Photos taken on November 1, 2003 by Tim Glover

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Photos of winning racers at Atlanta Dragway that were submitted by Tim Glover.

Left to right: Wesley, Jim, Leighann and Linda Mayfield

(Commerce, GA - November 1) This event marked the final race of the year for most Atlanta Dragway bracket racers. (There is a big car only race on November 8.) To make things a bit more interesting, a "Mulligan" format was introduced, where racers could purchase a buy-back into eliminations when they came in the gate. The twist was the mulligan could be used in any round except the final, where regular buy-backs are only allowed in the first or second rounds of eliminations. A large number of mulligans were used in later rounds, and several racers carried theirs all the way to the finals. Stacy Blanton stepped up and made the offer to pay for any race winner's mulligan if they had not used it in previous rounds, and he backed it up by paying Bryan White in Trophy and Jay Rhyne in Motorcycle. Blanton almost paid for Mike Ramsey's in Super Pro, but Jim Mayfield stopped that with his first ever win. This was also Racer's for Christ day, so RFC chaplains Gerald Aldridge and Lloyd Shanks led a service at the starting line just before eliminations. Also, Kerry Arnold donated all the Racer's For Christ trophies for each class. The Mr. Gasket / Mallory Cup runoff was contested today, pitting the three "big car" track champions in a one round, winner with the best package wins, competition. Super Pro champion Henry Snelgrove made his year even sweeter with the best package, a .504 react and a 5.134 on a 5.13 dial, winning the competition. He is now eligible for a Mr. Gasket product sponsorship, along with a chance to win the grand prize during the SEMA show to be held later.

An interesting trend seems to be developing with the Super Pro winners. Well, maybe not, but the previous bracket race at Atlanta Dragway was won by a former dirt track racer, and Jim Mayfield, also a former multiple time dirt track winner, continued that trend today with his Super Pro win against former champion Mike Ramsey. Mayfield put a 5.08 dial on the window of his Gainesville, GA based '92 Beretta for the final, and won with a 5.10, 134.67mph shot against Ramsey, whose '81 Camaro slipped to a 5.63, 123.91mph pass (5.59 target). Donald Green from Sylva, NC brought his wheelstanding '84 Cutlass Super Stocker to play, and finished in the semi-finals, along with Thomas Bell ('01 Undercover dragster - Toccoa, GA), who was beaten not once, but twice by Jim Mayfield in eliminations. Mayfield has been racing for five years, and prior to this event had never made it to the finals. He and his family (wife Linda, and children Wesley and Leighann) along with his friends, the Howard family, celebrated the win long after the event was over. Son Wesley nabbed the Racer's For Christ trophy, saying that belonged to him.

Multiple time track champion and former Mallory Cup winner Jacob Rutledge out of Braselton, GA added another win to his collection with a victory in Sportsman over Kerry Arnold from Jefferson, GA. Although Arnold had been having great reaction times during eliminations, his final round one was not as good as Rutledge's. Rutledge used that advantage to win with a 12.09, 108.26mph shot (12.01 target). Arnold broke out oh-so-close with an 11.394, 114.40mph attempt (11.40 dial) trying to catch Rutledge. Bill Estes ('69 Chevelle - Suwanee, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. "Today was (brother) Joey's birthday. I won this race for him," stated Rutledge. Like Mayfield, Rutledge did not get to keep his RFC trophy. Rutledge's son Tyler claimed it immediately.

Grayson, GA racer Bryan White became the Trophy Street winner after Mike Puckett from Norcross, GA experienced difficulties off the starting line with his 3.8 liter supercharged '90 Thunderbird. White was late off the starting line with his '97 Ford Cobra, but passed Puckett quickly after the T-Bird seemed to hesitate just off the starting line. White trimmed some speed off on the top end to avoid breaking out, turning in a 13.23, 91.83mph pass (13.12 dial). Puckett's ride slowed to a 13.78, 105.58mph (13.00 dial).

Former Motorcycle champ Jay Rhyne, who hails from Athens, GA, demonstrated championship form in the Motorcycle final with a .527 react and a 12.509, 100.66mph pass (12.50 dial) against Rush Winn from Jefferson, GA. Winn began the round with a red lite, and then broke out with a 10.900, 119.64mph on an 11.40 dial. Les Henderson was back with his very interesting four wheeler, an '87 Yamaha Banshee. He finished his day in the semi-finals.

Scott Digby from Walhalla, SC has become a regular visitor to the 8-12 year old Jr. Dragster winner's circle. The 12 year old continued that trend with a victory over Fresh Frozen Foods racer Joshua Sisson (who was runner up in two different events at the Division Two race last week). Digby's reaction time advantage made the difference, as both racers went .01 seconds over their dials. Digby turned in an 8.95, 72.84mph to the nine year old Sisson's 12.91, 49.86mph (12.90 dial). Digby, with a lot of help from his dad, Chris, won the first race this year, the previous Jr. Dragster race and this event. Ashton Shubert (10 - Homer, Ga) finished her day in the semi-finals.

Fourteen year old Bradley Myers out of Loganville, GA finished runner up two races ago, won the last one, and did it again with his new race car against 15 year old Heath Snelgrove from Dahlonega, GA. Snelgrove squeezed the starting line just a little bit too much, resulting in a .469 foul, and then turned in a good 9.68, 66.29mph pass (9.66 dial). Knowing he had the win, Myers legged it on out to a very close 7.973, 79.10mph (7.98 dial). Kyle Denton (13 - McDonough, GA) earned a semi-final trophy for his efforts. Snelgrove appreciated the Myer's help; they loaned him an engine after his let go during last week's division race, and let him use it again for this race.

PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jim Mayfield '92 Beretta Gainesville, GA 5.10 134.67 (5.08)
R/U: Mike Ramsey '81 Camaro Commerce, GA 5.63 123.91 (5.59)
Semi: Donald Green '84 Cutlass Sylva, NC
Semi: Thomas Bell '01 Undercover dragster Toccoa, GA

SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Braselton, GA 12.09 108.26 (12.01)
R/U: Kerry Arnold '81 Mazda RX7 Jefferson, GA 11.39 114.40 (11.40)
Semi: Bill Estes '69 Chevelle Suwanee, GA

TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Bryan White '97 Cobra Grayson, GA 13.23 91.83 (13.12)
R/U: Mike Puckett '90 Thunderbird Norcross, GA 13.78 105.58 (13.00)
Semi: Clay Stancil '72 Chevelle Athens, GA
Semi:

MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jay Rhyne '81 Kawasaki Athens, GA 12.50 100.66 (12.50)
R/U: Rush Winn motorcycle Jefferson, GA (foul) 10.90 119.64 (11.40)
Semi: Les Henderson '87 Yamaha Banshee Commerce, GA

JR. DRAGSTER 8-12 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Scott Digby 12 Walhalla, SC 8.95 72.84 (8.94)
R/U: Joshua Sisson 9 Gainesville, GA 12.91 49.86 (12.90)
Semi: Ashton Shubert 10 Homer, GA
Semi:

JR. DRAGSTER 13-17 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Bradley Myers 14 Loganville, GA 7.97 79.10 (7.98)
R/U: Heath Snelgrove 15 Dahlonega, GA (foul) 9.68 66.29 (9.66)
Semi: Kyle Denton 13 McDonough, GA