FORMER JR DRAGSTER RACERS MEET IN SUPER PRO, GILLEN WINS JR DRAGSTER WITH WOUNDED TORQUE CONVERTER
RACE DATE: June 17, 2006
FROM: Tim Glover
EVENT: Summit Snap-On event at Atlanta Dragway in 2006
(Commerce, GA - June 17) The Drag News crew came to Atlanta Dragway for its re-scheduled Drag News Allstar Tour event (tornadoes and snow postponed it from its original date of March 25). "I like the 90 degree weather here much better than the 30 degrees there (it was 39 degrees last week at the Allstar event in Salem, Ohio)," stated Todd Silvey of Drag News. The Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle winners received a collectible Edelbrock jacket,
and the overall Jr Dragster champion received a McGee Racing Cams custom watch. Drag News also brought dozens of door prizes donated by sponsors like TCI, Comp Cams, RHS, American and CC Flyer.
"Donkey Punch dominates," said happy Super Pro winner Hank Wilhelm from nearby Commerce. Wilhelm, a former Jr Dragster racer, met friend Jeremy Hancock (also a former Jr racer) in the final, and this time he took the big end stripe two ten thousandths of a second before Hancock, with a dead on 5.298, 126.38mph blast. Hancock began "pedaling" his Commerce, GA based '05 M&M dragster shortly before crossing the finish line, and slowed a tad to 4.938 at 135.27mph (4.92 dial). (Hancock was actually returning the favor Wilhelm did for him the first time they met in a final, where Wilhelm's "pedaling" gave Hancock the win by .0001 seconds.) Wilhelm thanked his mom and crew chief, Linda, along with all his friends who helped out, including Johnny Brown, who's race car shed a planetary gear at nine cars, and Robbie Brown, who wore his lucky pink drawers. Thomas Bell, who won last week's Summit / Snap-On event, was the lone semi-finalist today with his Toccoa, GA based '05 Undercover dragster. Dennis Coover ('04 Fab Concepts dragster - Cartersville, GA), who made it down to five cars today, became the Drag News / Comp Cams Bounty Hunter champion courtesy of his reaction times. "It's the only thing I won all year," he added with a smile.
The 2005 Pro points runner up and Georgia Tech alumnus, Dickey Forrester, won his way back into the winner's circle this evening in his backup car, a former Bulldog Tire backed red '68 Camaro. Forrester, who comes from Hickory Flat, GA, earned a big advantage at the starting line, and converted that to the win light at the big end by slowing his car to an 11.10 at 110.72mph (11.03 dial). His final round opponent, Gordon Warren from Alpharetta, GA,
apparently lost some elapsed time mid track and ran a little off pace in his '67 Camaro, posting a 10.09 at 133.35mph (10.03 target). Mike Jones from Covington, GA made it to the semi-final round with a borrowed helmet and borrowed car ('74 Century Luxus belonging to Mike and Pat Holman), along with Howard Warren ('72 Maverick - Douglasville, GA). Forrester enjoyed the
post race photo session at the Drag News trailer with last weeks Pro winner and semi-finalist, Chris Carlile and Larry Chance, along with the newly dubbed "Tom Truluck".
Former Sportsman champion Chad Brewer of Kennesaw, GA enjoyed the win at last week's Summit / Snap-On event, and continued the streak by defeating former Division champion Scott Preves in this edition of the Summit / Snap-On series. Preves lost this time at the hit of his throttle, and lit up the tomato colored bulb when his Monroe, GA based '93 Lumina left the
starting line .006 seconds before the start light came on. Brewer's "Team Lowbuck" basically stock '83 Thunderbird carded a 15.14 second, 91.28mph pass (15.07 dial). John Snapp ('68 Charger - Conyers, GA) made it to the semi-final round. "Man, I wish the points races would keep going. I'm on a roll," added a smiling Brewer.
Howard Bowman of Homer, GA won his first in 2006 and third ever Motorcycle race astride his trusty '82 Harley Davidson. Bowman left the starting line with a very good .023 react, and got the win light with a 19.66 at 67.99mph pass (19.42 dial). His opponent, Paul Cavanaugh, had a much faster '02 Suzuki Hyabusa, which was dialed at 9.90 seconds. He also had a stellar
react, .016 seconds, but apparently mis-judged the slower machine at the big end, and broke out with a 9.84 at 133.25mph. Kyle Freese ('93 Honda - Hoschton, GA), who won the April 15 Summit / Snap-On event, finished tonight in the semi-final round. Bowman also enjoyed watching his son, Brett Bowman, make it to the quarterfinal round in 13-17 Jr Dragster. Bowman's wife, Kathy (who owns a nice '06 Harley) joined him in the Drag News photo session.
Former Jr Dragster champion Matt Gillen (14 years old - Gainesville, GA) kept himself in the 2006 points lead in spite of a wounded torque converter, which suffered some internal breakage during the third of six rounds of competition, and clattered and clanged the rest of the day. Along with his dad, they adapted their routine quickly and kept turning on the win light
each round anyway. "I had a driver who never panicked," said his happy father, Bill Gillen. Matt's dad then added, "The Lord blesses me every day. I wake up with a great kid, family and friends." Gillen actually went too quick in the final, running 7.99 at 80.37mph (8.03 dial), but the win light was already glowing in his lane after his opponent Brandon Thompson (14 -
Douglasville,GA), another former champion, lit up the big red bulb. Thompson's ride posted a 7.99 also, at 82.34mph (7.93 dial). "Wild Kyle" Denton (16 - McDonough, GA) won a semi-finalist trophy. Matt Gillen thanked God, his dad, Tim and Arlen of Motivational tubing, and his mom, Lisa, for putting up with his racing.
Because there were two Jr Dragster winners (8-12 year old class and 13-17 class), a runoff was held to determine the winner of the McGee Racing Cams custom watch, which was awarded by the Drag News team of Laurie and Todd Silvey. Matt Gillen won the watch after his car slowed back down to an 8.04 at 77.60mph (7.99 dial). However, the win was made easier when his opponent, former champ Joshua Sisson (12 - Gainesville, GA) experienced a torque converter failure at mid track, and was unable to cross the finish line.
Before missing the opportunity to win the McGee watch, however, 12 year old Joshua Sisson enjoyed taking the 8-12 year old Jr Dragster win against another top contender, Dylan Kent (11 - Acworth, GA). Sisson used a .088 second starting line reaction time advantage to take the win with a very good .01 over 8.92, 73.54 mph pass (8.91 react). Kent's car couldn't have done any better, carding an 8.940 at 73.95mph (8.94 target). Young Cole Wood (8 - Jefferson, GA) was the sole semi-final finisher. Sisson thanked C.L. Landscaping for all their help in achieving his win.
------------------------------------------------
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Hank Wilhelm '92 Horton dragster Commerce, GA 5.29 126.38 (5.29)
R/U: Jeremy Hancock '05 M&M dragster Commerce, GA 4.93 135.21 (4.92)
Semi: Thomas Bell '05 Undercover Toccoa, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Dickey Forrester '68 Camaro Hickory Flat, GA 11.10 110.72 (11.02)
R/U: Gordon Warren '67 Camaro Alpharetta, GA 10.09 133.35 (10.03)
Semi: Mike Jones '74 Century Covington, GA
Semi: Howard Warren '72 Maverick Douglasville, GA
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chad Brewer '83 Thunderbird Kennesaw, GA 15.14 91.28 (15.07)
R/U: Scott Preves '93 Lumina Monroe, GA (foul) 16.53 81.60 (16.50)
Semi: John Snapp '68 Charger Conyers, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Howard Bowman '82 Harley Homer, GA 19.66 67.99 (19.42)
R/U: Paul Cavanaugh '02 Hyabusa Loganville, GA 9.84 133.25 (9.90)
Semi: Kyle Freese '93 Honda Hoschton, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Joshua Sisson 12 Gainesville, GA 8.92 73.54 (8.91)
R/U: Dylan Kent 11 Acworth, GA 8.94 73.95 (8.94)
Semi: Cole Wood 8 Jefferson, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: "Mad Matt" Gillen 14 Gainesville, GA 7.99 80.37 (8.03)
R/U: Brandon Thompson 14 Douglasville, GA 7.99 82.34 (7.93)
Semi: "Wild Kyle" Denton 16 McDonough, GA
Semi:
FROM: Tim Glover
EVENT: Summit Snap-On event at Atlanta Dragway in 2006
(Commerce, GA - June 17) The Drag News crew came to Atlanta Dragway for its re-scheduled Drag News Allstar Tour event (tornadoes and snow postponed it from its original date of March 25). "I like the 90 degree weather here much better than the 30 degrees there (it was 39 degrees last week at the Allstar event in Salem, Ohio)," stated Todd Silvey of Drag News. The Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman and Motorcycle winners received a collectible Edelbrock jacket,
and the overall Jr Dragster champion received a McGee Racing Cams custom watch. Drag News also brought dozens of door prizes donated by sponsors like TCI, Comp Cams, RHS, American and CC Flyer.
"Donkey Punch dominates," said happy Super Pro winner Hank Wilhelm from nearby Commerce. Wilhelm, a former Jr Dragster racer, met friend Jeremy Hancock (also a former Jr racer) in the final, and this time he took the big end stripe two ten thousandths of a second before Hancock, with a dead on 5.298, 126.38mph blast. Hancock began "pedaling" his Commerce, GA based '05 M&M dragster shortly before crossing the finish line, and slowed a tad to 4.938 at 135.27mph (4.92 dial). (Hancock was actually returning the favor Wilhelm did for him the first time they met in a final, where Wilhelm's "pedaling" gave Hancock the win by .0001 seconds.) Wilhelm thanked his mom and crew chief, Linda, along with all his friends who helped out, including Johnny Brown, who's race car shed a planetary gear at nine cars, and Robbie Brown, who wore his lucky pink drawers. Thomas Bell, who won last week's Summit / Snap-On event, was the lone semi-finalist today with his Toccoa, GA based '05 Undercover dragster. Dennis Coover ('04 Fab Concepts dragster - Cartersville, GA), who made it down to five cars today, became the Drag News / Comp Cams Bounty Hunter champion courtesy of his reaction times. "It's the only thing I won all year," he added with a smile.
The 2005 Pro points runner up and Georgia Tech alumnus, Dickey Forrester, won his way back into the winner's circle this evening in his backup car, a former Bulldog Tire backed red '68 Camaro. Forrester, who comes from Hickory Flat, GA, earned a big advantage at the starting line, and converted that to the win light at the big end by slowing his car to an 11.10 at 110.72mph (11.03 dial). His final round opponent, Gordon Warren from Alpharetta, GA,
apparently lost some elapsed time mid track and ran a little off pace in his '67 Camaro, posting a 10.09 at 133.35mph (10.03 target). Mike Jones from Covington, GA made it to the semi-final round with a borrowed helmet and borrowed car ('74 Century Luxus belonging to Mike and Pat Holman), along with Howard Warren ('72 Maverick - Douglasville, GA). Forrester enjoyed the
post race photo session at the Drag News trailer with last weeks Pro winner and semi-finalist, Chris Carlile and Larry Chance, along with the newly dubbed "Tom Truluck".
Former Sportsman champion Chad Brewer of Kennesaw, GA enjoyed the win at last week's Summit / Snap-On event, and continued the streak by defeating former Division champion Scott Preves in this edition of the Summit / Snap-On series. Preves lost this time at the hit of his throttle, and lit up the tomato colored bulb when his Monroe, GA based '93 Lumina left the
starting line .006 seconds before the start light came on. Brewer's "Team Lowbuck" basically stock '83 Thunderbird carded a 15.14 second, 91.28mph pass (15.07 dial). John Snapp ('68 Charger - Conyers, GA) made it to the semi-final round. "Man, I wish the points races would keep going. I'm on a roll," added a smiling Brewer.
Howard Bowman of Homer, GA won his first in 2006 and third ever Motorcycle race astride his trusty '82 Harley Davidson. Bowman left the starting line with a very good .023 react, and got the win light with a 19.66 at 67.99mph pass (19.42 dial). His opponent, Paul Cavanaugh, had a much faster '02 Suzuki Hyabusa, which was dialed at 9.90 seconds. He also had a stellar
react, .016 seconds, but apparently mis-judged the slower machine at the big end, and broke out with a 9.84 at 133.25mph. Kyle Freese ('93 Honda - Hoschton, GA), who won the April 15 Summit / Snap-On event, finished tonight in the semi-final round. Bowman also enjoyed watching his son, Brett Bowman, make it to the quarterfinal round in 13-17 Jr Dragster. Bowman's wife, Kathy (who owns a nice '06 Harley) joined him in the Drag News photo session.
Former Jr Dragster champion Matt Gillen (14 years old - Gainesville, GA) kept himself in the 2006 points lead in spite of a wounded torque converter, which suffered some internal breakage during the third of six rounds of competition, and clattered and clanged the rest of the day. Along with his dad, they adapted their routine quickly and kept turning on the win light
each round anyway. "I had a driver who never panicked," said his happy father, Bill Gillen. Matt's dad then added, "The Lord blesses me every day. I wake up with a great kid, family and friends." Gillen actually went too quick in the final, running 7.99 at 80.37mph (8.03 dial), but the win light was already glowing in his lane after his opponent Brandon Thompson (14 -
Douglasville,GA), another former champion, lit up the big red bulb. Thompson's ride posted a 7.99 also, at 82.34mph (7.93 dial). "Wild Kyle" Denton (16 - McDonough, GA) won a semi-finalist trophy. Matt Gillen thanked God, his dad, Tim and Arlen of Motivational tubing, and his mom, Lisa, for putting up with his racing.
Because there were two Jr Dragster winners (8-12 year old class and 13-17 class), a runoff was held to determine the winner of the McGee Racing Cams custom watch, which was awarded by the Drag News team of Laurie and Todd Silvey. Matt Gillen won the watch after his car slowed back down to an 8.04 at 77.60mph (7.99 dial). However, the win was made easier when his opponent, former champ Joshua Sisson (12 - Gainesville, GA) experienced a torque converter failure at mid track, and was unable to cross the finish line.
Before missing the opportunity to win the McGee watch, however, 12 year old Joshua Sisson enjoyed taking the 8-12 year old Jr Dragster win against another top contender, Dylan Kent (11 - Acworth, GA). Sisson used a .088 second starting line reaction time advantage to take the win with a very good .01 over 8.92, 73.54 mph pass (8.91 react). Kent's car couldn't have done any better, carding an 8.940 at 73.95mph (8.94 target). Young Cole Wood (8 - Jefferson, GA) was the sole semi-final finisher. Sisson thanked C.L. Landscaping for all their help in achieving his win.
------------------------------------------------
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Hank Wilhelm '92 Horton dragster Commerce, GA 5.29 126.38 (5.29)
R/U: Jeremy Hancock '05 M&M dragster Commerce, GA 4.93 135.21 (4.92)
Semi: Thomas Bell '05 Undercover Toccoa, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Dickey Forrester '68 Camaro Hickory Flat, GA 11.10 110.72 (11.02)
R/U: Gordon Warren '67 Camaro Alpharetta, GA 10.09 133.35 (10.03)
Semi: Mike Jones '74 Century Covington, GA
Semi: Howard Warren '72 Maverick Douglasville, GA
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chad Brewer '83 Thunderbird Kennesaw, GA 15.14 91.28 (15.07)
R/U: Scott Preves '93 Lumina Monroe, GA (foul) 16.53 81.60 (16.50)
Semi: John Snapp '68 Charger Conyers, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Howard Bowman '82 Harley Homer, GA 19.66 67.99 (19.42)
R/U: Paul Cavanaugh '02 Hyabusa Loganville, GA 9.84 133.25 (9.90)
Semi: Kyle Freese '93 Honda Hoschton, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Joshua Sisson 12 Gainesville, GA 8.92 73.54 (8.91)
R/U: Dylan Kent 11 Acworth, GA 8.94 73.95 (8.94)
Semi: Cole Wood 8 Jefferson, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: "Mad Matt" Gillen 14 Gainesville, GA 7.99 80.37 (8.03)
R/U: Brandon Thompson 14 Douglasville, GA 7.99 82.34 (7.93)
Semi: "Wild Kyle" Denton 16 McDonough, GA
Semi:
posted by David @ 6:30 PM
<< Home