BAZEMORE POSTS THREE STRONG RUNS, QUALIFIES NO. 9 IN BRAINERD

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Contact: Judy Stropus


BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 13, 2005) - Whit Bazemore put together three strong qualifying runs in two days for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., collecting the No. 9 spot in the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Stratus R/T Funny Car, with an elapsed time of 4.799 seconds at 323.43 mph, set in today's third qualifying round.

He also accomplished his goal of out-qualifying Robert Hight to collect valuable points towards the Skoal Showdown and stays in eight place in the standings for this Funny Car bonus race held at the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day. Only the top eight drivers (points are based on qualifying results) compete for the $100,000 prize.

"It's good," said Bazemore, who also posted a 7.172/117.17, a 4.887/312.35 and a 4.821/323.35. "One important thing coming into this race was to qualify ahead of Robert Hight and we did that. That was a goal that we met.

"This afternoon we wanted to run a little harder than we did. At the end of the day it's important that we go down the race track consistently, and (co-crew chiefs) Dan (Olson) and Todd (Okuhara) and the Matco Tools guys have done that. They have given me a car that goes down the race track.

"You have to go down the race track to win the race and we saw some guys in the final session try to run a lot quicker and they didn't make it down the tack. We're very comfortable and able to read the data that the car's given us. We're going into tomorrow with absolutely a lot of confidence."

Bazemore will meet No. 8 qualifier Tony Pedregon in first round of eliminations on Sunday.

Schumacher #1 and Goes 337.58 - Medlen, WJ and Tonglet also #1 Pro Qualifiers at the NHRA POWERade Lucas Oil Nationals

Tony Schumacher ran the fastest speed in NHRA history (wheel driven) with his Army Top Fueler during the third qualifying session (Saturday). His 4.446 was almost as quick as his current National Record (4.441). If the weather cooperates, it's possible that Alan Johnson may tune him to new marks on Sunday.

Warren Johnson debuted his new Pontiac GTO Pro Stocker in grand fashion with 6.698 @ 206.57 (both are track records).

NHRA Recap

BIG MONEY COMING TO SOUTH GEORGIA MOTORSPORTS PARK

Courtesy Tim Glover

CSR, along with the BTE/Citgo Series, has stepped up the Winter Series Warm
Up this year to four days in Adel, Georgia. One of the highlights of the
four-day event this year will be a $25K Gamblers race! "This is one of the
nicest facilities in the US", stated Danny Sons. "Chris Barker and I, along
with Rowland and Kim Woods, want to make this one of the biggest events in
the country." They have also added to the purses in both classes. No Box
racers will have a chance at $2,500, $5,000, $5,000 and $5,000. Also new for
2005, if 200 cars go down the race track in either class there will be NO
BUYBACKS! This is an excellent place to stop on the way to the
DragRaceResults.com Five Day race in Bradenton or Moroso. The track is
located at mile marker 32 on I-75. On Saturday night, after the $25K race,
there will be FREE Pizza, drinks, and Karaoke for everyone. Also, this will
probably be the event that decides the BTE/Citgo World Champions! For more
information, or to enter the Gambler's race, call 606-780-4700 or
615-643-8279. The first 32 who pre-enter the Gambler's race will have front
row race track reserved parking.

G Squared and Chip Ellis rebound from Omaha misfortune

Courtesy Jerry Battle



G SQUARED MOTORSPORTS
OWNERS: GEORGE BRYCE & GEORGE SMITH

NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: G SQUARED S&S BUELL
RIDER: CHIP ELLIS

24TH ANNUAL NHRA LUCAS OIL NATIONALS
BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY – BRAINERD, MINN.
AUGUST 11-14, 2005

QUALIFYING:
Session 1 Friday: 7.119 seconds at 192.55 mph (# 2)
Session 2 Friday: 7.090 seconds at 186.15 mph (# 3)


G Squared and Chip Ellis rebound from Omaha misfortune
Ellis No. 3 – Runs career best speed


BRAINERD, Minn. (August 12, 2005) – As qualifying got underway today for the 24th annual NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals at BIR, Brainerd International Raceway, in the heart of the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” the season thus far has been an emotional roller coaster for G Squared, according to Jackie Bryce, wife of G Squared Motorsports co-owner George Bryce.

First the team was devastated when longtime Star Racing/G Squared employee Ken Johnson was seriously injured in a non-race related accident on June 4 which subsequently resulted in the amputation of his left leg. Ken is currently undergoing extensive rehabilitation and hopes to attend the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park over the Labor Day weekend.

Then on August 2, G Squared Motorsports, owned by George Bryce and George Smith, was knocked to its knees once again when the team’s racing transporter was stolen from an Omaha, Neb. hotel. The 18-wheel racing rig was found abandoned later that day with its entire contents – the life-blood of the G Squared Motorsports program – missing.

Since that time, working closely and in cooperation with the Sarpy County Sheriff’s office, the Iowa Highway Patrol, and local law enforcement from the Omaha-area, much of the contents – including the team’s current Buell chassis used to compete in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle class on the NHRA POWERade Drag racing Series, three S&S Pro Stock engines, a new complete Kosman Buell rolling chassis and assorted spare parts -- have been recovered.

With some saying: “It’s a miracle,” the G Squared Motorsports team is back and competing at BIR this weekend and it is a story worthy of a Hollywood movie.

After turning down the very kind offer from Matt Guidera’s team to allow G Squared to utilize their bike and racing equipment, G Squared, like the Phoenix, rose from the ashes to show that they should never be counted out.

Using their own recovered bike, engines, parts and pieces, the G Squared team set out to do the best they could. They shook up the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racing community gathered at BIR for the Lucas Oil Nationals when Chip Ellis rode the G2 S&S-powered Buell to an elapsed time of 7.119 second pass at a speed of 192.55 mph, good for No. 2 after the opening qualifying session.

The speed was a career best for Ellis and the first time that the Americus, Ga., driver has exceeded the 190 mph mark in NHRA competition.

In the late afternoon qualifying session, Ellis bettered his previous run when he covered the BIR quarter-mile in 7.090 seconds, ending the first day of qualifying in the No. 3 position.

"What a week! What a comeback!," said George Bryce. "As I said before, we had accepted the gracious offer to use Matt Guidera's bike and will forever be appreciative for the offer but my partner George Smith and I felt it was in our best interest to continue to race with our own stuff. We decided to throw everything we had learned in the past at this track and couldn't have predicted better results. Chip (Ellis), after his trying experience in Omaha, came through like a champ. What a comeback!"

QUALIFYING: Qualifying concludes for Ellis and the G Squared/S&S Buell with two additional sessions on Saturday, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Ellis begins his quest for the Pro Stock Motorcycle title on Sunday with eliminations for all classes getting underway at 11 a.m. All time is local Brainerd time -- Central Time (CT): 1 hour behind the Eastern Time zone -- and subject to change at anytime.

TELEVISION: Qualifying highlights for the 24th NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals can be seen on ESPN2 HD on Saturday evening (Aug. 13) from 8-10 p.m. The qualifying show repeats on ESPN2 HD early Sunday morning (Aug. 14) from 12:30 – 1:30 a.m. ESPN2 HD will also air three hours of same-day television coverage of eliminations beginning at 7 p.m. on Sunday evening (Aug. 14). The elimination show repeats on ESPN2 HD early Monday morning, Aug. 15, from 2:30 until 4:30 a.m. Also, tune in to NHRA2Day on ESPN2 HD, the weekly show that gives you the latest information about the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. NHRA2Day can be seen on Sunday morning, Aug. 14 at 11:30 a.m. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings.

Schumacher, Anderson, Medlen and Hines Lead Pro Qualifying at the NHRA POWERade Lucas Oil Nationals

All eight professional track records fell in Friday qualifying.

NHRA Recap

Donnie Reeves Article

Dale Wilson has written an article about Donnie Reeves and his nostalgia funny car body building business. Donnie is a heck of a nice guy and he is the one that brought nitro funny cars back to Southeastern Dragway in Dallas, GA last weekend.
Check it out here.

G-Squared Motorsports Recovers Part of Their Stolen Racing Items

NHRA Article

NHRA Division 2 Lucas Oil Points Race Results

From SGMP this past weekend -Georgians Mark Billington wins TA/FC and Ronnie Davis wins Top Sportsman at the scheduled SGMP race:

Drag Race Central Recap


In the rescheduled Gainesville points race (at SGMP) Mark Billington doubles up with a second win in TA/FC over Jay Payne.

Drag Race Central Recap

Marvin T. Smith Photos

Southeastern Dragway's 50th Anniversary Race

Rain delayed the event again Saturday night, but there was a lot of racing action before the rains (and after). The funny cars only made one run, but Gary Fore made two runs in his Super Cobra Jet Mustang Jet Funny Car. Gary's second run was around 3 AM! I talked to Track Operator Gene Fuller today (Tuesday) and he told me they were able to finish the bracket race portion of the show in the wee hours Sunday morning. Hopefully, I'll receive the results from Southeastern Dragway soon.

There were several nitro funny cars on hand and Don Burge had his blown Alky 'Vette on hand trying to work a few bugs out. On hand were Virgil Hartman's Mustang and Trans Am, Troy Martin's Chi-Town Hustler Charger, Rick Stambaugh's Corvette, Steve Nichols' Camaro and Donnie Reeves' Mustang. Several other nice cars were at the track - Dale Wilson's digger, the Nite-Flyer FED (still sorting the bugs out), Andy Applegate's "Fugitive" AA/A Fiat and Bunky Bobo's "Hemi Hurricane" Willys were just a few of them. The pits were full of nice cars - too many to attempt to list!

You can see a few photos here:
Dallas Photos

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.

------------------------------------------------
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:
------------------------------------------------
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