CARLILE, BELL, SNELGROVE OVERCOME PROBLEMS AND WIN
FROM: Tim Glover
EVENT: Summit Snap-On event at Atlanta Dragway in 2006
(Commerce, GA - June 10) After what turned out to be a two month break in Summit / Snap On ET racing action, the bracket racers were back in force to enjoy racing at Atlanta Dragway. The weather was perfect, if a bit on the warm side. A Run for the Money session was contested after time trials today, and Glen Long enjoyed taking home the Super Pro portion of the purse
by going closest to his dial with a 5.602 at 122.59mph (5.60 target). Harold Wilson enjoyed the No Electronics purse, carding a 13.688 at 98.11mph (13.68 dial). Thomas Bell overcame problems with his four link suspension and earned the Super Pro win. Pro winner Chris Carlile had to partially disassemble his engine just before the race to replace the camshaft, and 13-17 Jr Dragster winner Harvey Snelgrove experienced chain breakage in the first round, en route to his victory.
"It was luck, I reckon," said Super Pro winner Thomas Bell after collecting the winner's check. He then added, "my luck has changed. I worked on the four link suspension, and finally got the car working. Also, thanks to my crew, Freddie and Angie Lewis. They had it dialed right." His Toocoa, GA based '05 Undercover dragster pulled him through in the final, with a 4.869,
142.63mph (4.86 dial). At the starting line, last week's Super Chevy winner, Dan Higgs of Acworth, GA had the decided reaction time advantage in his '92 Racecraft dragster, .018 seconds to Bell's .064. However, Higg's machine found a couple extra hundredths of a second in elapsed time while en route to the finish line, and broke out with a 5.461, 125.12mph pass (5.48 dial). Higgs said he still had a good run, going 15 rounds total in the past two weeks before being stopped. "Smokey Joe" Smith ('03 Miller dragster - Lawrenceville, GA) and Jim McKelvey ('96 Spitzer dragster - Snellville, GA) made it to the semi-final round.
Pro winner Chris Carlile of Canton, GA said he was also glad to get his car "back on track". Carlile discovered an engine problem that had been plaguing his car in recent races, and his new camshaft did not arrive until June 8. Carlile stayed up late working on the engine both Thursday and Friday evening, and his efforts were rewarded with the final round win light. Carlile's final round opponent, Monroe, GA racer Michael Evans, had problems with the transmission linkage in his '80 Mustang, and fell off the pace to a 14.07 at 75.47mph (10.64 dial). Seeing he had room to spare at the big end, Carlile slowed to a 10.55 at 119.15mph (10.44 target). Carlile's racing
teammate, Larry Chance ('68 Camaro - Canton, GA) earned his way to the semi-final round, along with Kyle Stephens ('75 Camaro - Gainesville, GA). Carlile gave a special thanks to Graphic Accoutrements, Competition Tire South, Hedman Hedders and Ron Thompson of Matco Tools for their help with his victory.
Kennesaw, GA racer Chad Brewer enjoyed winning the 2004 and 2005 Sportsman championship at the former Southeastern International Dragway. Tonight, he won his first Atlanta Dragway Sportsman race against J.D. Burford, who hails from Greenville, SC. Brewer had a decent pass in his '83 Thunderbird, posting a 15.35 at 89.73mph on the scoreboards (15.28 dial), but became the instant winner the moment Burford's '00 Corvette left the starting line with the dreaded tomato colored foul bulb glowing. Burford's machine went 13.36
at 104.13mph (13.31 dial). Joey Rutledge ('80 Mustang - Austell, GA), brother of March 25 Pro winner Jacob Rutledge and a former Atlanta Dragway Motorcycle champ, was the lone semi-finalist. Pro standout Dickey Forrester talked Brewer into racing at Atlanta Dragway, insinuating he might have some true luck racing there. Burford has also done very well in 2006, finishing no worse than semi-finalist in the first three completed events.
Atlanta Dragway's "Princess of Performance", 12 year old Kelsey Lynn has been racing for three years, but had never won an Atlanta Dragway race. (Of course, she was the 2005 Division Two champion in the 11 year old class, and finished runner up at the April 15 Summit Atlanta race, but who's counting?) Lynn's opponent, eight year old Cole Wood, had a reaction time advantage at the starting line, but her car was dialed tight, and ran a great .01 over 8.92 at 71.54mph. Wood's car fell off the pace a bit, putting a 13.48 at 46.64mph on the scoreboards (13.42 dial). Fortunately for Lynn, the door was open to take the big end stripe first, which she did by a mere .0018 seconds. Twelve year old Blake Griffith of Homer, GA finished in the semi-final round during the April 15 event, and repeated that feat for this event.
Harvey Snelgrove (14 - Dahlonega, GA) also finished in the semi-finals at the April 15 Summit race, and jumped up two spots tonight by taking the 13-17 Jr Dragster win with a good 9.75 at 65.92mph (9.67 dial). His opponent, Jake Swaim (16 - Jefferson, GA) experienced some engine mis-firing in his machine at about the 300 foot mark, which caused it to slow to an 8.84 at 73.47mph (8.68 dial). Snelgrove, whose last win was in 2005, had a scare in round one when the drive chain broke, but he recovered quite nicely for the rest of the event. Taylor Ramsey (13 - Commerce, GA) was the sole semi-final finisher.
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Thomas Bell '05 Undercover Toccoa, GA 4.86 142.63 (4.86)
R/U: Dan Higgs '92 Racecraft Acworth, GA 5.46 125.12 (5.48)
Semi: Jim McKelvey '96 Spitzer dragster Snellville, GA
Semi: Smokey Joe Smith '03 Miller dragster Lawrenceville, GA
-----------------------------------------------
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chris Carlile '69 Camaro Canton, GA 10.55 119.15 (10.44)
R/U: Michael Evans '80 Mustang Monroe, GA 14.07 75.47 (10.64)
Semi: Larry Chance '68 Camaro Canton, GA
Semi: Kyle Stephens '75 Camaro Gainesville, GA
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chad Brewer '83 Thunderbird Kennesaw, GA 15.35 89.73 (15.28)
R/U: J.D. Burford '00 Corvette Greenville, SC (foul) 13.36 104.13 (13.31)
Semi: Joey Rutledge '80 Mustang Austell, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Kelsey Lynn 12 Marietta, GA 8.92 71.54 (8.91)
R/U: Cole Wood 8 Jefferson, GA 13.48 46.64 (13.42)
Semi: Blake Griffith 12 Homer, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Harvey Snelgrove 14 Dahlonega, GA 9.75 65.92 (9.67)
R/U: Jake Swaim 16 Jefferson, GA 8.84 73.47 (8.68)
Semi: Taylor Ramsey 13 Commerce, GA
Semi:
EVENT: Summit Snap-On event at Atlanta Dragway in 2006
(Commerce, GA - June 10) After what turned out to be a two month break in Summit / Snap On ET racing action, the bracket racers were back in force to enjoy racing at Atlanta Dragway. The weather was perfect, if a bit on the warm side. A Run for the Money session was contested after time trials today, and Glen Long enjoyed taking home the Super Pro portion of the purse
by going closest to his dial with a 5.602 at 122.59mph (5.60 target). Harold Wilson enjoyed the No Electronics purse, carding a 13.688 at 98.11mph (13.68 dial). Thomas Bell overcame problems with his four link suspension and earned the Super Pro win. Pro winner Chris Carlile had to partially disassemble his engine just before the race to replace the camshaft, and 13-17 Jr Dragster winner Harvey Snelgrove experienced chain breakage in the first round, en route to his victory.
"It was luck, I reckon," said Super Pro winner Thomas Bell after collecting the winner's check. He then added, "my luck has changed. I worked on the four link suspension, and finally got the car working. Also, thanks to my crew, Freddie and Angie Lewis. They had it dialed right." His Toocoa, GA based '05 Undercover dragster pulled him through in the final, with a 4.869,
142.63mph (4.86 dial). At the starting line, last week's Super Chevy winner, Dan Higgs of Acworth, GA had the decided reaction time advantage in his '92 Racecraft dragster, .018 seconds to Bell's .064. However, Higg's machine found a couple extra hundredths of a second in elapsed time while en route to the finish line, and broke out with a 5.461, 125.12mph pass (5.48 dial). Higgs said he still had a good run, going 15 rounds total in the past two weeks before being stopped. "Smokey Joe" Smith ('03 Miller dragster - Lawrenceville, GA) and Jim McKelvey ('96 Spitzer dragster - Snellville, GA) made it to the semi-final round.
Pro winner Chris Carlile of Canton, GA said he was also glad to get his car "back on track". Carlile discovered an engine problem that had been plaguing his car in recent races, and his new camshaft did not arrive until June 8. Carlile stayed up late working on the engine both Thursday and Friday evening, and his efforts were rewarded with the final round win light. Carlile's final round opponent, Monroe, GA racer Michael Evans, had problems with the transmission linkage in his '80 Mustang, and fell off the pace to a 14.07 at 75.47mph (10.64 dial). Seeing he had room to spare at the big end, Carlile slowed to a 10.55 at 119.15mph (10.44 target). Carlile's racing
teammate, Larry Chance ('68 Camaro - Canton, GA) earned his way to the semi-final round, along with Kyle Stephens ('75 Camaro - Gainesville, GA). Carlile gave a special thanks to Graphic Accoutrements, Competition Tire South, Hedman Hedders and Ron Thompson of Matco Tools for their help with his victory.
Kennesaw, GA racer Chad Brewer enjoyed winning the 2004 and 2005 Sportsman championship at the former Southeastern International Dragway. Tonight, he won his first Atlanta Dragway Sportsman race against J.D. Burford, who hails from Greenville, SC. Brewer had a decent pass in his '83 Thunderbird, posting a 15.35 at 89.73mph on the scoreboards (15.28 dial), but became the instant winner the moment Burford's '00 Corvette left the starting line with the dreaded tomato colored foul bulb glowing. Burford's machine went 13.36
at 104.13mph (13.31 dial). Joey Rutledge ('80 Mustang - Austell, GA), brother of March 25 Pro winner Jacob Rutledge and a former Atlanta Dragway Motorcycle champ, was the lone semi-finalist. Pro standout Dickey Forrester talked Brewer into racing at Atlanta Dragway, insinuating he might have some true luck racing there. Burford has also done very well in 2006, finishing no worse than semi-finalist in the first three completed events.
Atlanta Dragway's "Princess of Performance", 12 year old Kelsey Lynn has been racing for three years, but had never won an Atlanta Dragway race. (Of course, she was the 2005 Division Two champion in the 11 year old class, and finished runner up at the April 15 Summit Atlanta race, but who's counting?) Lynn's opponent, eight year old Cole Wood, had a reaction time advantage at the starting line, but her car was dialed tight, and ran a great .01 over 8.92 at 71.54mph. Wood's car fell off the pace a bit, putting a 13.48 at 46.64mph on the scoreboards (13.42 dial). Fortunately for Lynn, the door was open to take the big end stripe first, which she did by a mere .0018 seconds. Twelve year old Blake Griffith of Homer, GA finished in the semi-final round during the April 15 event, and repeated that feat for this event.
Harvey Snelgrove (14 - Dahlonega, GA) also finished in the semi-finals at the April 15 Summit race, and jumped up two spots tonight by taking the 13-17 Jr Dragster win with a good 9.75 at 65.92mph (9.67 dial). His opponent, Jake Swaim (16 - Jefferson, GA) experienced some engine mis-firing in his machine at about the 300 foot mark, which caused it to slow to an 8.84 at 73.47mph (8.68 dial). Snelgrove, whose last win was in 2005, had a scare in round one when the drive chain broke, but he recovered quite nicely for the rest of the event. Taylor Ramsey (13 - Commerce, GA) was the sole semi-final finisher.
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Thomas Bell '05 Undercover Toccoa, GA 4.86 142.63 (4.86)
R/U: Dan Higgs '92 Racecraft Acworth, GA 5.46 125.12 (5.48)
Semi: Jim McKelvey '96 Spitzer dragster Snellville, GA
Semi: Smokey Joe Smith '03 Miller dragster Lawrenceville, GA
-----------------------------------------------
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chris Carlile '69 Camaro Canton, GA 10.55 119.15 (10.44)
R/U: Michael Evans '80 Mustang Monroe, GA 14.07 75.47 (10.64)
Semi: Larry Chance '68 Camaro Canton, GA
Semi: Kyle Stephens '75 Camaro Gainesville, GA
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chad Brewer '83 Thunderbird Kennesaw, GA 15.35 89.73 (15.28)
R/U: J.D. Burford '00 Corvette Greenville, SC (foul) 13.36 104.13 (13.31)
Semi: Joey Rutledge '80 Mustang Austell, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Kelsey Lynn 12 Marietta, GA 8.92 71.54 (8.91)
R/U: Cole Wood 8 Jefferson, GA 13.48 46.64 (13.42)
Semi: Blake Griffith 12 Homer, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Harvey Snelgrove 14 Dahlonega, GA 9.75 65.92 (9.67)
R/U: Jake Swaim 16 Jefferson, GA 8.84 73.47 (8.68)
Semi: Taylor Ramsey 13 Commerce, GA
Semi:
posted by David @ 11:39 PM
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