Atlanta Dragway Results
By Tim Glover
MILFORD AND ADAMS WIN IN KING AND REED OWNED CARS, ANOTHER SNELGROVE IN
WINNER'S CIRCLE, LEWIS IN SECOND FINAL IN AS MANY WEEKS
Photos
(Commerce, GA - July 16) Another Snelgrove found his way to the winner's circle for the second week in a row. This time, it was 13 year old Harvey Snelgrove's turn, in the Jr Dragster combo. Car owners Max King and Wayne Reed enjoyed watching not one, but two of their race cars win, with Gary Adams taking the Sportsman win in their Dynasty Homes '64 Chevy II and Mark Milford winning Super Pro with their Horton Mobile Homes '02 Racecraft dragster. Eric Lewis enjoyed racing in his second straight Trophy Street final, taking the win this time. Travis Bryant and Hank Wilhelm had a pretty good day, winning the Run for the Money event early in the day, and then making it to the semi-final round in their respective classes.
Super Pro racer Mark Milford stepped up to the plate to win with his Canon, GA based Horton Mobile Homes '02 Racecraft Dragster. Milford stopped what would have been an all former Jr Dragster "graduate" final by defeating Hank Wilhelm ('88 Spitzer dragster - Commerce, GA) in the semi-final round. Milford would have been difficult to beat in the finals anyway, reacting with a .009 light and running a dead-on 5.057 at 137.13mph. However, the race was over before Milford's car even left the starting line; after Jeremy Hancock bulbed in his '05 M&M dragster with the closest of losing margins, at -.001 seconds. Hancock chose to save his parts and motored to a 6.878 at 82.40mph. Milford overcame the gremlins that have been plaguing his car for the past seven races, including a broken fuel pump, battery cable and master cylinder, refusing to give up. "It's been a lot of adversity, but I never gave up," added Milford. He thanked car owners Max King and Wayne Reed for their help and patience.
Carnesville, GA racer Gary Adams actually built the car he won Sportsman with tonight, back in the late 1970s. He sold it in 1992, and although he has been around the Max King and Wayne Reed owned Dynasty Homes '63 Chevy II, he had not driven it for 13 years. When he found out regular driver Joe Cheek went to Myrtle Beach, Adams borrowed the car to race in Sportsman. He put a 10.79 dial in time on it before the race, and left it on the car all day. "I had a good day, and cut some good lights. This really is a good Footbrake car," added Adams. To Cheek's relief, he also said he probably wouldn't drive it again for a while. En route to victory, Adams earned a bye run with a .005 second reaction time, then topped that number with a .000 during the bye run. Adams faced the ever tough Jacob "Lucky" Rutledge ('79 Capri - Braselton, GA) in the final, and beat Rutledge on both ends of the track (.021 to Rutledge's .062 react, and an off the throttle 10.84 at 114.92mph on a 10.79 dial). Rutledge's car fell off a bit, running 11.83 at 105.53mph (11.75 dial). Travis Bryant ('68 Camaro - Bowman, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Although he didn't do well in the regular Super Pro bracket, Adams also enjoyed a late round finish with his Horton Mobile Homes backed '75 Vega wagon in the special Quick 32 race held later in the day. After the event was over, Adams counted 20 time slips from his day's activity. "I'm not used to working this hard," he commented with a smile.
Eric Lewis of Cornelia, GA put his straight shift '82 Mustang into its second Trophy Street final in a row, this time taking the winner's trophy home. Lewis met Team PTI racer Joe Swaim (older brother of last week's 13-17 Jr Dragster double winner, Jake Swaim) in the final, and used a reaction time advantage to take the final round win light. Swaim's Jefferson, GA based '91 Chevy pickup missed its target time of 17.49, running 17.71at 73.18mph and Lewis carded a 13.66 at 98.84mph (13.39 dial). In his younger days, Lewis enjoyed racing at Atlanta Dragway, but he took time off from the sport to raise his kids in the late 1980s. The kids are grown now, so he says he's back. "Thanks to the guys at Ace Audio in Cleveland, including Lofton and Chad. Also, thanks to Ted and Chad of Pro-Flow (custom exhaust, chassis dyno, flow bench and more) and all the guys at Outlaw Racing Engines," added a happy Lewis. John Oliver ('99 Durango - Buford, GA) and Mardy Kennedy ('64 Econoline pickup - Auburn, GA) finished in the semi-final round. Just for fun, Lewis tried his hand in the special Quick 32 race staged after the main event, but was a first round casualty. Joe Swaim normally helps with the Team PTI Jr Dragster program, but since none of them ran today at Atlanta, he decided to enter his '91 Chevy pickup in the Trophy Street competition. Swaim, who had never raced prior to today, apparently learned how to win from his team, making it all the way to the final round on his first try.
Since many of Atlanta Dragway's Jr Dragster racers were at Bristol for the Eastern Conference finals, the two regular Jr Dragster classes were combined. "It was nice. I was glad to see Harvey get his second win in 2005," said older brother and last week's winner Henry Snelgrove, Jr.. Thirteen year old Harvey Snelgrove and his crew knew their car was vulnerable for the final round, as a spring in the torque converter had broken. However, his crew simply put a slower dial on the car (9.58 seconds) and took a shot at victory. To his delight, Snelgrove enjoyed watching his win light come on shortly after he left the starting line, when opponent Brandi Moulton turned on the dreaded cherry colored bulb with a heartbreaking -.003 second react. Moulton then ran a close to the dial 9.160 at 70.88mph. Snelgrove's machine fell way off to an 11.67 at 58.74mph. "I got lucky. The car was messed up for the last round," Harvey added. He then thanked his dad, Henry Snelgrove, Sr, his brothers, and Charles for all their help with his win. Brett Bowman (13 - Homer, GA) earned the semi-finalist trophy.
Thomas Bell used his Toccoa, GA based '02 Undercover dragster to win all the marbles in Quick 32, a special bracket race where the quickest 32 cars on the grounds are paired according to their elapsed time. Bell faced off and defeated the red hot Jesse Young ('00 Undercover dragster - Danielsville, GA) in the final. Young has been in the money numerous times in the last two weeks, including two final rounds and a semi-final finish. During the semi-final round, Young defeated former boss Gary Dunn ('92 S&W dragster - Flowery Branch, GA) in a rematch of last week's race. Gary Adams, who already had a great day winning Sportsman, also finished in the
semi-finals, with his '75 Vega wagon.
------------------------------------------------
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mark Milford dragster Canon, GA 5.05 137.13 (5.05)
R/U: Jeremy Hancock dragster Commerce, GA (foul) 6.87 82.40 (5.28)
Semi: Hank Wilhelm '88 Spitzer dragster Commerce, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Gary Adams '64 Chevy II Carnesville, GA 10.84 114.92 (10.79)
R/U: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Braselton, GA 11.83 105.93 (11.75)
Semi: Travis Bryant '68 Camaro Bowman, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Eric Lewis '82 Mustang Cornelia, GA 13.66 98.84 (13.39)
R/U: Joe Swaim '91 Chevy pickup Jefferson, GA 17.71 73.18 (17.49)
Semi: John Oliver '99 Durango Buford, GA
Semi: Mardy Kennedy '64 Econoline pickup Auburn, GA
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER combo AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Harvey Snelgrove 13 Dahlonega, GA 11.67 58.74 (9.58)
R/U: Brandi Moulton 14 Lawrenceville, GA (foul), 9.16 70.88 (9.15)
Semi: Brett Bowman 14 Homer, GA
------------------------------------------------
QUICK 32 CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Thomas Bell '02 Undercover Toccoa, GA
R/U: Jesse Young '00 Undercover Danielsville, GA
Semi: Gary Adams '75 Vega Wagon Carnesville, GA
Semi: Gary Dunn '92 S&W dragster Flowery Branch, GA
MILFORD AND ADAMS WIN IN KING AND REED OWNED CARS, ANOTHER SNELGROVE IN
WINNER'S CIRCLE, LEWIS IN SECOND FINAL IN AS MANY WEEKS
Photos
(Commerce, GA - July 16) Another Snelgrove found his way to the winner's circle for the second week in a row. This time, it was 13 year old Harvey Snelgrove's turn, in the Jr Dragster combo. Car owners Max King and Wayne Reed enjoyed watching not one, but two of their race cars win, with Gary Adams taking the Sportsman win in their Dynasty Homes '64 Chevy II and Mark Milford winning Super Pro with their Horton Mobile Homes '02 Racecraft dragster. Eric Lewis enjoyed racing in his second straight Trophy Street final, taking the win this time. Travis Bryant and Hank Wilhelm had a pretty good day, winning the Run for the Money event early in the day, and then making it to the semi-final round in their respective classes.
Super Pro racer Mark Milford stepped up to the plate to win with his Canon, GA based Horton Mobile Homes '02 Racecraft Dragster. Milford stopped what would have been an all former Jr Dragster "graduate" final by defeating Hank Wilhelm ('88 Spitzer dragster - Commerce, GA) in the semi-final round. Milford would have been difficult to beat in the finals anyway, reacting with a .009 light and running a dead-on 5.057 at 137.13mph. However, the race was over before Milford's car even left the starting line; after Jeremy Hancock bulbed in his '05 M&M dragster with the closest of losing margins, at -.001 seconds. Hancock chose to save his parts and motored to a 6.878 at 82.40mph. Milford overcame the gremlins that have been plaguing his car for the past seven races, including a broken fuel pump, battery cable and master cylinder, refusing to give up. "It's been a lot of adversity, but I never gave up," added Milford. He thanked car owners Max King and Wayne Reed for their help and patience.
Carnesville, GA racer Gary Adams actually built the car he won Sportsman with tonight, back in the late 1970s. He sold it in 1992, and although he has been around the Max King and Wayne Reed owned Dynasty Homes '63 Chevy II, he had not driven it for 13 years. When he found out regular driver Joe Cheek went to Myrtle Beach, Adams borrowed the car to race in Sportsman. He put a 10.79 dial in time on it before the race, and left it on the car all day. "I had a good day, and cut some good lights. This really is a good Footbrake car," added Adams. To Cheek's relief, he also said he probably wouldn't drive it again for a while. En route to victory, Adams earned a bye run with a .005 second reaction time, then topped that number with a .000 during the bye run. Adams faced the ever tough Jacob "Lucky" Rutledge ('79 Capri - Braselton, GA) in the final, and beat Rutledge on both ends of the track (.021 to Rutledge's .062 react, and an off the throttle 10.84 at 114.92mph on a 10.79 dial). Rutledge's car fell off a bit, running 11.83 at 105.53mph (11.75 dial). Travis Bryant ('68 Camaro - Bowman, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Although he didn't do well in the regular Super Pro bracket, Adams also enjoyed a late round finish with his Horton Mobile Homes backed '75 Vega wagon in the special Quick 32 race held later in the day. After the event was over, Adams counted 20 time slips from his day's activity. "I'm not used to working this hard," he commented with a smile.
Eric Lewis of Cornelia, GA put his straight shift '82 Mustang into its second Trophy Street final in a row, this time taking the winner's trophy home. Lewis met Team PTI racer Joe Swaim (older brother of last week's 13-17 Jr Dragster double winner, Jake Swaim) in the final, and used a reaction time advantage to take the final round win light. Swaim's Jefferson, GA based '91 Chevy pickup missed its target time of 17.49, running 17.71at 73.18mph and Lewis carded a 13.66 at 98.84mph (13.39 dial). In his younger days, Lewis enjoyed racing at Atlanta Dragway, but he took time off from the sport to raise his kids in the late 1980s. The kids are grown now, so he says he's back. "Thanks to the guys at Ace Audio in Cleveland, including Lofton and Chad. Also, thanks to Ted and Chad of Pro-Flow (custom exhaust, chassis dyno, flow bench and more) and all the guys at Outlaw Racing Engines," added a happy Lewis. John Oliver ('99 Durango - Buford, GA) and Mardy Kennedy ('64 Econoline pickup - Auburn, GA) finished in the semi-final round. Just for fun, Lewis tried his hand in the special Quick 32 race staged after the main event, but was a first round casualty. Joe Swaim normally helps with the Team PTI Jr Dragster program, but since none of them ran today at Atlanta, he decided to enter his '91 Chevy pickup in the Trophy Street competition. Swaim, who had never raced prior to today, apparently learned how to win from his team, making it all the way to the final round on his first try.
Since many of Atlanta Dragway's Jr Dragster racers were at Bristol for the Eastern Conference finals, the two regular Jr Dragster classes were combined. "It was nice. I was glad to see Harvey get his second win in 2005," said older brother and last week's winner Henry Snelgrove, Jr.. Thirteen year old Harvey Snelgrove and his crew knew their car was vulnerable for the final round, as a spring in the torque converter had broken. However, his crew simply put a slower dial on the car (9.58 seconds) and took a shot at victory. To his delight, Snelgrove enjoyed watching his win light come on shortly after he left the starting line, when opponent Brandi Moulton turned on the dreaded cherry colored bulb with a heartbreaking -.003 second react. Moulton then ran a close to the dial 9.160 at 70.88mph. Snelgrove's machine fell way off to an 11.67 at 58.74mph. "I got lucky. The car was messed up for the last round," Harvey added. He then thanked his dad, Henry Snelgrove, Sr, his brothers, and Charles for all their help with his win. Brett Bowman (13 - Homer, GA) earned the semi-finalist trophy.
Thomas Bell used his Toccoa, GA based '02 Undercover dragster to win all the marbles in Quick 32, a special bracket race where the quickest 32 cars on the grounds are paired according to their elapsed time. Bell faced off and defeated the red hot Jesse Young ('00 Undercover dragster - Danielsville, GA) in the final. Young has been in the money numerous times in the last two weeks, including two final rounds and a semi-final finish. During the semi-final round, Young defeated former boss Gary Dunn ('92 S&W dragster - Flowery Branch, GA) in a rematch of last week's race. Gary Adams, who already had a great day winning Sportsman, also finished in the
semi-finals, with his '75 Vega wagon.
------------------------------------------------
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mark Milford dragster Canon, GA 5.05 137.13 (5.05)
R/U: Jeremy Hancock dragster Commerce, GA (foul) 6.87 82.40 (5.28)
Semi: Hank Wilhelm '88 Spitzer dragster Commerce, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Gary Adams '64 Chevy II Carnesville, GA 10.84 114.92 (10.79)
R/U: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Braselton, GA 11.83 105.93 (11.75)
Semi: Travis Bryant '68 Camaro Bowman, GA
Semi:
------------------------------------------------
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Eric Lewis '82 Mustang Cornelia, GA 13.66 98.84 (13.39)
R/U: Joe Swaim '91 Chevy pickup Jefferson, GA 17.71 73.18 (17.49)
Semi: John Oliver '99 Durango Buford, GA
Semi: Mardy Kennedy '64 Econoline pickup Auburn, GA
------------------------------------------------
JR. DRAGSTER combo AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Harvey Snelgrove 13 Dahlonega, GA 11.67 58.74 (9.58)
R/U: Brandi Moulton 14 Lawrenceville, GA (foul), 9.16 70.88 (9.15)
Semi: Brett Bowman 14 Homer, GA
------------------------------------------------
QUICK 32 CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Thomas Bell '02 Undercover Toccoa, GA
R/U: Jesse Young '00 Undercover Danielsville, GA
Semi: Gary Adams '75 Vega Wagon Carnesville, GA
Semi: Gary Dunn '92 S&W dragster Flowery Branch, GA
posted by David @ 1:20 AM
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