by Tim Glover
Photos
(Commerce, GA - October 15 - 16) 549 of the best racers from 19 different tracks in the Southeast United States converged on Atlanta Dragway for the 2004 Division Two ET finals. They came to compete for awards in five classes on Friday (Race of Champions) and four on Saturday (Division Two Summit race). Friday was time trial day for all the racers and was also Race of Champions day, where the track champions raced each other to see who was the number one 2004 track champion in the Southeast in each class. Jamie Alexander ('67 Camaro - Grand Bay, AL) came out on top in Super Pro (electronics allowed) and John Rollins ('72 Nova - Micanopy, FL) was number
one in Pro (no electronics allowed). The other Race of Champions winners were Franky Bishop (Sportsman - '68 Nova - Albany, GA), Dennis Stewart (Motorcycle - '78 Kawasaki - St. Pete, FL) and Danny Paul (High School - '70 Chevelle - Mobile, AL). Lloyd Kaylor, Super Pro champion, had the best day for an Atlanta Dragway racer in the Race of Champions, finishing in the semi-final round.
The big day, Saturday, dawned bright, clear and cold, and racing action got underway at 9:00am. Except for an oil down from one car and a broken driveshaft in another, the show ran smoothly, and by 7:00pm, four new 2004 Division Two Summit ET Champions were awarded a coveted "Wally" trophy for winning their class. Also, each winner goes to California to represent their division at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, held November 11-14 at Pomona Raceway in Pomona, CA.
In addition to individual wins, the track featuring the most round winners throughout the day is awarded the team championship. Montgomery Motorsports Park dominated the event, finishing with 57 points. US19 Dragway came in second with 47 points, and while Atlanta Dragway led the points earlier in the day, they finished fifth overall with 39 points. Atlanta's team had a good showing through round three, but by round five only three Atlanta racers remained in action. They were Mike Ramsey (Super Pro - '81 Camaro), Travis Bryant (Sportsman - '68 Camaro - Bowman, GA) and Alan Sargent (Sportsman - '77 Nova - Braselton, GA). Atlanta racers who made it to round four were Gary "Git 'er" Dunn (Flowery Branch, GA), J.D. Reid (Conyers, GA), Henry Snelgrove (Dahlonega, GA) and Greg Allen (Anderson, SC).
US19 Dragway racer Margie Richardson's husband, "Big John" leaped high off the ground after she turned on the final round Super Pro win light with her ultra fast '66 Chevy II, which ran a dead-on 5.779 at 118.32mph. Richardson raced one of her US19 teammates, Jack Ivey, Sr in the final. Ivey's dial in time was 7.55, but his '78 Dodge D50 pickup went just a tad too quick, turning in a 7.542 at 87.61mph. Cecil Shiflett (Montgomery Motorsports Park ( '02 Miller dragster) and Wayne Van Beek (Jax Raceway - '00 Worthy dragster) were the semi-final pair.
Kelly King (Montgomery Motorsports Park - '74 Vega) has raced many different vehicles through the years, and won a lot of races. However, King was a bit stunned with his Pro victory against Mobile Dragway racer Billy Pierre, saying he really didn't think it had sunk in yet. He then said his wife Dawn would be more excited than he was about the victory. He mentioned he may have to race his Jeep (an ex Super Gas car) in California because the Vega he won with is set up for the eighth mile course, and the Pomona race is quarter mile. King's Vega was dead on with a 6.973, 102.61mph pass. The team of Billy and Wanda Pierre's '86 S-10 truck broke out, running 6.797, 94.35mph on a 6.81 target. "Lil Rick" Pennington (Montgomery Motorsports Park - '64 Chevelle) was the lone semi-finalist.
Music City Raceway competitor Leon Robertson won his second Sportsman Division Two championship in three years with his '80 Malibu. Robertson had the better final round react, and ran closer to his dial in time of 9.43 seconds with a 9.474 at 69.92mph. His opponent, Jacob "Lucky" Rutledge, who was racing for Montgomery Motorsports Park with his wife Holly's '98 Mustang, carded a .05 second over 8.78, 76.40mph pass (8.73 target). Rutledge normally races a '79 Capri, but since he broke his hand recently, he had to press the Mustang into service. Two years ago, Robertson runner upped at the Pomona race in a rental car. He said this time he was taking his Malibu. "I'm going to win that thing this time," he added. Ricky Zorn
(Savannah Dragway - '68 Camaro) and Shane McFadden (Orlando Speed World - '82 Firebird) were the semi-finalists.
Moroso Motorsports Park Motorcycle Track Champion Mike Fulks finished in the Race of Champions semi-finals with his '80 Kawasaki on Friday, but then came back stronger Saturday to win the Division Two Summit ET race. During the semi-final round, his opponent Bill "Not 'da Grump" Jenkins ('78 Kawasaki - Southeastern International Dragway) announced "Come get 'ya some!" Fulks did, and then went on to the finals to race Leonard Adams ('78 Kawasaki - Madison, TN). Both racers did well, but Fulks crossed the finish line .013 seconds ahead of Adams for the win with a 6.632, 101.26mph pass (6.62 dial). Adams was off a little with a 6.22, 107.87mph (6.18 target). Bill Jenkins took home the semi-final portion of the purse.
FRIDAY RACE OF CHAMPIONS RESULTS
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jamie Alexander '67 Camaro Grand Bay, AL 6.16 110.38 (6.16)
R/U: Ronnie McGaha '69 Camaro Mt. Carmel, TN 6.38 107.24 (6.40)
Semi: Lloyd Kaylor '87 Regal Winder, GA
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PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: John Rollins '72 Nova Micanopy, FL 7.07 95.81 (7.06)
R/U: Choc Houston '72 Skylark Fernandina Bch, FL 7.33 90.11 (7.35)
Semi: Bruce Wilson '70 Nova Tallapoosa, GA
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SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Franky Bishop '68 Nova Albany, GA 7.87 85.05 (7.85)
R/U: Chip Rollins '82 Malibu Gainesville, FL 7.69 88.96 (7.70)
Semi: Tim Towkach '69 Mustang Yulee, FL
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MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Dennis Stewart '78 Kawasaki St. Pete, FL 5.87 114.70 (5.87)
R/U: Mike Gill '92 Suzuki Elizabethton, TN 5.82 116.11 (5.79)
Semi: Michael Fulks '80 Kawasaki Loxahatchee, FL
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HIGH SCHOOL CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Danny Paul '70 Chevelle Mobile, AL 7.96 79.33 (7.80)
R/U: James Rowlett '95 Camaro Mt. Joliet, TN 9.25 67.59 (8.99)
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SATURDAY DIVISION TWO ET FINALS RESULTS
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Margie Richardson '66 Chevy II Cairo, GA 5.77 118.32 (5.77)
R/U: Jack Ivey, Sr. '78 Dodge D50 Albany, GA 7.54 89.61 (7.55)
Semi: Cecil Shiflett '02 Miller dragster Duluth, GA
Semi: Wayne Van Beek '00 Worthy dragster Fernandina Bch, FL
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PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Kelly King '74 Vega Stockbridge, GA 6.97 102.61 (6.97)
R/U: Billy Pierre '86 S-10 Grand Bay, AL 6.79 94.35 (6.81)
Semi: "Lil Rick" Pennington '64 Chevelle Mt. Olive, AL
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SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Leon Robertson '80 Malibu Nashville, TN 9.47 69.92 (9.43)
R/U: Jacob "Lucky" Rutledge '98 Mustang Braselton, GA 8.78 76.40 (8.73)
Semi: Ricky Zorn '68 Camaro Hinesville, GA
Semi: Shane McFadden '82 Firebird Orlando, FL
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MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Michael Fulks '80 Kawasaki Loxahatchee, FL 6.63 101.26 (6.62)
R/U: Leonard Adams '78 Kawasaki Madison, TN 6.22 107.87 (6.18)
Semi: Bill "not da Grump" Jenkins '78 Kawasaki Dallas, GA
