Atlanta Dragway Results by Tim Glover

by Tim Glover

Photos

DOUBLE DOUBLE FOR CONAWAY AND GLOVER, YOUNG IN THIRD STRAIGHT FINAL

(Commerce, GA - July 23) Team PTI racer Russ Glover and Chuck Conaway from Cumming, GA enjoyed their second double win at Atlanta Dragway in 2005. Glover and Conaway won their respective classes earlier this year on March 19, and then pulled off the feat again this evening. Jesse Young made it to his third straight final in as many weeks, and pulled off his second Atlanta Dragway win of the year, in the Quick 32 class. In addition to the special Quick 32 race, fans enjoyed watching passes by Top Fuel Harley racer Larry Knight from Dawsonville, GA, piloting an '04 Truett-Osborne bike. Another exhibition car, a new 2005 "GTO" Alcohol Funny Car piloted by Mark Rogers, made several quick passes in the 6.80 second range at 200 plus mph. Rogers' team plans to participate in future NHRA Division Two events. Also, congratulations are in order to Atlanta Dragway racer Kelsey Lynn, who won the NHRA Eastern Conference finals July 16 in the 11 year old class.

"I want to give a great BIG thank you to John Swaim," said Russ Glover from Cumming, GA after winning in Super Pro class. The 2002 Forsyth Central graduate and current Gainesville College student wasn't even planning to race, due to his tow vehicle being broken, and no money available for repairs. On top of that, he was also dealing with second degree burns on his right (transbrake button) hand and arm. However, John Swaim (father of Team PTI racers Jake and Joe Swaim) stepped up at the last minute, and volunteered to tow Glover's 1981 Team PTI / Hedman Husler / Valvoline Speedcraft dragster to Atlanta Dragway. Glover decided to deal with the burns and give it the "old college try". He missed the first time trial, but managed to make his way through the rounds anyway, and faced off against July 9 race winner, Henry Snelgrove, Jr, in the final. Glover had a bit of a holeshot advantage at the starting line, and turned it into his second 2005 win, pedaling to a 5.83 at 117.00mph (5.80 dial). Snelgrove was closer to the mark, but second across the finish line with his Dahlonega, GA based '95 Spitzer dragster, carding a 5.46, 123.86mph pass (5.45 dial). Joe Rampley ('79 Malibu - Gainesville, GA) and Thomas Bell ('05 Undercover dragster - Toccoa, GA) finished in the semi-final round. "Now I can afford to go to school," exclaimed Glover, whose tuition is due on the 28th of July. He then thanked God, Team PTI for making it possible to race this year, and also thanked Fain & Mitchell properties and Tara Fine Jewelry for their help.

Chuck Conaway from Cumming, GA won his third Sportsman race of 2005 (and second in July), pulling into the second spot in Sportsman class points by taking the win light against points leader Chris Carlile of Canton, GA. Conaway's dead on 11.78 at 112.09mph in his '66 Chevy II wagon would have been tough to beat, but Carlile made it easy for him in the final by turning
on the big tomato colored bulb with his '69 Camaro. He then chose to run his car out, and carded a 10.33 at 133.55mph (10.40 dial). After installing new drag slicks, Conaway was distracted by a rattling sound coming from his drivetrain, and eventually traced it to the planetary gears in his transmission, after they became very noisy during competition rounds. He didn't let that stop him, and went on to victory lane. Tom Moran ('72 Scamp - Walhalla, SC) and Matthew Bates ("Thanks mom and dad for letting me borrow your '99 Formula Firebird" - Loganville, GA) were the semi-final pair.

"It was a hard fought race today. No doubt. But, it was a lot of fun," stated Auburn, GA racer Mardy Kennedy after winning Trophy Street with his "Banana Boat" '64 Ford Econoline pickup. Kennedy faced off against Commerce, GA racer Ashley Dumas' '86 Monte Carlo SS, and even though Dumas had a little reaction time advantage, Kennedy's 13.19 at 101.31mph (13.18 target) sealed the deal. Dumas took the big end stripe first, but broke out (went too quick) with a 13.69 at 94.63mph (13.77 dial). Mel Abney ('67 Camaro - Cumming, GA) was the lone semi-finalist.

Defending 8-12 Jr Dragster champ and 2005 Night of Fire winner Joshua Sisson (11 years old) of Gainesville, GA enjoyed another 2005 victory after defeating Team PTI racer Justin Fancher from Conyers, GA. The 11 year old Fancher took a slight reaction time advantage, but was unable to use it after his car fell off the pace to a 9.15 at 69.75mph (9.09 dial). Sisson's machine was very close, carding a race winning 9.02 at 72.37mph (9.01 dial). Sisson again thanked his sponsors, C.L. Landscape, TRI Refrigeration, Randy Kinsey Construction, Specialty Lawn Service, Mingledorff's, Mulberry Farms and America's Finest Car Wash. John Gordon (10 - Hiram, GA) took home a semi-finalist trophy for his efforts.

Fourteen year old Danielle Krause from Peachtree City, GA faced two time champion "Mad Matt" Gillen of Gainesville, GA in the 13-17 Jr Dragster final round. Gillen was quicker in the reaction time department with his Valvoline machine, but suffered torque converter problems mid-track and slowed to an 8.76 at 76.58mph (8.40 dial). Krause cut it close, taking the win stripe .005 seconds ahead of Gillen with an 8.37 at 78.13mph (8.28 dial). "Wild Kyle" Denton was the single semi-final finisher. "This one's for my grandpa, Tom Walton, whose birthday is today," stated Krause. She then thanked Bill Gillen and Alton Clements for their help.

Jesse Young ended his day on a high note by winning the special Quick 32 class. Young has now been in a final round for three straight weeks; winning the regularly scheduled Super Pro race July 9, finishing runner up in Quick 32 on July 16, and defeating Tommy Motes' Loganville, GA based '92 Undercover dragster in tonight's action. Young slowed his car a bit near the finish line, but ran a dead-on 5.02 at 131.90mph for the win. Motes crossed the finish line .009 seconds later, running 5.32 at 128.49mph (5.31 dial). Steve Adam's Buford, GA based '78 Malibu wagon suffered a flat tire after completing his burnout in the semi-final round, which stopped his progress for the evening. Young thanked his dad David, engine builder Buford Heavy and his girlfriend Corie.

PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Russ Glover '81 Speedcraft dragster Cumming, GA 5.83 117.00 (5.80)
R/U: Henry Snelgrove, Jr '95 Spitzer dragster Dahlonega,
GA 5.46 123.86 (5.45)
Semi: Joe Rampley '79 Malibu Gainesville, GA
Semi: Thomas Bell '05 Undercover dragster Toccoa, GA
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SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chuck Conaway '66 Chevy II wagon Cumming, GA 11.78 112.09 (11.78)
R/U: Chris Carlile '69 Camaro Canton, GA (foul) 10.32 133.55 (10.40)
Semi: Matthew Bates '99 Formula Loganville, GA
Semi: Tom Moran '72 Scamp Walhalla, SC
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TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mardy Kennedy '64 Econoline pickup Auburn, GA 13.19 101.31 (13.18)
R/U: Ashley Dumas '86 Monte Carlo Commerce, GA 13.69 94.63 (13.77)
Semi: Mel Abney '67 Camaro Cumming, GA
Semi:
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8-12 JR. DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Joshua Sisson 11 Gainesville, GA 9.02 72.37 (9.01)
R/U: Justin Fancher 11 Conyers, GA 9.15 69.75 (9.09)
Semi: John Gordon 10 Hiram, GA
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13-17 JR. DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Danielle Krause 14 Peachtree City, GA 8.37 78.13 (8.28)
R/U: "Mad Matt" Gillen 13 Gainesville, GA 8.76 76.58 (8.40)
Semi: "Wild Kyle" Denton 15 McDonough, GA
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QUICK 32 CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jesse Young '00 Undercover dragster Danielsville,
GA 5.02 131.90 (5.02)
R/U: Tommy Motes '92 Undercover dragster Loganville,
GA 5.32 128.49 (5.31)
Semi: Steve Adams '78 Malibu wagon Buford, GA
Semi:
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