Atlanta Dragway Results by Tim Glover
By Tim Glover
Photos
DUNN, ADAMS, ABNEY AND RHYNE WIN NATIONAL DRAGSTER CHALLENGE
(Commerce, GA - August 27) The National Dragster Challenge was held today, in addition to the regularly scheduled Summit ET Race. The winners in Super Pro, Sportsman, Trophy Street and Motorcycle received a coveted "Wally" trophy and an NHRA hat, as well as the regular winnings. Seven of the eight classes contested during this event featured a former Atlanta Dragway track champion in the final round, and the champs won in six of those seven classes.
After the race, Super Pro winner Gary Dunn from Flowery Branch, GA exclaimed, "We get the Little Man!" Dunn survived an extremely tight final round (.0033 second margin of victory) against Canon, GA racer Mark Milford's Horton Mobile Homes backed '02 Racecraft dragster. Dunn's '92 S&W dragster hit its target time of 5.25 seconds with a 5.253 at 130.13mph, shutting down Milford's otherwise good run of 5.00 at 134.75mph (4.99 dial). Dunn thanked his wife Wendy, and Stacy Blanton Collision for their help. "I got lucky," Dunn added. He also thanked the Snelgrove family, who loaned him enough alcohol to finish the race after he ran out of the fuel earlier in competition. For a short time, Dunn would not let go of his "Wally", even after his son Bailey asked if he could hold it (Dunn did let him have it a few minutes later). The semifinal pairing was the same as last week's Super Pro semi-finals, Larry Barefoot ('65 Chevy II - Bethlehem, GA) and Michael Bruce ('78 Malibu - Covington, GA).
"Thanks to George Turner of Team PTI for loaning me a big fan, as it helped me win tonight," said 2003 Super Pro champion Henry Snelgrove, Sr. He discovered the radiator in his '95 Bos dragster was broken upon arrival at the track, so he simply plumbed the inlet and outlet hoses together and then used the fan to cool down the engine between passes. Snelgrove took the final round win light against Tommy Motes' Loganville, GA based dragster with a 5.18 at 121.90mph shot (5.15 target) after Motes' car suffered problems at the starting line. Motes motored on down the track to a 21.56 at 32.03mph (5.43 dial). Since his regular help was off for the evening, his "Lucky Charm" (wife Sandra) came along to help Henry Sr. race. Sandra added, "That was nice. He needed it right now." Keith Neal ('02 Spitzer dragster - Snellville, GA) was the lone semi-finalist.
Gary Adams of Carnesville, GA has now raced in three Sportsman events in 2005, made it to all the finals, and won his second tonight with his team's Horton Homes / K&R Mobile Home Service '72 Chevelle. His crewman, Scott Chandler was kept extremely busy, as Adams was campaigning two different cars in three of the eight classes contested today, Quick 32, Sportsman and Super Pro. Adams thanked Max King and Wayne Reed of K&R Mobile Home Service, Horton Homes, and his entire crew. "That's the worst light I cut all day," said Adams, referring to his final round react of .064 seconds. However, he already had the win before his car left the starting line, as his opponent, Loganville, GA racer and former multiple time Sportsman champ Rob Hogue had already turned on the dreaded tomato colored bulb in his lane by the
narrowest of margins, -0.001 seconds. Hogue's '84 Monte Carlo SS ran close to its target of 11.73 seconds, carding an 11.74 at 115.96mph. Adams' car went 11.40 at 114.83mph (11.44). Dickey Forrester ('68 Firebird - Hickory Flat, GA) was the lone semi-finalist.
Mel Abney, Atlanta Dragway's 2003 Trophy Street champion, returned to the winner's circle tonight just in time to pick up his first "Wally". Abney has actually competed in the past four National Dragster Challenge events, and achieved his goal by taking a narrow win against Mark Hancock's Commerce, GA based '00 Grand Cherokee. Abney's Cumming, GA based '67 Camaro actually broke out, running 13.205 at 103.40mph (13.21 dial), but got the nod after Hancock's machine broke out slightly more, with a 16.172 at 83.37mph (16.18 dial). "That trophy had my name on it tonight," commented a happy Abney. He then thanked all his fellow competitors that he races with each week for cheering him on after they were out. Hancock has now been in three National Dragster Challenge finals, two in Motorcycle and one in Trophy. Woody Bryant ('82 Camaro - Bowman, GA) enjoyed a semi-final finish for the second week in a row, along with David Simmons ('78 Nova - Suwanee, GA).
Multiple time Atlanta Dragway Motorcycle champ Jay "Bird" Rhyne of Athens, GA enjoyed a double Motorcycle win during today's action. In the morning race (held over from the Night of Fire), he took on Woodstock, GA rider Jimmy "Cha Cha" Heisler's mean green Kawasaki. Rhyne was all over this one, enjoying a better starting line react, and then taking the finish line on his '81 Kawasaki with a .03 over 12.50 at 95.49mph. Heisler's mount turned in a 10.38 at 127.73mph (10.31 dial). The semifinal finishers consisted of Cha Cha's wife, Eeman Heisler, also riding a green Kawasaki, and Ken Ford ('05 Suzuki - Lavonia, GA).
Rhyne enjoyed another great outing in the evening "Wally" race. This time, he met Don "Chaos" Chavous in the final round, and won with another good package of 12.57 at 101.55mph (12.53 dial). Actually, his package was moot after Chavous lit up the big red foul bulb after launching his '01 Suzuki just a tad too quickly off the starting line. Chavous chose to run his bike on out, finishing with a 9.59 at 143.40mph (9.50 dial). The evening's semi-final finishers were Howard Bowman ('82 Harley - Homer, GA) and Paul Cavanaugh from Loganville, GA. "I want to dedicate this win to the late Stewart Taft," added Rhyne.
Twelve year old Gainesville, GA racer and former champion Joshua Sisson increased his points lead in the 8-12 year old Jr Dragster class after defeating Valerie Clements from Central, SC (also 12 years old). Sisson had a better react, and closed the door on Clements with a dead-on 8.915 at 70.21mph. Clements broke out trying to catch Sisson, with an 8.94 at 72.51mph (8.96 target). 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) and his parents for keeping him in the action each week. Ashley Snelgrove (11 - Dahlonega, GA) was the single semi-final finisher.
Fourteen year old Team PTI racer and defending champion Lauren Turner from nearby Pendergrass, GA took the final round win light in 13-17 Jr Dragster against Whitney Samples, who used to race for Team PTI. Samples (16 - Jefferson, GA) had not raced in a year, but was wearing out the competition until the final. Turner took the win with an 8.03 at 80.09mph (8.00 dial) after Samples' car fell off a little to an 8.05 at 81.82mph (7.92 dial). "Wild Kyle" Denton (15 - McDonough, GA) finished in the semi-final round. Turner thanked sponsors Tara Fine Jewelry, Fain and Mitchell properties, crew people Joe and Casey, and "Fluffy" (Tim Morris), who left to go to Marine boot camp.
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Gary Dunn '92 S&W dragster Flowery Branch, GA 5.25 130.13 (5.25)
R/U: Mark Milford '02 Racecraft dragster Canon, GA 5.00 134.75 (4.99)
Semi: Michael Bruce '78 Malibu Covington, GA
Semi: Larry Barefoot '65 Chevy II Bethlehem, GA
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Gary Adams '72 Chevelle Carnesville, GA 11.40 114.83 (11.44)
R/U: Rob Hogue '84 Monte Carlo SS Loganville, GA
(foul) 11.74 115.96 (11.73)
Semi: Dickey Forrester '68 Firebird Canton, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mel Abney '67 Camaro Cumming, GA 13.205 103.40 (13.21)
R/U: Mark Hancock '00 Grand Cherokee Commerce, GA 16.172 83.37 (16.18)
Semi: Woody Bryant '82 Camaro Bowman, GA
Semi: David Simmons '78 Nova Suwanee, GA
-----------------------------------------------
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Joshua Sisson 12 Gainesville, GA 8.915 70.21 (8.91)
R/U: Valerie Clements 12 Central, SC 8.94 72.51 (8.96)
Semi: Ashley Snelgrove 11 Dahlonega, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Lauren Turner 14 Pendergrass, GA 8.03 80.09 (8.00)
R/U: Whitney Samples 16 Jefferson, GA 8.05 81.82 (7.92)
Semi: "Wild Kyle" Denton 15 McDonough, GA
-----------------------------------------------
QUICK 32 CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Henry Snelgrove, Sr '95 Bos dragster Dahlonega, GA 5.18 121.90 (5.15)
R/U: Tommy Motes '00 dragster Loganville, GA 21.56 32.03 (5.43)
Semi: Keith Neal '02 Undercover dragster Snellville, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
MOTORCYCLE I BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jay "Bird" Rhyne '81 Kawasaki Athens, GA 12.50 95.49 (12.47)
R/U: Jimmy Heisler '00 Kawasaki Woodstock, GA 10.38 127.73 (10.31)
Semi: Eeman Heisler '00 Kawasaki Woodstock, GA
Semi: Ken Ford '05 Suzuki Lavonia, GA
-----------------------------------------------
MOTORCYCLE II BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jay "Bird" Rhyne '81 Kawasaki Athens, GA 12.57 101.55 (12.53)
R/U: Don "Chaos" Chavous '01 Suzuki Buford, GA 9.59 143.40 (9.50)
Semi: Howard Bowman '82 Harley Homer, GA
Semi: Paul Cavanaugh motorcycle Loganville, GA
Photos
DUNN, ADAMS, ABNEY AND RHYNE WIN NATIONAL DRAGSTER CHALLENGE
(Commerce, GA - August 27) The National Dragster Challenge was held today, in addition to the regularly scheduled Summit ET Race. The winners in Super Pro, Sportsman, Trophy Street and Motorcycle received a coveted "Wally" trophy and an NHRA hat, as well as the regular winnings. Seven of the eight classes contested during this event featured a former Atlanta Dragway track champion in the final round, and the champs won in six of those seven classes.
After the race, Super Pro winner Gary Dunn from Flowery Branch, GA exclaimed, "We get the Little Man!" Dunn survived an extremely tight final round (.0033 second margin of victory) against Canon, GA racer Mark Milford's Horton Mobile Homes backed '02 Racecraft dragster. Dunn's '92 S&W dragster hit its target time of 5.25 seconds with a 5.253 at 130.13mph, shutting down Milford's otherwise good run of 5.00 at 134.75mph (4.99 dial). Dunn thanked his wife Wendy, and Stacy Blanton Collision for their help. "I got lucky," Dunn added. He also thanked the Snelgrove family, who loaned him enough alcohol to finish the race after he ran out of the fuel earlier in competition. For a short time, Dunn would not let go of his "Wally", even after his son Bailey asked if he could hold it (Dunn did let him have it a few minutes later). The semifinal pairing was the same as last week's Super Pro semi-finals, Larry Barefoot ('65 Chevy II - Bethlehem, GA) and Michael Bruce ('78 Malibu - Covington, GA).
"Thanks to George Turner of Team PTI for loaning me a big fan, as it helped me win tonight," said 2003 Super Pro champion Henry Snelgrove, Sr. He discovered the radiator in his '95 Bos dragster was broken upon arrival at the track, so he simply plumbed the inlet and outlet hoses together and then used the fan to cool down the engine between passes. Snelgrove took the final round win light against Tommy Motes' Loganville, GA based dragster with a 5.18 at 121.90mph shot (5.15 target) after Motes' car suffered problems at the starting line. Motes motored on down the track to a 21.56 at 32.03mph (5.43 dial). Since his regular help was off for the evening, his "Lucky Charm" (wife Sandra) came along to help Henry Sr. race. Sandra added, "That was nice. He needed it right now." Keith Neal ('02 Spitzer dragster - Snellville, GA) was the lone semi-finalist.
Gary Adams of Carnesville, GA has now raced in three Sportsman events in 2005, made it to all the finals, and won his second tonight with his team's Horton Homes / K&R Mobile Home Service '72 Chevelle. His crewman, Scott Chandler was kept extremely busy, as Adams was campaigning two different cars in three of the eight classes contested today, Quick 32, Sportsman and Super Pro. Adams thanked Max King and Wayne Reed of K&R Mobile Home Service, Horton Homes, and his entire crew. "That's the worst light I cut all day," said Adams, referring to his final round react of .064 seconds. However, he already had the win before his car left the starting line, as his opponent, Loganville, GA racer and former multiple time Sportsman champ Rob Hogue had already turned on the dreaded tomato colored bulb in his lane by the
narrowest of margins, -0.001 seconds. Hogue's '84 Monte Carlo SS ran close to its target of 11.73 seconds, carding an 11.74 at 115.96mph. Adams' car went 11.40 at 114.83mph (11.44). Dickey Forrester ('68 Firebird - Hickory Flat, GA) was the lone semi-finalist.
Mel Abney, Atlanta Dragway's 2003 Trophy Street champion, returned to the winner's circle tonight just in time to pick up his first "Wally". Abney has actually competed in the past four National Dragster Challenge events, and achieved his goal by taking a narrow win against Mark Hancock's Commerce, GA based '00 Grand Cherokee. Abney's Cumming, GA based '67 Camaro actually broke out, running 13.205 at 103.40mph (13.21 dial), but got the nod after Hancock's machine broke out slightly more, with a 16.172 at 83.37mph (16.18 dial). "That trophy had my name on it tonight," commented a happy Abney. He then thanked all his fellow competitors that he races with each week for cheering him on after they were out. Hancock has now been in three National Dragster Challenge finals, two in Motorcycle and one in Trophy. Woody Bryant ('82 Camaro - Bowman, GA) enjoyed a semi-final finish for the second week in a row, along with David Simmons ('78 Nova - Suwanee, GA).
Multiple time Atlanta Dragway Motorcycle champ Jay "Bird" Rhyne of Athens, GA enjoyed a double Motorcycle win during today's action. In the morning race (held over from the Night of Fire), he took on Woodstock, GA rider Jimmy "Cha Cha" Heisler's mean green Kawasaki. Rhyne was all over this one, enjoying a better starting line react, and then taking the finish line on his '81 Kawasaki with a .03 over 12.50 at 95.49mph. Heisler's mount turned in a 10.38 at 127.73mph (10.31 dial). The semifinal finishers consisted of Cha Cha's wife, Eeman Heisler, also riding a green Kawasaki, and Ken Ford ('05 Suzuki - Lavonia, GA).
Rhyne enjoyed another great outing in the evening "Wally" race. This time, he met Don "Chaos" Chavous in the final round, and won with another good package of 12.57 at 101.55mph (12.53 dial). Actually, his package was moot after Chavous lit up the big red foul bulb after launching his '01 Suzuki just a tad too quickly off the starting line. Chavous chose to run his bike on out, finishing with a 9.59 at 143.40mph (9.50 dial). The evening's semi-final finishers were Howard Bowman ('82 Harley - Homer, GA) and Paul Cavanaugh from Loganville, GA. "I want to dedicate this win to the late Stewart Taft," added Rhyne.
Twelve year old Gainesville, GA racer and former champion Joshua Sisson increased his points lead in the 8-12 year old Jr Dragster class after defeating Valerie Clements from Central, SC (also 12 years old). Sisson had a better react, and closed the door on Clements with a dead-on 8.915 at 70.21mph. Clements broke out trying to catch Sisson, with an 8.94 at 72.51mph (8.96 target). 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) and his parents for keeping him in the action each week. Ashley Snelgrove (11 - Dahlonega, GA) was the single semi-final finisher.
Fourteen year old Team PTI racer and defending champion Lauren Turner from nearby Pendergrass, GA took the final round win light in 13-17 Jr Dragster against Whitney Samples, who used to race for Team PTI. Samples (16 - Jefferson, GA) had not raced in a year, but was wearing out the competition until the final. Turner took the win with an 8.03 at 80.09mph (8.00 dial) after Samples' car fell off a little to an 8.05 at 81.82mph (7.92 dial). "Wild Kyle" Denton (15 - McDonough, GA) finished in the semi-final round. Turner thanked sponsors Tara Fine Jewelry, Fain and Mitchell properties, crew people Joe and Casey, and "Fluffy" (Tim Morris), who left to go to Marine boot camp.
PRO / SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Gary Dunn '92 S&W dragster Flowery Branch, GA 5.25 130.13 (5.25)
R/U: Mark Milford '02 Racecraft dragster Canon, GA 5.00 134.75 (4.99)
Semi: Michael Bruce '78 Malibu Covington, GA
Semi: Larry Barefoot '65 Chevy II Bethlehem, GA
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Gary Adams '72 Chevelle Carnesville, GA 11.40 114.83 (11.44)
R/U: Rob Hogue '84 Monte Carlo SS Loganville, GA
(foul) 11.74 115.96 (11.73)
Semi: Dickey Forrester '68 Firebird Canton, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
TROPHY STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mel Abney '67 Camaro Cumming, GA 13.205 103.40 (13.21)
R/U: Mark Hancock '00 Grand Cherokee Commerce, GA 16.172 83.37 (16.18)
Semi: Woody Bryant '82 Camaro Bowman, GA
Semi: David Simmons '78 Nova Suwanee, GA
-----------------------------------------------
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Joshua Sisson 12 Gainesville, GA 8.915 70.21 (8.91)
R/U: Valerie Clements 12 Central, SC 8.94 72.51 (8.96)
Semi: Ashley Snelgrove 11 Dahlonega, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Lauren Turner 14 Pendergrass, GA 8.03 80.09 (8.00)
R/U: Whitney Samples 16 Jefferson, GA 8.05 81.82 (7.92)
Semi: "Wild Kyle" Denton 15 McDonough, GA
-----------------------------------------------
QUICK 32 CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Henry Snelgrove, Sr '95 Bos dragster Dahlonega, GA 5.18 121.90 (5.15)
R/U: Tommy Motes '00 dragster Loganville, GA 21.56 32.03 (5.43)
Semi: Keith Neal '02 Undercover dragster Snellville, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
MOTORCYCLE I BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jay "Bird" Rhyne '81 Kawasaki Athens, GA 12.50 95.49 (12.47)
R/U: Jimmy Heisler '00 Kawasaki Woodstock, GA 10.38 127.73 (10.31)
Semi: Eeman Heisler '00 Kawasaki Woodstock, GA
Semi: Ken Ford '05 Suzuki Lavonia, GA
-----------------------------------------------
MOTORCYCLE II BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jay "Bird" Rhyne '81 Kawasaki Athens, GA 12.57 101.55 (12.53)
R/U: Don "Chaos" Chavous '01 Suzuki Buford, GA 9.59 143.40 (9.50)
Semi: Howard Bowman '82 Harley Homer, GA
Semi: Paul Cavanaugh motorcycle Loganville, GA
posted by David @ 2:44 AM
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