Atlanta Dragway Results by Tim Glover
HADDON WINS FIRST SUPER PRO RACE, THREE 2004 CHAMPIONS IN FINALS
by Tim Glover
Photos
(Commerce, GA - March 5) In spite of the cold air, Atlanta Dragway racers enjoyed their first Summit / Snap-On points race of the season. Three defending track champions, Chris Carlile (Sportsman), Steve Marcum (Trophy Street) and Joshua Sisson (8-12 Jr. Dragster) made it to their class finals, with two taking the win. Joe Haddon moved over to Super Pro from Footbrake
and won his first time out. Dragsters were at a disadvantage in Super Pro, with only one of the remaining six cars in the quarterfinals being a dragster. The closest final of the event was not in Super Pro as one might expect. "Wild Kyle" Denton faced Thomas Davis-Cox in the final, and won with a dead-on 8.085 at 72.20mph. Cox was also dead-on, running 7.906 at 82.44 mph. Andy Kelley brought his Top Fuel Funny car to the track, delighting the fans with a couple of passes.
Five years ago, Oxford, GA racer Joe Haddon debuted a show quality '67 Chevy II in Sportsman class, and won the race. For 2005, he decided to move over to Super Pro for the first time, and debuted another high quality machine, an H&R Race Cars prepped '66 Chevelle, backed by Ricky Dalton of Dalton Tire. Not only did he do well, he ran three straight 6.84 second
passes en route to winning his first Super Pro race. Haddon met Michael Bruce of Winder, GA in the final, and although Bruce had a slight reaction time advantage, (.020 to .022 seconds), his '78 Malibu broke out with a 6.52, 101.99mph pass (6.55 dial). Haddon's Chevelle put a dead-on 6.849, 100.33 mph on the scoreboards. Mike Pitman ('64 Impala - Roswell, GA) won the
Run for the Money event earlier in the day, and finished his day as the lone Super Pro semi-finalist. "I can't believe it! I'm so excited! Thanks to Vicki, my wife for letting me race, and thanks to Charlie Coile for helping," added Haddon.
"This is what I worked for last year," stated 2004 defending Sportsman champion Chris Carlile from Canton, GA after winning the Sportsman final with a new race car. Over the winter, Carlile put together a very nice '69 Camaro, using the powerplant from his street car. Due to a large reaction time advantage, Carlile was able to trim some speed at the finish line, and
carded a 10.24 at 127.80mph (10.18 target). His opponent, Winder, GA racer Robert Wilbanks, ran a heartbreaking breakout 10.079, 130.90mph pass (10.08 dial) with his '65 Mustang, earning the runner up spot. Kenny Jett ('66 Chevelle - Alpharetta, GA), who is now racing his second full season, finished in the semi-final round. "I'd rather be lucky than good. The car
was there for sure," added a happy Carlile, who also won the Run for the Money round earlier in the day.
"Darn, this stuff's fun," commented Trophy Street winner Steve Marcum, who is also the defending 2004 champion. Marcum met Ashley Dumas ('86 Monte Carlo SS - Commerce, GA) in the final, and survived the double breakout round with a 14.25, 97.10mph pass (14.30 dial) in his Bogart, GA based '01 Mustang. Dumas' machine broke out slightly more with a 13.32 at 99.35mph (13.38 target). Dumas wasn't too disappointed, as this was her first "Big Car" final since graduating from the Jr. Dragster ranks. Marcum then said, "Never underestimate the girl. She just about beat me!" Kevin Davis ('92 Taurus Wagon - Blairsville, GA) was the semi-final Trophy winner.
Fifteen year old "Wild Kyle" Denton from Buford, GA has finished second in the points two years in a row in the 13-17 Jr. Dragster class. He began his 2005 season well, scoring the 13-17 Jr. Dragster win against another Buford racer, Thomas Davis-Cox (15), in the closest final round of the evening. Denton nailed his 8.08 dial with an 8.085 at 72.20mph, barely in front of
Cox, who ran a 7.906, 62.44mph pass (7.90 dial). Both racers were only .026 apart in the reaction time department, with the advantage going to Denton. Jennifer Blair (16 - Rome, GA) was the single semi-final finisher. Denton's reaction to his win was a happy and loud "YES!"
Eleven year old Jacquelyn Lastinger from Lilburn, GA gave up softball in July last year to go Jr. Dragster racing in the 8-12 year old Jr. Dragster class. Her efforts paid off immediately in 2004, winning two Run for the Money events in a row. She hung in there, and began her 2005 season her first ever race win, against none other than the 8-12 Jr. Dragster defending champion, Joshua Sisson (11 - Gainesville, GA). Lastinger parlayed a huge holeshot advantage (.031 seconds to .109 seconds) into a winner's trophy by running 9.50, 68.03mph (9.40 dial). Sisson's car did well, running 8.93 at 72.02mph (8.90 dial). Valerie Clements (11 - Central, SC) finished in the semi-final round. Lastinger added, "As obsessed as I am with drag racing, I still keep good grades."
------------------------------------------------
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Joe Haddon '66 Chevelle Oxford, GA 6.84 100.33 (6.84)
R/U: Michael Bruce '78 Malibu Covington, GA 6.52 101.99 (6.55)
Semi: Mike Pitman '64 Impala Roswell, GA
------------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chris Carlile '69 Camaro Canton, GA 10.24 127.80 (10.18)
R/U: Robert Wilbanks '65 Mustang Winder, GA 10.07 130.90 (10.08)
Semi: Kenny Jett '66 Chevelle Alpharetta, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Steve Marcum '01 Mustang Bogart, GA 14.25 97.10 (14.30)
R/U: Ashley Dumas '86 Monte Carlo Commerce, GA 13.32 99.35 (13.38)
Semi: Kevin Davis '92 Taurus Wagon Blairsville, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER 8-12 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacquelyn Lastinger 11 Lilburn, GA 9.50 68.03 (9.40)
R/U: Joshua Sisson 11 Gainesville, GA 8.93 72.02 (8.90)
Semi: Valerie Clements 11 Central, SC
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER 13-17 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: "Wild Kyle" Denton 15 McDonough, GA 8.08 72.20 (8.08)
R/U: Thomas Davis-Cox 15 Buford, GA 7.90 82.44 (7.90)
Semi: Jennifer Blair 16 Rome, GA
Semi:
by Tim Glover
Photos
(Commerce, GA - March 5) In spite of the cold air, Atlanta Dragway racers enjoyed their first Summit / Snap-On points race of the season. Three defending track champions, Chris Carlile (Sportsman), Steve Marcum (Trophy Street) and Joshua Sisson (8-12 Jr. Dragster) made it to their class finals, with two taking the win. Joe Haddon moved over to Super Pro from Footbrake
and won his first time out. Dragsters were at a disadvantage in Super Pro, with only one of the remaining six cars in the quarterfinals being a dragster. The closest final of the event was not in Super Pro as one might expect. "Wild Kyle" Denton faced Thomas Davis-Cox in the final, and won with a dead-on 8.085 at 72.20mph. Cox was also dead-on, running 7.906 at 82.44 mph. Andy Kelley brought his Top Fuel Funny car to the track, delighting the fans with a couple of passes.
Five years ago, Oxford, GA racer Joe Haddon debuted a show quality '67 Chevy II in Sportsman class, and won the race. For 2005, he decided to move over to Super Pro for the first time, and debuted another high quality machine, an H&R Race Cars prepped '66 Chevelle, backed by Ricky Dalton of Dalton Tire. Not only did he do well, he ran three straight 6.84 second
passes en route to winning his first Super Pro race. Haddon met Michael Bruce of Winder, GA in the final, and although Bruce had a slight reaction time advantage, (.020 to .022 seconds), his '78 Malibu broke out with a 6.52, 101.99mph pass (6.55 dial). Haddon's Chevelle put a dead-on 6.849, 100.33 mph on the scoreboards. Mike Pitman ('64 Impala - Roswell, GA) won the
Run for the Money event earlier in the day, and finished his day as the lone Super Pro semi-finalist. "I can't believe it! I'm so excited! Thanks to Vicki, my wife for letting me race, and thanks to Charlie Coile for helping," added Haddon.
"This is what I worked for last year," stated 2004 defending Sportsman champion Chris Carlile from Canton, GA after winning the Sportsman final with a new race car. Over the winter, Carlile put together a very nice '69 Camaro, using the powerplant from his street car. Due to a large reaction time advantage, Carlile was able to trim some speed at the finish line, and
carded a 10.24 at 127.80mph (10.18 target). His opponent, Winder, GA racer Robert Wilbanks, ran a heartbreaking breakout 10.079, 130.90mph pass (10.08 dial) with his '65 Mustang, earning the runner up spot. Kenny Jett ('66 Chevelle - Alpharetta, GA), who is now racing his second full season, finished in the semi-final round. "I'd rather be lucky than good. The car
was there for sure," added a happy Carlile, who also won the Run for the Money round earlier in the day.
"Darn, this stuff's fun," commented Trophy Street winner Steve Marcum, who is also the defending 2004 champion. Marcum met Ashley Dumas ('86 Monte Carlo SS - Commerce, GA) in the final, and survived the double breakout round with a 14.25, 97.10mph pass (14.30 dial) in his Bogart, GA based '01 Mustang. Dumas' machine broke out slightly more with a 13.32 at 99.35mph (13.38 target). Dumas wasn't too disappointed, as this was her first "Big Car" final since graduating from the Jr. Dragster ranks. Marcum then said, "Never underestimate the girl. She just about beat me!" Kevin Davis ('92 Taurus Wagon - Blairsville, GA) was the semi-final Trophy winner.
Fifteen year old "Wild Kyle" Denton from Buford, GA has finished second in the points two years in a row in the 13-17 Jr. Dragster class. He began his 2005 season well, scoring the 13-17 Jr. Dragster win against another Buford racer, Thomas Davis-Cox (15), in the closest final round of the evening. Denton nailed his 8.08 dial with an 8.085 at 72.20mph, barely in front of
Cox, who ran a 7.906, 62.44mph pass (7.90 dial). Both racers were only .026 apart in the reaction time department, with the advantage going to Denton. Jennifer Blair (16 - Rome, GA) was the single semi-final finisher. Denton's reaction to his win was a happy and loud "YES!"
Eleven year old Jacquelyn Lastinger from Lilburn, GA gave up softball in July last year to go Jr. Dragster racing in the 8-12 year old Jr. Dragster class. Her efforts paid off immediately in 2004, winning two Run for the Money events in a row. She hung in there, and began her 2005 season her first ever race win, against none other than the 8-12 Jr. Dragster defending champion, Joshua Sisson (11 - Gainesville, GA). Lastinger parlayed a huge holeshot advantage (.031 seconds to .109 seconds) into a winner's trophy by running 9.50, 68.03mph (9.40 dial). Sisson's car did well, running 8.93 at 72.02mph (8.90 dial). Valerie Clements (11 - Central, SC) finished in the semi-final round. Lastinger added, "As obsessed as I am with drag racing, I still keep good grades."
------------------------------------------------
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Joe Haddon '66 Chevelle Oxford, GA 6.84 100.33 (6.84)
R/U: Michael Bruce '78 Malibu Covington, GA 6.52 101.99 (6.55)
Semi: Mike Pitman '64 Impala Roswell, GA
------------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chris Carlile '69 Camaro Canton, GA 10.24 127.80 (10.18)
R/U: Robert Wilbanks '65 Mustang Winder, GA 10.07 130.90 (10.08)
Semi: Kenny Jett '66 Chevelle Alpharetta, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Steve Marcum '01 Mustang Bogart, GA 14.25 97.10 (14.30)
R/U: Ashley Dumas '86 Monte Carlo Commerce, GA 13.32 99.35 (13.38)
Semi: Kevin Davis '92 Taurus Wagon Blairsville, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER 8-12 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacquelyn Lastinger 11 Lilburn, GA 9.50 68.03 (9.40)
R/U: Joshua Sisson 11 Gainesville, GA 8.93 72.02 (8.90)
Semi: Valerie Clements 11 Central, SC
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER 13-17 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: "Wild Kyle" Denton 15 McDonough, GA 8.08 72.20 (8.08)
R/U: Thomas Davis-Cox 15 Buford, GA 7.90 82.44 (7.90)
Semi: Jennifer Blair 16 Rome, GA
Semi:
posted by David @ 3:53 PM
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