BAZEMORE QUALIFIES NO. 5 AT LUCAS OIL NATIONALS IN BRAINERD
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 14, 2004) - Whit Bazemore, driver of the Matco ToolsIron Eagle Dodge Stratus Funny Car, qualified No. 5 for Sunday's Lucas OilNationals, posting the following four qualifying rounds:
1. 4.916/313.51
2. 4.875/306.19 - No. 5 qualifying run
3. 8.513/91.51
4. 4.933/312.93
Bazemore: "Today was a good day. So far, the Matco Tools team has donefairly well. We're pretty happy with the way the car has responded to theconditions that we've been faced with and the changes that have happened. Ithink our testing at Route 66 Raceway last week definitely paid off (undercool conditions similar to the ones here in Brainerd), and we we're able tocome into the race here in Brainerd with some ideas that we didn't havebefore testing and ideas that we wouldn't have implemented during a race.
"So, we're still going in a certain direction with the race car and we feelvery confident. We're on a good side of the ladder tomorrow, and it'simperative at this point for our championship hopes that we go rounds andhave a good day.
"It's more than just wanting to win a race. We find ourselves in a situationwhere now is the time that we have to really step up at the plate andperform. As a driver, it's the kind of pressure that I really like and it 'sthe kind of pressure I think that our team will thrive under. For thatreason we have a lot of confidence and we're ready to go race tomorrow."
Courtesy Judy Stropus
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Kurt Johnson Qualifies 13th in Brainerd
On the strength of a 6.789 second, 202.73 mph pass recorded on his third attempt on Saturday morning, Kurt Johnson qualified his ACDelco Cavalier 13th for Sunday's final eliminations of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, MN.
Although Johnson ran quicker in each of his first three attempts, the Minnesota native acknowledged improvement would be necessary on Sunday in order to score his third national event win at Brainerd International Raceway.
"Our experience this weekend so far has pretty much paralleled our 2004 season - it's just been a series of hills and valleys. We're making good runs to the sixty-foot mark, but it goes downhill from there, which tells me it's a power issue. Unfortunately, some of the pieces that have looked good on the dyno have just not performed as well on the racetrack.
"You certainly can't make any progress if you don't try anything new, but for now we're going to go back to the set-ups and parts we were using when we were running well. After all, we went to four final rounds and won a race with them in the car, so they are certainly capable of getting the job done.
"I need to pick up a hundredth or two tomorrow and make a decent run. We have to make our ACDelco Cavalier happy, so it can roll and make some speed. We'll go over our notes tonight and come up with what we hope will be a winning combination. We know it's in there - it's just a matter of finding it."
Courtesy Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing
D. Kalitta, Wilkerson, Anderson and Brown Top Qualifiers at the NHRA POWERade Lucas Oil Nationals
Whit Bazemore is qualified #5 in Funny Car with a best of 4.875 @ 313.51.
Kurt Johnson ( #13 - 6.789 @ 202.73 ) and Mark Whisnant ( #15 - 6.797 @ 203.12 ) qualify for Pro Stock. Warren Johnson fails to qualify with a best of 6.816 @ 202.73 which was 20th best. This is the first time in his career that the "Professor" has failed to qualify for two straight races.
Details:
http://www.nhra.com/2004/events/race16/index.html
AMERICAN MUSCLE CARS TAME 'YEAR ONE POWER HOUR'
courtesy Tim Glover
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Craig Armstrong (706) 654-1898
BANKS CROSSING, GA Two Georgia street-legal racers drove classic American muscle cars to win all three 'Power Hour' awards during the August 13th Year One Fast Friday program at Atlanta Dragway.
Ignoring the fact that it was "Friday the 13th", John Rafteseth of Lawrenceville ran the quarter-mile in 11.022 seconds at 129.78 MPH in his deceptively quick and ultra-fast 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS to take home two Year One $50 Gift Certificate Vouchers. Loganville racer Scott Carpenter earned the third $50 voucher for the Best Reaction Time, a nearly perfect .005, in the 9-10 PM competition for strictly street-legal cars and pickup trucks.
The next Year One Fast Friday program is scheduled for Friday, August 20th, and will feature the 2004 championship event of the Hayes Sport Compact Challenge. Gates will open at 6:00 PM for both racers and spectators, with racing action beginning at 6:45 and the Hayes Sport Compact Challenge championship race starting at 11 PM. Terry Turpin of Maysville leads all Hayes Sport Compact challengers entering the final round of this racing season.
Sponsored by Year One Automotive Restoration in Braselton, along with the Hayes Family Dealerships in Lawrenceville, Gainesville and Cornelia, Atlanta Dragway's 'Fast Friday' show is primarily an opportunity for drivers of street-legal vehicles to "race the strip, not the street." Racecars and motorcycles are also welcome for Test & Tune and grudge match racing on most Friday nights through November 19, and spectators are encouraged to cheer on their favorites.
2004 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
HAYES SPORT COMPACT CHALLENGE
ATLANTA DRAGWAY(Revised 8/14/04)
1. Terry Turpin, 11
2. TIE - Shane Smallwood, 7
Charlie Bass, 7
4. Jeremy Wade, 5
5. Jason Mooney, 4
6. TIE - Jason Crowe, 3
Peter Heu, 3
8. TIE - Keith Fortner, 2
Steven Feren, 2
David Draz, 2
Jay Cerboraz, 2
Alan Wallhansen, 2
Ritha Kim, 2
David Thai, 2
Jeff Cherry, 2
16. TIE - John Vang, 1
Kris Adams, 1
Troy Keyes, 1
Isaac Agular, 1
Halex Green, 1
Track Records Fall as Doug Kalitta, Wilkerson, Anderson and Hines Lead Qualifying at the NHRA POWERade Lucas Oil Nationals
Georgia's Pro Stock teams struggle in the first two rounds of qualifying. Kurt Johnson is in the #14 position with a 6.815 @ 201.91 while Mark Whisnant ( #17 - 6.827 @ 202.03 ) and Warren Johnson ( #20 - 6.849 @ 202.58 ) are not currently qualified.
http://www.nhra.com/2004/events/race16/index.html
More exciting news from the headquarters of the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame in Henderson, NC.
We are pleased to announce Bruce Larson, professional drag racer, businessman, promoter, public relations specialist, master technician, and a champion driver will make a special appearance at the show this year. Bruce will display his USA-1 Camaro funny car along with collectible memorabilia.
When you consider the popularity of these two, Ronnie Sox and Buddy Martin you understand why they are a crowd favorite. They will be attending the show with the original Sox & Martin Hemi Duster currently owned by Fred Ristagno. Buddy said, “the only thing that will keep me from being at the show will be a personal family commitment.” Buddy expects to be available throughout the weekend to meet fans. Ronnie, a 2001 ECDTHOF inductee, will be available for autographs and he will also display his own drag racing memorabilia.
The Road Knights of Arlington, Va. are making plans to make 2004 their second reunion at the ECDTHOF. The Road Knights were founded in 1953 by a group of young high school students with the assistance of an Arlington County police officer. Most of the members were students at Washington-Lee and Wakefield high schools in Arlington. Eventually the club grew to over 60 members and included members from Fairfax County, Alexandria City, Washington, DC and Maryland. The club can be credited with many accomplishments during the years they were active. The club sponsored the first Rod & Custom Show in April 1955. The club spent many weekend evenings serving as good Samaritans for motorist of the area and can be credited with many accomplishments during the years they were active. The racing came with cooperative management of Old Dominion Drag Strip, the first commercial strip built on the east coast in 1954. The members eventually moved on to college to careers and families that took them from the area and the club became inactive. However, many of the members kept in contact and got together when possible to renew friendships. Last year sixteen Road Knights and ten wives reunited in Henderson for the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame. Racing is still a part of some of the members lives. Some are involved with current street rod venue, some with the drag racing end of the sport, but all are proud to say that, “I was a member of the Road Knights and helped build the sport of Drag Racing.”
The “Hemi Madness” ‘65 AFX car owned by Dan Householder will add some excitement to the lineup of cars on display along with many others who will be
attending the October 15, 16 & 17, East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame.
Nancy Wilson, Director/Promoter
"BLAST FROM THE FAST PAST" CHARITY CAR SHOW TO HIGHLIGHT ATLANTA DRAGWAY SUMMER SIZZLER
courtesy Tim Glover
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Craig Armstrong (706) 423-9265
COMMERCE, GA One of only six 2004 "Blast From The Fast Past" Charity Car Shows is slated as the centerpiece for Atlanta Dragway's 2nd Annual Summer Sizzler event on Saturday, August 14th.
Featuring a dazzling display of cars, trucks, SUV's and motorcycles from all eras of motoring, the "Blast From The Fast Past" shows attract car show participants from all across the southeastern United States, according to "Blast" promoter Wayne Dodd of Community Charity Concepts in Mableton, Georgia.
"I am pleased and honored that NHRA and Atlanta Dragway have allowed us the opportunity to bring a 'Blast From The Fast Past' charity car show to their venue," Dodd said. "Our car shows have provided support for many charities in north Georgia over the past nine years. We are delighted that a portion of the proceeds from this event will do likewise for the Boy Scouts of America in this area."
Also on the Summer Sizzler program will be drag racing action from the Southeast Super Gas Association, with exotic sedans and altered roadsters running throughout the day, along with an open Test & Tune for any show car, street-legal vehicle or racecar that can meet NHRA specifications.
"The Summer Sizzler will be kind of like an expanded 'Fast Friday' show, with lots of extras thrown in for good measure," stated Atlanta Dragway General Manager Craig Armstrong. "Six hours of 'run-what-you-brung' on the quarter-mile, plus Super Gas racing, classic American muscle cars, racecars from yesteryear and lots of family activities. We're very proud to present this fun and unique show for the folks in this part of north Georgia."
As an added attraction, the "King Of The Oldies", venerable deejay Doug Geiser, will spin classic rock 'n' roll from a flashy 60-foot mobile showcase, while keeping the crowd entertained with his unique brand of humor, anecdotes and pertinent show information. According to Armstrong, Waddles the Clown will also make an appearance at the Summer Sizzler to entertain the youngsters with face-painting and balloon animals, and a very busy swap meet and vendor midway will provide variety for spectators and participants alike.
Atlanta Dragway's gates will open at 9:00 AM on Saturday, August 14 for the Summer Sizzler, with the Car Show and musical entertainment kicking off at 10:00 AM, and drag racing beginning at 1:00 PM. The event will wrap up with an Awards Ceremony at 7:30 PM.
Spectator admission is $15, with Children 6-12 years old $5, and ages 5 and under admitted free. A Racer ticket for the Test & Tune is $25, which includes entry for the car and driver. The fee to enter a vehicle in the Car Show is $25, with an additional $10 if the driver wants to race on the dragstrip. Swap Meet spaces will also be available, for $25 apiece.
The Summer Sizzler show was originally scheduled as a two-day event, on Friday and Saturday, August 13-14, but the Friday portion is now a Year One Fast Friday program, featuring grudge matches, test & tune and Summer Sizzler vendor preview from 6:00 PM until 11:00 PM. Regular Fast Friday prices will prevail, and outside overnight RV parking will be available for Summer Sizzler participants. Additional show information may be obtained by visiting www.blastfromthefastpast.com or the track's official website, www.atlantadragway.com.
Located just off Interstate 85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing area of Commerce, Atlanta Dragway is the site of the annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac, an NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series championship event. The 28-year-old facility is owned and operated by the National Hot Rod Association, the largest motorsports sanctioning body in the world.
THREE SHARE YEAR ONE POWER HOUR AWARDS; SMALLWOOD WINS HAYES SPORT COMPACT CHALLENGE
courtesy Tim Glover
BANKS CROSSING, GA Three street-legal racers took home Power Hour awards during the Year One Fast Friday program on August 6. With cooler weather prevailing, Doug Wilks of Suwanee ran a "Fastest Pass" of 122.57 MPH in his deceptively speedy 2003 Mitsubishi Evolution, while Commerce driver Frankie Worley raced to a "Quickest ET" of 12.162 seconds in the quarter-mile, netting both racers Year One $50 Gift Certificate Vouchers. Decatur's Dasan Isom earned the third $50 voucher for a nearly perfect "Best Reaction Time" (.003 seconds) during the 9-10 PM competition for strictly street-legal cars and pickup trucks.
In other action, Shane Smallwood of Flowery Branch picked up his second Hayes Sport Compact Challenge champion's trophy during the evening's contest, part of a ten-race series in selected Year One Fast Friday events throughout the spring and summer.
The next Year One Fast Friday program is set for Friday, August 13, which is a recent addition to the original 2004 Event Schedule. Gates will open at 6:00 PM for both racers and spectators, with racing action beginning at 6:45. The Hayes Sport Compact Challenge championship race is slated for the following Friday evening, August 20.
Sponsored by Year One Automotive Restoration in Braselton, along with the Hayes Family Dealerships in Lawrenceville, Gainesville and Cornelia, Atlanta Dragway's Fast Friday show is primarily an opportunity for drivers of street-legal vehicles to "race the strip, not the street." Racecars and motorcycles are also welcome for Test & Tune and grudge match racing on most Friday nights through November 19.
