Our Condolences to Linda Vaughn and Family

I've just been informed that Linda Vaughn's mother, Mae Jeffcoat, has passed away after an illness. I know that Linda is very close to her family and our thoughts and prayers are with Linda, her family and her friends at this great time of loss.

Arrangements are being made by the Love Funeral Home in Dalton, GA.

Atlanta Dragway 2005 Track Champions crowned at Banquet

by Tim Glover

Atlanta Dragway racers enjoyed a new venue for the 2005 edition of the Summit Racing Series Banquet of Champions, presented by Snap-On Tools, at the Best Western Lanier Center hotel in Gainesville, Ga..

The evening began with a social hour, followed by an invocation by Racers for Christ pastor Lloyd Shanks. Atlanta Dragway's general manager, Ray Wilkings, emceed the evening, beginning with giving away a lot of door prizes.

Banquet attendees noticed a large number of trophies to be awarded in the front of the room. New for 2005, the top finishers in each class were awarded trophies as well as the cash awards. Trophies were awarded to the top 15 Super Pro racers, the top 10 Sportsman and Jr Dragster contestants, and the top five Trophy Street participants.

After dinner, Wilkings announced all the top finishers, beginning with the younger contingent of Jr Dragster competitors. The top three 8-12 Jr Dragster racers were Joshua Sisson, the 2005 champion, Ashton Shubert, second, and Jacquelyn Lastinger, who finished the year in third place. Sisson first thanked God and the soldiers fighting for our freedom. He then thanked the people who made his repeat championship possible, including Mom, Dad and Bill Gillen.

The next group recognized was the 13-17 Jr Dragster racers. The top three were Lauren Turner, the 2005 champ, Kyle Denton, second place, and Matt Gillen, who ended his year in third. At the podium, Turner thanked her competitors for forcing her to bring her "A" game to every time trial, every round and every race. She then thanked them for making her repeat championship fun. She gave a big thanks to her mom and dad, her fellow Team PTI members, Bill Gillen and Lennon Martin.

The top three contestants in Trophy Street were Mardy Kennedy, champion, Mel Abney, second, and Ashley Dumas, who finished third. Kennedy said, "I want to thank the good Lord above for the opportunity and the competition. If you can compete at Atlanta, you can compete anywhere."

Repeat Sportsman champion Chris Carlile thanked his fellow racers for their friendship. He then added, "I can see the Juniors coming up. Y'all take it easy on me when you get there!" Dickey Forrester finished the year in second, just one round win out of first, and Chuck Conaway finished third.

Tommy Motes, the new Super Pro champion, told the crowd, "I've been running at Atlanta Dragway since 1990. Great people, great track. Y'all look out next year." Stacy Blanton finished second, and Thomas Bell ended his year in third place.

Motorcycle racers were recognized. Jay "Bird" Rhyne is the 2005 Champion, followed by Jimmy "Cha Cha" Heisler, second and Don "Chaos" Chavous, who finished third.

Wilkings then announced the special awards, some of which were voted on by racers. The following racers won the Best Appearing Car award. Joe Haddon in Super Pro, Bill Boomhower, Sportsman, Mel Abney, Trophy Street, Thomas Davis-Cox, Jr Dragster and Jay Rhyne, Motorcycle.

Debbie Blackwell, a former racer who ran the staging lanes very well in 2005, was awarded the Employee of the Year plaque. Super Pro racer Gary Dunn, who was a championship contender earlier in the season, won the Most Inspirational award, and Trophy Street racer Mel Abney won the Sportsmanship award. Former Jr Dragster racer Heath Snelgrove, who now competes in Super Pro, was recognized as the Most Improved Driver. Kyle Denton won the Junior Sportsmanship award, and Jake Swaim was recognized as the Junior Dragster Rookie of the Year and thanked his Team PTI members for helping him race. Bill Gillen, who helps everyone in Jr Dragster, was voted Jr Dragster Parent of the Year, and added, "First, I want to thank my Lord and Saviour for making all this possible. Second, I want to thank my son Matt, who is a
former champion, a straight A student, and won third place in the wrestling tournament earlier today. He makes this fun."

After the awards were handed out, Wilkings announced a minor change to the class names at Atlanta Dragway, designed to bring the classes in line with the Summit Series. For 2006 and beyond, Sportsman will now be called Pro, and Trophy Street will be called Sportsman. Super Pro, Motorcycle, and Jr Dragster class names will remain the same. He then mentioned the season would start March 11, 2006 with the Hayes Fan Fest, and end November 11 at the 2006 banquet.

Ray Wilkings gave a special thanks to all the sponsors who make the 2005 season even better with donations of merchandise, certificates and services, all of which were awarded to Atlanta Dragway racers and / or their families. The list includes Applebee's, American Janitorial Supplies, Best Western Lanier Center, Coca-Cola, Foundry Park Inn, Georgia-Carolina Auto Auction and Detailing, Giftworks at the Joy Shopper, Hayes Family Dealerships, Holiday Inn Express at Chateau Elan, Mr. Bill's Souvenir Shack, Outback Steakhouse, Red Roof Inn, Ruby Tuesday's, Snap-On Tools, Stringers, VP Racing Fuel and Year One.

BTE/Citgo CSR Winter Series Warm Up Pleases Racers with Four Days in 2005

by Tim Glover

(November 2-6, 2005) A sizable field of cars showed up Wednesday evening for the second annual BTE/Citgo CSR Winter Series Warm Up, held at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, GA. The event was scheduled as an excellent place to stop for racers prior to the DragRaceResults.com Five Day event in Bradenton. For 2004, the promoters extended the event to four days (Thursday through Sunday). The No Box purse was raised to $2500 on Thursday and $5000 daily for the rest of the weekend. A Gambler's race was also held Wednesday night for early arrivals.


(Wednesday) The BTE/Citgo Points leader, Scott Richardson of Greenbrier, Tenn., defeated Lawrenceville, Ga. racer Smokey Joe Smith for the cash in the Special Jeg's Gambler race. Smith had a .021 light to Richardson's .010 light, and Richardson sealed the deal with a 6.992 on a 6.98. Smith ran 4.994 on a 4.99 for the loss. The margin of victory was only .003 seconds.


(Thursday) The first winners of the day were Jeremy Soard and Dale Wilson. Soard became the Afco Super Pro winner in the Run For The Trailer event by running 5.000 on a 5.00, with a .048 light, earning the cash and potential first round bye run. Dale Wilson from Florida drove his '85 Monte Carlo SS to a great 6.511 on a 6.51 for the cash and first round bye in Dynatech
Sportsman. Another Florida racer, Eric Rodden, the CSR Division Two Race Tech Jr Dragster points leader, earned another point, cash and the potential first round bye with an 8.830 on a 8.80.

"Racin Jason" Lynch from Pleasant View, Tenn., driving his Sunset Racecraft powered dragster, become the first big Afco Super Prowinner of the 2005 Winter Series Warm Up. Lynch was .015 and 4.810 on a 4.80 for the win against former Million Dollar Race Winner Gary Williams of Bradenton, Fla., who was .011 and 4.868 on a 4.84. The semi finalists were Joe Collier from
Abilene, Texas and Scott Richardson of Greenbrier, Tenn..

Jeff Adkinson from Colqitt Ga. won his second BTE/Citgo event of the year in Dynatech Sportsman by defeating Andy Hensley from Independence, Kentucky. Hensley was also in his second BTE/Citgo final of the year. Hensley broke in the final, giving Adkinson an easy $2500 win. John Rollins was the lone semi finalist.

Todd Sapp defeated Wesley Purvis in the Jeg's Trophy final.

Former Eastern Conference champion Allen Rouse beat Eric Rodden in Thursday's edition of Race Tech Jr Dragster.


(Friday) Gary Williams added to his previous night's runner-up finish with a near perfect .001 and 4.840 on a 4.84, taking home the Friday portion of the Barker Trailer Sales Run For The Trailer purse. Rob Reynolds ran 6.450 on a 6.45 for the cash and first round bye in Dynatech Sportsman. Trevor Jones from Lakeland, Fla. went .002 over the dial with a .000 light for the cash and first round bye in Race Tech Jr Dragster.

Scott Richardson returned to the Afco Super Pro winner's circle again, courtesy of a .004 light and a 4.738 on a 4.72 for the win and $10,000 check. Richardson defeated local standout Carey "Crow" Locke of Alamo, Ga.. Locke was second across the big end stripe with a .025 react and a close 4.800 on a 4.79, good for the $3000 runner-up check.

In Dynatech Sportsman action, NHRA Sportsman standout Larry Ericksmoen drove his stocker to the $5000 win over Bob Dorr's Camaro. Larry had the better light, which was all he needed for the victory.

Dennis Bargeron from Ga. defeated Eric Rodden, the CSR Division 2 champ, for the check and trophy in Race Tech Jr Dragster.

Ray Williams, Sr defeated Bill Jones, Sr for the giant 4 foot trophy in Jeg's Trophy.


(Saturday) A special 32 car Race Tech shootout for a new Race Tech Four Link dragster was held, and Jeff Estes from South Beloit, Ill. defeated Slate Cummings of Hammond, La. in the shootout final.

However, later in the day, Cummings took out young Joe Kittle in the Barker Trailer Sales $25,000 race. Cummings' .008 light and 4.765 were too much for Kittle's '69 Camaro in that final. The semi-finalists were Tracy Sons and Nick Folk.

JP Hickmon became the day three Afco Super Pro winner in the CSR sponsored race. Hickmon took out Red Bay, Ala. Racer Jeff Strickland to earn the $10,000 payday.

Dynatech Sportsman racer Ken Grant defeated Clayton Clark, who made a huge move in the points standings, just 3 points behind Phil Combs.

Wesley Purvis from Ga. Won the four foot tall Jeg's trophy this time by defeating Daniel Salyers from Ocala, Fla..

Allen Rouse, Jr from Jacksonville, Fla. defeated Ethan Jones from Lakeland, Fla. for the cash and trophy in Race Tech Jr Dragster.

After the race, all the racers enjoyed a huge racer party, presented by CSR Performance, which was complete with free pizza and drinks.


(Sunday) Anthony Trauth from Kentucky took home $10,000 Sunday after defeating NHRA stand out David Rampy in the Afco Super Pro final Sunday night. Trauth had a much better .012 light to Ramp's .033, which was all he needed to take the win.

Former Jeg's Racer of the Month, Eric Paul of Evansville, Ind. got the $5000 Dynatech Sportsman win with his purple Dodge after Scotty Richardson couldn't make the call in David Simmon's pick up.

Another Williams took the Jeg's Trophy win. This time, it was won by Ray Williams, Jr., who defeated Mike Stout.

CSR Division Two Jr Dragster Champ Eric Rodden defeated Brian Chason in the Jr Dragster final with a great .002 light.

The MGM Best Appearing and Engineered Car awards went to the Instant Karma team Undercover Cars owned by Ohio racer Karma Hopper.

Carey Locke made his good weekend even better by winning the first round K&R Challenge. He did this with a perfect light and by running the K&R decals on his car. Locke took home $200 for having the K&R delay box and switch panel.

BTE/CITGO CSR Winter Series Warm Up at SGMP

BTE/CITGO CSR Winter Series Warm Up
South Georgia Motorsports Park, Adel, GA November 2-6
by Marvin T. Smith

Five days of big time bracket racing came to South Georgia Motorsports Park in early November. This was a mammoth event, featuring hundreds of cars from all over the eastern United States.

A special Jegs Gamblers race was held on Wednesday to kick off the series. Scotty Richardson used a better .010 reaction and a 6.992 on his 6.98 dial to hold off Smokey Joe Smith's .021 and 4.994 on his 4.99 dial to take the win.

The series really started on Thursday, when several categories were contested. In the big event, Racin' Jason Lynch of Tennessee won the $10,000 beating Gary Williams in the finals. Lynch ran a 4.810 on his 4.80 dial (.015 rt) to best Williams' .011 and a 4.868 on his 4.84 dial. The
Dynatech Sportsman $2,500 went to Jeff Adkinson over Andy Hensley who broke. Jegs Trophy went to local racer Todd Sapp over Wesley Purvis. Race Tech Jr. Dragster was won by Allen Rouse, Jr. over Eric Rodden.

On Friday, Scotty Richardson took home the $10,000 by beating local standout Carey Locke. Richardson's .004 light was hard to beat. In Dynatech Sportsman, the $5,000 went to Larry Ericksmoen in his Camaro, over Bob Dorr. In Race Tech Jr. Dragster, Dennis Bargeron beat Eric
Rodden. Jegs Trophy went to Ray Williams Sr. over Bill Jones Sr.

Saturday featured several special events and the usual lineup of categories. In the special Barker Trailer Sales $25,000 race, Slate Cummings' dragster from Louisiana beat Joe Kittle's Camaro. Cummings had a great .008 light and ran a 4.765 for the win. There was also a special 32 car shootout for a Race Tech 4 link dragster chassis. Jeff Estes ran a 5.082 on his 5.06 dial to beat Slate Cummings' 4.791 on his 4.76 dial. In the Afco Super Pro $10,000 race, J. P. Hickman beat Jeff Strickland. Dynatech Sportsman went to Ken Grant over Clayton Clark. Wesley Purvis beat Daniel Salyers for the Jegs Trophy category, and Allen Rouse, Jr. beat Ethan Jones in Race Tech Jr. Dragster.

On Sunday, Anthony Trauth from Kentucky used a better reaction time to beat David Rampy for the $10,000. Eric Paul from Indiana beat Scotty Richardson when Richardson broke to take the Dynatech Sportsman $5,000. Ray Williams Jr. beat Mike Stout for the Jegs Trophy category, and Eric Rodden beat Brian Chason in Jr. Dragster. The K&R Challenge $200 was won by Carey Locke who cut a perfect light.