Atlanta Dragway Results by Tim Glover
By Tim Glover
BELL WINS SUPER PRO, GRIFFITH FIRST TIME WINNER
Photos
(Commerce, GA - August 6) Although rain did delay action for an hour at Atlanta Dragway, the show went on and all but one final, in Quick 16, was completed before rain set in for the evening. The Griffith brothers had a good evening in their best combination finish ever, with 14 year old Taylor Griffith winning 13-17 Jr Dragster, and 12 year old Blake Griffith making it to the 8-12 year old Jr Dragster semi-finals.
Toccoa, GA racer Thomas Bell made it to the semi-finals during the previous race, and stepped up even further today, pulling off the win in Super Pro. Even though B.J. Pitman turned on the dreaded cherry colored bulb in the final with her Roswell, GA based Tin Man dragster, Bell's 2005 Undercover dragster was close to the mark, running a breakout 5.034 at 136.42mph (5.04 dial). Knowing the race was already over, Pitman chose to run her car out, carding a breakout 5.228, 132.00mph pass (5.23 target). Stan Sinack ('68 Dart - Lilburn, GA) and Donny Brown, Jr ('03 Spitzer dragster - Buford, GA) were the semi-final pair. Bell gave a special thanks to his wife Tammy, who was able to get off work and help. He also gave a special thanks to Freddie, Angie and Tyler Lewis, who come to the track and help him each week.
Greg Allen from Greenwood, SC has been coming to Atlanta Dragway for years, and enjoyed another top Sportsman finish tonight. Allen faced July 16 winner Gary Adam's Horton Homes '72 Chevelle in the final, and used a big starting line advantage to take the win. Allen slowed his Triple Threat '80 Camaro to a 10.90 at 118.78mph (10.79 dial), but still crossed the win stripe .018 seconds ahead of Adams, who ran a closer 11.27, 115.28mph (11.23 dial). Engine builder Ed Nalley ('74 Vega - Maysville, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Allen credited his daughter Chelsea for helping him win. During the quarter-finals, his cooling system (electric fan and water pump) developed electrical problems and caused the engine to hit 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, he had the semi-final bye run, and was able to take it easy on the car. Chelsea held the flashlight for him and handed him tools while he did some emergency repairs to get ready for the final. Gary Adams knew about the problem, and assured Allen he would wait for him.
For the second race in a row, a Cumming, GA racer visited the winner's circle. Like Thomas Bell, former Trophy Street champion Mel Abney made it to the semi-final round in the previous race and then turned around and won tonight's action. Abney faced racing friend Jerry Polk in the Trophy Street final, and said he was happy to finally beat Polk. Thanks to a reaction time advantage, Abney's '67 Camaro carded an off-the-throttle 13.19 at 102.70mph (13.12 target) with his '67 Camaro. Polk's Jackson, GA based '01 Mustang turned in a closer, but second across the finish line, 14.90 at 93.21 (14.89 dial). Ashley Dumas ('86 Monte Carlo SS - Commerce, GA) was the single semi-finalist. "It's been a long dry spell," commented Abney. He then brightened, and added, "That's the first time I beat Jerry. I only have five or six more times to beat him to make it even."
Ten year old Dylan Kent from Acworth, GA, the Atlanta Dragway 2003 Rookie of the Year, found his way back to the 8-12 year old Jr Dragster winner's circle. Kent met local racer Ashton Shubert (12 - Commerce, GA) in the final and took advantage of his reaction time advantage to take the win. Kent pedaled his car to a 9.07 at 68.53mph (8.93 target), while Shubert also ran 9.07, at 73.11mph (9.02 dial). Twelve year old Blake Griffith from nearby Homer, GA (brother of tonight's 13-17 winner), along with Ashley Snelgrove (11 - Dahlonega, GA) picked up a semi-finalist trophy. Kent's dad thanked God for coming into their lives several years ago, and then thanked Bill Gillen for all his help, along with the Sisson family. Dylan then thanked his mom too for helping them race.
Fifteen year old Taylor Griffith from Homer, GA had been begging his father, RFC Chaplain Scott Griffith, for a Jr Dragster ever since he was eight years old. His dad finally relented late last year, and helped him get one. Griffith made it to his first final ever, and capitalized on a better reaction time to take his first win in 13-17 Jr Dragster against the more experienced "Wild Kyle" Denton (15 - McDonough, GA). Griffith turned in the race winning 9.21 at 70.71mph (9.18 dial), .012 seconds ahead of Denton's also good 7.93 at 78.62mph (7.92 target). Team PTI racer Lauren Turner (14 - Pendergrass, GA) was the semi-finalist trophy winner.
A Quick 16 race was held after the regular Summit eliminations were over, and made it to the final round before rain stopped the action. Thomas Bell ('05 Undercover dragster - Toccoa, GA) was paired in the final with Donny Brown, Jr ('03 Spitzer dragster - Buford, GA). They ended up splitting the purse. Michael Bruce ('78 Malibu - Covington, GA) was in the lone remaining door car, and ended his evening as a semi-finalist.
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PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Thomas Bell '05 Undercover dragster Toccoa, GA 5.03 136.42 (5.04)
R/U: B.J. Pitman '89 Tin Man dragster Roswell, GA
(foul) 5.22 132.00 (5.23)
Semi: Stan Sinack '68 Dart Lilburn, GA
Semi: Donny Brown, Jr '03 Spitzer dragster Buford, GA
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SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Greg Allen '80 Camaro Greenwood, SC 10.90 118.78 (10.79)
R/U: Gary Adams '72 Chevelle Carnesville, GA 11.27 115.28 (11.23)
Semi: Ed Nalley '74 Vega Maysville, GA
Semi:
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mel Abney '67 Camaro Cumming, GA 13.19 102.70 (13.12)
R/U: Jerry Polk '01 Mustang Jackson, GA 14.90 93.21 (14.89)
Semi: Ashley Dumas '86 Monte Carlo Commerce, GA
Semi:
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8-12 JR. DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Dylan Kent 10 Acworth, GA 9.07 68.53 (8.93)
R/U: Ashton Shubert 12 Commerce, GA 9.07 73.11 (9.02)
Semi: Blake Griffith 12 Homer, GA
Semi: Ashley Snelgrove 11 Dahlonega, GA
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13-17 JR. DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Taylor Griffith 14 Homer, GA 9.21 70.71 (9.18)
R/U: "Wild Kyle" Denton 15 McDonough, GA 7.93 78.62 (7.92)
Semi: Lauren Turner 14 Pendergrass, GA
BELL WINS SUPER PRO, GRIFFITH FIRST TIME WINNER
Photos
(Commerce, GA - August 6) Although rain did delay action for an hour at Atlanta Dragway, the show went on and all but one final, in Quick 16, was completed before rain set in for the evening. The Griffith brothers had a good evening in their best combination finish ever, with 14 year old Taylor Griffith winning 13-17 Jr Dragster, and 12 year old Blake Griffith making it to the 8-12 year old Jr Dragster semi-finals.
Toccoa, GA racer Thomas Bell made it to the semi-finals during the previous race, and stepped up even further today, pulling off the win in Super Pro. Even though B.J. Pitman turned on the dreaded cherry colored bulb in the final with her Roswell, GA based Tin Man dragster, Bell's 2005 Undercover dragster was close to the mark, running a breakout 5.034 at 136.42mph (5.04 dial). Knowing the race was already over, Pitman chose to run her car out, carding a breakout 5.228, 132.00mph pass (5.23 target). Stan Sinack ('68 Dart - Lilburn, GA) and Donny Brown, Jr ('03 Spitzer dragster - Buford, GA) were the semi-final pair. Bell gave a special thanks to his wife Tammy, who was able to get off work and help. He also gave a special thanks to Freddie, Angie and Tyler Lewis, who come to the track and help him each week.
Greg Allen from Greenwood, SC has been coming to Atlanta Dragway for years, and enjoyed another top Sportsman finish tonight. Allen faced July 16 winner Gary Adam's Horton Homes '72 Chevelle in the final, and used a big starting line advantage to take the win. Allen slowed his Triple Threat '80 Camaro to a 10.90 at 118.78mph (10.79 dial), but still crossed the win stripe .018 seconds ahead of Adams, who ran a closer 11.27, 115.28mph (11.23 dial). Engine builder Ed Nalley ('74 Vega - Maysville, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Allen credited his daughter Chelsea for helping him win. During the quarter-finals, his cooling system (electric fan and water pump) developed electrical problems and caused the engine to hit 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, he had the semi-final bye run, and was able to take it easy on the car. Chelsea held the flashlight for him and handed him tools while he did some emergency repairs to get ready for the final. Gary Adams knew about the problem, and assured Allen he would wait for him.
For the second race in a row, a Cumming, GA racer visited the winner's circle. Like Thomas Bell, former Trophy Street champion Mel Abney made it to the semi-final round in the previous race and then turned around and won tonight's action. Abney faced racing friend Jerry Polk in the Trophy Street final, and said he was happy to finally beat Polk. Thanks to a reaction time advantage, Abney's '67 Camaro carded an off-the-throttle 13.19 at 102.70mph (13.12 target) with his '67 Camaro. Polk's Jackson, GA based '01 Mustang turned in a closer, but second across the finish line, 14.90 at 93.21 (14.89 dial). Ashley Dumas ('86 Monte Carlo SS - Commerce, GA) was the single semi-finalist. "It's been a long dry spell," commented Abney. He then brightened, and added, "That's the first time I beat Jerry. I only have five or six more times to beat him to make it even."
Ten year old Dylan Kent from Acworth, GA, the Atlanta Dragway 2003 Rookie of the Year, found his way back to the 8-12 year old Jr Dragster winner's circle. Kent met local racer Ashton Shubert (12 - Commerce, GA) in the final and took advantage of his reaction time advantage to take the win. Kent pedaled his car to a 9.07 at 68.53mph (8.93 target), while Shubert also ran 9.07, at 73.11mph (9.02 dial). Twelve year old Blake Griffith from nearby Homer, GA (brother of tonight's 13-17 winner), along with Ashley Snelgrove (11 - Dahlonega, GA) picked up a semi-finalist trophy. Kent's dad thanked God for coming into their lives several years ago, and then thanked Bill Gillen for all his help, along with the Sisson family. Dylan then thanked his mom too for helping them race.
Fifteen year old Taylor Griffith from Homer, GA had been begging his father, RFC Chaplain Scott Griffith, for a Jr Dragster ever since he was eight years old. His dad finally relented late last year, and helped him get one. Griffith made it to his first final ever, and capitalized on a better reaction time to take his first win in 13-17 Jr Dragster against the more experienced "Wild Kyle" Denton (15 - McDonough, GA). Griffith turned in the race winning 9.21 at 70.71mph (9.18 dial), .012 seconds ahead of Denton's also good 7.93 at 78.62mph (7.92 target). Team PTI racer Lauren Turner (14 - Pendergrass, GA) was the semi-finalist trophy winner.
A Quick 16 race was held after the regular Summit eliminations were over, and made it to the final round before rain stopped the action. Thomas Bell ('05 Undercover dragster - Toccoa, GA) was paired in the final with Donny Brown, Jr ('03 Spitzer dragster - Buford, GA). They ended up splitting the purse. Michael Bruce ('78 Malibu - Covington, GA) was in the lone remaining door car, and ended his evening as a semi-finalist.
------------------------------------------------
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Thomas Bell '05 Undercover dragster Toccoa, GA 5.03 136.42 (5.04)
R/U: B.J. Pitman '89 Tin Man dragster Roswell, GA
(foul) 5.22 132.00 (5.23)
Semi: Stan Sinack '68 Dart Lilburn, GA
Semi: Donny Brown, Jr '03 Spitzer dragster Buford, GA
------------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Greg Allen '80 Camaro Greenwood, SC 10.90 118.78 (10.79)
R/U: Gary Adams '72 Chevelle Carnesville, GA 11.27 115.28 (11.23)
Semi: Ed Nalley '74 Vega Maysville, GA
Semi:
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mel Abney '67 Camaro Cumming, GA 13.19 102.70 (13.12)
R/U: Jerry Polk '01 Mustang Jackson, GA 14.90 93.21 (14.89)
Semi: Ashley Dumas '86 Monte Carlo Commerce, GA
Semi:
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8-12 JR. DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Dylan Kent 10 Acworth, GA 9.07 68.53 (8.93)
R/U: Ashton Shubert 12 Commerce, GA 9.07 73.11 (9.02)
Semi: Blake Griffith 12 Homer, GA
Semi: Ashley Snelgrove 11 Dahlonega, GA
------------------------------------------------
13-17 JR. DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Taylor Griffith 14 Homer, GA 9.21 70.71 (9.18)
R/U: "Wild Kyle" Denton 15 McDonough, GA 7.93 78.62 (7.92)
Semi: Lauren Turner 14 Pendergrass, GA
posted by David @ 10:38 PM
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