NIGHT OF FIRE A CROWD PLEASER AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY
By Tim Glover
Photos
(Commerce, GA - June 26) Fans who came to the 2004 edition of the Ingles /
Powerade Night of Fire, held at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA, enjoyed
another show packed full of events, race cars and exhibition cars.
Eleven Pro Modified drivers vied for a spot in the eight car field. Johnny
Pilcher, the number one qualifier at 4.10 seconds (eighth mile course) beat
the number two qualifier and 2003 Night of Fire winner Keith Baker in the
Pro Mod final. Pilcher's Enterprise, AL based '63 Corvette dominated the
field, never running slower than 4.15 seconds in eliminations. In the
final, Pilcher laid down a stout 4.116 pass at 176.30mph. Baker's Dothan,
AL based '98 Corvette was off pace with a 4.473 second pass. Ron Smith
(Loganville, GA - '68 Camaro) and Norman Thomas ('57 Chevy - Waverly Hall,
GA) were the semi-finalists. Pilcher's family was pleased with the
performance as the quickest his car has ever gone is 4.08 seconds in the
eighth mile.
Another final was completed in the new for 2004 Sport Compact Class. Terry
Turpin from Maysville, GA brought his fast 2003 Mitsubishi Evo back to the
track and faced the current points leader, Eric "Buford Heavy" Duncan again
in the final. Duncan had a little better reaction time in the final, and
got the win light after Turpin's Maysville, GA based car went too quick with
a 12.82 second ET at 106.29mph (12.90 dial in). Duncan's '97 Cavalier was a
little off pace, but still ran a race winning 19.15, 67.95mph (19.00 dial).
Penny Praise Ministries had a tent located on the midway near the starting
line gate just for kids, featuring face painting and other decorations.
The Heartbeat High S10 Pickup Wheelstander, driven by Pete Hoenk, wowed the
crowd. His machine tripped the finish line timers with the rear wheels to
the tune of 10 seconds at over 120mph.
Two jet dragsters, the US One driven by Paul Miller and Pepi Urban's
Showtime dragster put on a fire show three times during the show. Miller
took the win light two out of three times, running mid five second passes at
290 plus miles per hour. Urban took the win during their final pairing with
a 5.81, 266.48mph effort to Miller's 5.964, 286.07mph.
"Airplane Fred" Sibley gave the phrase "rice burner" a new meaning when he
used his jet powered '34 Pierce Arrrow truck to literally melt an import car
amid a shower of sparks. Sibley said his truck used 130 gallons of jet fuel
to do the deed. Minutes later, fans enjoyed an even larger shower of sparks
overhead with the largest fireworks display in North Georgia.
After the fireworks show, while the on track lighting was warming back up,
Atlanta Dragway workers Doug Baird and Charlotte Underwood were married on
the starting line by Racers For Christ Pastor Lloyd Shanks. After a 20
minute ceremony, Shanks presented Doug and Charlotte Baird to the people
remaining at the race.
Due to delays caused earlier in the day by a timing system malfunction, two
late day oildowns and a non-injury on track accident, the Summit Series
bracket race was running behind schedule. After a late dew fall made track
conditions less than optimal, track officials stopped the race. Nineteen
racers split the purse in Super Pro and nine Sportsman racers split their
purse. Six Trophy Street racers, four 8-12 year old and two 13-17 year old
Jr. Dragster racers will finish the Night of Fire bracket race during the
next Summit Series race on July 10.
SPORT COMPACT CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Buford Heavy '97 Cavalier Commerce, GA 19.15 67.95 (19.00)
R/U: Terry Turpin '03 Mitsubishi Evo Maysville, GA 12.82 106.29 (12.90)
Semi:
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
PRO MODIFIED CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Johnny Pilcher '63 Corvette Enterprise, AL 4.116 176.30
R/U: Keith Baker '98 Corvette Dothan, AL 4.473 (mph not working)
Semi: Ron Smith '68 Camaro Loganville, GA
Semi: Norman Thomas '57 Chevy Waverly Hall, GA
