Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion at Bowling Green, Kentucky June 16-18, 2006

Don't miss out on one the best drag racing events of the year - this weekend! The fourth annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, presented by DuPont Automotive Finishes, June 16-18, 2006, at Beach Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky.

This years honorees are: Malcolm Durham, Jim Farr and Bill Roell, Bobby Langley, the Logghe Brothers and Mike Spitzer. The Grand Marshal will be Barbara Hamilton, first woman licensed by NHRA to drive a supercharged vehicle. The Justice Brothers Reunion Spotlight will fall on Pioneer Top Fuel Motorcycles. They will be feted on Fri., June 16 at a reception in the Holiday Inn and Convention Center, host hotel for the event.

Don't miss Chris "the Greek" Karamesines at the wheel of his "Chizler" and Al Bergler with his "More Aggravation" during Saturday night's Cacklefest!

Click here for more information about the reunion and honorees!

Fast Five with Barbara Hamilton
Fast Five with Bobby Langley
Fast Five with Malcolm Durham
Fast Five with Wally Parks
Fast Five with Bill "Short Round" Roell and Jim "Dauber" Farr
Fast Five with Mike Spitzer
Ray DiNoble Returns To Driver’s Seat
Original "Chizler" Returns to Life at Bowling Green
Bergler Returns With More Aggravation

The gang from GeorgiaDragRacing.com (Fred Simmons, Marvin T. Smith, Ed Miles, Bob Beasley and David Dilbeck) attended the previous three reunions and had an absolutley GREAT time! I won't be able to attend this year (and I'm terribly disappointed), but Ed Miles and Bob Beasley will be making the trip to cover the event for GeorgiaDragRacing.com. Check back after the reunion for reports and photos.


To check out some of the GeorgiaDragRacing.com articles and photos from previous NHRRs, click on the links below:


2005
Marvin T. Smith Article
Ed Miles Article
David Dilbeck Article
Photo Album
Photo Album 2
Photo Album 3

2004
Ed Miles Article
David Dilbeck Article
Photo Album
Photo Album 2

2003
Marvin T. Smith Article
David Dilbeck Article
Photo Album

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:

Career-Best Elapsed Time Helps Kurt Johnson Win in Joliet

Contact: Jon Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing, Inc.

Joliet, IL, June 11, 2006 - Kurt Johnson returned to the NHRA winner's circle in dramatic fashion on Sunday, taking home the Pro Stock title at the Carquest Auto Parts Nationals in Joliet, IL. Starting from the sixth position, the ACDelco Cobalt driver defeated Mark Pawuk, David Connolly and Jim Yates in the early stages before squaring off against rival and former teammate Greg Anderson in the championship round.

Running without the benefit of lane choice, Johnson knew he would need every advantage in order to score the victory, and left the starting line first with a stellar .012 reaction time jumping ahead by almost four hundredths of a second. The second-generation racer then capped his winning performance with a 6.646-second, 207.46 mph pass, which was the quickest of his entire career, defeating Anderson's slightly quicker 6.641-second effort. It was Johnson's second win of the 2006 POWERade Drag Racing season, second at Route 66 Raceway, and 34th of his career, allowing him to climb to fourth in the championship standings.

"It was a great day for the entire ACDelco Cobalt crew," stated Johnson afterwards. "We made some changes before the first round this morning, and our car responded with a 6.67 against Pawuk. We then came back in the second round against Connolly when the air was a little worse and ran 6.66, which had us really pleased.

"However, we knew we would need to pick it up even further for the final after Greg ran that '.64 in the semis, so we made some more changes. We put in a new rear end and changed the transmission around, made a few calculations and came up with a sweet run. It just took off and ran 6.64, two hundredths quicker than we've ever run before. Greg's one of those guys who brings out the best in you, and today it all worked out in our favor."

Making Johnson's accomplishment even more impressive is that he was able to score this important victory without one of the key members of his crew, Kevin Horst, who had remained in Atlanta to attend a family wedding.

"Unfortunately, Kevin couldn't be with us this weekend, so I ended up building five or six transmissions which is normally his responsibility," said Johnson. "Fortunately, I had watched him and learned how to do it. Even though you have to give your full attention to your area, it's still good to know a little bit about everything that goes on with the team just in case you need to step in. I'm pretty happy with how things turned out, but we're definitely looking forward
to having him back with us in Englishtown next weekend.

An added benefit from today's performance was that it gave Johnson a new, productive direction in their race car's tune-up, which could pay dividends in future races. However, before turning his focus on next week's race in Englishtown, NJ Johnson was ready to momentarily enjoy the results of his weekend in the Land of Lincoln.

"We had wanted to try the changes we made today in the last qualifying session yesterday, which, unfortunately was rained out," detailed Johnson. "Even so, we used them this morning realizing we needed to step up in order to challenge for the win. Based on today's results, I would say we have a definite direction in which to take the tune-up, and we're going to keep working towards it."

Finally, Johnson was pleased with his team's recent resurgence, which has seen him climb from 17th in the points standings following the Gainesville race to the fourth position he claimed with today's win, firmly . Even so, he was quick to point out that work remained to be done.

"It's good to go to two final rounds in a row, because it shows what your team is capable of on a consistent basis. This category is so tough that anything can happen, and it feels good to accomplish what we have over the last two races. You can go and test, but what really matters is when you run well at a national event against your competition. There's a lot of hard work and a little luck involved, but we paid attention and did what we needed to do.

"We came in here and ran well right off the bat. However, we were confident we could get better, so we kept working at improving our performance. We knew we had good power, a good race car and great sponsors in ACDelco, Chevrolet, Red Line Oil and Mark Christopher
Chevrolet, which helped us end the weekend in the winner's circle after the quickest run of my career today, making up for the bonehead move we made in Topeka (when Johnson lost in the final round). Everything is good right now, but the key is keep it going week after week, and that
is what we are focused on doing."

NHRA POWERade Championship Standings

(Following 10 of 23 events)

1. Greg Anderson 726
2. Jim Yates 616
3. Jason Line 612
4. Kurt Johnson 565
5. Dave Connolly 564
6. Erica Enders 550
7. Mike Edwards 534
8. Larry Morgan 466
9. Warren Johnson 452
10. Vieri Gaines 449

PARTS FAILURE TAKES OUT BAZEMORE IN CHICAGO'S FIRST ROUND

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Contact: Judy Stropus

JOLIET, ILL. (June 11, 2006) - Whit Bazemore and the Matco Tools Iron Eagle Dodge Charger Funny Car team were looking very strong this weekend after qualifying No. 2 at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.

The team spent a large part of the early stages of the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series getting back on their feet as championship contenders, and they were clearly on their way. So, today, following an elapsed-time personal-best performance in qualifying (4.674 seconds at 330.88 mph), Bazemore and the team were ready to showcase their improvement in
eliminations.

But it was not to be, as the car suffered a freak parts failure in the opening around against Phil Burkart Jr., taking Bazemore out of the race and into a cloud of frustration.

The pair took off with nearly identical reaction times: .080 for Bazemore, .075 for Burkart. By half-track, Bazemore was .057 of a second in the lead and .056 of a second out in front at the 1000-ft. point. Then, in a flash, it was over for Bazemore, as he slowed to a 4.904-second ET at 241.63 mph at the finish to Burkart's winning 4.811/318.32. Margin of victory: .0983 of a
second.

"We had the best car," said Bazemore. "No one went quicker than our qualifying time in that first round, but we had a problem with the motor. It was just freak breakage, and it's happened to us before. I tell you, the whole team is not only disappointed but frustrated because it's a brand-new part and it just happened again.

"It's not tune-up related. We're frustrated because the Matco Tools Dodge Charger was on track to run what we ran last night (4.674) and I was in (staged) a hundredth (of a second) or two, so it was going to be a 4.69 probably.

"So, we're leaving here with the fastest car and not the win, which is frustrating. Everyone did their jobs right and we didn't win. Sometimes it's easier to screw up and make a mistake, either driving or tune-up-wise, and lose that way than it is to be way ahead and have something stupid break on the car. It's very, very disheartening."

Bazemore is seventh in the Funny Car point standings.

Next up is the K&N Filters Supernationals in Englishtown, N.J., June 16-18.

FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ron Capps, 833
2. John Force, 785 (winner today)
3. Robert Hight, 647
4. Eric Medlen, 604
5. Tony Pedregon, 562
6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 536
7. Whit Bazemore, 503
8. Gary Scelzi, 473
9. Del Worsham, 469
10. Cruz Pedregon, 467

Kalitta, Force, KJ and Schnitz Win the NHRA POWERade CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals

NHRA Recap

BAZEMORE SETS CAREER-BEST ET, QUALIFIES NO. 2 IN CHICAGO

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Contact: Judy Stropus

JOLIET, Ill. (June 10, 2006) - Whit Bazemore joined the 4.6-second club today at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, by setting his career-best elapsed time of 4.674 seconds at 330.88 mph to qualify No. 2 in the quickest Funny Car field in NHRA history.

Bazemore's previous career-best ET was a 4.713, established here at Route 66 Raceway in 2004, along with his career-best 333.25 mph run. His 330.88 mph pass today was top speed for the meet so far.

The two-time U.S. Nationals champion put together a string of three solid passes today before NHRA cancelled the final round because of a long rain delay. They included a 4.766/327.59, a 4.700/329.99 (career-best ET at the time), and finally the 4.674/330.88, the quickest and fastest of the round.

"It's refreshing to be at a track like this where the surface is good and then to be blessed with good weather. Good weather for running a car, that is. And it's worth waiting around all day to do that. It was a long day," he said.

"We wanted to run a .60. We've tried since (crew chiefs) Todd (Okuhara) and Brian (Corradi) have been here. We've tried a few times when we've had the opportunity. We tuned the car up to the point where we thought, OK it should do this, and it's always been a couple of hundredths (of a second) off. Including last night, when we ran .700.

"The Matco Tools Dodge team really stood on it today and it's still plenty safe in terms of making it down the race track. It's a great job by the team and they deserve the credit, as well as all the Matco Tools people who stand behind us. We've definitely suffered some this year and they've stood behind us and the second half of the year is certainly shaping up to look a lot
more productive than the first half."

Bazemore will square off with Phil Burkart Jr. in first round of eliminations on Sunday.

WJ Qualifies 12th in Chicago

Contact: Jon Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing, Inc.

Sitting in the fourteenth position following the first day of qualifying for the Carquest Auto Parts Nationals, Warren Johnson knew he would need improvement in order to secure his position in Sunday’s starting line-up. Complicating "The Professor's" assignment was the weather, with intermittent rain changing both track and atmospheric conditions on a continual basis, as well as reducing the number of professional qualifying attempts to just three.

Even so, the GM Performance Parts GTO took full advantage of the opportunity, posting the fourth quickest pass of the session at 6.685-seconds with a top speed of 206.89 mph to claim the 12th starting position.

"We made a lot of changes to our GM Performance Parts GTO based on what we saw from last night's attempt. Although that run was good enough to qualify, it wasn’t at the level of performance where we're accustomed to running. We looked at what we did and did not accomplish, and adjusted the car accordingly. As a result, we were only one of two cars to improve their qualifying position. All in all, we made some scholarly choices, but we still have room for improvement.

"I can't say whether the loss of the final qualifying session had that much of an effect, although we all certainly would have liked to have another shot at the track. The atmospheric conditions were a tad worse than they were earlier today so the some of the teams who had the misfortune to be outside of the field would have had their work cut out for them, unless they made a gross error this morning. Of course, I am sure there are teams like us who had things they wanted to try in order to have an additional tool to work with for race day.

"We're in good shape heading into race day. Kurt (WJ's son, who will start sixth) qualified well, and we were the fourth quickest in this morning’s session, where conditions most closely resembled what we’ll run tomorrow, so all in all we're cautiously optimistic."