BOWMAN ENJOYS FIRST WIN AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY, BELL RUTLEDGE AND PREVES REPEAT
RACE DATE: July 15, 2006
EVENT: Summit ET Race at Atlanta Dragway in 2006
by Tim Glover
Photos
(Commerce, GA - July 15) Racers might have worried a bit about the threat of rain, but the storms held off for Atlanta Dragway, and another great day was had by all. The day was especially sweet for Brett Bowman, who enjoyed his first ever win in the Jr Dragster class. Thomas Bell, (Super Pro) Jacob Rutledge (Pro) and Scott Preves (Sportsman), all former winners, got to add another trophy to the mantle with their victories. Also, the folks from the
Year One car show received the opportunity to enjoy passes down the track after the regular Summit race was in the books.
Super Pro racer Thomas Bell's entire crew was missing in action, but that didn't stop him. "If the gate's open, I'm going to be here," said Bell. (His wife Tammy went to the Smith reunion, and Freddie and Angie Lewis were taking a well deserved vacation to the beach.) Bell just dug in and made the rounds with his Toccoa, GA based '05 Undercover dragster, meeting veteran racer Doug Richardson of Ballground, GA in the final. Richardson won the lane choice in the final, and put Bell into the right lane, which Bell asn't run in months. It didn't really matter to Bell. Both racers nailed their dial in time with dead-on passes, but Bell's .015 second reaction time
advantage made the difference when he crossed the big end stripe .013 seconds before Richardson with a 4.896 at 139.38mph. Richardson's numbers with his '02 dragster were 5.238 at 131.11mph. Bubba Rich ('02 Firebird - Gainesville, GA) and Jim Onda ('96 dragster - Toccoa, GA) were the semi-final finishers.
Jacob Rutledge from Braselton, GA made it to his fifth Pro final in 2006, and made tonight's event his second win of the season. Rutledge met second year racer Scott Austin from Buford, Ga in the final, and used a reaction time advantage to take the win with his Laser Grader of Atlanta / Nan Harman Dempsey backed '79 Capri. Austin's '68 Camaro went a little better on the numbers with a 13.08 at 102.21mph (13.00 dial), and Rutledge skimmed about ten mph off his '79 Capri's usual numbers with an 11.93 at 101.74mph (11.83 goal). Austin had been particularly frustrated earlier in the day, and was ready to call it quits and go home. However, he chose to stick it out, and was rewarded with his first ever final round appearance. "I'm glad I stuck around," added Austin. Rutledge congratulated Austin for his performance, and then thanked some more people who helped him get to the winner's circle, Holly Rutledge, Howard Warren, Joey Rutledge and Tyler Rutledge. Chris Carlile ('69 Camaro - Canton, GA) and Kim Ellington ('81 Camaro - Conyers, GA) finished in the semi-final round.
Only two thousandths of a second separated the finalists at the finish line in the Sportsman final round. Scott Preves, the '99 Division Two Sportsman champion, came out on the winning end of the double breakout race with his rusty Monroe, GA based '93 Lumina. Harold Wilson ('74 Nova SS - Winder, GA) actually crossed the finish line first, but broke out more than Preves with
a 13.827, 96.21mph pass (13.94 target). Preves ran 16.620 at 77.18mph (16.73 dial) with his Lumina, which only has 240,354 miles on the odometer. Mel Abney ('67 Camaro - Cumming, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. "I had to go to the Stacy Blanton School of Finish Line Driving after the first round. That was a fiasco. He got me straightened out after that," added Preves.
Many of Atlanta Dragway's Jr Dragster racers went to the Eastern Conference finals in Bristol, but there was still a good turnout for the combined Jr Dragster class. Blackwell's Garage stepped in today and sponsored the winner's trophy, which was awarded to 14 year old Brett Bowman of Homer, GA for his performance. Bowman, who has been racing for over five years, and has made it to many finals, enjoyed winning his first race against Allen Long (14 - Ballground, GA). Bowman ran a very good 9.24 at 69.71mph (9.20 dial). Long was just a bit too anxious at the starting line, lighting up the dreaded tomato colored bulb with a too quick react. He then carded a 10.65 at 63.33mph (10.16 goal). Ashley Snelgrove (12 - Dahlonega, GA) and Harvey
Snelgrove (14 - Dahlonega, GA) were the semi-final finishers. "This is Awesome," exclaimed Bowman. His father, Howard Bowman, recently won the Motorcycle class at the Drag News AllStar race. Howard also has a '68 Chevy II race car, but said it was actually more fun to crew for his son Brett.
Sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2006 events may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com .
------------------------------------------------
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Thomas Bell '05 Undercover Toccoa, GA 4.89 139.38 (4.89)
R/U: Doug Richardson '02 dragster Ballground, GA 5.23 131.11 (5.23)
Semi: Bubba Rich '02 Firebird Gainesville, GA
Semi: Jim Onda '96 dragster Toccoa, GA
-----------------------------------------------
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Braselton, GA 11.83 101.74 (11.83)
R/U: Scott Austin '68 Camaro Buford, GA 13.08 102.21 (13.00)
Semi: Kim Ellington '81 Camaro Conyers, GA
Semi: Chris Carlile '69 Camaro Canton, GA
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Scott Preves '93 Lumina Monroe, GA 16.62 77.18 (16.73)
R/U: Harold Wilson '74 Nova SS Winder, GA 13.82 96.21 (13.94)
Semi: Mel Abney '67 Camaro Cumming,
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
COMBO JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Brett Bowman 14 Homer, GA 9.24 69.71 (9.20)
R/U: Allen Long 14 Ballground, GA 10.65 63.30 (10.16)
Semi: Ashley Snelgrove 12 Dahlonega, GA
Semi: Harvey Snelgrove 14 Dahlonega, GA
-----------------------------------------------
EVENT: Summit ET Race at Atlanta Dragway in 2006
by Tim Glover
Photos
(Commerce, GA - July 15) Racers might have worried a bit about the threat of rain, but the storms held off for Atlanta Dragway, and another great day was had by all. The day was especially sweet for Brett Bowman, who enjoyed his first ever win in the Jr Dragster class. Thomas Bell, (Super Pro) Jacob Rutledge (Pro) and Scott Preves (Sportsman), all former winners, got to add another trophy to the mantle with their victories. Also, the folks from the
Year One car show received the opportunity to enjoy passes down the track after the regular Summit race was in the books.
Super Pro racer Thomas Bell's entire crew was missing in action, but that didn't stop him. "If the gate's open, I'm going to be here," said Bell. (His wife Tammy went to the Smith reunion, and Freddie and Angie Lewis were taking a well deserved vacation to the beach.) Bell just dug in and made the rounds with his Toccoa, GA based '05 Undercover dragster, meeting veteran racer Doug Richardson of Ballground, GA in the final. Richardson won the lane choice in the final, and put Bell into the right lane, which Bell asn't run in months. It didn't really matter to Bell. Both racers nailed their dial in time with dead-on passes, but Bell's .015 second reaction time
advantage made the difference when he crossed the big end stripe .013 seconds before Richardson with a 4.896 at 139.38mph. Richardson's numbers with his '02 dragster were 5.238 at 131.11mph. Bubba Rich ('02 Firebird - Gainesville, GA) and Jim Onda ('96 dragster - Toccoa, GA) were the semi-final finishers.
Jacob Rutledge from Braselton, GA made it to his fifth Pro final in 2006, and made tonight's event his second win of the season. Rutledge met second year racer Scott Austin from Buford, Ga in the final, and used a reaction time advantage to take the win with his Laser Grader of Atlanta / Nan Harman Dempsey backed '79 Capri. Austin's '68 Camaro went a little better on the numbers with a 13.08 at 102.21mph (13.00 dial), and Rutledge skimmed about ten mph off his '79 Capri's usual numbers with an 11.93 at 101.74mph (11.83 goal). Austin had been particularly frustrated earlier in the day, and was ready to call it quits and go home. However, he chose to stick it out, and was rewarded with his first ever final round appearance. "I'm glad I stuck around," added Austin. Rutledge congratulated Austin for his performance, and then thanked some more people who helped him get to the winner's circle, Holly Rutledge, Howard Warren, Joey Rutledge and Tyler Rutledge. Chris Carlile ('69 Camaro - Canton, GA) and Kim Ellington ('81 Camaro - Conyers, GA) finished in the semi-final round.
Only two thousandths of a second separated the finalists at the finish line in the Sportsman final round. Scott Preves, the '99 Division Two Sportsman champion, came out on the winning end of the double breakout race with his rusty Monroe, GA based '93 Lumina. Harold Wilson ('74 Nova SS - Winder, GA) actually crossed the finish line first, but broke out more than Preves with
a 13.827, 96.21mph pass (13.94 target). Preves ran 16.620 at 77.18mph (16.73 dial) with his Lumina, which only has 240,354 miles on the odometer. Mel Abney ('67 Camaro - Cumming, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. "I had to go to the Stacy Blanton School of Finish Line Driving after the first round. That was a fiasco. He got me straightened out after that," added Preves.
Many of Atlanta Dragway's Jr Dragster racers went to the Eastern Conference finals in Bristol, but there was still a good turnout for the combined Jr Dragster class. Blackwell's Garage stepped in today and sponsored the winner's trophy, which was awarded to 14 year old Brett Bowman of Homer, GA for his performance. Bowman, who has been racing for over five years, and has made it to many finals, enjoyed winning his first race against Allen Long (14 - Ballground, GA). Bowman ran a very good 9.24 at 69.71mph (9.20 dial). Long was just a bit too anxious at the starting line, lighting up the dreaded tomato colored bulb with a too quick react. He then carded a 10.65 at 63.33mph (10.16 goal). Ashley Snelgrove (12 - Dahlonega, GA) and Harvey
Snelgrove (14 - Dahlonega, GA) were the semi-final finishers. "This is Awesome," exclaimed Bowman. His father, Howard Bowman, recently won the Motorcycle class at the Drag News AllStar race. Howard also has a '68 Chevy II race car, but said it was actually more fun to crew for his son Brett.
Sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2006 events may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com .
------------------------------------------------
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Thomas Bell '05 Undercover Toccoa, GA 4.89 139.38 (4.89)
R/U: Doug Richardson '02 dragster Ballground, GA 5.23 131.11 (5.23)
Semi: Bubba Rich '02 Firebird Gainesville, GA
Semi: Jim Onda '96 dragster Toccoa, GA
-----------------------------------------------
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Braselton, GA 11.83 101.74 (11.83)
R/U: Scott Austin '68 Camaro Buford, GA 13.08 102.21 (13.00)
Semi: Kim Ellington '81 Camaro Conyers, GA
Semi: Chris Carlile '69 Camaro Canton, GA
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Scott Preves '93 Lumina Monroe, GA 16.62 77.18 (16.73)
R/U: Harold Wilson '74 Nova SS Winder, GA 13.82 96.21 (13.94)
Semi: Mel Abney '67 Camaro Cumming,
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
COMBO JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Brett Bowman 14 Homer, GA 9.24 69.71 (9.20)
R/U: Allen Long 14 Ballground, GA 10.65 63.30 (10.16)
Semi: Ashley Snelgrove 12 Dahlonega, GA
Semi: Harvey Snelgrove 14 Dahlonega, GA
-----------------------------------------------
posted by David @ 8:40 PM
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