Lucas Oil Series Race at South Georgia Motorsports Park
by Marvin T. Smith
Over 300 cars raced at South Georgia Motorsports Park this weekend in the NHRA Division 2 Lucas Oil Series race. Cars from as far away as Calfornia and Canada tried to win valuable Lucas points in their bid to become NHRA world champions. This was easily the largest event in South Georgia history. Race cars spilled onto the usual spectator parking area.
Top Alcohol Dragster was dominated by the blown dragster of Guy Kelly. A
six car field narrowed down to Kelly vs. Michael Gunderson. Kelly bettered
his low qualifier et of 5.48 with a better 5.47 in the final. Gunderson
took top speed of the event in his losing effort at 267.64, but his 5.67
just couldn't catch up with the quicker Kelly.
Top Alcohol Funny Car was won by Norcross, Georgia's Mark Billington, when
heavily favored Jay Payne of Claremont, California broke. Billington
singled at 6.10 at 235 for the win, while Payne had earlier set low et at
5.77 and top speed at 244.
Competition Eliminator featured some heavyweights. Multi-time national
event winner David Rampy had the first leg of a new NHRA national record at
7.42 177 in his A/EA, but failed to back it up. Even with this impressive
effort, top qualifier went to Glen Treadwell's E/EA at 8.47 (.592 under the
index). In the end, neither of these two cars made it to the final. Mike
Saye's no. 3 qualifying H/A Cutlass beat Dick Maris' national record
holding C/D with an 8.96 to Maris' 7.30.
Super Stock went to Robert Burgin's Firebird over the beautiful Hemi Cuda
SS/AA of John Gifford. Burgin's 9.90 overtook Gifford's 9.28.
Stock Eliminator wet to Jimmy Parker's 71 Corvette over Garry Glazener's 72
Mustang.
Jerry Sosebee outlasted a large field of Super Comp cars, running an 8.91
over Wesley Keir's breaking out 8.88.
Super Gas was won by the beautiful 57 Chevy of Wayne Bogle over Don
Bartram's 92 Barretta. Bogle won on a holeshot, his 9.93 holding off the
nearly perfect 9.907 of Bartram.
Super Street went to Michael Ruff over low qualifier Tony Fuller. Ruff is
last year's Division Champion, while Fuller was the number two car last
year. Ruff needed a holeshot to win this one. It doesn't get much better
than this.
Top Sportsman racing was exciting, with all cars running in the 7 second
zone. Low qualifier Ronnie Davis dipped into the sixes, with a 6.94 at
200.59. Twenty five cars raced, but in the end, Gilmer Hinshaw took his 99
Monte Carlo to a 7.39 (7.36 dial in) victory over Jeff Pittman's 68 Yenko
Chevelle's losing 7.56 (7.56 dial in).
Photos
by Marvin T. Smith
Over 300 cars raced at South Georgia Motorsports Park this weekend in the NHRA Division 2 Lucas Oil Series race. Cars from as far away as Calfornia and Canada tried to win valuable Lucas points in their bid to become NHRA world champions. This was easily the largest event in South Georgia history. Race cars spilled onto the usual spectator parking area.
Top Alcohol Dragster was dominated by the blown dragster of Guy Kelly. A
six car field narrowed down to Kelly vs. Michael Gunderson. Kelly bettered
his low qualifier et of 5.48 with a better 5.47 in the final. Gunderson
took top speed of the event in his losing effort at 267.64, but his 5.67
just couldn't catch up with the quicker Kelly.
Top Alcohol Funny Car was won by Norcross, Georgia's Mark Billington, when
heavily favored Jay Payne of Claremont, California broke. Billington
singled at 6.10 at 235 for the win, while Payne had earlier set low et at
5.77 and top speed at 244.
Competition Eliminator featured some heavyweights. Multi-time national
event winner David Rampy had the first leg of a new NHRA national record at
7.42 177 in his A/EA, but failed to back it up. Even with this impressive
effort, top qualifier went to Glen Treadwell's E/EA at 8.47 (.592 under the
index). In the end, neither of these two cars made it to the final. Mike
Saye's no. 3 qualifying H/A Cutlass beat Dick Maris' national record
holding C/D with an 8.96 to Maris' 7.30.
Super Stock went to Robert Burgin's Firebird over the beautiful Hemi Cuda
SS/AA of John Gifford. Burgin's 9.90 overtook Gifford's 9.28.
Stock Eliminator wet to Jimmy Parker's 71 Corvette over Garry Glazener's 72
Mustang.
Jerry Sosebee outlasted a large field of Super Comp cars, running an 8.91
over Wesley Keir's breaking out 8.88.
Super Gas was won by the beautiful 57 Chevy of Wayne Bogle over Don
Bartram's 92 Barretta. Bogle won on a holeshot, his 9.93 holding off the
nearly perfect 9.907 of Bartram.
Super Street went to Michael Ruff over low qualifier Tony Fuller. Ruff is
last year's Division Champion, while Fuller was the number two car last
year. Ruff needed a holeshot to win this one. It doesn't get much better
than this.
Top Sportsman racing was exciting, with all cars running in the 7 second
zone. Low qualifier Ronnie Davis dipped into the sixes, with a 6.94 at
200.59. Twenty five cars raced, but in the end, Gilmer Hinshaw took his 99
Monte Carlo to a 7.39 (7.36 dial in) victory over Jeff Pittman's 68 Yenko
Chevelle's losing 7.56 (7.56 dial in).
Photos
posted by David @ 3:40 PM
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