Atlanta Dragway Results by Tim Glover
STRATTON WINS FIRST SPORTSMAN RACE, DENTON FAMILY IN BOTH JR DRAGSTER FINALS
by Tim Glover
Photos
(Commerce, GA - March 26) Racers who ignored the dire rain predictions of the Weather Channel enjoyed a full day of Summit / Snap-On drag racing at Atlanta Dragway. Several racers came just to prepare for upcoming races. The husband and wife team of Jimmy and Eeman Heisler enjoyed testing their 2000 Kawasaki ZX6R Ninjas in preparation for the ProStar motorcycle race scheduled April 1-3. Larry Knight from Cumming, GA brought out his Big Twin Cycle Depot backed Dare-Us Racing Top Fuel Harley to test a new engine. Several nitrous assisted NSCA (National Street Car Association) cars were practicing for their event scheduled for the end of April, turning in some very fast laps; some at over 140mph.
Super Pro winner "Fireman Joe" Rampley retired from the Gainesville Fire Department in November, 2004, but said he is actually working harder than ever. Rampley won two races last year as a car owner, but returned to the Super Pro winner's circle himself for the first time in several years. Although he said he couldn't remember his last win, Rampley didn't forget how to drive the finish line in his '02 Worthy dragster against Buford, GA racer Steve Adams. Adams' '78 Malibu was "on" all night until the final, when it misfired a couple of times during the pass, slowing his car to a 7.02 at 97.36mph (6.96 dial). Rampley, seeing he was catching up quickly to Adams, lifted off the throttle to a race winning 4.91, 136.96mph pass (4.89 dial). Rampley thanked Brad Howard, who loaned him a carburetor for the race. Gerry Williams ('87 Horton dragster - Snellville, GA) and David Simmons ('88 S-10 - Suwannee, GA) were the semi-final finishers.
Adam Stratton graduated to Sportsman class for 2005 from the Trophy ranks, and notched a win in the tough class by winning against recently titled "Hughes Performance Master" and long time racer Dickey Forrester in the final. Stratton, who appeared in three 2004 Trophy finals, used a .015 reaction time advantage and a breakout 12.660, 106.62mph pass (12.67 target) to win with his Madison, GA based '73 Maverick. Forrester's '68 Camaro slowed from 12.40s in time trials to 12.70s in eliminations. Forrester was unable to find out why, but decided to run the car anyway. He said he was just lucky to be in the finals. After the event, Stratton exclaimed, "I'm happy!" He and his dad Chris, who is always there with him, thanked Gabriel's Machine Shop, Toni Holliman of H&R Race Cars and Marc at Bumper to Bumper for their help in preparing the car for Sportsman class. Greg Allen ('80 Camaro - Anderson, SC) was the lone semi-finalist.
2004 Snap On Tools Day at the Races winner Lonnie Cothran from Buford, GA borrowed friends Danny and Suzanne Towe's '88 Mustang to have fun in Trophy Street class. For his troubles, he took home the winner's trophy. Cothran met Commerce, GA racer Ashley Dumas (who has now been in three of the first four 2005 Trophy Street finals). Although she got the advantage in the reaction time department with her street driven '98 Firebird, Dumas broke out slightly with a 16.529, 83.39mph pass (16.54 dial). Cothran enjoyed a .02 over 13.516 at 98.19mph for the win. "I'm glad my wife Michelle was here to see me win," added Cothran. John Snapp ('03 Durango - Conyers, GA) and Mardy Kennedy ('64 Econoline pickup - Auburn, GA) were the semi-final finishers.
The Denton family from McDonough, GA has been having a banner year in Jr Dragsters, with son Kyle winning earlier in the season and leading the points in the older class. Their 10 year old daughter Bailey Denton showed her stuff this time with an 8-12 Jr Dragster victory against Jacquelyn Lastinger. Lastinger turned on that dreaded cherry colored bulb in the final with a too quick react and then ran a 9.04, 74.15mph pass (9.02 dial). Denton's final round dial was originally 9.03, but she changed it at the last moment to a slightly more conservative 9.02. She reacted with a near perfect .006 second time, and then ran 9.030 at 71.04 mph, which would have been tough to beat in any class. "It was all my family helping me," said Denton after the race. Taylor Ramsey (12 - Commerce, GA) and Ashley Snelgrove (11 - Dahlonega, GA) were the semi-final trophy winners.
Thirteen year old Harvey Snelgove's car was broken, so at first he was going to borrow his niece Ashley's car. He couldn't fit, so the Digby family loaned him their car, which he ended up driving to victory lane in 13-17 Jr. Dragster. Although the Dahlonega, GA based Snelgrove broke out slightly with a 9.066 at 71.80mph (9.07 dial), he got the automatic win when "Wild Kyle" Denton lit up the red light at the starting line. Denton's car also broke out slightly, running 7.987, 81.04mph on its 7.99 dial target. Team PTI racer and defending champion Lauren Turner (14 - Pendergrass, GA) finished in the semi-finals. Snelgrove thanked the Digby family for their help with his victory.
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PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Joe Rampley '02 Worthy dragster Gainesville, GA 4.91 136.96 (4.89)
R/U: Steve Adams '78 Malibu wagon Buford, GA 7.02 97.36 (6.96)
Semi: Gerry Williams '87 Horton dragster Snellville, GA
Semi: David Simmons '88 S10 pickup Suwanee, GA
------------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Adam Stratton '73 Maverick Madison, GA 12.66 106.62 (12.67)
R/U: Dickey Forrester '68 Camaro Canton, GA 12.73 106.29 (12.75)
Semi: Greg Allen '80 Camaro Anderson, SC
Semi:
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TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Lonnie Cothran '88 Mustang Buford, GA 13.51 98.19 (13.49)
R/U: Ashley Dumas '98 Firebird Commerce, GA 16.52 83.39 (16.54)
Semi: John Snapp '03 Durango Conyers, GA
Semi: Mardy Kennedy '64 Econoline pickup Auburn, GA
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JR. DRAGSTER 8-12 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Bailey Denton 10 McDonough, GA 9.03 71.04 (9.02)
R/U: Jacquelyn Lastinger 11 Lilburn, GA (foul) 9.04 74.15 (9.02)
Semi: Ashley Snelgrove 11 Dahlonega, GA
Semi: Taylor Ramsey 12 Commerce, GA
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER 13-17 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Harvey Snelgrove 13 Dahlonega, GA 9.06 71.80 (9.07)
R/U: "Wild Kyle" Denton 15 McDonough, GA (foul) 7.98 81.04 (7.99)
Semi: Lauren Turner 14 Pendergrass, GA
Semi:
by Tim Glover
Photos
(Commerce, GA - March 26) Racers who ignored the dire rain predictions of the Weather Channel enjoyed a full day of Summit / Snap-On drag racing at Atlanta Dragway. Several racers came just to prepare for upcoming races. The husband and wife team of Jimmy and Eeman Heisler enjoyed testing their 2000 Kawasaki ZX6R Ninjas in preparation for the ProStar motorcycle race scheduled April 1-3. Larry Knight from Cumming, GA brought out his Big Twin Cycle Depot backed Dare-Us Racing Top Fuel Harley to test a new engine. Several nitrous assisted NSCA (National Street Car Association) cars were practicing for their event scheduled for the end of April, turning in some very fast laps; some at over 140mph.
Super Pro winner "Fireman Joe" Rampley retired from the Gainesville Fire Department in November, 2004, but said he is actually working harder than ever. Rampley won two races last year as a car owner, but returned to the Super Pro winner's circle himself for the first time in several years. Although he said he couldn't remember his last win, Rampley didn't forget how to drive the finish line in his '02 Worthy dragster against Buford, GA racer Steve Adams. Adams' '78 Malibu was "on" all night until the final, when it misfired a couple of times during the pass, slowing his car to a 7.02 at 97.36mph (6.96 dial). Rampley, seeing he was catching up quickly to Adams, lifted off the throttle to a race winning 4.91, 136.96mph pass (4.89 dial). Rampley thanked Brad Howard, who loaned him a carburetor for the race. Gerry Williams ('87 Horton dragster - Snellville, GA) and David Simmons ('88 S-10 - Suwannee, GA) were the semi-final finishers.
Adam Stratton graduated to Sportsman class for 2005 from the Trophy ranks, and notched a win in the tough class by winning against recently titled "Hughes Performance Master" and long time racer Dickey Forrester in the final. Stratton, who appeared in three 2004 Trophy finals, used a .015 reaction time advantage and a breakout 12.660, 106.62mph pass (12.67 target) to win with his Madison, GA based '73 Maverick. Forrester's '68 Camaro slowed from 12.40s in time trials to 12.70s in eliminations. Forrester was unable to find out why, but decided to run the car anyway. He said he was just lucky to be in the finals. After the event, Stratton exclaimed, "I'm happy!" He and his dad Chris, who is always there with him, thanked Gabriel's Machine Shop, Toni Holliman of H&R Race Cars and Marc at Bumper to Bumper for their help in preparing the car for Sportsman class. Greg Allen ('80 Camaro - Anderson, SC) was the lone semi-finalist.
2004 Snap On Tools Day at the Races winner Lonnie Cothran from Buford, GA borrowed friends Danny and Suzanne Towe's '88 Mustang to have fun in Trophy Street class. For his troubles, he took home the winner's trophy. Cothran met Commerce, GA racer Ashley Dumas (who has now been in three of the first four 2005 Trophy Street finals). Although she got the advantage in the reaction time department with her street driven '98 Firebird, Dumas broke out slightly with a 16.529, 83.39mph pass (16.54 dial). Cothran enjoyed a .02 over 13.516 at 98.19mph for the win. "I'm glad my wife Michelle was here to see me win," added Cothran. John Snapp ('03 Durango - Conyers, GA) and Mardy Kennedy ('64 Econoline pickup - Auburn, GA) were the semi-final finishers.
The Denton family from McDonough, GA has been having a banner year in Jr Dragsters, with son Kyle winning earlier in the season and leading the points in the older class. Their 10 year old daughter Bailey Denton showed her stuff this time with an 8-12 Jr Dragster victory against Jacquelyn Lastinger. Lastinger turned on that dreaded cherry colored bulb in the final with a too quick react and then ran a 9.04, 74.15mph pass (9.02 dial). Denton's final round dial was originally 9.03, but she changed it at the last moment to a slightly more conservative 9.02. She reacted with a near perfect .006 second time, and then ran 9.030 at 71.04 mph, which would have been tough to beat in any class. "It was all my family helping me," said Denton after the race. Taylor Ramsey (12 - Commerce, GA) and Ashley Snelgrove (11 - Dahlonega, GA) were the semi-final trophy winners.
Thirteen year old Harvey Snelgove's car was broken, so at first he was going to borrow his niece Ashley's car. He couldn't fit, so the Digby family loaned him their car, which he ended up driving to victory lane in 13-17 Jr. Dragster. Although the Dahlonega, GA based Snelgrove broke out slightly with a 9.066 at 71.80mph (9.07 dial), he got the automatic win when "Wild Kyle" Denton lit up the red light at the starting line. Denton's car also broke out slightly, running 7.987, 81.04mph on its 7.99 dial target. Team PTI racer and defending champion Lauren Turner (14 - Pendergrass, GA) finished in the semi-finals. Snelgrove thanked the Digby family for their help with his victory.
------------------------------------------------
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Joe Rampley '02 Worthy dragster Gainesville, GA 4.91 136.96 (4.89)
R/U: Steve Adams '78 Malibu wagon Buford, GA 7.02 97.36 (6.96)
Semi: Gerry Williams '87 Horton dragster Snellville, GA
Semi: David Simmons '88 S10 pickup Suwanee, GA
------------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Adam Stratton '73 Maverick Madison, GA 12.66 106.62 (12.67)
R/U: Dickey Forrester '68 Camaro Canton, GA 12.73 106.29 (12.75)
Semi: Greg Allen '80 Camaro Anderson, SC
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Lonnie Cothran '88 Mustang Buford, GA 13.51 98.19 (13.49)
R/U: Ashley Dumas '98 Firebird Commerce, GA 16.52 83.39 (16.54)
Semi: John Snapp '03 Durango Conyers, GA
Semi: Mardy Kennedy '64 Econoline pickup Auburn, GA
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER 8-12 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Bailey Denton 10 McDonough, GA 9.03 71.04 (9.02)
R/U: Jacquelyn Lastinger 11 Lilburn, GA (foul) 9.04 74.15 (9.02)
Semi: Ashley Snelgrove 11 Dahlonega, GA
Semi: Taylor Ramsey 12 Commerce, GA
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER 13-17 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Harvey Snelgrove 13 Dahlonega, GA 9.06 71.80 (9.07)
R/U: "Wild Kyle" Denton 15 McDonough, GA (foul) 7.98 81.04 (7.99)
Semi: Lauren Turner 14 Pendergrass, GA
Semi:
posted by David @ 12:56 AM
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