TEAM PTI ENJOYS DOUBLE WINS, CONAWAY SCORES FIRST WIN IN SIX YEARS, BROTHER AND SISTER IN FINALS-Atlanta Dragway Results by Tim Glover
FROM: Tim Glover
PHOTOS
TEAM PTI ENJOYS DOUBLE WINS, CONAWAY SCORES FIRST WIN IN SIX YEARS, BROTHER AND SISTER IN FINALS
(Commerce, GA - March 19) Racers enjoyed competing in the Drag News All Star Tour event that made its first 2005 stop at Atlanta Dragway. Todd and Laurie Silvey of Drag News gave away many awards from different performance manufacturers to racers in all classes. Two racers from the same hometown; Russ Glover (Super Pro) and Chuck Conaway (Sportsman) from Cumming, GA, enjoyed wins in their class, and were thrilled to receive custom championship Edelbrock jackets from the Drag News team. Making Glover's win sweeter was that he had never driven the Team PTI dragster before today's race. Conaway was in the finals last week, and won this week with his trusty '66 Chevy II wagon. John Snapp's regular ride, a '68 Charger, is in the process of getting a stroker motor, so he chose to race his daily driver '03 Durango and won Trophy Street. The 13-17 Jr Dragster defending champion, 14 year old Team PTI racer Lauren Turner, enjoyed her first win of the 2005 season against James Marsh Jr. with a holeshot victory. 8-12 year old Jr Dragster winner Ashton Shubert used her .02 second starting line advantage to get the win in a double dead-on final. She then went on to win what was titled the McGee Racing Cams King of the Hill event, which pitted the Jr Dragster class winners in a one round race. Shubert received a custom designed Drag News champions watch for what turned out to be the Queen of the Hill event. A brother and sister made it to their respective class finals, Alton Clements III finishing runner up in Sportsman and Valerie Clements, who runner upped in 8-12 Jr Dragster.
Some of the awards given out by the Drag News team were:
Torco Low ET, 4.944 seconds: Dan Bytnar, dragster
Torco Low ET door car, 5.273 seconds: Bubba Rich, '02 Firebird
Hughes Performance Master: Dickey Forrester
Shogun Best Appearing Car: Thomas Bell
Shogun Best Engineered Car: Bill Boomhower
Shogun Best Appearing Jr Dragster: Thomas Davis-Cox
Best Reaction Time: Doug Smith (Green Weenie car)
Torco Racing Fuels bounty: Mike Holman
Edelbrock Class Champions: Russ Glover (Super Pro) and Chuck Conaway (Sportsman)
McGee Cams Jr Dragster: Ashton Shubert
Super Pro racer Russ Glover from Cumming, GA has not raced since June 2004 due to college and the subsequent lack of funds. Last week he received an offer from Team PTI to race his own car, and he gladly accepted. Since Glover's car was not ready, and the seat was open in Team PTI owner George Turner's car for the weekend, Glover jumped into their '95 Undercover dragster. Turner was already happy with Glover's performance after time trials, but was thrilled to watch him go on to the winner's circle his first time out in the car. Glover, whose last win was in 2002, met Lawrenceville, GA racer Keith Fuller in the finals, and took advantage of a better reaction time to take the win, lifting to a 5.05 at 134.20mph (5.03 dial in time). Fuller's '96 MW dragster was a little closer to the dial, running 5.47 at 124.68mph on a 5.46 target, but crossed the finish line .017 seconds behind Glover. Tommy Motes (dragster - Loganville, GA) and Henry Snelgrove, Jr. ('95 Spitzer dragster - Dahlonega, GA) finished in the semi-final round. "What a day," exclaimed car owner George Turner, who had just witnessed his daughter win Jr Dragster a few minutes before. Turner immediately thanked Glover's former car owner, Bill Gillen, for suggesting he take on Glover a couple of months ago. Glover added, "I sincerely want to thank God, my new PTI team, Tara Fine Jewelry, Fain & Mitchell Properties and Bill Gillen. That was sweet. A great team effort." He then added with a quiet smile, "I think I earned my keep."
The Sportsman final featured two ex-NHRA stock class race cars. Sportsman racer Chuck Conaway of Cumming, GA finished in his first final since 1999 last week, and enjoyed taking the win today with his ex-M/S '66 Chevy II wagon. Conaway met the former D/SA '71 Mustang, driven by 17 year old Alton Clements III, in the final. Conaway's .020 reaction time and a close 11.41, 114.35mph pass (11.40 dial) would most likely have won anyway, but Clement's too early leave of -.065 seconds lit up the dreaded cherry colored bulb, handing the win automatically to Conaway. After seeing the race was over, Clements chose to lift off the throttle and coasted to a 13.44, 72.58mph pass (10.73 target). Joel Carey ('72 Nova - Dewey Rose, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Conaway said this was his first Sportsman win at Atlanta Dragway (he won Super Pro in 1999 with the same car). He received a scare when five cars were left in competition after his battery suddenly expired. Thanks to some quick action by friends Joe Haddon and Larry Barefoot (the previous two 2005 Super Pro winners), Conaway made the call for the next round with a few seconds to spare. He made sure to thank them after the race was done. "This feels good," he added. Clements enjoyed his best "big car" finish to date, and was also happy his sister made it to her final round in Jr Dragster.
Dodge Durangos seemed to be the vehicle of choice for Trophy Street racers. Conyers, GA racer John Snapp's regular ride, a '68 Charger, is currently getting a stroker motor installed, so he chose to use his daily driver, an '03 Durango. He met Terry Turpin's Maysville, GA based 2005 Mustang in the final, and used a large holeshot advantage to take the win with an on the brakes 16.62, 75.45mph pass (16.40 dial). Turpin, a former Friday night champion, was happy with his decision to move over to Saturday night's action. "Just luck. That's all it is. Luck," stated Snapp after the event. John Oliver ('99 Durango - Buford, GA) finished in the semi-final round.
Defending 13-17 Jr Dragster champion and Team PTI racer Lauren Turner enjoyed her first 2005 win. Turner met the faster car of James Marsh (15 - Anderson, NC) in the final, and took advantage of her reaction time lead to trim the car to an 8.00, 80.02mph win (7.94 dial). Marsh's car was closer to his target, running 7.91 at 80.02mph (7.90 dial), but second across the stripe by .018 seconds. "Wild Kyle" Denton (15 - McDonough, GA) was the semi-final finisher for the second week in a row. Denton, who won the first race of the season, has not finished worse than the semifinals in 2005. Turner thanked her sponsors, Fain & Mitchell Properties, Tara Fine Jewelry, her dad George and the entire Team PTI, Lennon Martin and Bill Gillen. "It was fun. We are now using Cody Martin's old engine, and we actually had to slow it down," she added.
Eleven year old Ashton Shubert of Commerce, GA enjoyed the first of two wins in today's event in the 8-12 Jr Dragster class. Shubert had a slight reaction time advantage and it paid off in the double dead-on race against Valerie Clements (11 - Central, SC). Shubert stopped the finish line timers first with a dead-on 8.963 at 73.26mph, followed .027 seconds later by Clements, who also ran dead-on with an 8.939 at 73.26mph. Team PTI racer Justin Fancher earned the semi-finalist trophy. Shubert thanked her mom and David Young, Nana, Cece and her dad. She also thanked Bill Gillen, who helped sort out problems with the car earlier in the day.
McGee Racing Cams sponsored a "King of the Hill" event pitting the two Jr Dragster class winners against each other. The winner received a custom designed Drag News Champions watch. Although Lauren Turner had the better reaction time, her car fell off pace to an 8.11 at 78.21mph (7.97 dial), allowing Ashton Shubert to take the win stripe. Shubert's car went a good 8.97, 73.42mph (8.95 dial) for the win and the watch in what was actually a "Queen of the Hill" race.
------------------------------------------------
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Russ Glover '95 Undercover dragster Cumming, GA 5.05 134.20 (5.03)
R/U: Keith Fuller '96 MW dragster Lawrenceville, GA 5.47 124.68 (5.46)
Semi: Tommy Motes dragster Loganville, GA
Semi: Henry Snelgrove, Jr. '95 Spitzer dragster Dahlonega, GA
------------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chuck Conaway '66 Chevy II wagon Cumming, GA 11.41 114.35 (11.40)
R/U: Alton Clements III '71 Mustang Central, SC (foul) 13.44 72.58 (10.73)
Semi: Joel Carey '72 Nova Dewey Rose, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: John Snapp '03 Durango Conyers, GA 16.62 75.45 (16.40)
R/U: Terry Turpin '05 Mustang Maysville, GA 13.52 100.28 (13.54)
Semi: John Oliver '99 Durango Buford, GA
Semi:
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JR. DRAGSTER 8-12 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Ashton Shubert 11 Commerce, GA 8.96 73.57 (8.96)
R/U: Valerie Clements 11 Central, SC 8.93 73.26 (8.93)
Semi: Justin Fancher 11 Conyers, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER 13-17 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Lauren Turner 14 Pendergrass, GA 8.00 80.02 (7.94)
R/U: James Marsh Jr 15 Anderson, SC 7.91 80.02 (7.90)
Semi: "Wild Kyle" Denton 15 McDonough, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
"QUEEN OF THE HILL" AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Ashton Shubert 11 Commerce, GA 8.97 73.42 (8.95)
R/U: Lauren Turner 14 Pendergrass, GA 8.11 78.21 (7.97)
PHOTOS
TEAM PTI ENJOYS DOUBLE WINS, CONAWAY SCORES FIRST WIN IN SIX YEARS, BROTHER AND SISTER IN FINALS
(Commerce, GA - March 19) Racers enjoyed competing in the Drag News All Star Tour event that made its first 2005 stop at Atlanta Dragway. Todd and Laurie Silvey of Drag News gave away many awards from different performance manufacturers to racers in all classes. Two racers from the same hometown; Russ Glover (Super Pro) and Chuck Conaway (Sportsman) from Cumming, GA, enjoyed wins in their class, and were thrilled to receive custom championship Edelbrock jackets from the Drag News team. Making Glover's win sweeter was that he had never driven the Team PTI dragster before today's race. Conaway was in the finals last week, and won this week with his trusty '66 Chevy II wagon. John Snapp's regular ride, a '68 Charger, is in the process of getting a stroker motor, so he chose to race his daily driver '03 Durango and won Trophy Street. The 13-17 Jr Dragster defending champion, 14 year old Team PTI racer Lauren Turner, enjoyed her first win of the 2005 season against James Marsh Jr. with a holeshot victory. 8-12 year old Jr Dragster winner Ashton Shubert used her .02 second starting line advantage to get the win in a double dead-on final. She then went on to win what was titled the McGee Racing Cams King of the Hill event, which pitted the Jr Dragster class winners in a one round race. Shubert received a custom designed Drag News champions watch for what turned out to be the Queen of the Hill event. A brother and sister made it to their respective class finals, Alton Clements III finishing runner up in Sportsman and Valerie Clements, who runner upped in 8-12 Jr Dragster.
Some of the awards given out by the Drag News team were:
Torco Low ET, 4.944 seconds: Dan Bytnar, dragster
Torco Low ET door car, 5.273 seconds: Bubba Rich, '02 Firebird
Hughes Performance Master: Dickey Forrester
Shogun Best Appearing Car: Thomas Bell
Shogun Best Engineered Car: Bill Boomhower
Shogun Best Appearing Jr Dragster: Thomas Davis-Cox
Best Reaction Time: Doug Smith (Green Weenie car)
Torco Racing Fuels bounty: Mike Holman
Edelbrock Class Champions: Russ Glover (Super Pro) and Chuck Conaway (Sportsman)
McGee Cams Jr Dragster: Ashton Shubert
Super Pro racer Russ Glover from Cumming, GA has not raced since June 2004 due to college and the subsequent lack of funds. Last week he received an offer from Team PTI to race his own car, and he gladly accepted. Since Glover's car was not ready, and the seat was open in Team PTI owner George Turner's car for the weekend, Glover jumped into their '95 Undercover dragster. Turner was already happy with Glover's performance after time trials, but was thrilled to watch him go on to the winner's circle his first time out in the car. Glover, whose last win was in 2002, met Lawrenceville, GA racer Keith Fuller in the finals, and took advantage of a better reaction time to take the win, lifting to a 5.05 at 134.20mph (5.03 dial in time). Fuller's '96 MW dragster was a little closer to the dial, running 5.47 at 124.68mph on a 5.46 target, but crossed the finish line .017 seconds behind Glover. Tommy Motes (dragster - Loganville, GA) and Henry Snelgrove, Jr. ('95 Spitzer dragster - Dahlonega, GA) finished in the semi-final round. "What a day," exclaimed car owner George Turner, who had just witnessed his daughter win Jr Dragster a few minutes before. Turner immediately thanked Glover's former car owner, Bill Gillen, for suggesting he take on Glover a couple of months ago. Glover added, "I sincerely want to thank God, my new PTI team, Tara Fine Jewelry, Fain & Mitchell Properties and Bill Gillen. That was sweet. A great team effort." He then added with a quiet smile, "I think I earned my keep."
The Sportsman final featured two ex-NHRA stock class race cars. Sportsman racer Chuck Conaway of Cumming, GA finished in his first final since 1999 last week, and enjoyed taking the win today with his ex-M/S '66 Chevy II wagon. Conaway met the former D/SA '71 Mustang, driven by 17 year old Alton Clements III, in the final. Conaway's .020 reaction time and a close 11.41, 114.35mph pass (11.40 dial) would most likely have won anyway, but Clement's too early leave of -.065 seconds lit up the dreaded cherry colored bulb, handing the win automatically to Conaway. After seeing the race was over, Clements chose to lift off the throttle and coasted to a 13.44, 72.58mph pass (10.73 target). Joel Carey ('72 Nova - Dewey Rose, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Conaway said this was his first Sportsman win at Atlanta Dragway (he won Super Pro in 1999 with the same car). He received a scare when five cars were left in competition after his battery suddenly expired. Thanks to some quick action by friends Joe Haddon and Larry Barefoot (the previous two 2005 Super Pro winners), Conaway made the call for the next round with a few seconds to spare. He made sure to thank them after the race was done. "This feels good," he added. Clements enjoyed his best "big car" finish to date, and was also happy his sister made it to her final round in Jr Dragster.
Dodge Durangos seemed to be the vehicle of choice for Trophy Street racers. Conyers, GA racer John Snapp's regular ride, a '68 Charger, is currently getting a stroker motor installed, so he chose to use his daily driver, an '03 Durango. He met Terry Turpin's Maysville, GA based 2005 Mustang in the final, and used a large holeshot advantage to take the win with an on the brakes 16.62, 75.45mph pass (16.40 dial). Turpin, a former Friday night champion, was happy with his decision to move over to Saturday night's action. "Just luck. That's all it is. Luck," stated Snapp after the event. John Oliver ('99 Durango - Buford, GA) finished in the semi-final round.
Defending 13-17 Jr Dragster champion and Team PTI racer Lauren Turner enjoyed her first 2005 win. Turner met the faster car of James Marsh (15 - Anderson, NC) in the final, and took advantage of her reaction time lead to trim the car to an 8.00, 80.02mph win (7.94 dial). Marsh's car was closer to his target, running 7.91 at 80.02mph (7.90 dial), but second across the stripe by .018 seconds. "Wild Kyle" Denton (15 - McDonough, GA) was the semi-final finisher for the second week in a row. Denton, who won the first race of the season, has not finished worse than the semifinals in 2005. Turner thanked her sponsors, Fain & Mitchell Properties, Tara Fine Jewelry, her dad George and the entire Team PTI, Lennon Martin and Bill Gillen. "It was fun. We are now using Cody Martin's old engine, and we actually had to slow it down," she added.
Eleven year old Ashton Shubert of Commerce, GA enjoyed the first of two wins in today's event in the 8-12 Jr Dragster class. Shubert had a slight reaction time advantage and it paid off in the double dead-on race against Valerie Clements (11 - Central, SC). Shubert stopped the finish line timers first with a dead-on 8.963 at 73.26mph, followed .027 seconds later by Clements, who also ran dead-on with an 8.939 at 73.26mph. Team PTI racer Justin Fancher earned the semi-finalist trophy. Shubert thanked her mom and David Young, Nana, Cece and her dad. She also thanked Bill Gillen, who helped sort out problems with the car earlier in the day.
McGee Racing Cams sponsored a "King of the Hill" event pitting the two Jr Dragster class winners against each other. The winner received a custom designed Drag News Champions watch. Although Lauren Turner had the better reaction time, her car fell off pace to an 8.11 at 78.21mph (7.97 dial), allowing Ashton Shubert to take the win stripe. Shubert's car went a good 8.97, 73.42mph (8.95 dial) for the win and the watch in what was actually a "Queen of the Hill" race.
------------------------------------------------
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Russ Glover '95 Undercover dragster Cumming, GA 5.05 134.20 (5.03)
R/U: Keith Fuller '96 MW dragster Lawrenceville, GA 5.47 124.68 (5.46)
Semi: Tommy Motes dragster Loganville, GA
Semi: Henry Snelgrove, Jr. '95 Spitzer dragster Dahlonega, GA
------------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chuck Conaway '66 Chevy II wagon Cumming, GA 11.41 114.35 (11.40)
R/U: Alton Clements III '71 Mustang Central, SC (foul) 13.44 72.58 (10.73)
Semi: Joel Carey '72 Nova Dewey Rose, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: John Snapp '03 Durango Conyers, GA 16.62 75.45 (16.40)
R/U: Terry Turpin '05 Mustang Maysville, GA 13.52 100.28 (13.54)
Semi: John Oliver '99 Durango Buford, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER 8-12 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Ashton Shubert 11 Commerce, GA 8.96 73.57 (8.96)
R/U: Valerie Clements 11 Central, SC 8.93 73.26 (8.93)
Semi: Justin Fancher 11 Conyers, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER 13-17 AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Lauren Turner 14 Pendergrass, GA 8.00 80.02 (7.94)
R/U: James Marsh Jr 15 Anderson, SC 7.91 80.02 (7.90)
Semi: "Wild Kyle" Denton 15 McDonough, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
"QUEEN OF THE HILL" AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Ashton Shubert 11 Commerce, GA 8.97 73.42 (8.95)
R/U: Lauren Turner 14 Pendergrass, GA 8.11 78.21 (7.97)
posted by David @ 7:31 PM
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