GeorgiaDragRacing.com Updated

We'd like to express our appreciation to Bogan Renfroe for continuing to be the Top Sponsor for GeorgiaDragRacing.com for 2005. This makes the third year that his sponsorship has helped to make this website possible. Thanks, Bogan!

Thanks to Fred Simmons for photo GDR-00414.

Thanks to Bruce Fairchild for photos GDR-00415 - GDR-00417.

Thanks to Elain Hughes for her help in identifying the dragster in photo GDR-00289.

David Dilbeck submitted an article about his trip to the 2004 East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame and Reunion.

Frank Moye has released a video of Sol and Anne Stewart's 2004 Old Drag Racers Reunion.

Congratulations to Bogan Renfroe for his recent induction into the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame ( October 2004 )! Bogan is shown accepting his plaque from event organizer/director Nancy Wilson. Fred Simmons photo.

UPDATE: Bunky Bobo's Hemi Hurricane Restoration

Here are the latest photos from Rome, GA's Bunky Bobo. The Bobo family is actively working on the Hemi Hurricane Willys restoration. Here is a link to an earlier article on GeorgiaDragRacing.com from Tony Bobo about the beginning of the restoration project and here are a few more photos.Can't wait to see the car finished, its going to be a beauty!

Bunky Bobo's Hemi Hurricane restoration is progressing nicely.

2004 East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame & Reunion TV Playdate

Inside Drag Racing will feature coverage of the 2004 East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame & Reunion on the Tuesday November 9, 2004 broadcast. The program will air at 3 PM on ESPN 2. For the west coast, ESPN 2 will air the show 11/17/04 at 3:30 AM.
Photos from the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame & Reunion:
Album 1
Album 2
Album 3

BAZEMORE LOSES CLOSE FIRST ROUND IN VEGAS

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 31, 2004) - While diminutive ghouls and goblins were Trickor Treating through the pits during the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas, Whit Bazemore, in the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus, was dealing with his own demons on the quarter-mile.

Following a stout qualifying effort of four consistently quick rounds topped off by a 4.772/326.95 which placed him fourth on the "grid" in the final qualifying session, Bazemore's first round contest against Cruz Pedregon produced another set of strong numbers: 4.820 seconds at 324.36 mph under sunny skies. Unfortunately, his opponent stole what should have been a win for Bazemore on a holeshot advantage, with a slower yet victorious 4.839/320.05.

It's Vegas, after all, and Pedregon took a gamble at the starting light by launching with a .039 reaction time to Bazemore's more than respectable.076.

"It doesn't matter what his reaction time was," said a disappointed Bazemore, who dropped to sixth in NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Carpoints. "It's just really disappointing because my job is to leave before the other guy. It doesn't matter what he does.

"There are just not any excuses. It's hard for me because it's hard for theMatco Tools team. It's just a disappointment. It's how racing is sometimes.You give it 110 percent but you don't always come up with the right answer."

So far this season, Bazemore has been quicker than his opponent at the starting light 65 percent of the time. "Our lights (reaction times) are what they are. We're consistent," he said. "We're near the top in the average, but today that just wasn't good enough. I'm feeling worse for the team more than anything because they give 110 percent all the time."

Contact: Judy Stropus
DON SCHUMACHER RACING

Chip Ellis and G2 Wins the Jackpot at Vegas

Courtesy Jerry Battle

LAS VEGAS (October 31, 2004) – Racing into a moderate to strong head wind throughout eliminations, Chip Ellis, who qualified No. 2 aboard the G2/S&S/Star Racing Buell, wins the NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals, his first NHRA win.

En route to the final round Ellis, 34, defeated Chip Hunter in the opening round, Antron Brown in the quarterfinals and Shawn Gann in the semis.

The final round matched Ellis against Angelle Savoie, who was a three-time Pro Stock Bike champion when she was with George Bryce’s Star Racing.

Savoie was away first at the green light but the power of Ellis’ S&S Cycle powered motorcycle quickly overtook Savoie and went on to claim the victory.

Ellis covered The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway quarter-mile in 7.191 seconds, while Savoie recorded an elapsed time of 7.255 seconds.

“The bike won that race,” said Ellis. “Angelle (Savoie) had me on the tree, but I’ll tell you this G2/S&S/Star Racing Buell has run very consistent and consistently fast. My hat is off to the guys at G2 and S&S. I couldn’t have done this without you. They did an awesome job.

“It’s a great feeling for me personally. I’m also really happy for both George Bryce and George Smith. I’m glad I was on the bike for this first win.”

It was the first win for the newly formed race team of G Squared Motorsports, owned by George Bryce and George Smith.

“I think it’s been about 13 months since my last win,” said Bryce. “All the troubles we’ve had along the way working out the bugs on this G2/S&S/Star Racing Buell just adds sweetness to the win. I kept telling Chip and I kept telling Big George that if we could just weather the storm until we figured out all the little things we needed to learn about this program that it would just make the victory sweeter. Man, this is sweet.”

Bryce’s partner George Smith added, “How ‘bout this NHRA POWERade drag racing. Isn’t this great that we’ve got this format to show our wares and have fun at the same time.

“This win is going to sell some S&S engines and help the class. It will bring more sponsors in. I know it’s a win for G Squared Motorsports but I think everyone wins in this situation.

“I’ve got to thank my partner George Bryce for doing such a fine job. Ken Johnson handles too much to name but he has my thanks. Chip Ellis does such a fine job driving and there will be more wins from that young man. And finally, I want to especially thank the S&S crew.”

The win moved Ellis into the top twenty in the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Bike standings at No. 19. After only three races, the Americus, Ga., driver has 190 points.

Eliminations:
Round 1: Ellis (7.175/178.26) def. Chip Hunter (7.393174.28)
Round 2 (Quarterfinals): Ellis (7.175/179.14) def. Antron Brown (7.227/178.12)
Round 3 (Semifinals): Ellis (7.213/182.40) def. Shawn Gann (7.368/176.12)
Round 4 (Finals): Ellis (7.191/179.92) winner over Angelle Savoie (7.255/177.49)


G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS
OWNERS: GEORGE BRYCE & GEORGE SMITH
NHRA PRO-STOCK BIKE: G2/S&S/STAR RACING BUELL
RIDER: CHIP ELLIS
MEDIA CONTACT: Mickey Schultz

Ellis Wins First NHRA Pro Stock Bike Title, Anderson Sets New Season Win Record, Kalitta and Scelzi Other Vegas Winners

Greg Anderson won his 14th National event with a final round victory over team mate Jason Line at the NHRA POWERade ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals. This was a new record for season victories.


Chip Ellis won Pro Stock Bike ( over Angelle Savoie ) on the G Squared/S & S/Star Racing Buell. This was the first NHRA National event win for Ellis.

NHRA Recap

AMERICAN MUSCLE TAMES 'YEAR ONE POWER HOUR' DURING HALLOWEEN COSTUME DRAGS

Courtesy Tim Glover

BANKS CROSSING, GA Two Georgia street-legal racers drove their American muscle cars to win all three 'Power Hour' awards during the October 29th Year One Fast Friday 'Halloween Costume Drags' at Atlanta Dragway.

In a near sweep of all posted awards, Richard Dobbs of Woodstock ran the quarter-mile in 11.983 seconds at 115.42 MPH in his super-quick 2002 Pontiac Trans Am, and made a second pass with a nearly perfect .009 light. Due to Frankie Worley's 11.979 second run, however, Dobbs had to settle for two of the three Year One $50 Gift Certificate Vouchers. Worley, hailing from nearby Commerce, drove a 1993 Ford Mustang to earn the third $50 voucher for Quickest ET in the 9 - 10 PM contest for strictly street-legal cars and pickup trucks.

While Wal-Mart Halloween candy was passed out to event patrons, and Year One Gift Certificates and t-shirts awarded to the lucky winners, Atlanta Dragway conducted the second annual Hayes Family Dealerships Halloween Costume Contest. The Bowden family of Commerce were the big winners, with $100 in Hayes cash going to Best Adult Costume winner Bobby Bowden for his wild "Kudzu Rambo" outfit, while his wife Patty picked up $50 for her impression of the TV character "Morticia". The Bowden's 3-year old son, Austin, claimed Best Child Costume honors and $50 for his "Jolly (Short) Green Giant" attire. The only non-member of the Bowden family awarded was 5-month old Jesse Little of Lula, whose "Mini Great Pumpkin" costume netted his parents $25 as Runner-up.

The next Year One Fast Friday program is scheduled for Friday, November 5th, and will feature another round of the Year One 'Power Hour'. Gates will open at 6:00 PM for both racers and spectators, with racing action beginning at 6:45 and the 'Power Hour' beginning at 9 PM.

Sponsored by Year One Automotive Restoration in Braselton, along with the Hayes Family Dealerships in Lawrenceville, Gainesville and Baldwin, 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 19th.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Craig Armstrong (706) 423-9265

Kurt Johnson Will Roll Off 15th in Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada
Day/Date: Saturday October 30, 2004

At first glance, it would seem that Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Cavalier Racing team put together a very consistent qualifying effort at the ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals. After all, on three of his four attempts, Johnson posted an elapsed time in the 6.83-second range, with his quickest pass of 6.835 seconds at 200.71 mph slotting him in the 15th starting position for Sunday's final eliminations.

However, Johnson and his crew were even further encouraged by the fact that they had recorded these competitive times without making a perfect run. Realizing there was additional performance left in their race car, they looked forward to picking up the pace even further on race day.

"We have yet to put a perfect run together, and we were still able to get ourselves in the show. Naturally, we would have preferred to qualify higher and get lane choice for the first round, but we'll take fifteenth and make the best of it.

"It would have been nice to make that last run in one of the better sessions, because even though we had a problem with the engine, we were still ninth quickest for that session. Actually, our ACDelco Cavalier was pretty good on the last run, and we believe we can pick it up even further. We're going to try something new for tomorrow. It will be a little bit of an experiment, but we want to win, so we're going to go for it.

"We feel we can run pretty close to Greg (Anderson, Johnson's first round opponent), so we're going to have to let the clutch out on time, just like we did in Dallas (where KJ defeated Anderson on a first round hole shot), and see if we can get to the finish line first. We're going to have a lot of ACDelco customers on hand tomorrow, and we want to make sure and send them home happy."

Contact: Jon G. Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing

Ellis Qualifies Second at Vegas

Courtesy Jerry Battle

LAS VEGAS (October 30, 2004) – Chip Ellis handling the driving duties aboard the G2/S&S/Star Racing Buell liked the numbers he saw on his two qualifying runs today at the fourth annual NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals.

In the morning sessions, the Americus, Ga., driver covered The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway quarter-mile in 7.131 seconds, just one thousandth of a second behind leader Matt Hines. In the heat of the afternoon, Ellis had the low elapsed time of the session when he ran a 7.175-second pass.

Ellis was forced to sit out Friday’s two qualifying sessions due to a penalty imposed by NHRA for a rule violation that states that a contestant at an NHRA national cannot test/run on the same track at which the national event is being held within seven days of the event.

G Squared Motorsports (G2), owned by George Bryce and George Smith, competed in an AHDRA motorcycle event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend, thus, the penalty.

As Bryce explained yesterday, “We didn’t realize exactly how that rule worked,” said Bryce. “I thought you couldn’t rent the track and do testing prior to a national event. So when we got here this weekend, it was a big surprise to me that they weren’t going to let us qualify (Friday). We served our time. We’ve learned from it.”

Recounting today’s runs Ellis said, ”The guys from S&S Cycle and the guys from G2 Motorsports put their heads together and came up with an awesome package and we made two good runs today. I was disappointed that we’re not on the pole (No. 1) but for us to come out and make two good hits like we did today with no runs yesterday just shows that we’re ready to go tomorrow.

“I can’t tell you how awesome this G2/S&S/Star Racing Buell is. There is really no driving involved. The power from the S&S Cycle V-Twin engine really moves this bike. You just hold it wide open and push the shift button when the light comes on. The track is well prepared and very smooth. It makes my job easy.”

“I was glad we ran the AHDRA last weekend because it was good from a business point of view,” said Smith. “We do understand the rule now, so next time we’ll take that into account. Today we pulled the bike off the trailer and ran a 7.131 and had low time of the second session. We’re pleased with the way the bike and S&S engine is performing. We look forward to turning on our first win light tomorrow.”

Ellis will face Chip Hunter in the opening round of eliminations tomorrow. Hunter qualified in the 15th position with an elapsed time of 7.291 seconds.

G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS
OWNERS: GEORGE BRYCE & GEORGE SMITH
NHRA POWERADE PRO-STOCK BIKE: G2/S&S/STAR RACING BUELL
RIDER: CHIP ELLIS
MEDIA CONTACT: Mickey Schultz

Kelly, Ferro, Eberly, Stewart, Lindsay, Smith, Fera, Barnes and Balian Win the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, SE Division, event at Gainesville

Congratulations to Comp winner Van Puckett ( Monroe, GA ) and Super Gas winner Tracy Barnes ( Jackson, GA )!

Force Clinches NHRA POWERade Funny Car Championship, Grubnic Wins Big Bud Shootout, Kalitta, Worsham, Line and Hines Top Qualifiers at Las Vegas

NHRA Recap

Georgia Notes:

Whit Bazemore qualified #4 in Funny Car with a 4.772 @ 326.95.

Kurt Johnson qualified for Pro Stock in the #15 position with a best of 6.835 @ 201.10. The other Georgia Pro Stock teams failed to qualify - Mark Whisnant ( #18 - 6.848 @ 201.10, Warren Johnson ( #22 - 6.861 @ 200.98 ) and Barry Grant ( #26 - 6.900 @ 199.52 ).

Chip Ellis made up for the teams lack of Friday runs with a #2 7.131 @ 182.58 in Pro Stock Bike.

BAZEMORE POWERS TO NO. 4 IN VEGAS QUALIFYING

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 30, 2004) - Whit Bazemore's final qualifying pass of 4.772 seconds at 326.95 mph topped off four consecutively quicker qualifying rounds, placing the driver of the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus No. 4 in the Funny Car field for tomorrow's 22nd of 23 rounds of the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Bazemore posted a 4.893/309.91 pass in the first round, followed by a 4.864/315.86 and a 4.841/318.77, before his stellar 4.7-second lap in the last session.

"It's a case this weekend of making continuous progress with the race car,"he said. "(Crew chief) Lee (Beard) and the entire Schumacher Racing organization (including Gary Scelzi's crew chief Mike Neff, TonySchumacher's crew chief Alan Johnson and Johnny Gray's crew chief Dan Olson) kind of banded together and worked to help all the cars run, and the resultis we have three cars qualified - two really strongly and one that's been doing a lot of testing on new things. Johnny Gray and his team are not quite on the pace, but they're working on different things for next year. Scelzi qualified No. 5, Gray No. 11.

"So far it's been a really good weekend and the Matco Tools Dodge has responded to Lee's changes and things are coming around. He's had to make some pretty big steps between yesterday and today to get the performance that we wanted. We feel good so far.

"The top nine cars in the 16-car field ran laps in the 4.7-second range."It's really tight at the top and it shows you how competitive it is," said Bazemore, whose goal is to end this season second in points. "The last run was everything for us. The first couple of runs were all good baseline runs and opportunities to learn and make changes, but the car didn't come around really the right way until the last run. Conditions were good and it responded. We're back in a position where we feel more confident with the car and what we're doing with it."

Bazemore will face Cruz Pedregon in the first round of eliminationstomorrow, which begin at 11 a.m.

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Contact: Judy Stropus