HOGUE SCORES HAT TRICK, SHUBERT MAKES TWO FINALS IN A ROW, GILLEN WINS FIRST OF YEAR
by Tim Glover
Photos
(Commerce, GA -June 12) Yes, it rained on yet another Summet Series ET
Bracket race. Fortunately, this time the track was already hot (142 degrees
Fahrenheit surface temperature), and dried quickly after a torrential
downpour, leaving only the humidity behind. Little did racers know when
they left the April 24 bracket race that they would not have a points race
until today, as the May 22 race was cancelled due to rain. Rob Hogue won
his third event in a row, having won the April 24 Summit race, last week's
Super Chevy event and then tonight. Ashton Shubert made it to her second
final in as many races, and "Mad Matt" Gillen won his first race of the year
in 8-12 Jr. Dragster.
Former Super Pro champion Stacy Blanton dedicated his first win in 2-1/2
years to his son, Ryan Fitzpatrick Blanton. Blanton took the stripe first
with his Jefferson, GA based '04 Undercover dragster, running 5.20,
132.06mph (5.19 dial), .004 seconds in front of opponent Mike Romines from
Stockbridge, GA. Romines' '03 Horton dragster was also close, with a 4.83,
144.18mph pass (4.82 dial). "I've been trying to win this for Ryan for two
years now," stated a happy Blanton. With lightning brightening the skies in
the distance, Romines simply broke the beams for his semi-final bye so he
wouldn't heat up his engine, saying, "The good Lord has plans tonight. I
don't want to hold him up." Flowery Branch, GA racer Gary Dunn broke his
'82 S-10 recently at Macon, but friend Joe Rampley stepped up with his '78
Malibu, and helped Dunn to a semi-final finish, moving him up to the top
five in points. Another Flowery Branch racer, Billy Thigpen, moved to the
top of the Super Pro points today after a good outing.
Rob Hogue won his third event in a row, having won the April 24 Summit
race, last week's Super Chevy event and then tonight's Sportsman class with
his Loganville, GA based '84 Monte Carlo SS. Hogue met another Loganville
racer, Andrew Wheeler, and got the instant win when Wheeler left the
starting line .019 seconds too quickly in his '73 Charger, leaving the big
cherry colored bulb glowing. "That's a hard way to lose," added a very
tired Wheeler. Hogue thanked Sid Neal Transmissions, H&R Race Cars and
Nalley Racing Engines for all their help with his win. Hogue carded a .03
over 11.75, 116.41mph pass, while Wheeler broke out with an 11.19, 120.97mph
shot (11.23 dial). Kerry Arnold ('81 RX-7 - Commerce, GA) and Joe Haddon
('67 Chevy II - Oxford, GA) were the semi-final pair.
Terry Turpin took home the Atlanta Dragway Hayes Sport Compact Challenge
trophy on Friday, June 11, and earned yet another trophy after winning the
Sport Compact final round against current points leader "Buford Heavy".
Turpin's '03 Mitsubishi Evo was off the pace a little in the final, running
14.45, 100.05mph on a 13.68 target, but won after Buford's '97 Cavalier
broke out with a so close 19.55, 65.77mph effort (19.56 dial). Joseph
Thompson out of Alpharetta, GA was the lone Sport Compact semi-finalist.
John Snapp won Trophy Street earlier in the season with his Conyers, GA
based '68 Charger, and said tonight's win and his whole 2004 season was in
memory of his late father. Snapp took advantage of a great .518 reaction
time and tapped the brakes a little at the finish line, slowing to a 14.70,
86.24mph pass (14.65 dial). His final round opponent, first time finalist
George Peters from Lawrenceville, GA, was happy to make the final in his
first season of racing. Peters' '70 Cutlass went just a tad too quick,
running 13.10, 101.75mph on a 13.14 target. Toccoa, GA racer Doug Edmonds,
who was runner up on April 24, made it to the semi-final round tonight in
his '98 Camaro.
Ashton Shubert has been quietly winning rounds in 2004, winning the Jr.
Dragster portion of the Super Chevy Show last week, and then finishing in
tonight's 8-12 year old Jr. Dragster final against defending track champion
"Mad Matt" Gillen. Shubert and her family demonstrated what sportsmanship
is all about, giving Gillen time to get his engine repaired. During his
semi-final pass, the camshaft in Gillen's Valvoline race car broke into two
pieces. Gillen's dad quickly cleaned out the debris, installed another cam
and got the car back together again, unsure if there was any more internal
damage. The engine was fine, and Gillen used a holeshot advantage to win
his first race of the year with a 9.07, 70.31mph pass (8.99 guess), gaining
50 points on the current points leader. Shubert was actually a little
closer to the mark, running 9.13, 71.51mph (9.09 target). The younger
Gillen added, "First, I want to thank God. Next, I want to thank the
Shubert family for their show of sportsmanship way beyond what is expected."
Valerie Clements (11 years old - Central, SC) was the lone semi-finalist.
Fourteen year old "Wild Kyle" Denton from McDonough, GA didn't get the
tree, but he did get the all important win light in 13-17 Jr. Dragster
against PTI racer Lauren Turner (13 - Pendergrass, GA). Denton was close
with an 8.02, 79.83mph pass (8.00 dial) while Turner broke out with a close
8.29, 78.41mph effort (8.31 dial). Turner welcomed her new sponsor, Randy
Fain of Fain and Mitchell properties in Clarkesville, GA. Melissa Camp from Bremen, GA, who turns 16 on Tuesday, was the semi-final trophy winner.
------------------------------------------------
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Stacy Blanton '04 Undercover dragster Jefferson,
GA 5.20 132.06 (5.19)
R/U: Mike Romines '03 Horton dragster Stockbridge, GA 4.83 144.18 (4.82)
Semi: Gary Dunn '78 Malibu Flowery Branch, GA
------------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Rob Hogue '84 Monte Carlo SS Loganville, GA 11.75 116.41 (11.72)
R/U: Andrew Wheeler '73 Charger Loganville, GA (foul) 11.19 120.97 (11.23)
Semi: Kerry Arnold '81 Mazda RX-7 Commerce, GA
Semi: Joe Haddon '67 Chevy II Oxford, GA
------------------------------------------------
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: John Snapp '68 Charger Conyers, GA 14.70 86.24 (14.65)
R/U: George Peters '70 Cutlass Lawrenceville, GA 13.10 101.75 (13.14)
Semi: Doug Edmonds '98 Camaro Toccoa, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
SPORT COMPACT CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Terry Turpin '03 Mitsubishi Evo Maysville, GA 14.45 100.05 (13.68)
R/U: "Buford Heavy" '97 Cavalier Commerce, GA 19.55 65.77 (19.56)
Semi: Joseph Thompson Sport Compact Alpharetta, GA
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER 8-12 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: "Mad Matt" Gillen 12 Gainesville, GA 9.07 70.31 (8.99)
R/U: Ashton Shubert 11 Homer, GA 9.13 71.51 (9.09)
Semi: Valerie Clements 11 Central, SC
Semi: Dylan Kent 9 Acworth, GA
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER 13-17 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: "Wild Kyle" Denton 14 McDonough, GA 8.02 79.83 (8.00)
R/U: Lauren Turner 13 Pendergrass, GA 8.29 78.41 (8.31)
Semi: Melissa Camp 16 Bremen, GA
Semi:
by Tim Glover
Photos
(Commerce, GA -June 12) Yes, it rained on yet another Summet Series ET
Bracket race. Fortunately, this time the track was already hot (142 degrees
Fahrenheit surface temperature), and dried quickly after a torrential
downpour, leaving only the humidity behind. Little did racers know when
they left the April 24 bracket race that they would not have a points race
until today, as the May 22 race was cancelled due to rain. Rob Hogue won
his third event in a row, having won the April 24 Summit race, last week's
Super Chevy event and then tonight. Ashton Shubert made it to her second
final in as many races, and "Mad Matt" Gillen won his first race of the year
in 8-12 Jr. Dragster.
Former Super Pro champion Stacy Blanton dedicated his first win in 2-1/2
years to his son, Ryan Fitzpatrick Blanton. Blanton took the stripe first
with his Jefferson, GA based '04 Undercover dragster, running 5.20,
132.06mph (5.19 dial), .004 seconds in front of opponent Mike Romines from
Stockbridge, GA. Romines' '03 Horton dragster was also close, with a 4.83,
144.18mph pass (4.82 dial). "I've been trying to win this for Ryan for two
years now," stated a happy Blanton. With lightning brightening the skies in
the distance, Romines simply broke the beams for his semi-final bye so he
wouldn't heat up his engine, saying, "The good Lord has plans tonight. I
don't want to hold him up." Flowery Branch, GA racer Gary Dunn broke his
'82 S-10 recently at Macon, but friend Joe Rampley stepped up with his '78
Malibu, and helped Dunn to a semi-final finish, moving him up to the top
five in points. Another Flowery Branch racer, Billy Thigpen, moved to the
top of the Super Pro points today after a good outing.
Rob Hogue won his third event in a row, having won the April 24 Summit
race, last week's Super Chevy event and then tonight's Sportsman class with
his Loganville, GA based '84 Monte Carlo SS. Hogue met another Loganville
racer, Andrew Wheeler, and got the instant win when Wheeler left the
starting line .019 seconds too quickly in his '73 Charger, leaving the big
cherry colored bulb glowing. "That's a hard way to lose," added a very
tired Wheeler. Hogue thanked Sid Neal Transmissions, H&R Race Cars and
Nalley Racing Engines for all their help with his win. Hogue carded a .03
over 11.75, 116.41mph pass, while Wheeler broke out with an 11.19, 120.97mph
shot (11.23 dial). Kerry Arnold ('81 RX-7 - Commerce, GA) and Joe Haddon
('67 Chevy II - Oxford, GA) were the semi-final pair.
Terry Turpin took home the Atlanta Dragway Hayes Sport Compact Challenge
trophy on Friday, June 11, and earned yet another trophy after winning the
Sport Compact final round against current points leader "Buford Heavy".
Turpin's '03 Mitsubishi Evo was off the pace a little in the final, running
14.45, 100.05mph on a 13.68 target, but won after Buford's '97 Cavalier
broke out with a so close 19.55, 65.77mph effort (19.56 dial). Joseph
Thompson out of Alpharetta, GA was the lone Sport Compact semi-finalist.
John Snapp won Trophy Street earlier in the season with his Conyers, GA
based '68 Charger, and said tonight's win and his whole 2004 season was in
memory of his late father. Snapp took advantage of a great .518 reaction
time and tapped the brakes a little at the finish line, slowing to a 14.70,
86.24mph pass (14.65 dial). His final round opponent, first time finalist
George Peters from Lawrenceville, GA, was happy to make the final in his
first season of racing. Peters' '70 Cutlass went just a tad too quick,
running 13.10, 101.75mph on a 13.14 target. Toccoa, GA racer Doug Edmonds,
who was runner up on April 24, made it to the semi-final round tonight in
his '98 Camaro.
Ashton Shubert has been quietly winning rounds in 2004, winning the Jr.
Dragster portion of the Super Chevy Show last week, and then finishing in
tonight's 8-12 year old Jr. Dragster final against defending track champion
"Mad Matt" Gillen. Shubert and her family demonstrated what sportsmanship
is all about, giving Gillen time to get his engine repaired. During his
semi-final pass, the camshaft in Gillen's Valvoline race car broke into two
pieces. Gillen's dad quickly cleaned out the debris, installed another cam
and got the car back together again, unsure if there was any more internal
damage. The engine was fine, and Gillen used a holeshot advantage to win
his first race of the year with a 9.07, 70.31mph pass (8.99 guess), gaining
50 points on the current points leader. Shubert was actually a little
closer to the mark, running 9.13, 71.51mph (9.09 target). The younger
Gillen added, "First, I want to thank God. Next, I want to thank the
Shubert family for their show of sportsmanship way beyond what is expected."
Valerie Clements (11 years old - Central, SC) was the lone semi-finalist.
Fourteen year old "Wild Kyle" Denton from McDonough, GA didn't get the
tree, but he did get the all important win light in 13-17 Jr. Dragster
against PTI racer Lauren Turner (13 - Pendergrass, GA). Denton was close
with an 8.02, 79.83mph pass (8.00 dial) while Turner broke out with a close
8.29, 78.41mph effort (8.31 dial). Turner welcomed her new sponsor, Randy
Fain of Fain and Mitchell properties in Clarkesville, GA. Melissa Camp from Bremen, GA, who turns 16 on Tuesday, was the semi-final trophy winner.
------------------------------------------------
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Stacy Blanton '04 Undercover dragster Jefferson,
GA 5.20 132.06 (5.19)
R/U: Mike Romines '03 Horton dragster Stockbridge, GA 4.83 144.18 (4.82)
Semi: Gary Dunn '78 Malibu Flowery Branch, GA
------------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Rob Hogue '84 Monte Carlo SS Loganville, GA 11.75 116.41 (11.72)
R/U: Andrew Wheeler '73 Charger Loganville, GA (foul) 11.19 120.97 (11.23)
Semi: Kerry Arnold '81 Mazda RX-7 Commerce, GA
Semi: Joe Haddon '67 Chevy II Oxford, GA
------------------------------------------------
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: John Snapp '68 Charger Conyers, GA 14.70 86.24 (14.65)
R/U: George Peters '70 Cutlass Lawrenceville, GA 13.10 101.75 (13.14)
Semi: Doug Edmonds '98 Camaro Toccoa, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
SPORT COMPACT CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Terry Turpin '03 Mitsubishi Evo Maysville, GA 14.45 100.05 (13.68)
R/U: "Buford Heavy" '97 Cavalier Commerce, GA 19.55 65.77 (19.56)
Semi: Joseph Thompson Sport Compact Alpharetta, GA
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER 8-12 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: "Mad Matt" Gillen 12 Gainesville, GA 9.07 70.31 (8.99)
R/U: Ashton Shubert 11 Homer, GA 9.13 71.51 (9.09)
Semi: Valerie Clements 11 Central, SC
Semi: Dylan Kent 9 Acworth, GA
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER 13-17 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: "Wild Kyle" Denton 14 McDonough, GA 8.02 79.83 (8.00)
R/U: Lauren Turner 13 Pendergrass, GA 8.29 78.41 (8.31)
Semi: Melissa Camp 16 Bremen, GA
Semi:
posted by David @ 12:49 AM
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