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David Dilbeck
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Georgia Drag Racing News
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March 2003
Atlanta Dragway Results by Tim Glover
Posted Monday, March 31, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
RACE DATE: March 29-30, 2003
FROM: Tim Glover
EVENT: THIRD ANNUAL SPRING BRACKET BONANZA at Atlanta Dragway
PHILLIPS MOTORSPORTS PUTS ON THIRD ANNUAL SPRING BRACKET BONANZA AT ATLANTA
DRAGWAY
By Tim Glover
(Commerce, GA - March 29-30) A great turnout of racers came in spite of the
rain forecast for the weekend. It did rain, but fortunately the rains came
15 minutes after the show was done Saturday, and were gone by Sunday
morning. The attraction of a Phillip's Motorsports Super Eliminator Series
event is that door cars run door cars and dragsters run dragsters. The
winner of each category is then pitted against each other in a one round,
winner takes all, Super Eliminator race.
The first winners Saturday were in Run for the Money, a one round affair
where the racer who runs closest to his dial in each class wins the pot.
Larry Peavey from Milledgeville, GA (Door Car), Robert Buchanan (Morganton,
NC - Dragster) and Kim Callahan from nearby Dawsonville, GA (Footbrake)
earned the Saturday portion of the Run for the Money purse. John Hobbs from
Conyers, GA had a great start on best package of the weekend, with a .001
second package (.501 react and a 5.790 on a 5.79) in his '89 Suncoast
dragster. The racer with the best package in each class at the end of the
weekend receives a CSI tire gage courtesy of DragRaceResults.com.
Kevin Pruett almost didn't come to Atlanta Dragway this weekend from his
home in Millbrook, AL because his leg was hurting badly. Fortunately, his
girlfriend Rachel Rhodes came with him to take care of all the routine
preparation on his '00 Undercover dragster, and his dad Steve agreed to
drive the station wagon. Pruett felt pretty rough early in eliminations,
but recovered and went on to take the Saturday Dragster title and then won
the Saturday Super Eliminator title. In Dragster, his final round opponent,
Kenny Dixon, suffered a late reaction time in his Calhoun, GA based '02
Undercover dragster. Pruett "whopped" the throttle several times to slow
his car down to a 5.04, 130.44mph (5.00 dial) and still crossed the finish
line .029 seconds ahead of Dixon, who ran a dead-on 5.02, 136.79mph (5.02
dial). Pruett's traveling buddy, Kenny Acree ('99 Undercover dragster -
Newnan, GA) was the lone semi-finalist.
Local racer Mike Ramsey had the competition covered in Saturday Door Car,
even though his usual crew chief, wife Lisa Ramsey, was at home taking care
of the kids, who were suffering allergy problems. He thanked Mark Hancock
for taking over crew chief duties and Buford for building a fast engine.
Further complicating matters was Ramsey's starter button quit working during
round four, so Hancock had to reach under the hood each pass to start
Ramsey's '81 Don Ness built Chevrolet Camaro. Ramsey had a good final round
time, 5.43, 128.21mph (5.41 target), but he was already the winner before he
left the starting line when Manchester, GA racer Ricky Jones' '92 Chevrolet
Camaro left the starting line .007 seconds too soon, resulting in a .493 red
light. "Why did I take that .008 seconds out of the delay box in the
final?" asked Jones of himself with a smile later. Jones' machine went
dead-on with a zero in the final, 5.69, 121.63mph (5.69 dial). Tom Thompson
('92 Ford Mustang - Piedmont, SC) and Tim Owens ('68 Chevy II - Hodges, SC)
were the Saturday Door Car semi-finalists.
Kevin Pruett then met Mike Ramsey in the Super Eliminator round, where the
Door Car winner gets to race the Dragster winner. Pruett was vulnerable
with a late .546 reaction time, but got the easy win when Ramsey barely
fouled with a .497 react. Pruett went on to a 5.01, 136.79mph (5.00 dial)
in his dragster, while Ramsey chose to ease on through with a 6.23, 85.39mph
(5.43 dial).
Gaines Hickman from Barnesville, GA had the feeling during earlier rounds
he was going to win, and he did just that with his '69 Chevrolet Camaro in
Saturday Footbrake. Hickman wasn't going to come to the track either,
having originally planned to go to Panama City Beach with some friends. The
friends decided not to go, so he came to Atlanta. Hickman met many time
finalist Kelly King from Stockbridge, GA in the final, and although he
probably would have won anyway with a .518 react and a .01 over 7.19,
95.14mph, he got an automatic win when King's '81 Chevrolet Vega (which had
a broken axle) didn't stage. "It's been one of those nights when everything
goes right," Hickman commented after the race. (Unfortunately, his luck ran
out in round two of the gambler's race when his transmission simply quit
working.) Paul Romel ('69 Chevrolet Chevelle SS - Pensacola, FL) took home
the semi-final portion of the purse.
One could hear the rumble of Ford Thunder during the Footbrake portion of
the Gambler's race. Four of the final five contestants were racing Fords.
Former B&M champion Randall Roop took a decisive win in his Canton, GA based
'66 Ford Mustang, with a .007 seconds package (.505 react, 7.392 on a 7.39
dial) in the Footbrake final. "It's all luck," Roop commented right after
the race. Roop's final round opponent, Tim Byrd from Lexington, NC had an
otherwise good run in his '84 Mustang, with a 7.36, 90.91mph (7.33 dial).
Tony Zimmerman ('02 Ford F150 - Phoenix City, AL) was the semi-final
finisher.
Like son, like father was the result in Gambler's Super Pro. Buford racer
Don Brown's son, Donny Brown, Jr., won the March 8 Summit / Hayes event a
couple of weeks ago, and dad followed suit tonight. Brown got down to ten
cars with his '01 Spitzer dragster in the Dragster race, and then took a win
in the Gambler's when Trent Jones' Ninety Six, SC based '02 Undercover
dragster flickered the stage bulb when the tree came down, causing a foul
for him and an automatic win for Brown. Seeing he had the win, Brown eased
off the throttle to a 5.31, 107.92mph (4.91 target). Former Atlanta Dragway
track champion Brad Howard from Gainesville, GA suffered a transmission
failure in his '02 Miller dragster in the semi-finals, making him the single
semi-final finisher.
Sunday dawned sunny, clear and cold. Although it took a little while to
dry the track, racers were back in action before noon. The first Sunday
winners were Run for the Money winners in each of the three classes. Local
racer Joe Smith took the Dragster portion of the pot, another local, Gary
Adams won Door Car Run for the Money, and Randy Anderson won in the
Footbrake run. The best package of the weekend winner in each class had not
been determined by the race's finish Sunday. Each winner receives a CSI
tire pressure gage, courtesy of DragRaceResults.com.
Local racer Mark Milford from Royston, GA heard RFC pastor Lloyd Shanks say
during his Sunday morning service that for the past few races, the winner
was someone who attended. Milford kept the streak alive with his first ever
win, in Sunday Dragster. After defeating David Simmons in the semi-final
round, Milford used a slightly better reaction time coupled with a dead-on
5.35, 128.58mph pass in his '02 Undercover dragster to win against Kenny
Dixon from Calhoun, GA. Dixon crossed the finish line .025 seconds behind
Milford, with a 5.07, 135.14mph (5.05 target). Dixon's '02 Undercover
dragster had been on a streak all weekend, finishing runner up in both
Saturday and Sunday's action. Dixon was also pleased to find out he won the
weekend Dragster points, which paid another $300 on top of his winnings.
"Praise the Lord. I know he was with us today," Milford commented in the
winner's circle. Milford also thanked his wife, Judy Milford, for all her
help. Longtime Atlanta Dragway winner David Simmons ('99 Undercover
dragster - Suwanee, GA) was the semi-final finisher.
Manchester, GA racer Ricky Jones has finished 1, 2 and 3 in B&M
championships (he was the 2000 Super Pro champion) and had an excellent
weekend, finishing runner up in Saturday's Door Car action and winning it
all Sunday, taking home a Door Car win and Super Eliminator win, as well as
the weekend Door Car points championship with his '92 Camaro. Jones said
his car ran 5.69 all day Saturday, including three 5.690 second passes. The
car's favorite number was 5.67 on Sunday. Jones put a 5.67 dial-in time on
the window for round one, and never changed the dial all day. Jones' final
round time against Joey Gary from Greenwood, SC was 5.68, 121.30 (5.67
dial). Gary's '68 Camaro was dialed at 5.49 for the final, but turned in a
heart breaking breakout 5.487, 125.01, good for runner up spot. Kenny
Newberry ('00 Dakota - Rome, GA) took home the semi-final portion of the
purse.
The final four racers in Footbrake were all South Carolina racers. Mike
Smith took the Footbrake win when he broke out less than Jim Wood from
Laurens, SC in the final. Smith's Ware Shoals, SC based '68 Chevy II was
.001 seconds better on the react than Wood, and broke out with a 7.35,
92.03mph (7.38 dial). Fortunately for Smith, Wood's '71 Chevelle broke out
even more, with a 7.80, 84.59 (7.85 dial). "Thank the Lord for a safe race.
I enjoyed this weekend. If you beat Jim, you've done something," Smith
said after the race. He then said his wife Diane Smith was his support.
Wood was happy to be racing with his buddies from South Carolina. Todd
Genobles ('90 Mustang - Anderson, SC) and Mitchell Jackson ('67 Barracuda -
Piedmont, SC) were the semi-final pair.
In the Super Eliminator final, Ricky Jones ran his Camaro to a 5.69, 120.97
for the win. Mark Milford was closer with his dragster, but unfortunately
too quick at the starting line, resulting in a .490 second red light. "Boy,
that's a mean car I got," added Jones. After the winner's circle pictures,
Jones got to watch his son Jonathon take a victory lap in the race winning
car.
But wait, there's more. After the weekend points were tallied, Kenny Dixon
('02 Undercover dragster - Calhoun, GA) was the leader in Dragster with 15
points, followed by Kevin Pruett ('00 Undercover dragster - Millbrook, AL -
14 points). Ricky Jones won the Door Car points with 14 in his '92 Camaro
from Manchester, GA. Mike Ramsey ('81 Camaro - Commerce, GA) was second
place with 13 points. Saturday winner Gaines Hickman ('69 Camaro -
Barnesville, GA) and Sunday winner Mike Smith ('68 Chevy II - Ware Shoals,
SC) tied in weekend Footbrake points at 11 each.
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAT. SUPER ELIMINATOR CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL
Win: Kevin Pruett '00 Undercover dragster Millbrook, AL 5.01 136.79 (5.00)
R/U: Mike Ramsey '81 Camaro Commerce, GA (foul) 6.23 85.39 (5.43)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SATURDAY DRAGSTER CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL
Win: Kevin Pruett '00 Undercover dragster Millbrook, AL 5.04 130.44 (5.00)
R/U: Kenny Dixon '02 Undercover dragster Calhoun, GA 5.02 136.79 (5.02)
Semi: Kenny Acree '99 Undercover dragster Newnan, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SATURDAY DOOR CAR CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL
Win: Mike Ramsey '81 Camaro Commerce, GA 5.43 128.21 (5.41)
R/U: Ricky Jones '92 Camaro Manchester, GA (foul) 5.69 121.63 (5.69)
Semi: Tom Thompson '92 Mustang Piedmont, SC
Semi: Tim Owens '68 ChevyII Hodges, SC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SATURDAY FOOTBRAKE CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL
Win: Gaines Hickman '69 Camaro Barnesville, GA 7.19 95.14 (7.18)
R/U: Kelly King '81 Vega Stockbridge, GA broke
Semi: Paul Romel '69 Chevelle SS Pensacola, FL
Semi:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GAMBLER'S SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL
Win: Don Brown '01 Spitzer dragster Buford, GA 5.31 107.92 (4.91)
R/U: Trent Jones '02 Undercover dragster Ninety Six, SC (foul - no time)
Semi: Brad Howard '02 Miller dragster Gainesville, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GAMBLER'S FOOTBRAKE CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL
Win: Randall Roop '66 Mustang Canton, GA 7.39 90.18 (7.39)
R/U: Tim Byrd '84 Mustang GT Lexington, NC 7.36 90.91 (7.33)
Semi: Tony Zimmerman '02 F150 Phoenix City, AL
Semi:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUN. SUPER ELIMINATOR CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL
Win: Ricky Jones '92 Camaro Manchester, GA 5.69 120.97 (5.67)
R/U: Mark Milford '02 Undercover dragster Royston,
GA (foul) 5.34 127.85 (5.33)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUNDAY DRAGSTER CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL
Win: Mark Milford '02 Undercover dragster Royston, GA 5.35 128.58 (5.35)
R/U: Kenny Dixon '02 Undercover dragster Calhoun, GA 5.07 135.14 (5.05)
Semi: David Simmons '99 Undercover dragster Suwanee, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUNDAY DOOR CAR CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL
Win: Ricky Jones '92 Camaro Manchester, GA 5.69 120.97 (5.67)
R/U: Joey Gary '68 Camaro Greenwood, SC 5.48 125.01 (5.49)
Semi: Kenny Newberry '00 Dakota Rome, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUNDAY FOOTBRAKE CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL
Win: Mike Smith '68 Chevy II Ware Shoals, SC 7.35 92.03 (7.38)
R/U: Jim Wood '71 Chevelle Laurens, SC 7.80 84.59 (7.85)
Semi: Todd Genobles '90 Mustang Anderson, SC
Semi: Mitchell Jackson '67 Barracuda Piedmont, SC
Charlie Peppers ( #3 ) and Tim Nabors (#8) Qualify in Pro Stock at The Rock
Posted Sunday, March 30, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Final order of qualifying in Pro Stock at the Hooters IHRA Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts & Castrol
Results
IHRA Saturday Recap
Charlie Peppers #3 and Tim Nabors #8 in Pro Stock After Two Qualifying Sessions at the Hooters IHRA Spring Nationals presented by Advance Auto Parts & Castrol
Posted Saturday, March 29, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Rockingham, NC
Charlie Peppers ( Auburn GA )is #3 ( 6.554 @ 211.13 ) and Tim Nabors ( Lawrenceville GA )is #8 ( 6.600 @ 209.95 ) after two sessions in Pro Stock.
Pro Stock Qualifying Results
IHRA Spring Nationals Results
Kurt Johnson to Appear on This Weekend's NHRA2Day
Posted Saturday, March 29, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
Phone: (704) 662-3121
jgknapp@tmgsports.net
Kurt Johnson to appear on this weekend's NHRA2Day
Sugar Hill, Ga., March 30, 2003 - Pro Stock standout Kurt Johnson will be a featured guest on this weekend's edition of NHRA2Day. Johnson is coming off an exciting win at the Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida.
The Gatornationals marked the debut of the 2003 bodywork on Johnson's ACDelco Cavalier, and any questions about its performance were quickly answered. In qualifying, "K.J." placed third with an elapsed time of 6.794 seconds, with his top speed of 203.71 mph establishing a new Gainesville Raceway record.
On race day, Johnson and his ACDelco crew made all the right decisions, starting with posting the low elapsed time of eliminations in the first round against Mike Edwards, and ending by defeating 2002 Pro Stock Champion Jeg Coughlin in the final. This was Johnson's 24th national event win, but first at the prestigious Gatornationals. Johnson now stands second the 2003 POWERade point standings, 42 behind leader Greg Anderson.
NHRA2Day is ESPN's half-hour weekly magazine show chronicling the events of the world's fastest motorsport. Hosted by Bill Stephens, it brings viewers up-to-date on the latest news from the National Hot Rod Association, either from the site of that weekend's national event, or from the show's Charlotte, NC studios.
This weekend's show is scheduled to air at its normal time on Sunday morning from 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. (ET) on ESPN2.
Atlanta Dragway Results by Tim Glover
Posted Sunday, March 23, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
RACE DATE: March 22, 2003
FROM: 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.l
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.
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:
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.
NMCA/Classic Thunder Photos
Posted Sunday, March 23, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
I've posted more photos from last weekend's NMCA event at Atlanta here. For Classic Thunder pics, click here.
News and Results From the NMCA/Classic Thunder Event at Atlanta Dragway
Posted Tuesday, March 18, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Here are links to additional info for last weekends event.
NMCA NEWS
CLASSIC THUNDER
I'll be posting photos from this race as time permits in theGeorgiaDragRacing.com photo album.
NMCA Results at Atlanta Dragway by Tim Glover
Posted Tuesday, March 18, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
NMCA / HOT ROD POWER FESTIVAL COMPLETED IN SPITE OF WET WEATHER AND OILDOWNS
AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY
By Tim Glover
(Commerce, GA - March 15-16) For the third time in four weekends, Saturday
racing action at Atlanta Dragway was rained out. Fortunately, eliminations
were scheduled on Sunday for the NMCA / Hot Rod Power Festival, so the only
casualties from 2003's first scheduled NMCA event were the bracket race, the
car show, the swap meet and a couple of qualifying sessions. Four classes
did manage to get qualified Saturday in between bouts of liquid sunshine.
Qualifying was finished Sunday, and then eliminations began Sunday
afternoon. More liquid slowed the show down, but on Sunday it was oil, not
rain, delaying the event. Numerous oildowns (mostly from overstressed
engines expiring) made the show last longer for Sunday's race fans. All the
racing was in the history books by 10:00 pm Sunday evening.
Exhibition runs helped fill time for spectators between rounds. The
Classic Thunder group, featuring nostalgia race cars, Paul Miller's Next
Generation US One Jet Dragster and Pro Street champion Pat Musi's kids,
Trisha and Lizzy, in seven second (eighth mile) Jr. Dragsters, all helped
keep the fans interested. Two Atlanta Dragway regulars participated in the
Classic Thunder exhibition, Chris Scrocca from Buford, GA in his '69 Camaro
and Sean McDonald from Jefferson, GA, in a '72 Opel. Both cars sported huge
superchargers sticking way out of their hoods, and laid down some fast
tracks at Atlanta Dragway. The fastest Classic Thunder racer was Fairburn,
GA racer Jim Dickey, who put down a 4.16, 171.77mph blast on the eighth mile
course in his '23 T Altered.
Pat Musi's Carteret, NJ based Comp Cams Pro Street '97Firebird got out of
shape off the starting line, but the win was already his after teammate Dan
Parker's '69 Chevrolet Camaro left the red light glowing at the starting
line, fouling away his shot at victory. After straightening his car out,
Musi eased on down the track with a 13.56, 61.22mph. After seeing he had
lost the event, the Columbus, GA based Parker clicked his Pat Musi owned '69
Camaro off early, turning in a 9.98 second pass at only 85.39mph. Justin
Kalwei ('57 Chevrolet - Greenwood, MO) and Paul Daigrepont (driving what he
claims is the world's fastest Powerglide equipped '84 Pontiac Firebird - New
Orleans, LA) made up the semi-final pair.
Chuck Samuel set a new Accel DFI Pro Outlaw record in the semis, 6.51
seconds at 218.48mph, and then took the win light against James Clark in the
final. Samuel doesn't talk much, he just goes out there and gets the job
done. Samuel, who hails from Kinston, IL, shut out Clark with a convincing
and deadly fast 6.62, 217.42mph in an '02 Ford Mustang. Clark's Laurel, MS
based '97 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was close, running 6.75, 206.45 for the
runner-up trophy. Tinley Park, IL racer Randy Adler switched from his GTO
to a chopped top '57 Chevrolet, and made it to the semi-finals today, along
with another long time NMCA racer, Randy Eakins ('01 Mustang - Sikeston,
MO).
John Jones from Cranston, RI, has been competing in Edelbrock Pro Nostalgia
for four years, and tonight, after nearly matching multi time champion Paul
Adam's reaction time (.464 seconds to .465 seconds) he matched Adam's
incremental numbers all the way down the track, except for the finish line,
which Jones took .009 seconds ahead of Adams, giving Jones his first ever
Pro Nostalgia win. Both racers chose '66 Ford Fairlanes to participate in
what Jones' crew called "Prehistoric Pro Stock". "I felt like I was taking
on Bob Glidden," Jones exclaimed in the winner's circle. Adams, who comes
from Barbersville, WV, added, "We had a good race." Jim Mckenzie ('62
Chevrolet Bel Air bubbletop - Elkton, MD) finished his day in the
semi-finals when his car was unable to make it to the starting line.
Brian Ferrari's "Mean Green Machine" from Aberdeen, NJ, stomped out
Omtonville, MI racer Ross Stomp's chance of victory in the Nitrous Express
Nostalgia Pro Street final. Ferrari's '66 Chevrolet Chevelle laid down a
7.65, 177.88mph winning pass, negating Stomp's otherwise great 7.70,
178.59mph in a '69 Nova. Bruce "The Big Guy" Poulos went back to Pallatine,
IL with a semi-final finisher's check in his '72 Chevrolet Chevelle.
Joining him in the semis was John Schroeder, whose day was ended when his
Stamford, CT based '02 Camaro SS got way out of shape on the racetrack,
forcing him to lift and save his car for another race.
DTS Super Modified winner Jim Huber from St. Leon, IN happily pointed out
that BES engines made it to seven out of the 13 final rounds contested in
this weekend's action, winning four. Huber used his BES powered '00
Chevrolet S10 pickup to take the win light against John Baio's immaculate
Burbank, IL based '69 Chevrolet Camaro. Huber went 7.67, 176.49mph,
crossing the finish line ahead of Baio's 7.87, 173.09mph best. Emidio
Catalano ('68 Chevrolet Camaro - Toronto, Canada) was the lone
semi-finalist.
Dan Millen's Dearborn Heights, MI based Ramchargers Super Street '02 Ford
Mustang left a huge cloud of smoke and a good bit of oil down track after
his semi-final win, leading many to think his car was done for the night.
Millen didn't think so, and came back to win decisively against Grainsville,
GA racer Keith Szabo's '93 Mustang. Millen didn't take the finish line by
much, leading Szabo by only .026 seconds at the quarter mile mark. Millen's
time was 7.35, 195.68mph to Szabo's 7.40, 189.10mph. Nick Scavo ('69
Chevrolet Camaro - Oak Grove IL) and Ed Grisez ('93 Pontiac Firebird -
Oberlin, OH) took home the semi-final purse
Rick Moroso, of the famous Moroso performance parts family, won the 2002
Competition Engineering Hot Street championship, and was off to a good start
by winning the first 2003 Hot Street event. Moroso's final round opponent,
Rockin' Al Miller, finally figured out why his Elk Grove Village based '85
Corvette was so slow in the final. Somehow, the parachute was launched
immediately after he left the starting line, which slowed his car way off
pace to a 9.88, 110.57mph. Moroso's '00 Chevrolet Corvette was wide open
with an 8.80, 152.04. "Last year we did well. We're just trying to back it
up the best we can," said Moroso about his victory. Al Pritchett ('84
Camaro - Rockford, IL) and Ed Dobias ('79 Camaro - North Homestead, OH) got
to go home with the semi-finalist purse.
One could hardly see the race cars after some super smoky burnouts in the
Corteco Limited Street final. Lawrenceberg, IN racer Gary Rohe, the mega
time EZ Street champion, was undecided a few weeks ago if he was even going
to race in 2003. He made a good move in the 2003 Limited Street points this
weekend, coming out on top after defeating the defending champion, Mike
Libecap from Connersville, IN, in the final. Rohe's '80 Ford Mustang was
back on track with an 8.26, 165.46mph shot. Libecap's car got loose,
forcing him to lift and coast to a 14.03, 68.08mph. Cuy Richardson ('86
Mustang - Georgetown, KY) and Bill Trovato ('78 Oldsmobile Starfire -
Rochester, NY) ended their day in the semi-finals.
Both Real Street finalists had identical reaction times (.476 seconds), but
Syracuse, NY based Jamie Stanton prevailed over defending champion Bruce
LaGory from Lawrenceberg, IN. Stanton's '00 Chevrolet Camaro made it to the
finish line first, running 8.91, 154.12mph. LaGory's '69 Plymouth Barracuda
was close, but all he could muster in the final was a 9.03, 151.53.
Houston, TX racer Patrick Topolinski, an instructor for the School of
Automotive Machinists, was the semi-final finisher in his '79 Malibu.
Troy Pirez, who comes from the same hometown that "Big Daddy" Don Garlits
is from, Seffner, FL, qualified second, but finished first in BF Goodrich
Drag Radial Eliminator. Pirez' '70 Chevrolet Nova was the best in the
final, turning in an 8.63, 160.73mph pass. Pirez' final round victim was
Marengo, IL racer Chris Singleton. Singleton's '72 Nova mustered a good
8.82, 159.02mph for the final. Rob Wells of Tampa, FL was the crowd's
favorite to win. He brought his rusty, many hued '72 "Frankenstein" Nova,
which looked like it was on its last mile (until one looked under the hood)
to the starting line up until the semifinals. The other semi-finalist was
Dave Rudisell ('84 Ford Mustang - Lawrenceberg, IN).
Chysler products dominated in Nostalgia Super Stock, but a GM product took
the winner's trophy home. Gary Pund brought his '62 Pontiac Grand Prix down
from Fairborn, OH, and went home with the win, turning in an 11.55,
105.39mph (11.50 index). Jack Nelson from Shelby Township, MI had to settle
for the runner up spot after his '65 Dodge Coronet slowed to 11.57,
115.69mph on a 11.00 second index. Joe Ewing ('63 Polara - Evansville, IN)
was the sole semi-final finisher.
Local racer Bobby McNair said he was glad he went back to his roots in a
footbrake car. McNair took the winner's check and trophy in BF Goodrich
American Muscle with his Seneca, SC based '68 Ford Mustang after defeating
Brad Crumley's '71 Ford Maverick. McNair defeated the Roan Mountain racer
with a slight breakou 12.49, 108.44mph pass on a 12.50 second index.
Crumley's run, however, was over the moment he left the starting line too
quickly, resulting in a red light. Steve Jones ('70 Pontiac Formula -
Washington Courthouse, OH) was the semi-finalist. McNair added that his
Super Pro Maverick was up for sale.
Mr. Gasket EFI winner Linda Massingill from Houston, TX, seemed to give
everyone credit but herself for her victory. The students at the School of
Automotive Machinists built the engine in her '98 Camaro, helping her win in
only her second time out in the car. She also credited luck for the win,
after John Lovett went too quick in his Cleveland, MS based '86 Mustang,
breaking out and giving her the win. Massingill did well during the other
rounds just to get to the final. Defending EFI champion Todd Merkel had to
dig his trailer out of three feet of snow in St. James, NY to get to Atlanta
Dragway this weekend, and went home third in points after his semi-final
finish with his '85 Firebird.
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
------------------------------------------------
PRO STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Pat Musi '97 Firebird Carteret, NJ 13.56 61.22
R/U: Dan Parker '69 Camaro Columbus, GA (foul) 9.98 85.39
Semi: Justin Kalwei '57 Chevrolet Greenwood, MO
Semi: Paul Daigrepont '84 Firebird New Orleans, LA
------------------------------------------------
PRO OUTLAW CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Chuck Samuel '02 Mustang Kingston, IL 6.62 217.42
R/U: James Clark '97 Monte Carlo Laurel, MS 6.75 206.45
Semi: Randy Adler '57 Chevrolet Tinley Park, IL
Semi: Randy Eakins '01 Mustang Sikeston, MO
------------------------------------------------
PRO NOSTALGIA CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: John Jones '66 Fairlane Cranston, RI 9.08 147.07
R/U: Paul Adams '66 Fairlane Barberville, WV 9.09 147.07
Semi: Jim MacKenzie '62 Bel Air Elkton, MD
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
NOSTALGIA PRO STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Brian Ferrari '66 Chevelle Aberdeen, NJ 7.65 177.88
R/U: Ross Stomp '69 Nova Omtonville, MI 7.70 178.59
Semi: Bruce Poulos '72 Chevelle Pallatine, IL
Semi: John Schroeder '02 Camaro Stamford, CT
------------------------------------------------
SUPER MODIFIED CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Jim Huber '00 S10 Pickup St. Leon, IN 7.67 176.49
R/U: John Baio '69 Camaro Burbank, IL 7.87 173.09
Semi: Emidio Catalano '68 Camaro Toronto, Canada
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
SUPER STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Dan Millen '02 Mustang Dearborn Heights, MI 7.35 195.68
R/U: Keith Szabo '93 Mustang Grainsville, GA 7.40 189.10
Semi: Nick Scavo '69 Camaro Oak Grove, IL
Semi: Ed Grisez '93 Firebird Oberlin, OH
------------------------------------------------
HOT STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Rick Moroso '00 Corvette Guilford, CT 8.80 152.04
R/U: Rockin' Al Miller '85 Corvette Elk Grove Village, IL 9.88 110.57
Semi: Al Pritchett '84 Camaro Rockford, IL
Semi: Ed Dobias '79 Camaro North Homestead, OH
------------------------------------------------
LIMITED STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Gary Rohe '80 Mustang Lawrenceberg, IN 8.26 165.46
R/U: Mike Libecap '90 Trans Am Connersville, IN 14.03 68.08
Semi: Cuy Richardson '86 Mustang Georgetown, KY
Semi: Bill Trovato '78 Starfire Rochester, NY
------------------------------------------------
REAL STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Jamie Stanton '00 Camaro Syracuse, NY 8.91 154.12
R/U: Bruce LaGory '69 Barracuda Lawrenceberg, IN 9.03 151.53
Semi: Patrick Topolinski '79 Malibu Houston, TX
Semi:
------------------------------------------------ DRAG RADIAL
ELIMINATOR CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Troy Pirez '70 Nova Seffner, FL 8.63 160.73
R/U: Chris Singleton '72 Nova Marengo, IL 8.82 159.02
Semi: Rob Wells '72 Nova "Frankenstein" Tampa, FL
Semi: Dave Rudisell '84 Mustang Lawrenceberg, IN
------------------------------------------------
NOSTALGIA SUPER STOCK CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX
Win: Gary Pund '62 Grand Prix Fairborn, OH 11.55 105.39 (11.50)
R/U: Jack Nelson '65 Coronet Shelby Township, MI 11.57 115.69 (11.00)
Semi: Joe Ewing '63 Polara Evansville, IN
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX
Win: Bobby McNair '68 Mustang Seneca, SC 12.49 108.44 (12.50)
R/U: Brad Crumley '71 Maverick Roan Mtn., TN (foul) 11.05 119.37 (11.00)
Semi: Steve Jones '70 Formula Washington Courthouse, OH
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
EFI CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX
Win: Linda Massingill '98 Camaro Houston, TX 11.41 121.63 (11.00)
R/U: John Lovett '86 Mustang Cleveland, MS 11.47 117.50 (11.50)
Semi: Todd Merkel '85 Firebird St. James, NY
Semi:
Kurt Johnson Press Release
Posted Monday, March 17, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
Phone: (704) 662-3121
jgknapp@tmgsports.net
For Immediate Release
Kurt Johnson Makes His 2003 ACDelco Cavalier a Winner in Gainesville
Gainesville, Fla., March 16, 2003 - ACDelco Pro Stock pilot Kurt Johnson made the debut of the 2003 Cavalier in NHRA Pro Stock competition a successful one by scoring an impressive win at today's Mac Tools Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. Just over one week after completing the work to update his race car, Johnson faced off against 2002 POWERade champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the final round.
Both cars left the line as if welded together, with Coughlin seeming to gain a very slight edge in the first 300 feet. However, the legendary Johnson horsepower soon took over, and Kurt pulled ahead to stay by half-track, crossing the finish line in 6.825 seconds with a top speed of 202.65 mph, to Coughlin's 6.840-second, 201.29 mph effort. This is the 24th national event win of KJ's illustrious career, but first at storied Gainesville Raceway.
"I've been coming to Gainesville Raceway since 1976, when Dad (six-time Pro Stock champion Warren Johnson) was the runner-up, and it's stuck in my mind ever since," stated Johnson. "It's a great place to race, and we normally run extremely well here. I've done it all in Gainesville. I was the runner-up in 1999 and I've broken parts here. Now I've put my ACDelco Cavalier in the winner's circle, and to have done that is something special."
Starting third, KJ was the beneficiary of Mike Edwards foul start in the first round. Despite the automatic win, Johnson powered down the quarter-mile and recorded the quickest elapsed time of eliminations at 6.808 seconds with at top speed of 203.48 mph to earn lane choice for his second round encounter with Mark Whisnant.
After disposing of Whisnant, the younger member of the Johnson racing family then met current POWERade points leader Greg Anderson in the semi-finals, who had been one of the quickest cars throughout the weekend. Knowing he would need every possible advantage, Kurt used his best reaction time of the day to leave the starting line fifteen thousandths of a second ahead of his rival, which, when combined with his 6.823-second elapsed time (vs. Anderson's 6.824-second effort) helped propel Johnson into the 41st final round of his career.
"After the first qualifying session on Friday, when we were the No. 1 qualifier, we knew our ACDelco Cavalier was a good race car," explained Johnson. "It's been good for the last six races, and especially since Saturday morning in Phoenix. Even though this is the first race for the 2003 bodystyle, and we still have a lot of work to bring it to its full potential, we can already tell that it improves the balance of the race car.
"As close as the competition is in this category, you have to have the whole package to win. In the first two rounds today, the car did its job, but I was a little off. Going into the races against Greg and Jeg, I knew I would have to step up to the plate, and I did. In addition, we made some good calls in the pits. Everything just came together for us today."
This win was particularly significant in light of the effort put forth by the ACDelco crew to ensure their car would be ready in time for this event, and Kurt was quick to credit those responsible.
"My ACDelco crew did an incredible job over the last few weeks getting the car changed over," detailed Johnson. "On their way home from Phoenix, they were delayed in Dallas by an ice storm, but once they were back in the shop, they worked non-stop to get the job done.
"As soon as the car was finished, we were at the track in Atlanta testing. After that, we were in the wind tunnel for a day before heading down here. Honestly, without Kevin (Horst) and Joe (Cottle)'s hard work and dedication, as well as everyone back at the shop, this win would not have happened.
"Naturally, it feels good to win. We've now won a race every year for the last nine years, and it's great to get this year out of the way early. We're excited about the rest of the season, and are looking forward to going to Las Vegas in a few weeks. But tonight, we're going to enjoy this win before getting back to work tomorrow."
2003 NHRA POWERade POINT STANDINGS
(After the third of 23 events)
1. Greg Anderson 265
2. Kurt Johnson 223
3. Warren Johnson 207
4. Allen Johnson 199
5. Jeg Coughlin Jr. 198
Next event: Summitracing.com Nationals,
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas, Nev., April 3-6
WJ Press Release
Posted Monday, March 17, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
Phone: (704) 662-3121
jgknapp@tmgsports.net
Final Eliminations Results
A gremlin bites WJ in Gainesville quarter-finals
Event: 34th Annual Mac Tools Gatornationals
Location: Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla.
Day/Date: Sunday March 16, 2003
GM Performance Parts Grand Am pilot Warren Johnson entered Sunday's final eliminations of the Mac Tools Gatornationals as the most successful active driver among all professional categories at Gainesville Raceway, with nine wins in 10 final round appearances. However, WJ knew that an outstanding effort would be needed to add to this impressive total on Sunday.
After qualifying seventh, Johnson faced Tom Martino in the first round. However, the contest was over before it really started, as Martino left the starting line one hundredth of a second early, handing the automatic win to WJ, who posted a 6.828-second elapsed time with a top speed of 201.65 mph.
This set the stage for a quarterfinal match-up with current POWERade points leader Greg Anderson, who won the most recent race in Phoenix. In what proved to be one of the closest races of the day, Johnson gained the early advantage with an .011 reaction time and seemed headed to the semifinals. However, Johnson's 6.857-second elapsed time and 201.43 mph top speed were not enough to hold off Anderson's late charge, bringing a premature end to WJ's day.
"There's something amiss in the race car that we can't put our finger on right now. It's not running the last 300-350 feet of the race track like it should. It's as fast as anybody to the eighth mile, but we're off in the back half, which is highly uncharacteristic for this team.
"It's a problem that started to develop in Pomona, so there's obviously something wrong inside the car. It's not the engines, because we've had them off and on the dyno several times, and the car has not physically been changed, so there's obviously some component that is giving us trouble.
"We've been replacing one piece at a time, because if you just field strip it and the problem goes away, if it reoccurs, you have to go through that whole procedure all over again.
"I'm confident we'll be able to pinpoint the problem, and when we do, I'm willing to bet it's going to be something minor, because we constantly monitor the vital signs for anything major. I'm confident we'll have it ironed out by the next race, restoring our GM Performance Parts Grand Am to full health. It's just unfortunate that it bit us here."
2003 NHRA POWERade POINT STANDINGS
(After the third of 23 events)
1. Greg Anderson 265
2. Kurt Johnson 223
3. Warren Johnson 207
4. Allen Johnson 199
5. Jeg Coughlin Jr. 198
Next event: Summitracing.com Nationals,
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas, Nev., April 3-6
Mark Whisnant Press Release
Posted Sunday, March 16, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
RW PERFORMANCE PRO STOCK CHEVY CAVALIER
MARK WHISNANT – DRIVER REID WHISNANT – OWNER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2003
CONTACT: Patti Miles 336-751-3882
704-957-3940 (Mobile) pattie.miles@worldnet.att.net
Whisnant Exits in Round 2
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Mark Whisnant, driver of the RW Performance / Snap-On Tools Chevrolet Cavalier, entered today’s 34th annual Mac Tools Gatornationals in the 11th position on the Pro Stock eliminations ladder.
“We are going for it,” said Whisnant. “This is the first round of eliminations we have seen this year and I feel pretty confident that it won’t be the last.
“Today the name of the game will be consistency. The car that will win here today will be the car that can be consistent from lane to lane. So far this weekend this RW Performance / Snap-On Tools Cavalier has run the same numbers in either lane, and didn’t fall off much when it became hot yesterday. I believe if we can have that same consistency here today, we could possibly come out on top today.”
In Round 1 Whisnant met the Number 6 Pro Stock qualifier V. Gaines.
Whisnant took his first round win of the year at the starting line. Whisnant’s .043 light put him out in front of Gaines at the hit, and even though Gaines had a quicker ET, Whisnant’s starting line advantage kept him out ahead of Gaines to take the win. Whisnant ran a 6.851 / 200.17 mph to defeat Gaines’ 6.845 / 201.61 mph.
Whisnant’s opponent in Round 2 was fellow Georgian Kurt Johnson. When the lights went green, Whisnant was out of the gate first, but his starting line advantage was not enough to take the win. Johnson ran a 6.838 / 202.56 mph to defeat Whisnant with a 6.868 / 200.40 mph.
“We didn’t go to the final, but this is still a good race for us. Our performance here this weekend has taken a huge monkey off our backs. We only went a couple rounds, but these two rounds has given everyone on this team a boost of confidence.
“We tested well in Las Vegas. Hopefully we can to use the momentum we have gathered here, to carry us farther in Vegas. Possibly all the way to the final round.”
The next event on 2003 POWERade Drag Racing series will be the 4th annual Summitracing.com NHRA Nationals April 3-6 in Las Vegas, Nev.
# # #
Whisnant Quick Facts
Currently 21st in 2003 POWERade Pro Stock Points (20 pts.)
Currently 8th in King Demon Points (1685 pts.)
Finished 10th in 2002 POWERade Pro Stock Points
Career Best ET 6.777 (Seattle 2002)
Career Best Speed 202.73 mph (Englishtown 2002)
www.markwhisnant.com
Don Schumacher Racing Funny Car Press Release
Posted Sunday, March 16, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Round 3 of 23
MAC TOOLS GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE (Fla.) RACEWAY
SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 2003
FINAL ELIMINATIONS
BAZEMORE, SCELZI GO TO SEMIFINALS
The Don Schumacher Racing Funny Car team continues it move to the front. In the third race of the 23-event 2003 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Gary Scelzi and Whit Bazemore advanced to the semifinals and Scotty Cannon had a good first-round run against Tony Pedregon as Cannon's team continues to solve its teething problems.
Bazemore defeated Cruz Pedregon in the first round with a track-record-breaking top speed of 324.32 mph and a 4.827-second pass versus Cruz's 5.203/218.07. In the second round he easily ousted Johnny Gray with a 4.880/319.82 against Gray's 5.567/181.08. But it was Del Worsham in the semifinals who sent Bazemore home packing when a clutch disc failed on Bazemore's Dodge, causing him to smoke the tires and lose with a 5.315-second pass to Worsham's 4.997/306.33.
WHIT BAZEMORE, MATCO TOOLS IRON EAGLE DODGE STRATUS R/T: "We're disappointed because we really felt like we had the car to beat today. Things were really going our way and for some reason a clutch disc came apart and we smoked the tires. Stuff's going to happen. It just proves in this sport you don't win the race until it's over. Things can be looking really good for you and going perfectly and then, boom, you get beat. Just one of those things. Gary did a great job today on the Oakley Dodge team. A Schumacher car has beaten Force in the last two races in early rounds, so we feel good about that. We just have to keep doing what we're doing and solving our problems each race and addressing things and making our car better. We're doing all those things, and that's what makes the team good and that's why we have a good team."
WHO WAS YOUR BIGGEST COMPETITION TODAY? "They all are. There are no easy runs. We take our loss in the third round (against Del Worsham) as a perfect example. We had a considerable performance advantage going into that round but at the same time we know what that team is capable of, so you can't take them lightly. You let your guard down and you're going to get beat. You have to be on the edge all the time. We don't have a 10th of a second advantage on the field yet. Hopefully, we'll work hard and we'll find that. Then you can operate with a little bit bigger margin for error. Right now we have both our Dodges tuned up as aggressively as we think we can get away with. Right now in Funny Car that's what it takes to win. You have to be right on the edge and not go over it. And we had a part malfunction which caused our tune-up to be over the edge at half-track and we smoked the tires. There's no room for error, so we got beat."
ON LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT RACE: "If conditions are good in Vegas then I think we're on to a good performance here. We're just trying to realize our potential and our potential is huge, it really is. If it all falls together when the stars line up, watch out, because we had a great car at the end of the 2001 season and a tremendous team and I feel we're back where we were at that time with our team. We're just working through our problems. We have unlimited potential and our intent is to realize it."
LEE BEARD, CREW CHIEF, WHIT BAZEMORE'S MATCO TOOLS IRON EAGLE DODGE STRATUS R/T: "We have a great race car and Whit's doing a fantastic job of driving. I couldn't be happier with the team and the performance of our car. We're having some little inconsistencies in our clutch still. The reason the thing smoked the tires is that it pretty much disintegrated a clutch disc and when it does that it causes the clutch to instantly lock up. So we're going to have to get involved a little closer on what we're putting in the thing quality-wise. We do put a tremendous effort into that area, but obviously we're still having a small percentage of misfires. They bite you obviously at the worst time. It's tough to have a guy beat us with a 4.99 (Worsham in the semis) when we're sitting on a race car that's been running pretty consistent 4.80s and real big mile per hour. It's a little frustrating, but we've got a long season ahead of us and we know we have a good car. They're not going to beat us with those chump runs every race. You have a small percentage of those things happen to you. Over the course of 100 runs you're going to maybe have that happen four or five times. We just have to hope and pray we can go the next 100 runs without having it happen. We're not depressed. We came in here and ran good in qualifying and left here with the track record for speed at 324 mph, a shot right there in the first round. It wasn't like it was a bad weekend for us. We look at it that anytime you can get to the semifinals, which are down to the final four cars, you had a good weekend. Obviously winning is a great weekend. That's where we're at."
Scelzi may have struggled to qualify this weekend, making it into the field only in the last qualifying session, but his performance in eliminations was impressive for a man who's new to a full-time Funny Car ride. For the first time in his NHRA career, Scelzi found himself facing the 12-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force in the first round. It wasn't the quickest run down the quarter-mile for Scelzi, but his 4.905 at 313.91 mph was good enough to beat Force's 4.973/296.54. When asked if he was nervous at the start of the match-up, he responded that he thought he was going to throw up a Dodge Dakota! In fact, he claims he wasn't nervous at all.
In the second round he faced Dean Skuza, and cleanly disposed of him with a 4.924-second pass at 313.58 to Skuza's 6.379/141.84. In the semis he found himself against another member of John Force's team, Gary Densham. They launched with identical reaction times, .058, but by the one-eighth mile it was all over for Scelzi when his new red Dodge dropped a cylinder. Although he made it to the line with a decent 4.933/308.95, Densham's solid 4.870/321.19 was too good to overcome.
GARY SCELZI, OAKLEY "GRAB LIFE BY THE HORNS" DODGE STRATUS R/T: "I think that just shows the strength of this Oakley team, how well we did. We got way behind in qualifying, we got the car in the show, we didn't make any mistakes. We got in here and we beat John Force in the first round. We raced the race track and not John Force. We beat him. So many people hand him races because he's a champion. We showed him that we're going to play and we're going to play all year long. I think that shows the depth of this team. I wasn't lying in the beginning. And then second round we won and in the semis we were actually beating Gary Densham and we had a cylinder go out. We think we may have an ignition problem. It misfired a couple of times, then it put a hole out. But we were running plenty fast enough to beat him and we were actually ahead. We know it's not going to be easy, but we know that this team has a lot of depth and we're very excited. Like Dodge says, we're going to grab life by the horns and we're doing that."
WERE YOU NERVOUS GOING AGAINST FORCE? "You know what, I really wasn't. I'd raced Bernstein, I've raced Amato, I'm a several time champion. The problem was we had to wait so long and I try to keep myself calm until I get in the car because you don't want to go on a roller coaster on adrenaline. Fortunately, I've been around this thing long enough it doesn't bother me. In fact, if anything, I was probably too relaxed racing Force. My goal and our team's goal is to win races and to go rounds. We did that. Beating Force came early. I'd probably be more excited if I'd beat him in the semis or the final. It's all good. I respect the man; he's great, but we got a good team and we can race him and that makes me feel good. This wasn't a bad weekend. We went the first round in Pomona, second round in Phoenix, semis here, let's go to Vegas."
MIKE NEFF, CREW CHIEF, GARY SCELZI'S OAKLEY "GRAB LIFE BY THE HORNS" DODGE STRATUS R/T: "We are happy. We got off to a bumpy start. We never like to go to the last qualifying session not qualified, but we hung in there and did what we had to do and got it pretty solid into the show and made a respectable run first round. We were fortunate enough to beat Force and anytime you can do that, that's a huge accomplishment. We were able to go to the semis. Anytime you can go to the semis I consider that a good day. Unfortunately, in the race against Densham we put a cylinder out at two seconds and it killed us. We were on a good run, fast run of the day for us; just unfortunate to have that happen. We feel we could have easily won that round and possibly went on to win the race, but overall I'm really happy. Gary is doing a fantastic job and so is my crew. I'm just proud to be part of Schumacher Racing."
ANY PARTICULAR WORRIES GOING AGAINST FORCE? "No. I was nervous going up for the last qualifying session, but once we got a good run in I was fine for today. You're really just racing yourself. You're trying to go as good as you can, so it really doesn't matter who's in the other lane."
WHAT'S IT GOING TO TAKE TO WIN FOR THIS TEAM? "Well, we're going to stay here and test. We've got some blower stuff we need to test that's kind of been a weak link in our program for a while, and we know it. And hopefully we'll get a good blower on there that will go eight runs or four runs and we're not having to change that. We had to change blowers from the second round to the semis. It changes your setup. It's something different. It makes it a lot easier for something to go wrong. It's just a lot easier to leave all the same parts on there if you can. If we can get that part of our program straightened out, there would be one last thing I've got to change on Sunday. I think we're close, I think we're right there."
NOTE: Gary Scelzi's Oakley "Grab Life By The Horns" Dodge Stratus R/T won the Hedman Headers Best Engineered Vehicle Award today.
POINT STANDINGS AFTER THREE EVENTS:
1. Gary Densham 246
2. Ron Capps 235
3. Tony Pedregon 232
4. Whit Bazemore 206
5. Johnny Gray 182
6. Del Worsham 179
7. Gary Scelzi 159
15. Scotty Cannon 93
Bernstein, Densham, K. Johnson, Savoie, and McAmis Win at the NHRA POWERade MAC Tools NHRA Gatornationals
Posted Sunday, March 16, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
NHRA Recap
Mark Whisnant Press Release
Posted Sunday, March 16, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
RW PERFORMANCE PRO STOCK CHEVY CAVALIER
MARK WHISNANT – DRIVER REID WHISNANT – OWNER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2003
CONTACT: Patti Miles 336-751-3882
704-957-3940 (Mobile) pattie.miles@worldnet.att.net
Whisnant Qualifies 11th in Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Mark Whisnant, driver of the RW Performance / Snap-On Tools Chevrolet Cavalier, has qualified at the 34th annual Mac Tools Gatornationals. It was in the first session of qualifying on Saturday that Whisnant drove his Cavalier to a 6.811 / 201.97 mph to take the 11th position on Sunday’s eliminations ladder.
“I am pretty pleased to qualify here at the Gatornationals,” said Whisnant, ”We have really struggled the last two races, and the hard work we put in over the last three weeks seems to have paid off.
“We made a lot of progress in testing last week, but as tough as this class is we knew that we would have to continue to progress. We knew when we arrived if we did not keep moving forward would not be racing here. We picked up a couple hundredths every session, and the result is that we are in the show.
“The way Pro Stock racing is right now there are two races at every event. The race to get in, and then the race on Sunday. Right now, there are 32 cars with a tenth of each other, which shows how close this racing is.
When eliminations get underway Sunday morning Whisnant opponent in Round 1 will be V. Gaines.
“It is very true that if you are one of the 16 cars to get in the show, you can win the race; that is what we will be banking on tomorrow. Last year we made it all the way to the semis. This year we would like to find out what the winner’s circle at the Mac Tool Gatornationals looks like.”
Eliminations at the 34th annual Mac Tools Gatornationals will begin at 11:00 AM EST on Sunday March 16.
34th annual Mac Tools Gatornationals TV Schedule
Qualifying Highlights
Sunday March 16 3:00 AM – 5:00 AM EST (ESPN)
Eliminations Coverage
Sunday March 16 9:00 PM – 11:30 PM EST (ESPN2)
Warren Johnson Press Release
Posted Sunday, March 16, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
Phone: (704) 662-3121
jgknapp@tmgsports.net
Final Qualifying Results
WJ qualifies Seventh in Gainesville
Event: 34th Annual Mac Tools Gatornationals
Location: Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla.
Day/Date: Saturday March 15, 2003
The second day of qualifying for the Mac Tools Gatornationals surprised race fans and NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series competitors alike, as forecasted heavy rains were replaced by clearing skies and seasonable temperatures. As a result, the first session on Saturday at Gainesville Raceway proved to be the best of the weekend for the Pro Stock category, and resulted in many changes in the field for final eliminations.
Heading into the pivotal third session, GM Performance Parts Grand Am pilot Warren Johnson knew improvement would be necessary to guarantee a spot on Sunday's final eliminations ladder. In fact, by the time WJ came to the line, his 6.829-second effort from Friday was already outside of the top sixteen necessary to qualify.
As expected, Johnson responded to the challenge, posting a 6.802-second elapsed time with a top speed of 203.02 mph, good enough for the seventh starting position. Johnson then completed his qualifying effort by recording the third quickest time in the final session, a solid 6.825-second pass, putting him in good stead heading into his first round match-up with Tom Martino.
"This GM Performance Grand Am is really coming around. We may have pinpointed where the decrease in performance is, but we can't really do anything about it until after this weekend, when we can test and confirm it.
"We won't make any wholesale changes for tomorrow, because we're close enough to be competitive, and we certainly don't want to do something that would have an adverse effect. The chances for that are about 50-50 and we don't want to chance it, when we are in a position to win the race."
Kurt Johnson Press Release
Posted Sunday, March 16, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
Phone: (704) 662-3121
jgknapp@tmgsports.net
Final Qualifying Results
Kurt Johnson Speeds to the Third Starting Position in Gainesville
Event: 34th Annual Mac Tools Gatornationals
Location: Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla.
Day/Date: Saturday March 15, 2003
For the second day in a row, Kurt Johnson's ACDelco Cavalier was the fastest Pro Stock car at the Mac Tools Gatornationals. After resetting the Gainesville Raceway speed record on Friday afternoon, KJ came back to once again pace the field in both sessions on Saturday, with his 203.71 mph effort on his final attempt raising the bar even further.
Of even greater significance, however, was the 6.794-second elapsed time that Johnson posted during the crucial third session, placing him third on Sunday's final eliminations ladder.
Ironically, Saturday's on-track action was somewhat of a surprise, as heavy rain had been forecast, but the precipitation held off, with the skies actually clearing as the "factory hot rods" took to the track. The combination of a fast racing surface and cooler temperatures produced an extremely quick field, as evidenced by the fact that last year's 6.821-second track record would have only earned the 15th starting position.
This marks Johnson's best qualifying performance at Gainesville since 1999, when he captured the second position, and sets the stage for a first-round encounter with No. 14 qualifier Mike Edwards.
"We were pretty consistent throughout qualifying, with a 6.79, two 6.80s and a 6.81. I've had good lights, the car has been going down the race track - now we just have to do it four times tomorrow.
"We are still off a little in the first 60 feet, which bothers us a little bit, but not enough that we're going to make any big crazy changes for tomorrow. We might move a few pounds to the back to see if we can get this thing to hook up a little bit better. It's spinning the tires, but not shaking, and running really smooth, so we'll leave it alone and see if we can put our ACDelco Cavalier in the winner's circle."
Whit Bazemore Press Release
Posted Sunday, March 16, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Round 3 of 23
MAC TOOLS GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE (Fla.) RACEWAY
SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2003
FINAL QUALIFYING:
BAZEMORE QUALIFIES FOURTH IN GAINESVILLE
After four rounds of qualifying, Whit Bazemore, in the Matco Tools Iron
Eagle Dodge Stratus R/T, ends up as No. 4 qualifier, with a 4.835-second lap
at 321.88 mph, set yesterday. Today's runs in the heat of the day resulted
in a tire-smoking 6.825/123.76 in the first session, and a 5.583/175.19 in
the final qualifying round.
WHIT BAZEMORE, MATCO TOOLS IRON EAGLE DODGE STRATUS R/T: "The potential was
certainly there to run the best run of the weekend (in the final round),
which is what we were trying to do. We changed the weight balance on the car
a little bit. It's a new body with this Dodge, so we're still finding where
we are with it and the front end just came up at half track. I hung with it
for a while because it was really running well but then it kept coming up
and wasn't coming back down. It gets to the point where, number one, you're
not very comfortable, and, number two, you're probably not going to run
quicker than an .83, so there's no point in risking damage to the car, so we
shut it off." ON RUNNING AGAINST CRUZ PREDREGON IN THE FIRST ROUND: "We feel
really good for tomorrow. We're here; we're ready to race. We have a great
team, a good running car and it's exciting that both my teammates (Gary
Scelzi and Scotty Cannon) are in the show, because we've had some problems.
I think that the whole Schumacher organization is looking good for tomorrow.
We're not here to be runner-up; we're gunning for a win. We'd like nothing
more than to put a Matco Tools Dodge in the winner's circle at a Mac Tools
race. It would be pretty good."
Classic Thunder/National Muscle Car Association Event at Atlanta Dragway
Posted Sunday, March 16, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Even though we had more rain than dry time, Fred Simmons and I had a great time at Commerce Saturday. I'll try to post our photos in the next few days, but until then you can get the scoop here.
Here is a link to some photos from the NMCA guys.
Kalitta, Pedregon, Allen, Savoie, and Hahn Lead Qualifyong at the NHRA POWERade MAC Tools NHRA Gatornationals
Posted Sunday, March 16, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Whit Bazemore qualifies #4 in Funny Car. Georgia Pro Stock racers Kurt Johnson (#3), Terry Adams(Barry Grant Team)(#4), Warren Johnson (#7), and Mark Whisnant (#11) qualify for eliminations. Barry Grant(#17), Gene Wilson (#20), and Eric Shelton (#43) miss the Pro Stock field.
NHRA Saturday Recap
Bernstein, Pedregon, Anderson, and Treble Lead Qualifying at NHRA POWERade MAC Tools NHRA GatornationalsGators
Posted Saturday, March 15, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
NHRA Friday Recap
Don Garlits is currently #15 in Top Fuel with a 4.761 @ 323.04. Shirley Muldowney is #17 and Chris Karamesines is #20.
Top Fuel Qualifying Order
Whit Bazemore #3 in Funny Car. Funny Car Qualifying Order
Georgia Pro Stock racer Mark Whisnant bounces back and qualifies #15. KJ (#2), WJ (#8), and Terry Adams(Barry Grant)-(#13)are the other Georgia Pro Stock racers that are qualified after two sessions. Barry Grant (#18), Gene Wilson (#29), and Eric Shelton (#43) are not currently qualified. Pro Stock Qualifying Order
Georgia racers Van Puckett (#2), Richard Larsen (#8), and Don Eberly (#12) are qualified in Comp. Competition Qualifying Order
Joe LoCicero (#12), Everett Hill (#24), and Woody Adcock (#83) represent Georgia in Super Stock. Super Stock Qualifying Order
Robbie Shaw (#13), Craig Couris (#25), Wayne Shaw (#71), and Norman Griffis, Jr. (#92) qualify for Stock. Stock Qualifying Order
Whit Bazemore Press Release
Posted Saturday, March 15, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Round 3 of 23
NHRA Gatornationals
Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway
Friday, March 14, 2003
AFTER TWO ROUNDS OF QUALIFYING:
WHIT BAZEMORE, MATCO TOOLS IRON EAGLE DODGE STRATUS R/T, is No. 3 after two
rounds of qualifying, with a 4.835-second lap at 321.88 mph. Concern in the
camp regarding some of the potential bad weather conditions in the area has
put pressure on the teams to qualify well today.
BAZEMORE: "We're keeping an eye on the weather because it's kind of
questionable for tomorrow, and it made it really a priority to do well today
and we had a very conservative first run that put us third. From that point
we were able to tune the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge up a little bit and
run a competitive .83, which was still fairly conservative. If we have the
opportunity, we feel we can definitely improve on that tomorrow and maybe
increase our qualifying position some more."
Warren Johnson Press Release
Posted Saturday, March 15, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
Phone: (704) 662-3121
jgknapp@tmgsports.net
Warren Johnson places 8th on Friday in Gainesville
Gainesville, Fla., March 14, 2003 - Warren Johnson had a solid outing during the first day of qualifying for the Mac Tools Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., with his best pass of 6.829 seconds, 202.52 mph slotting the GM Performance Parts eighth among the 45 entries in the Pro Stock category. Even so, WJ was looking for more heading into Saturday's final two sessions.
"We just didn't get off the starting line as smoothly as we'd like today. We're not having tire shake or anything like that, but our sixty-foot times are not where we want them to be. It's a combination of not adapting to the starting line and being slightly off on our tune-up. We did have a different motor in the car today, which we will change for tomorrow.
"We know the track will be going away, so maybe it will come to us. The GM Performance Parts team will just have to keep our finger on its pulse and see what happens.
Kurt Johnson Press Release
Posted Saturday, March 15, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
Phone: (704) 662-3121
jgknapp@tmgsports.net
KJ's 2003 ACDelco Cavalier powers to the 2nd position halfway through Gatornationals qualifying
Gainesville, Fla., March 14, 2003 - Kurt Johnson debuted the 2003 body on his ACDelco Cavalier during the first day of qualifying for the Mac Tools Gatornationals, and wasted little time in making a strong first impression, posting two of the quickest runs in the Pro Stock category. After pacing the field with a 6.800 second, 203.52 mph blast on his opening attempt, KJ came back on his second run with an equally strong 6.808 second, 203.61 mph run, claiming the Gainesville Raceway top speed record and the provisional second position, with two sessions remaining on Saturday.
"Other than looking good, the biggest difference I've noticed so far with the 2003 body is the big numbers it's been putting on my time slip," remarked Johnson. "We're faster than everyone else out there, and it shows a lot of potential. However, like anything new, we'll have to do some work to get the most out if it. But after two official runs, It certainly has us excited."
"We were happy after the first session when we ran that 6.80 and were the low qualifier. However, since we knew we could go even quicker, we knew some of our competitors could as well, so we made some changes and ran another .80 in the afternoon. However, Greg laid that 6.78 down and moved around us, so it's just a matter of going back to work.
"We knew coming in that this would be a tough field. There are a lot of good cars here, and everybody's been testing at Bradenton. We tested in Atlanta and the hard work is paying off. We have great power, but we're just not getting the car hooked up in the first 300 feet. We'll work on that tomorrow, and see if we can get this ACDelco Cavalier back on the pole.
Joel Naprstek's Flying Tigers Aviation Art Show
Posted Friday, March 14, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
This is not drag racing related, but Joel is a fine drag racing artist, also. Take a look at his website for more information.-David
Greetings friends,
It's a little late in coming but I've finally gotten some solid dates on the opening of my one person, Flying Tigers Aviation art show coming to the Warner Robins Museum Of Aviation in the beginning of April. I wish to extend this invitation for you to join me in the opening night of the show.
The art will fill the gallery at the museum and tell the story, in sequential, panel-by-panel style via 64 paintings depicting the story and legend of the American Volunteer Group Flying Tigers in the early days of our nation's engagement in World War Two.
The show officially will open with ribbon cutting ceremonies and a wine and cheese reception on Thursday, April 3rd at 6:30 P.M. in the main rotunda, 2nd floor History Of Flight Art Gallery. Earlier from 2-4PM on April 3rd Joel will be signing and offering two new limited edition lithographs ... one of the first air battle of the Flying Tigers AVG over Kunming, China and another print of Gen. Robert L. Scott buzzing the Great Wall of China in his P-40 "Old Exterminator." Also from 2-4pm in addition there will be book sales and signings by two original Flying Tiger AVG members, Chuck Baisden and Frank Losonsky.
I hope you'll join me and all my friends on April 3rd in Georgia at the Warner Robins Museum of Aviation. I look forward to seeing you.
Regards,
Joel
Joel F. Naprstek
76 Park Place
Morris Plains, NJ 07950
973-285-0692 FAX 973-267-1575
RACENART@optonline.net
RACECARART@aol.com
JFN Studios
Click the following link to go to their site for maps and detailed directions ... Museum of Aviation
The Museum of Aviation is the fourth largest aviation museum in the United States with a collection of over 90 aircraft spanning a century of flight. It is also the home of the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame. The Museum is open to the public from 9:00am to 5:00pm seven days a week, 362 days each year, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
The Museum of Aviation
Warner Robins, Georgia
(478) 926-6870
Mailing Address:
1942 Heritage Blvd.
Warner Robins, GA 31098
The Museum of Aviation is located only seven miles east of I-75, near Robins Air Force Base. From I-75, take Exit 146 heading east on Watson Blvd (Hwy 247 Connector) through Warner Robins. Watson Blvd will dead end into GA Hwy 247. Turn right and go south for two miles. The Museum is on the left.
From I-16, take Exit 24 to GA Hwy 96. Go west on GA Hwy 96 to GA Hwy 247. Turn right on GA Hwy 247. Go approximately three miles. The Museum of Aviation is on the right.
Mark Whisnant Press Release
Posted Thursday, March 13, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
RW PERFORMANCE PRO STOCK CHEVY CAVALIER
MARK WHISNANT – DRIVER REID WHISNANT – OWNER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2003
CONTACT: Patti Miles 336-751-3882
704-957-3940 (Mobile) pattie.miles@worldnet.att.net
Whisnant Hopes To Break His Slump in Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It is a little known fact that from time to time racers are visited by gremlins. These gremlins (a.k.a.: hidden mechanical problems) have been known to leave the best racing minds in the business scratching their heads in frustration. Such is the case with Mark Whisnant and his RW Performance/ Snap-On Tools race team.
Since the beginning of the season, the RW Performance team has not performed on the same level as they did last year. Not qualifying at the first two events has left Team RW frustrated and confused.
Crew Chief Gary Pearman has used the three weeks between the last race in Phoenix, and this weekend 34th annual Mac Tools Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. to track down and fix the problem.
"We have known that we had a problem since Pomona," said Whisnant, driver of the RW Performance / Snap-On Tools machine, "but we could not put our finger on exactly what it was. After running so well all last season, it is very frustrating for the crew and me to have such a poor start this year.
"We went through this same problem when we raced Pro Stock Truck. The last time something like this happened all of a sudden the truck was down on power without a real explanation why. With no clear reason for our problem, it took a while for us to track down our gremlin. In the process we missed races and slipped in the points. What we learned from that experience was that the only way to cure the problem is to get to work; and that is just what we did.
"Gary, Markus and the rest of the crew have worked very hard in the last three weeks. They went through the car with a fine toothed comb. They replaced or rebuilt practically everything on this Cavalier. The motor went back Reher/Morrison where they did the same. Then we went testing.
- More -
"We tested in Bradenton, Fla. before coming to Gainesville. We ran very good numbers there. The best numbers we have had since the winter test in Houston. Our performance in testing is encouraging. It looks like we may have fixed the problem, but I will not pronounce it cured until we get on the track in Gainesville.
"The Mac Tools Gatornationals is one of my favorite races. This race last year was our first event in a Pro Stock Car, and we went all the way to the semis. This year I would like to be able to see the semi’s again, and possibly take this RW Performance / Snap-On Tools Chevrolet Cavalier all the way to the winners circle. If we can do that, then I will declare our gremlin officially evicted."
Qualifying at the 34th annual Mac Tools Gatornationals will begin on Friday March 14, and continue on Saturday March 15. Eliminations will get underway at 11:00 AM EST on Sunday March 16.
# # #
34th annual Mac Tools Gatornationals TV Schedule
Qualifying Highlights
Sunday March 16 3:00 AM – 5:00 AM EST (ESPN)
Eliminations Coverage
Sunday March 16 9:00 PM – 11:30 PM EST (ESPN2)
GDR Website Updated
Posted Wednesday, March 12, 2003 by johndilbeck
Several new photos have been added today (GDR-00334 through GDR-00340).
Thanks to Fred Simmons, Bogan Renfroe, Wayne Holland, and Tom Whitfield for sharing their photos with us.
Thanks to each of you for your contributions.
Bradenton Pre-Gatornationals Pro Stock Testing
Posted Wednesday, March 12, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Brandenton Test Results
Whit Bazemore Press Release
Posted Monday, March 10, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2003 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
NHRA GATORNATIONALS
GAINESVILLE (Fla.) RACEWAY
EVENT DATE: March 14-16, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GATORNATIONALS ON TOP OF BAZEMORE'S HIT LIST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 10, 2003) -- Whit Bazemore, driver of the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car for Don Schumacher Racing, heads to Gainesville Raceway this weekend with the Gatornationals high on his hit list. He's fourth in the NHRA Funny Car point standings, just one point out of third, and is encouraged by a successful test session at Firebird Raceway the day after the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals there.
"The Gatornationals is one of the premier races on the NHRA circuit," said Bazemore, two-time U.S. Nationals champion. "The U.S. Nationals in Indy is the granddaddy of them all, and we've been fortunate to have a couple of wins there, but races like the Winternationals (Pomona, Calif.), the Matco Tools Supernationals (Englishtown, N.J.), Columbus (Ohio) and the Gatornationals are, in my opinion, the four big races other than Indy. I haven't had the ultimate success at any one of those. It's really a huge desire for me to get a win at the Gatornationals. And I think that this season represents possibly the best opportunity that I've had in my career this early in the season to be successful there."
Bazemore and his teammate Gary Scelzi, who drives the Oakley Dodge Stratus R/T, topped the charts during testing at Firebird, with Bazemore surpassing the track record with a 4.77-second pass, while Scelzi bested the top speed record with a 323-mph lap. "Gary and I both feel extremely confident and extremely hungry to get our Matco Tools and Oakley Funny Cars to the very front of the points race. And we need to start doing that right now."
Weather conditions in Gainesville can be iffy and teams have to be prepared for anything. "Gainesville is a good track," said Bazemore. "If it's on the cool side and overcast, it could be really stellar. If it's warm and hot it could be a little tricky. But at this time of year you never know down there. Either way I think we'll be prepared. We prefer it to be cool and overcast and have it turn into a horsepower contest, because our Matco Tools team makes a ton of horsepower. So does Gary's team. That would work in our favor."
The comfort and confidence quotient is high at Don Schumacher Racing after two races of the 23-event series, especially in Bazemore's camp. "I think we will be fairly strong right out of the trailer in Gainesville," added Bazemore, who defeated his rival John Force in the second round of eliminations at Firebird. "I think we have an excellent chance to qualify in the top two or three, certainly the top five, and that's our goal. Then on Sunday, as always, it'll be take one round at a time, and be careful not to make any mistakes."
Pro qualifying for the Gatornationals begins on Friday, March 14, at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Pro qualifying on Saturday, March 15, will repeat Friday's 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. schedule. Final eliminations on Sunday, March 16
will start at 11 a.m. Qualifying will air on ESPN on March 16 at 3:00-4:30 a.m. ET. Eliminations will also air on March 16, from 9:00-11:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
WHIT BAZEMORE QUICK FACTS:
GAINESVILLE RECORD:
* Advanced to semifinal once ('95)
* Advanced five times to quarterfinals ('89, '92, '93, '99, 02)
* DNQ twice ('91, '97)
* No. 1 qualifier once ('99)
2002 GAINESVILLE RECORD:
* Qualified No. 2, lost in quarterfinal
Hooters IHRA Amalie Oil Texas Nationals presented by Ancira Cars, Trucks & RVs
Posted Monday, March 10, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Millican, Bogolo, Jones, and Stott win in Texas. Rick Jones wins Pro Stock with his Dodge Neon R/T. The last time a Mopar was in a IHRA Pro Stock final round was in 1989 ( Darrell Alderman ). Charlie Peppers goes out in the first round, but holds on to Low ET in Pro Stock at 6.590. Pro Stock Summary
Kurt Johnson Press Release
Posted Monday, March 10, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
Phone: (704) 662-3121
jgknapp@tmgsports.net
Kurt Johnson is Ready to Put Gainesville in the Win Column
ACDelco Cavalier to sport newly-installed 2003 bodywork at Mac Tools Gatornationals
Sugar Hill, Ga., March 4, 2003 - Throughout his career, ACDelco driver Kurt Johnson has reached the winner's circle at 12 of the 20 different racetracks on which the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series will compete in 2003. One facility missing from that list of successes is Gainesville Raceway, site of the Mac Tools Gatornationals, a situation KJ hopes to rectify this weekend.
"We're always looking to win, but there is certainly extra incentive when you race at a track where you've yet to make it to the winner's circle, and this being the Gatornationals just adds an extra kick," stated Johnson. "I've come close in the past, breaking a rod during the burnout in the semis in 1997, and making it to the final in 1999. Dad's (Warren Johnson) won here a few times, maybe this will be the ACDelco team's year."
Although it has been three weeks since the last NHRA national event, it has been anything but a quiet time for the ACDelco crew, as they spent long hours finalizing the changes necessary to update their Cavalier's carbon-fiber body to the 2003 specifications.
"Changing the car over has been a lot more involved than people might think, and it didn't help to have the crew stuck in Dallas by the ice storm last week," detailed Johnson. "Not only did we have to change the nose, but we had to cut off the tail section, which was securely fastened with glue and screws to the rear quarter-panels, and attach the 2003 piece. During reassembly, we had to make sure everything went back together perfectly, including the rear spoiler, with the headlight installation taking an entire day. Two people worked on it exclusively for a week to get it done in time.
"Once it came back from the body shop, we took it to Commerce for a few test runs, and made four solid passes in the 6.70's. The final step will be to take it to the wind tunnel, which we'll do before heading to Gainesville. It's been hectic, but we're optimistic it will give us an even better Cavalier to race with."
The team will need every advantage they can muster in the Sunshine State. This race is the traditional season-opener for the East Coast quarter-milers, and the number of entries for the Pro Stock category is expected to grow significantly from the first two events. In addition, as one of the fastest surfaces on the NHRA circuit, Gainesville Raceway should produce an extremely fast field, with new track and national records a distinct possibility. As such, competitors must be ready to deliver career-best performances just to qualify.
"The Gatornationals is a race everyone wants to win," said Johnson. "The stands are packed with fans who came to get away from the cold, and it's the first national event on the East Coast. I remember coming down here when we lived in Minnesota. It was my first visit to Florida, and it was great to see all the orange groves and grapefruit trees. I'm certainly looking forward to some sunshine and warmth this year."
"This ACDelco Cavalier is ready to win. We fixed a suspension problem in Phoenix, and were consistently in the mid 6.80's on our last four runs. The Gainesville track is probably the smoothest surface we run on. If the weather cooperates and the track is properly prepared, as I expect it will be, it will be fast, and getting off the starting line will be crucial. Both the car and team are up to the challenge, and we're excited about our chances."
Facts on Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Racing Team entering the
Mac Tools Gatornationals:
* KJ at Gainesville: This will be Kurt's 11th appearance at Gainesville Raceway, where he has recorded one runner-up finish (in 1999), as well as three semi-final finishes. In qualifying, KJ has a 5.6 average performance in Florida, with three second-place efforts (from 1997-99).
* KJ's Gainesville milestone: On March 14, 1998 Kurt Johnson became the third member of the Speed Pro 200-mph Pro Stock Club with his 200.13 mph pass in a first round win over Scott Geoffrion. Ironically, Kurt's father Warren Johnson was the first Pro Stock driver to exceed 200 mph with his 200.13 mph run in Richmond, Va. in 1997.
* 200-mph rhinoplasty: KJ's ACDelco Cavalier will sport a new look in Gainesville, as a 2003-style nose and tail will have been fitted since the last race in Phoenix.
* One year ago: Kurt qualified ninth with an elapsed time of 6.868 seconds with a top speed of 201.58 mph, but fell to V. Gaines in the first round.
* POWERade Points standings: After the second of 23 events, Kurt is tied for 6th in the 2003 POWERade points standings with two other drivers, three points behind 5th place Bruce Allen. Kurt finished 6th in 2002, his tenth consecutive Top Ten finish.
* Winning percentage: Kurt's .629 elimination round winning percentage (300-177) ranks 12th among all active NHRA professional drivers.
* National event wins: Kurt's 23 national event victories place him 20th on the all-time NHRA professional win list. Kurt's most recent win came last November at the 2002 Auto Club of Southern California Finals in Pomona, CA.
* Career best elapsed time: 6.779 seconds, Reading, PA. 2001
* Career best top speed: 204.57 mph, Pomona, CA. 2003 (the fourth fastest in NHRA Pro Stock history.)
Event schedule:
Qualifying:
Friday, March 14: Two sessions at 11:00 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 15: Two sessions at 11:00 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Eliminations:
Sunday, March 16:
Pre-race ceremonies & driver introductions begin at 10 a.m.,
followed by the first round of eliminations at 11:00 a.m.
TV Schedule:
Qualifying Highlights:
Sunday, March 16: 3:00 - 4:30 a.m. (ESPN)
Final Eliminations Coverage:
Sunday, March 16: 9:00 - 11:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
NHRA2Day:
Sunday, March 16: 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. (ESPN2)
(Note: All times are Eastern. Please check your local listings for updated air times.)
Warren Johnson Press Release
Posted Monday, March 10, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
Phone: (704) 662-3121
jgknapp@tmgsports.net
The Professor aims to add extra credits to his Gatornationals resume
GM Performance Parts Grand Am team ready to continue their winning ways in Florida
Sugar Hill, Ga., March 5, 2003 - Gainesville, Florida is home to the University of Florida, one of the top institutions of higher learning in the country. However, it can be argued that for the last twenty-seven years, the greatest lessons being taught in this community occurred at a quarter-mile campus located just outside of town.
Since 1976, when he qualified fourth and advanced to the first final round of his illustrious career in only his eighth race, Warren Johnson, the Professor of Pro Stock, has been conducting annual seminars of speed at Gainesville Raceway, producing results that are the envy of anyone in the pit area. As the NHRA's POWERade Drag Racing Series prepares to return to the Sunshine State for this year's Mac Tools Gatornationals, the GM Performance Parts Grand Am pilot took time to look back on that initial experience.
"1976 was our first full year of competition in the Pro Stock division," recalled Johnson. "We had absolutely no backing, and were racing out of our own pocket. Considering that we were competing against people like (Bob) Glidden and (Bill "Grumpy") Jenkins, established teams with substantial factory support, we were pretty happy to reach the final that early on. I took it as an omen that maybe I could make it in this sport."
Many of WJ's rivals would welcome his list of achievements in Gainesville as their overall career statistics. For example, his nine victories in ten final round appearances in Florida would rank among the Top 50 on the NHRA's Career National Event Wins list for the professional categories, and is greater than the career win total of five of the Top Ten finishers in the 2002 POWERade Pro Stock standings. In addition, Johnson has compiled an impressive 51-13 elimination round win record, as well as eight No. 1 qualifying performances.
"More than anything, throughout my career the track at Gainesville Raceway has been pretty well suited to the high horsepower cars," explained Johnson. "In addition, as our qualifying performances show, over the years we've done a pretty good job of adapting to the surface. But there are still so many variables involved, it's hard to pinpoint why you do well at a particular racetrack."
However, prior accomplishments are of little interest to Johnson, as he prefers to focus on the challenge of this year's event. The Gatornationals is a race steeped in tradition, both as the season-opener for East Coast drag racers, and as it is held on one of the true speedplants on the circuit, making it a most coveted win for all entrants. In addition, should the weather conditions cooperate, records could be broken, with teams pushed to extract the absolute maximum from their race cars. Despite the magnitude of the assignment, WJ's objective remains the same as it was twenty-seven years ago - to win.
"If conditions are normal for this time of year, we know the surface should offer relatively good traction, and, with the lower elevation, the air should be conducive to making a lot of power," detailed Johnson. "However, you can just as easily get yourself in trouble and rattle the tires. You have to walk that fine edge, making sure the chassis set-up and gear ratios are right to handle the power. That's our job this weekend - to take all the variables and come up with a plan to make sure our GM Performance Parts Grand Am goes down the track quicker than everyone else."
Facts on Warren Johnson and the GM Performance Parts Racing Team entering
the Mac Tools Gatornationals:
* The Professor at Gainesville: This will be Warren's 24th appearance at Gainesville Raceway. Throughout his career, WJ has recorded nine wins (the most of any active professional driver) in ten final round appearances, including a four-year span from 1991-1994, and a three-year run from 1998-2000. WJ's most recent win in Florida came in 2000.
* One year ago: WJ qualified eleventh in Gainesville with an elapsed time of 6.874 seconds and a top speed of 202.06 mph, and advanced to the semi-finals.
* Top Qualifier: Warren has been the No. 1 qualifier in Gainesville eight times, including a five-year streak that went from 1993-1997. Throughout his career, Warren has qualified in the top half of the field at Gainesville Raceway, and has an average qualifying performance of 3.95.
* WJ bats .800 in Florida: Warren Johnson has a 51-13 elimination round record at Gainesville Raceway, for a .797 winning percentage. WJ's Florida event win percentage (9 wins in 22 starts) is an equally impressive .409.
* POWERade Points standings: After the second of 23 events, WJ arrives in Gainesville in second place in the 2003 POWERade points standings with 154 points, 34 behind leader Greg Anderson. Warren finished fourth in 2002, his twenty-first consecutive Top Five finish.
* No. 1 in National event wins: WJ's 89 national event victories are the most ever in the history of the Pro Stock division and place him 2nd on the all-time NHRA win list. His most recent win came at the 2003 Winternationals in Pomona, CA.
* Career best elapsed time: 6.764 seconds, Pomona 2003
* Career best top speed: 204.91 mph, Pomona 2003 (The fastest pass in NHRA Pro Stock history.)
Event schedule:
Qualifying: Friday, March 14: Two sessions at 11:00 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 15: Two sessions at 11:00 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Eliminations: Sunday, March 16:
Pre-race ceremonies & driver introductions begin at 10 a.m., followed by the first round of eliminations at 11:00 a.m.
TV Schedule:
Qualifying Highlights: Sunday, March 16: 3:00 - 4:30 a.m. (ESPN)
Final Eliminations Coverage: Sunday, March 16: 9:00 - 11:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
NHRA2Day: Sunday, March 16: 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. (ESPN2)
(Note: All times are Eastern. Please check your local listings for updated air times.)
Atlanta Dragway Results by Tim Glover
Posted Sunday, March 9, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
RACE DATE: March 08, 2003
FROM: Tim Glover
EVENT: Summit ET series event at Atlanta Dragway in 2003
Finally! After two rained out weekends, Atlanta Dragway racers got to
finish their first Summit / Hayes ET Series race. In addition to the
bracket action, spectators were treated to Danny O'Day making shakedown
passes in the '96 Lumina wheelstander he sold to Scott Kennedy from Buford,
GA. Sugar Hill, GA resident Warren Johnson made his trip to the track
worthwhile with a cumulative best of 6.79 seconds at 203.65mph in his
Cavalier Pro Stocker.
Donny Brown, Jr.'s crew finished putting his brand new 2003 Spitzer
dragster together at 4:00 this morning. The effort paid off with a Super
Pro win at 10:00 pm. Brown met another veteran, Mark Hancock, driving Ray
Biggers' '91 Firebird, in the final. Because of his better reaction time,
Brown eked out a .001 second margin of victory win with a 5.12, 136.37 (5.06
dial) after Hancock's machine ran a .04 over 5.24, 132.75 pass (5.20 dial).
Three time Silver Dollar Raceway track champ Jonathan Anderson finished in
the semis with his '97 Undercover dragster.
After Sportsman winner Bill Boomhower saw his opponent Bert Chapman's red
light, he eased off the throttle in his Ray Barton Hemi powered '65
Belvedere. Although the engine had broken a rocker arm two rounds earlier
and was running off its normal high nine second pace, Boomhower nursed it
through the remaining rounds to victory. Boomhower's final round ET was
11.49, 87.21 (10.50 dial). Chapman also let off the gas in his '71 Nova
(which also runnered up a few years ago in the Super Chevy show with another
driver, Kevin Gooch) and eased it through the finish line to a 14.46, 80.21
(11.33 dial). Joe Haddon ('67 Chevy II) was the lone semi-finalist.
Mike Buckett spent a lot of time modifying his '90 Thunderbird Super Coupe,
and enjoyed a win with it in Trophy Street tonight. About his victory, he
said, "I got it. I got it. The first of what I hope is many. I like
beating those V-8." (His car has a supercharged 3.8 liter V-6 engine.)
Buckett faced a younger member of the Goddard racing family, J.D. Goddard,
in the final. Buckett's bird was a bit off the pace with a 13.44, 99.56
(13.25 dial), but Goddard's '89 Silverado was off more, with a 16.92, 79.36
(16.44 dial). First time racer Michael Wilson was excited to make it all
the way to the semi-finals in his '86 Mustang.
Eleven year old Scott Digby won the last 2002 Jr. Dragster points race in
the 8 - 12 year old class, and continued that momentum with a win in the
8-12 year old class. Digby faced local racer Ashton Shubert (10) in the
final, and used a better react to win. He took the finish line with a 9.16,
71.54, while Shubert went just a little too quick, 11.30, 56.67 (11.33
dial). Zac Tench (12) was the semi-final finisher.
Previous champ Cody Martin (14) thanked his parents again for helping him
to another win in the 13-17 year old Jr. Dragster class. Martin met another
Atlanta veteran, Heath Snelgrove (15), in the final. If Snelgrove had
waited .002 seconds longer, he would have taken the win light, but his
untimely .498 red light meant the race was over as soon as it started.
Snelgrove turned in a 10.49, 62.93 (10.45 dial) to Martin's 8.70, 74.75
(8.54 target). Ashley Dumas (16) finished in the semis.
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 Atlanta Dragway
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Donny Brown, Jr. '03 Spitzer dragster Buford, GA 5.12 136.37 (5.06)
R/U: Mark Hancock '92 Firebird Commerce, GA 5.24 132.75 (5.20)
Semi: Jonathan Anderson '97 Undercover dragster Griffin, GA
Semi:
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SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Bill Boomhower '65 Belvedere Walhalla, SC 11.49 87.21 (10.50)
R/U: Bert Chapman '71 Nova Gainesville, GA (foul) 14.46 80.21 (11.33)
Semi: Joe Haddon '67 Chevy II Oxford, GA
Semi:
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TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mike Buckett '90 Super Coupe Norcross, GA 13.44 99.56 (13.25)
R/U: J.D. Goddard '89 Silverado Lithonia, GA 16.92 79.36 (16.44)
Semi: Michael Wilson '86 Mustang Winder, GA
Semi:
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MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Stewart Taft Kawasaki Ridgeview, FL 12.57 108.44 (12.10)
R/U: Jay Rhyne '81 Kawasaki Athens, GA 12.42 96.57 (12.50)
Semi: David Fletcher '84 Ninja Lawrenceville, GA
Semi:
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JR. DRAGSTER 8-12 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Scott Digby 11 Walhalla, SC 9.16 71.54 (9.10)
R/U: Ashton Shubert 10 Homer, GA 11.30 56.67 (11.33)
Semi: Zac Tench 12 Gastonia, NC
Semi:
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JR. DRAGSTER 13-17 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Cody Martin 14 Buford, GA 8.70 74.75 (8.54)
R/U: Heath Snelgrove 15 Dahlonega, GA (foul) 10.49 62.93 (10.45)
Semi: Ashley Dumas 16 Commerce, GA
Semi:
Charlie Peppers Retains #1 Pro Stock Qualifying Position at the Rain Delayed Hooters IHRA Amalie Oil Texas Nationals presented by Ancira Cars, Trucks & RVs
Posted Sunday, March 9, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
#1 Qualifiers: Top Fuel-Clay Millican ( 4.591 @ 316.30 ),Funny Car-Mark Thomas ( 5.821 @ 242.76 ), Pro Stock-Charlie Peppers ( 6.590 @ 210.73 ), and Pro Mod-Mike Janis ( 6.119 @ 227.42 ).Pro Stock Final Qualifying Results
New Photos in our Photo Album
Posted Monday, March 3, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
I've added a few photos from the 1964 US Nationals at Indy that were taken by the late John Reed. The photos were provided by his widow, Kay, and his sister, Caroline. Thanks for providing the photos and assistance! There are several albums located here that you may not have seen before - take a look!
Photo Album
Hooters IHRA Amalie Oil Texas Nationals Presented By Ancira Cars, Trucks & RV Postponed To March 8th & 9th; All Class Fields Open
Posted Sunday, March 2, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
IHRA News
Atlanta Dragway 03/01/03 Report by Tim Glover
Posted Sunday, March 2, 2003 by DavidDilbeck
RACE DATE: March 1, 2003
FROM: Tim Glover
EVENT: Summit / Hayes Bracket Series race at Atlanta Dragway
RAIN STOPS FIRST SUMMIT / HAYES BRACKET SERIES EVENT AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY
by Tim Glover
(Saturday, March 1 - Atlanta Dragway) For the second Saturday in a row, rain
prevented any racers from going down the track at Atlanta Dragway. A large
group of racers showed up hoping to participate in the first Summit ET
Series bracket race presented by Hayes Family Dealerships. A record turnout
of tomorrow's racers, the Jr. Dragster contingent, was also on hand to go
racing.
"It's a great disappointment, but you can't fight the elements," said track
manager Craig Armstrong. The next Summit / Hayes bracket series event is
scheduled for March 8, 2003.
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).
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