Georgia Drag Racing News

Information about Georgia drag racing history, personalities, activities and events from GeorgiaDragRacing.com.

Sunday, August 01, 2004

TEAM PTI PLACES THREE FINALISTS, SISSON CONTINUES ROLL IN JR. DRAGSTER
by Tim Glover

Photos: http://community.webshots.com/album/169975398ZitOrR

(Commerce, GA -July 31) First year racer Ashley Snelgrove enjoyed her first taste of winning when she won her portion of the Run for the Money program in Jr. Dragster. Her grandpa, defending champion Henry Snelgrove, Sr, won the Super Pro portion, and Trophy Street standout Clay Stancil won the Sportsman portion. Team PTI had a good evening, with three of their racers making it to the final round in their respective classes, and one (Lauren Turner - 13-17 Jr. Dragster) winning. Clay Fancher of Team PTI was runner up in Super Pro, and his son, Justin Fancher, earned the runner up trophy in 8-12 Jr. Dragster.

"It's about time!" said Super Pro winner John Hobbs after defeating his Conyers, GA neighbor Clay Fancher. Hobbs' former Bracket Racing USA '71 Nova Lady in Red project car had a .000 react and ran a 7.009 on a 7.00 dial in the semi-final round. While it didn't do quite as well in the final, Hobbs crossed the finish line first with a 7.05, 96.64mph pass (7.00 dial) against Clay Fancher, whose '98 Horton dragster slipped to a 5.33, 129.44mph (5.27 dial). Although dragsters generally do well, Fancher's was the only dragster remaining in competition by the quarter-final round. "I just got lucky tonight," added Hobbs. Lloyd Kaylor ('87 Regal - Winder, GA) was the lone semi-finalist.

2002 Mallory Cup champion Jacob "Lucky" Rutledge from Braselton, GA crossed the finish line considerably behind Canton, GA racer Chris Carlisle in the final, but got the lucky Sportsman win when Carlisle broke out by .003 seconds. Rutledge's '79 Capri slowed to an 11.27, 104.96mph pass (11.22 dial) and Carlisle's show quality '68 Camaro barely broke out with a 10.467, 119.39mph (10.47 target). Kim Ellington ('81 Camaro - Conyers, GA) was the semi-final finisher. "It was his to win. I was just out there driving and spectating," added Rutledge. He then thanked wife Holly and son Tyler for putting up with the heat all day while watching him win.

"An old guy finally won," exclaimed first time winner George Peters after winning Trophy Street with his Lawrenceville, GA based '70 Cutlass. "It's lots of fun coming to a good facility," he added. Peters met up with Bogart, GA racer Steve Marcum in the final, and although he crossed the finish line behind Marcum, his 13.07, 102.56mph pass (13.04 dial) was good for the win after Marcum broke out with a 14.66, 94.64mph effort (14.70 dial) in his '01 Mustang. Joe Goddard ('04 Yeah, it's a hemi Dodge RAM - Conyers, GA) finished in the semi-finals.

"Lightning Linda" Walton from Peachtree City, GA hasn't been on a dragstrip since the early 1970s, when she raced a '66 Fairlane 390 GT in Pure Stock. Walton's husband, Tom, a long time racer, talked her into running Sport Compact, and she took the win, pedaling her 2.0 liter powered '96 Ford Contour at the finish line on points leader Eric "Buford Heavy" Duncan. Duncan's Homer, GA based '97 Cavalier slowed to an 18.97, 70.10mph (18.85 dial), while Walton's car went closer with an 18.53, 70.88mph on an 18.46 dial). Duncan has virtually locked up the Sports Compact championship for 2004.

Ten year old Joshua Sisson is virtually unstoppable for 2004 in 8-12 Jr. Dragster. Tonight he took his sixth 2004 win in his eighth final round appearance; a repeat of last week's final against ten year old Justin Fancher from Conyers, GA. Sisson was definitely vulnerable in the final with a late react and an off pace 9.11, 72.05mph run (9.01 dial), but took the winner's trophy again when Fancher broke out, running 9.45, 67.36mph (9.48 dial). Sisson thanked Mulberry Farms, Fresh Frozen Foods, C&L Landscaping, Swinehart Equipment, Mingledorff, Specialty Lawn Services and American Finest for all their assistance. Ashton Shubert (11 - Commerce, GA) and Dylan Kent (9 - Acworth, GA) earned the semi-final trophy.

Thirteen year old Team PTI racer Lauren Turner from Pendergrass, GA has been in five 2004 13-17 Jr. Dragster finals, and finally won her first this year, against "Wild Kyle" Denton (14 - McDonough, GA). This was Turner's third final against Denton in 2004. Turner had the better react and ran closer to the dial with a 8.31, 76.86mph pass (8.25 dial). Denton finished his evening with an 8.10, 78.39mph effort (8.01 dial). Turner thanked sponsors PTI, Randy Fain of Fain Mitchell Properties, her dad George and all the people who helped her win. Megan Marsh (13 - Anderson, SC) finished in the semi-finals. Marsh's brother won in the same car during the July 17 Summit race at Atlanta Dragway.

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 2004 events, including the Hayes Mopar Meet, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com.

PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: John Hobbs '71 Nova Conyers, GA 7.05 96.64 (7.00)
R/U: Clay Fancher '98 Horton dragster Conyers, GA 5.33 129.44 (5.27)
Semi: Lloyd Kaylor '87 Regal Winder, GA
Semi:

SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Braselton, GA 11.27 104.96 (11.22)
R/U: Chris Carlisle '68 Camaro Canton, GA 10.46 119.39 (10.47)
Semi: Kim Ellington '81 Camaro Conyers, GA

TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: George Peters '70 Cutlass Lawrenceville, GA 13.07 102.56 (13.04)
R/U: Steve Marcum '01 Mustang Bogart, GA 14.66 94.64 (14.70)
Semi: Joe Goddard '04 Dodge RAM Conyers, GA

SPORT COMPACT CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: "Lightning" Linda Walton '96 Contour Peachtree City, GA 18.53 70.88 (18.46)
R/U: Eric "Buford" Duncan '97 Cavalier Homer, GA 18.97 70.10 (18.85)

8-12 JR. DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Joshua Sisson 10 Gainesville, GA 9.11 72.05 (9.01)
R/U: Justin Fancher 10 Conyers, GA 9.45 67.36 (9.48)
Semi: Ashton Shubert 11 Commerce, GA
Semi: Dylan Kent 9 Acworth, GA

13-17 JR. DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Lauren Turner 13 Pendergrass, GA 8.31 76.86 (8.25)
R/U: "Wild Kyle" Denton 14 McDonough, GA 8.10 78.39 (8.01)
Semi: Megan Marsh 13 Anderson, SC
Semi: