragRacing.com - Information about Georgia drag racing history, personalities, activities and events.
|
|||||||
| About Us | Activities | Articles & Stories | Bookstore | Classifieds | Directory | ||
| Drag Strips | Forum | Free eCards | Links | News | Photo Gallery | ||
|
|||||||
|
Click to subscribe to |
Atlanta Dragway Results
RACE DATE: April 12-13, 2003FROM: Tim Glover EVENT: FUN FORD WEEKEND race at Atlanta Dragway in 2003 RUTLEDGE PULLS OFF DOUBLE WIN AGAIN AT FUN FORD WEEKEND (Commerce, GA - April 12-13) The Fun Ford Weekend is becoming bigger and better, as evidenced by the turnout at Atlanta Dragway this weekend. Hundreds of race cars, 150 plus show cars, a huge manufacturer's midway and stands full of spectators made this show one to remember. Even Mother Nature helped out, with sunny skies and 70 degree temperatures all weekend. Although Mustangs made up the majority of the field, there were plenty of other Ford products in the race. They even put on a Focus Frenzy class, reserved strictly for Focus'. Top Truck is for Ford pickups, and the bracket classes featured Mavericks, Fairmonts, Rangers, F-150s, and several other Ford models (including Mustangs). A larger selection of Ford performance parts was available on the manufacturer's midway. Billet parts, slicks, wheels, carburetors, suspension parts, nitrous oxide and just about anything else needed to make a Ford run fast could be had. Mustang Parts Specialties, owned and operated by local racer Tim Matherly, even had two complete DOHC Cobra engines for sale, one supercharged and the other naturally aspirated. MPS also sponsored 13 of the cars in the racing portion of the Fun Ford Show. Pro 5.0 winner John Gullett enjoyed a double win this weekend, winning the rain delayed Orlando event Saturday and repeating his success Sunday, as well as earning top speed of the meet in his class at 220.62mph. In Sunday's Atlanta final, Gullett's beautifully prepared '01 Mustang was too much for Lake Bluff, IL racer Tony Gillig's '03 Mustang. Gullett ripped out a 6.51, 218.48mph in his Orange Park, FL based machine, making Gillig's 6.73, 209.33mph good for second place. "This track's been good to me. Great weather too," added Gullett. Charlie Peppers, from nearby Auburn, GA, scored a semifinal finish with his '02 Mustang. Street Outlaw winner Tim Lynch from Woodstock, GA noticed his competitor suddenly drop back around the 300 foot mark during the final round pass. He found out later a catastrophic engine failure that pitched engine parts and oil on to the track ended McDonough, GA racer Mike Calvert's day. Lynch stopped the timers with a fast 7.34, 193.16mph in his '01 Mustang. Lynch's '01 "Bullitt" Mustang limped across the finish line with a 10.99 at only 74.50mph. Dennis Ramsey out of Tampa, FL went home with the semifinal purse he earned with his '02 Mustang. Lynch was pleased with his car's performance, saying it only varied from 7.16 to 7.34 seconds all weekend, a very impressive feat for these overpowered cars running on 10.5 inch wide tires. "It's been one heck of a weekend," he added. One of the Top Truck crowd favorites was driven by Bob Cochran from Columbus, GA. His immaculately detailed 1948 Ford Stakebed truck turned in low 12.1 second times courtesy of its 429 Cobra Jet engine. Unfortunately for him, he bowed out of competition early, leaving the door open for the 4.0 liter V6 powered '00 Ranger belonging to Micah Monteleone from Dallas, NC. Monteleone faced Mechanicsville, MD racer David Gates in the final, and strapped the best package of his life on Gates, with a near perfect .508 second reaction time and running 14.860, 88.06mph on a 14.86 dial. Gates had to settle for a 10.89, 120.65mph (10.76 dial) in his '85 Ranger. "I whooped all those V8 trucks this weekend," Monteleone added happily. Jody North ('02 F-150 - Carrollton, GA) and (Charles Crawford '02 F150 - Byron, GA) took home the semifinal purse this weekend. Saturday's Fast Ford class almost featured a father-son final, but no one told race winner Dwayne Richardson from Bowdon, GA, who defeated son Jon M. Pickering in the semis and went on to beat dad, Jon H. Pickering, in the final. Richardson had the reaction time advantage, and then sealed up the win when his '65 Mustang nailed its dial-in time of 10.94 with a dead-on 10.944, 121.63mph. Jon H. Pickering brought his Troy, OH based '70 Maverick to the final ready to go, but the car fell off pace a bit with a 9.88, 136.79mph (9.82 dial). Jon M. Pickering ('74 Mustang II - Troy, OH) was the semifinal finisher. "I'm a lucky man. Thanks for all my family's support. It was tough," added Richardson. Son Jon M. Pickering noted that although he has never run his dad in the final, he has raced his mom, Louise (and beat her) in a final before she retired from racing. Jacob Rutledge from Braselton, GA had the pleasure of running his good friend Howard Warren in Saturday's Quick Ford final. Rutledge's trusty '79 Mercury Capri crossed the finish line, getting the win light .017 seconds before Warren's equally trusty Douglasville, GA based '72 Maverick crossed the line. Rutledge made sure that his wife Holly got part of the credit for helping him win. Another person happy with the results was Carlton Clay of Clay's Automotive Supply, who sponsored both of the finalists. The semifinal finisher honors went to Angie Harper ('66 F150 - Carrollton, GA). The Saturday edition of Street Ford featured a first time winner. Chris Morris from Lawrenceville, GA broke out the least in a double breakout final in his '79 Pinto against Andy Dunson from Toccoa, GA. Dunson's '01 Mustang went 14.05, 86.54mph on a 14.20 dial, while Morris' machine broke out slightly less, 20.07, 67.57mph (20.20 target). Danny Freeman ('69 Mustang - Gainesville, GA) made it to the semifinal round before bowing out of the action. Making Morris' win even sweeter was the fact that this was only his third race. Ryan Marshall from Pinson, AL purchased a 2000 Undercover dragster recently to go Super Comp racing. In only his fourth time out with the car, he made it to his second final, and won Sunday Fast Ford against Sorrento, FL racer Vernon Purdham. Although Marshall's car was off his target of 8.60, running 8.66, 145.17, Purdham's '90 LX was even more off, turning in an 11.93, 112.79 (11.86 dial). The Sunday Fast Ford semifinal finisher was Howard Brewer ('85 Mustang - Bennett, NC). Marshall said he had always driven door cars before, but adapted quickly to racing the dragster. His other race car is a Super Gas '95 Ranger Splash. Marshall then added, "We'll be back at Atlanta in a couple of weeks for the Southern Nationals" Fun Rutledge Weekend happened again in Quick Ford. Like he did in 1998 and 1999, Braselton, GA racer Jacob Rutledge pulled off another Atlanta Fun Ford double, winning Sunday's Quick Ford class, as well as Saturday's Quick Ford with his '79 Mercury Capri. This time, Rutledge met another Atlanta Dragway regular, Mack Everett from Blairsville, GA. Everett missed the tree (had a late reaction time) at the starting line with his '85 "Paw Paw's Toy" Mustang, while Rutledge was on the money with a .514. Rutledge then took advantage of his lead to slow his Nan Harman Dempsey, Attorney at Law backed machine to a race winning 12.17, 104.90mph (12.07 target). Everett kept the pedal to the metal all they way through the finish line, breaking out with an 11.68, 114.22mph pass on an 11.70 dial. "I got lucky. I'll take it," quipped Rutledge. He nearly had the pleasure of running his wife Holly in the final, but she lost in the quarterfinals (and would have earned the semi-final bye if she had won that round). Another Atlanta regular, Lonnie Peplau ('64 Fairlane - Acworth, GA), was the lone semi-finalist. Another person who almost doubled up was Sunday Street Ford winner Andy Dunson from Toccoa, GA. Dunson runner upped with his '01 Mustang in Saturday Street Ford action and proceeded to make his weekend even better by winning the Sunday edition against Kennesaw, GA racer Peter Grippando. Although Dunson missed his dial in time of 14.14 with a race winning 14.23, 92.40mph, Grippando's '95 Mustang was a little farther off the mark, running 15.39, 90.36mph on a 15.28 dial in time. Local racer and previous track champion Mardy Kennedy ('64 "Banana Boat" Econoline pickup - Auburn, GA) and Steve Keadle ('99 Mustang - Juliette, GA) were the semifinal pair. After the race Dunson exclaimed, "I loved it. It's great. This is the first time I've made it past the fourth round." Look for this guy to be back for the next Fun Ford Show. 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 5.0 CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: John Gullett '01 Mustang Orange Park, FL 6.51 218.48 R/U: Tony Gillig '03 Mustang Lake Bluff, IL 6.73 209.33 Semi: Charlie Peppers '02 Mustang Auburn, GA Semi: STREET OUTLAW CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Tim Lynch '02 Cobra Woodstock, GA 7.34 193.16 R/U: Mike Calvert '01 Bullitt McDonough, GA 10.99 74.50 Semi: Dennis Ramsey '02 Mustang Tampa, FL Semi: STREET BANDIT CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Rod Houck '89 Mustang Winston-Salem, NC 8.99 149.02 R/U: Andy Law '82 GT Batavia, OH 9.09 150.01 Semi: Ken Compton '91Mustang Canton, MI Semi: STREET RENEGADE CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Dan Schoneck '84 Mustang Madelton, MN 9.01 150.51 R/U: D.J. Loiacano, Jr. '88 Mustang Prairieville, LA (foul) 9.84 141.08 Semi: Mike Freeman '88 Mustang Fort Myers, FL Semi: James Hensler '97 Cobra Reynoldsburg, VA STREET WARRIOR CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Jeremy Martorella '94 Mustang Delray Beach, FL 10.46 125.01 R/U: John McGowan '92 Mustang Nt, NY 10.59 128.58 Semi: Moby Smith '93 Mustang Franklinton, LA Semi: STREET STANG CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Kyle Drennan '00 GT Hattiesburg, MS 13.72 101.35 R/U: Nicholas Lucas '87 Mustang Heiskel, TN 13.95 102.28 Semi: Tony Whetstone '02 Mustang Tallahassee, FL Semi: DRAG RADIAL CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Dwayne Gutridge '89 Mustang Tom's River, NJ 8.80 164.25 R/U: Erica Ortiz Lugo '91 Mustang Lk. Monroe, FL 9.43 153.07 Semi: Chris Little '90 Mustang Pasaden, MD Semi: MODULAR MOTOR CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL Win: Steve Ferguson '00 Mustang Kennesaw, GA 11.19 118.43 (11.15) R/U: Chuck Lawrence '02 Mustang Dallas, GA 11.00 120.97 (11.02) Semi: Shane Wiliams Mustang Knoxville, TN Semi: TOP TRUCK CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL Win: Micah Monteleone '00 Ranger Dallas, NC 14.86 88.06 (14.86) R/U: David Gates '85 Ranger Mechanicsville, MD 10.89 120.65 (10.76) Semi: Jody North '02 F-150 Carrollton, GA Semi: Charles Crawford '02 F-150 Byron, GA FOCUS FRENZY CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL Win: Owen Spry '01 Focus Newland, SC 14.78 91.28 (14.69) R/U: Greg Dantzler '01 Focus Pendleton, NC (foul) 16.01 84.11 (15.97) Semi: Mark Adkins '00 Focus Crown City, OH Semi: TRUE STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL Win: Marty Snipes '84 Mustang Wagner, SC 12.73 106.89 (12.64) R/U: Lee Webb '91 Mustang Traveler's Rest, SC 14.04 95.75 (13.98) Semi: James Renn '02 GT Forest Park, GA Semi: SATURDAY FAST FORD CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL Win: Dwayne Richardson '65 Mustang Bowdon, GA 10.94 121.63 (10.94) R/U: Jon H. Pickering '70 Maverick Troy, OH 9.88 136.79 (9.82) Semi: Jon M. Pickering '74 Mustang II Troy, OH Semi: SATURDAY QUICK FORD CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL Win: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Braselton, GA 12.09 107.15 (12.04) R/U: Howard Warren '72 Maverick Douglasville, GA 12.18 108.96 (12.14) Semi: Angie Harper '66 F-150 Carrollton, GA Semi: SATURDAY STREET FORD CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL Win: Chris Morris '79 Pinto Lawrenceville, GA 20.07 67.57 (20.20) R/U: Andy Dunson '01 Mustang Toccoa, GA 14.05 86.54 (14.20) Semi: Danny Freeman '69 Mustang Gainesville, GA Semi: SUNDAY FAST FORD CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL Win: Ryan Marshall '00 Undercover dragster Pinson, AL 8.66 145.17 (8.60) R/U: Vernon Purdham '90 LX Sorrento, FL 11.93 112.79 (11.86) Semi: Howard Brewer '85 Mustang Bennett, NC Semi: SUNDAY QUICK FORD CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL Win: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Braselton, GA 12.17 104.90 (12.07) R/U: Mack Everett '85 Mustang Blairsville, GA 11.68 114.22 (11.70) Semi: Lonnie Peplau '64 Fairlane Acworth, GA Semi: SUNDAY STREET FORD CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL Win: Andy Dunson '01 Mustang Toccoa, GA 14.23 92.40 (14.14) R/U: Peter Grippando '95 Mustang Kennesaw, GA 15.39 90.36 (15.28) Semi: Mardy Kennedy '64 Econoline pickup Auburn, GA Semi: Steve Keadle '99 Mustang Juliette, GA
|
