SGMP Photos from Marvin T. Smith

Marvin T. Smith SGMP Photos

Hayes Mopar Meet This Weekend & Southeastern Drag Racing Reunions Coming Soon

Hayes Southeastern Mopar Meet at Atlanta Dragway September 8 & 9, 2006
The Hayes Mopar Meet at Atlanta Dragway is this weekend!

As usual, there will be drag racing, swap meets, car show, NHRA Mopar Pro Stockers, and a burnout contest. Gary Scelzi will also be back this year signing autographs.

New this year will be the Nostalgia Nitro Funny Car Showdown! See the flyers for scheduled funny cars/drivers and more details. Don't miss this great event!

2006 Event Flyers
More Info
Atlanta Dragway

2002 Photos
2003 Photos
2004 Photos
2005 Photos


Please support Hayes Chrysler (and Chevy, too) for sponsoring this event for the last couple of decades. Jim Trevorrow handles internet sales at Hayes Chrysler in Lawrenceville, GA. Jim is a straight shooter and will set you up in the best deal possible. I've bought several vehicles from Jim and he will be the one I go to the next time I buy a new vehicle. You can contact Jim via the Hayes website or 770-963-5251 or 800-556-2279. Tell him David at GeorgiaDragRacing.com sent you his way!

Old Drag Racers Reunion - Sept 29 - October 1, 2006 - Panama City, Florida
2006 Event Flyer

For more information, contact:
Sol Stewart
PO Box 144
Jackson, AL 36525
251-246-5588
t_pet@bellsouth.net

2002 Article
2003 Article
2004 Article

2002 Photos
2003 Photos
2004 Photos
2005 Photos

FINAL MAIL OUT 2006 OLD DRAG RACERS REUNION
From Sol Stewart

THIS IS LONG...LOTS OF INFORMATION...PLEASE READ VERY CAREFULLY

FRIDAY Sept. 29th Legends Of Drag Racing Dinner/Ceremony
We only have 63 tickets left fot this Dinner-Ceremony. When they are all gone, we will be full....Sold out. Friday, Sept.15th is the date I have to meet with the caterer and turn in the money and the head count for the dinner. Any money received after Sept. 14th will be returned. NO TICKETS, if any are left, will be sold after that date and no tickets will be available at the door on Sept. 29th. A Panama City police officer will be taking up tickets at the door and only persons holding a ticket will be allowed in. The door opens at 7pm CST, a cash bar will be available thru out the evening...The buffet will be served at
7:45pm and the Ceremony will start shortly there after.
Special guests for the Dinner/Ceremony will be Don Garlits, Darrell Gwynn, Jerry Gwynn
and Buddy Martin...There is a fair chance Roy Hill and David Pearson will come with Buddy Martin. HOW TO GET TICKETS TO THIS??? CONTACT ME.....
____________________________________________________________________
A video production company from Nashville, Tenn. is coming to the ODRR to video interviews for a SPECIAL "The Early Days of Drag Racing". They were at the big NHRA Reunion in Bowling Green, Ky. several weeks back and heard about our Event and now they are coming to Panama City to see what we are about.
___________________________________________________________________
Do we have any members of the ODRR who use Royal Purple Oil Products? Bobby Likis has this company as one of his major sponsors. Bobby would like to interview at least 3 of you on his National Radio Show on Saturday morning Sept. 30th, direct from the Car Show. PLEASE get in touch with me if you use the Royal Purple products and would like to be interviewed on national radio...just might be something in it for you!
__________________________________________________________________
CHARLIE MORRIS from the famous 422 Racing Group in Penn. will be at the Reunion
doing interviews and gathering information and pictures for his new book, "Drag Racing
In the 60's".
___________________________________________________________________
HALL OF MEMORIES 8:30am CST Saturday morning, Sept. 30th Ball Room
Again we ask everyone to bring old drag racing pictures, memorabilia, and racing artifacts
and place them in the "Hall of Memories" for everyone to see, enjoy and reminisce over.
Share these old treasures with others, just as the car show people share their cars in the
Car Show.
____________________________________________________________________
CAR SHOW 8:30am CST Saturday morning, Sept. 30th Rear Park Lot Motel
PLEASE let me or ROB COLE know if you plan to enter your car in the CAR SHOW. It is FREE ENTRY and we are expecting a big turnout. PHIL BONNER is bringing his famous 1964 T-Bolt to the CAR SHOW. We understand a gent from central Fla. is bringing the "FireBall" Roberts 57 Ford round track car...300HP 312. Also there is a good chance Marvin Panch will bring his 62 Pontiac round track car, thanks to the help of his good friend and ODRR member Sonny Rollo. There is a good chance that we will have as many as 7 origional 1964 T-Bolts at the CAR SHOW. We hope Todd Werner will bring his 1968 RONNIE SOX BARRACUDA.
PLEASE let me know if you would like to enter the "CACKLE FEST" during the CAR SHOW. This will start at 11am. We will also have a limited number of cars for the "BURN OUT" contest(10) which starts a 11:30am. PLEASE let me know if you would like to enter your car in this. Trophies will be awarded in the Car Show, the CACKLE FEST
and the BURNOUTS.
___________________________________________________________________
DRAG RACING SATURDAY NIGHT
Any cars entered in our CAR SHOW will be able to run in a special Bracket Race at the local drag strip on Saturday night. Entry fee for car and driver will be $40.00 and there will be a 100% pay back...For Instance...if we have 20 cars from the CAR SHOW race, there will be an $800.00 payout. There will be a special race for ODRR members over 75 yrs. old. Already there has been one protest filed that claims GEORGE WARREN is not old enough to race in this event. He will be required to provide a birth certificate proving he is 75 or older. Also, ELLIS MILNER(WOW, 49 yrs. in drag racing) is bringing his beautiful 1957 Chevy PRO MOD car to the CAR SHOW and for his daughter LYNN MILNER to drive in a MATCH RACE Saturday night at the track. LYNN is an outstanding PRO MOD racer and consistantly turns the 1/8 mile in the 4.20's at better than 170 MPH.

Below is a partial list of Race Cars we hope will be ready to race after the CAR SHOW...
AUBREY PADGETT...."BIG IRON" CHEVY
ROBERT McLELLAND..."BIG CHIEF" PONTIAC
BILL TRIPOLI...SS/DA 67 FAIRLANE 427
RUSTY GILLIS...69 MUSTANG 428CJ
WILLARD O'BRIAN..."OLD RUSTY" CHEVY
JIMMY SPINKS..."COUNTRY BOY" CHEVY
R. D. HELMS...CHEVY
SPEEDY BALL...CHEVY POWERED FORD
JOE TEUTON...426 HEMI BARRACUDA
CHARLES COOK...WILLYS COUPE
MARCO DeCESARIS...DICK BRANNAN'S T-BOLT
TOM GOULD...28 TIMES NAT. RECORD CORVAIR
JEFF NELSON...71 MUSTANG
MIKE OSBURN... 1964 FORD 427
PLEASE advise me if you would like to race your car at the local drag strip on Saturday
night sept. 30th. The car must be in the CAR SHOW Saturday morning in order to get into our SPECIAL BRACKET RACE Saturday night.
__________________________________________________________________
HALL OF FAME CEREMONY SATURDAY 2pm MOTEL BALL ROOM
The WORD is out...there are two or three of the 2006 Hall Of Fame inductees who may
get "ROASTED" real good....LOOK OUT RANDY....There will be celebs galore for everyone to meet and talk to....
__________________________________________________________________
THE HOST MOTEL THE HOLIDAY INN SELECT PANAMA CITY, FLA.
The phone # for reservations is 850-769-0000. REMEMBER to tell them you are with the OLD DRAG RACERS REUNION to get the good room rate.

FOR ANYTHING ELSE.....CONTACT ME SOL STEWART
P. O. BOX 144
JACKSON, ALA. 36545
251-246-5588
EMAIL: T_P@Bellsouth.net



East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame & Reunion - October 20-22, 2006 - Henderson, North Carolina
2006 Event Flyer
Official East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame Site

2002 Article
2003 Article
2004 Article
2005 Article

2002 Photos
2003 Photos
2004 Photos
2004 Photos - Album 2
2004 Photos Album 3
2005 Photos

Southern Nostalgia Shootout at South Georgia Motorsports Park October 27-29, 2006

2006 Event Flyer
SGMP

Track information and a registration form can be found at SGMP.
Race questions - Mark Adams at 229-253-1025
Car show questions - David Dean at 229-460-2463

Update: Top Fuel Dragster and Blown Altered classes have been added to the program of the Southern Nostalgia Shootout, scheduled for October 27-29, 2006, in beautiful Cecil, Georgia. These highly popular classes are some of the fastest in nostalgia racing. Nitromethane or alcohol fuel is permitted in either class. Payout for each class is a nostalgic $1000 for the winner, $500 for the runner-up, and $250 for each semifinalist.

A few professional vending area, swap meet, and car corral spaces are still available. Sponsorships for a few of the ten racing classes are also still available. Additional information for the event can be found at SGMPracing.com or contact Mark Adams (229) 253-1025.

BAZEMORE TAKES SHOT AT THIRD U.S. NATIONALS WIN, GETS RUNNER-UP

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Contact: Judy Stropus

CLERMONT, Ind. (Sept. 4, 2006) - Two-time U.S. Nationals Funny Car champion Whit Bazemore survived a dramatic day of drag racing at the U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway at Indianapolis, charging his way to his fourth final round of Funny Car eliminations at this historic event, coming up just 13 feet short of a three-peat.

Driving the special-bodied Matco Tools "Tales of the Rat Fink" Dodge Charger R/T, the Indianapolis resident and No. 4 qualifier easily defeated Tim Wilkerson in the opening round with a 4.790-second elapsed time at 324.05 mph. In the quarterfinal, he dismissed Cruz Pedregon with a 5.072/275.96 to Pedregon's 5.814/174.17, who was then disqualified for crossing the centerline.

Bazemore benefited from an odd occurrence which disqualified Jim Head in the semifinal, when Head clipped a cone at the finish line following his round win over Bazemore in dueling tire-smoking runs. Head, however, did not cross the centerline.

With that, Bazemore earned a spot in a final-round match-up against Robert Hight. The pair launched with nearly identical reaction times: .078 for Bazemore, .071 for Hight. It was a tight drag race to the finish, with Hight taking the victory by .0267 of a second with a 4.737/328.38 lap over Bazemore's losing 4.756/327.82.

"We're just really disappointed," said Bazemore, "but at the same time we're really proud of the team and the guys on the Matco Tools team. It was a long weekend, a stressful weekend. We were runner-up at Indy. On one hand, it's a great accomplishment. On the other hand, you just left with a very empty feeling because you had a chance to win this race and you don't have that
many opportunities. So in that aspect, it's frustrating.

"The team bounced back. We had a tough day. We spun the tires a little bit in the second round, then we spun them a lot in the third round and I couldn't get the thing to hook back up. We kept it off the wall and off the centerline, which ultimately got us the win, but I felt like we left a lot
on the table there as far as the driver is concerned.

"In the final, I think the team did excellent. Hight and (crew chief) Jimmy Prock had the car to beat all weekend, if not all year. They have a lot of good performance over there and it was basically their race to lose and we gave them a hell of a race, and for that we're really proud."

Bazemore explained the events of his semifinal win over Head: "I saw he was awfully close to the centerline and just for a fleeting moment I had hopes that OK, maybe he did cross the centerline, but then you realize what are the odds, because we got beat. I was really upset with myself more than anything because I should be able to get this car to hook back up. And then
they said that we won and, (I thought) Great, we got a lucky break. Then we go watch it on the monitor for ESPN and I'm watching Head and his rear tire actually didn't cross the whole centerline and they're interviewing me and it's on television and I'm watching and I'm thinking, We really didn't win. I didn't see him clip the cone. I just saw his rear tire touch the white
line but not cross it. And the rule is you have to cross it and clearly he didn't cross it. So my emotions are, OK do I point this out and get the win taken away? It turned out that he did hit the cone."

Bazemore remains eighth in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings, with five races left in the season.

Next up is the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pa., Sept. 15-17.

PROVISIONAL FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ron Capps, 1300
2. John Force, 1281
3. Robert Hight, 1141 (winner today)
4. Tony Pedregon, 1112
5. Eric Medlen, 1084
6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 1008
7. Gary Scelzi, 1001
8. Whit Bazemore, 956
9. Cruz Pedregon, 759
10. Phil Burkart, Jr. 756

Schumacher, Hight, Anderson and Smith Win the NHRA POWERade Mac Tools U.S. Nationals

NHRA Recap

Bishop and Jones win Summit Series race at SGMP

by Marvin T. Smith

Franky Bishop and Bryan Jones took Pro and Super Pro wins a the Summit Bracket series race at South Georgia Motorsports Park, September 2. Bishop, driving his Jeep, met Ken Grant in the finals. Bishop took a good starting line advantage (.010 rt to Grant's .048) and ran a 6.91 on his 6.87 dial to outdistance Grant's 7.770 on is 7.75 dial. In Super Pro, Flyin' Bryan Jones of Middleburg, Florida, took the win over Buddy Thompson. Jones had the reaction time advantage, .018 to 0.38, in his Mullis dragster and chased down the Camaro with a 4.935 on his 4.91 dial to Thompson's offpace 6.645 on his 6.59 dial.

A big Junior Dragster field saw A. J. Williams taking the 8-9 age group, Zach Mentzer taking the 10-12 group, and Beau Gay taking the win over Morgan Mouat in the13-17 age group.

Five Outlaw 10.5 teams and one Pro Mod team were out testing for upcoming events. Jimmy Blackman's twin turbo Firebird ran 7.21 and 7.18 at 195.73 in the quarter mile, and later ran 4.708 163 in the eighth for the best time of the day. Jack Barfield and Marcus Birt and a mystery Mustang also ran in the 4.70s.

Rex Kelley was out testing his Nitrous Pro Mod in preparation for the next big ADRL race. In spite of the track temperature of 134 degrees, he ran a fine 4.196 175.96 and a 4.21 177.32.

Next week the ORSCA 10.5 Outlaws take to the track!

FATHER AND SON MEET IN SUPER PRO FINAL DURING WHEELER ATLANTA CLASSIC

EVENT: DragRaceResults.com / Wheeler Atlanta Classic at Atlanta Dragway in 2006
by Tim Glover

(Saturday) For the second time in two weeks, the father and son team of Mark and Jeremy Hancock visited the winner's circle, this time in Super Pro during the DragRaceResults.com Wheeler Atlanta Bracket Classic. "We've been wanting to do this for years," exclaimed happy father Mark Hancock. He then added, "In the final, I thought, I'm driving this one (Joe Rampley's '03 Miller dragster), but I built that one (son Jeremy's '05 M&M dragster). I knew it was going to be good."

Also, for the 39th consecutive time in 2006, a new Super Pro winner graced the DRR winner's circle, this time it was Mark Hancock.

Kevin Rodden ('02 Undercover - Cleveland, TN) won the Pace American / Barker Trailer Sales Run for the Trailer event with a 5.071 at 136.32mph (5.07 target). David Simmons won the Jegs Sportsman portion of the Run for the Trailer event in his Scott Richardson / Simmons owned '88 S10 pickup, carding a 6.715 on a 6.71. Ashton Shubert won the Race Tech Jr Dragster Run for the Money round with a 9.112 on a 9.10.

Two weeks ago, the father and son team of Mark and Jeremy Hancock enjoyed a trip to the winner's circle during the August 20 Snap On Tools Day at the Races event, but it was in two separate classes (Mark in Super Pro and Jeremy in Sportsman). Today, in the Super Pro final, they met in a competition final for the first time, and enjoyed an extremely close race. Mark was competing courtesy of "Fireman Joe" Rampley, who said he had been having reaction time problems and wanted to put a good driver in his '03 Miller dragster. After the event, Rampley smiled and said, "Guess that's kind of telling on me, isn't it?" Mark hit the tree first with a .007 react, which turned out to be the key to victory after Jeremy lit the green with a ..023 react. Jeremy's '05 M&M dragster did the best it could, putting a wide open and dead-on 4.991 at 137.36mph on the scoreboard (4.99 dial). Mark was also full throttle across the big end stripe, crossing first by .005 seconds, en route to a 4.942 at 138.91mph (4.93 target). Both knew they had done their absolute best, and were thrilled to have had the opportunity. They thanked Joe Rampley, Jr Pippin, their entire crew and Wayne Smith for all the help and support. "I've been running a lot of years. I've won a few, and lost a lot, but nothing meant more to me than running my son Jeremy in the finals. I'm proud of what a good kid he is and how he handles himself at
the track." Ricky "Booger" Williams ('27 Roadster - Alamo, GA), who won a DRR Super Pro event earlier in 2006 at South Georgia Motorsports Park, came close to ending the DRR new Super Pro winner's streak, but was stopped in the semi-final round. The other semi-final finisher was Jonathan Anderson ('03 Mullis dragster - Griffin, GA), who won last week at Atlanta Dragway.

When asked about his Jegs Sportsman win, Toby Barnes, a longtime Sportsman racer, quietly said, "Yeah, we slipped another one in." Barnes worked his way through the field with his Griffin, GA based '70 GTO, and was relieved to have what turned out to be an easy final. His opponent, Tim Moon from Barling, AR had a very quick '69 Camaro, but unfortunately for Moon, it was too quick on the launch, lighting up the dreaded tomato colored bulb with a
-.027 react. Barnes ran his car on out to a 7.68 at 91.81mph (7.64 dial), while Moon, knowing the race was over, coasted to a 15.89 at 44.22mph (6.14 target). David Simmons ('88 S10 - Suwanee, GA) and Tracy Sons of Hendersonville, TN, driving Jacqueline Wilson's '75 Nova, finished in the semi-final round. Barnes thanked David Simmons and his kids, adding he
couldn't run without all their help.

For the second week in a row, Mel Abney from Cumming, GA capped off his day with a win, this time in Jeg's Trophy class. Abney took advantage of a .036 second holeshot to take the win stripe in his '67 Camaro, which crossed first with an 8.59 at 76.59mph (8.47 dial). His opponent, Gordon Warren of Alpharetta, GA, also in a '67 Camaro, slowed to a 6.87 at 97.82mph (6.53
dial). "It looked like he smokded the tires at the starting line, so I had some room at the finish line. This wasn't too bad. A fun day. I had a great time," Abney added. Abraham Zebeveria ('89 Mustang - Gainesville, GA) and Mike Hill ('88 Corvette - Atlanta, GA) ended their day in the semi-final round.

Fifteen year old Brandon Thompson from Dallas, GA went to his first DRR event in Adel, GA earlier this year, and enjoyed a win in Race Tech Jr Dragster. Thompson entered his second DRR event today, and enjoyed another Race Tech win, this time against 16 year old J.D. Marsh from Anderson, SC. Reaction time was everything for this final, as Thompson's .045 holeshot
influenced Marsh to break out with a 7.881 at 81.10mph (7.90 dial). Thompson also broke out, but by a lesser margin, 8.014 at 81.69mph (8.02 target). Kelsey Lynn (12 - Marietta, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. After the event, Thompson said, "This feels really good. It's one of the best wins. Yeah, I'm coming back tomorrow!"

(Sunday) Racers enjoyed a good morning and early afternoon of DRR racing, but Mother Nature chose to intervene with 100 percent of the 20 percent prediction of rain. The Jeg's Trophy final was completed, and five racers were left in Race Tech Jr Dragster, seven in Jeg's Sportsman and 29 in Super Pro. Promoters Danny Sons and Chris Barker split the purse among the racers
remaining in competition and declared a rainout for Sunday's race. Mark Hancock and Jeremy Hancock were hoping to double up, but a second round loss put Mark out of contention. Jeremy was still in the show when it was called. However, Mark was thrilled to learn the car he was driving, Joe Rampley's '03 Miller dragster, won the MGM Best Engineered Car award.

Joe and Vicki Haddon's '02 RaceCraft dragster earned the MGM Best Appearing Car award. Haddon added, "I might not be able to drive, but I can sure polish 'em!" A.J. Ashe won the K&R First Round Challenge Saturday for his perfect light, and picked up $200 for running the K&R Delay Box and Switch Panel, along with the required stickers. Chris Johnson ('05 Race Tech -
Maryville, TN) made a perfect run Saturday in round two, and in addition to picking up the $700 that had rolled over to this event, he also earned an extra $100 for running a CSR starter and stickers on his car. Drew Phillips followed up on Sunday with another perfect run; this one came in round one.

Saturday's Race Tech Jr Dragster winner began the day well by winning the Race Tech Jr Dragster Run for the Money event with a .004 over run. Another Saturday winner, Sportsman racer Toby Barnes went .005 over his dial to win the Jeg's Sportsman portion of the Pace American / Barker Trailer Sales Run for the Trailer event, and Jonathan Anderson, a Saturday semi-finalist, went dead-on with a zero to earn the Super Pro portion of the Pace American / Run for the Trailer event.

Chris Rose's trip back to Apex, NC was made much easier after winning the only completed Sunday final round, in Jeg's Trophy class. Rose's '95 Camaro was close to the mark anyway with an 8.69, 78.12mph pass (8.67 dial), but his opponent, Troy Mader, made things easier for him by lighting up the big red bulb with a too quick react. Mader's Jacksonville Beach, FL based '98
Mustang also recorded a good pass, 9.54 at 74.50mph (9.52 target). Atlanta Dragway regular Kevin Rich of Hull, GA was the lone Sunday semi-finalist with his '93 Explorer.

The championship run in Super Pro is still going strong, with Luke Bogacki as a favorite, but it is not over yet. There are a lot of Texas racers still within striking distance. One of the awards is the new '06 Nesbitt powered Race Tech dragster, which is on display at each event.

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 .

------------------------------------------------
SATURDAY SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mark Hancock '03 Miller dragster Commerce, GA 4.942 138.91 (4.93)
R/U: Jeremy Hancock '05 M&M dragster Commerce, GA 4.991 137.36 (4.99)
Semi: Ricky Williams '27 Roadster Alamo, GA
Semi: Jonathan Anderson '03 Mullis Griffin, GA
-----------------------------------------------
SATURDAY SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Toby Barnes '70 GTO Griffin, GA 7.68 91.81 (7.64)
R/U: Tim Moon '69 Camaro Barling, AR (foul) 15.89 44.22 (6.14)
Semi: Tracy Sons '75 Nova Hendersonville, TN
Semi: David Simmons '88 S10 pickup Suwanee, GA
-----------------------------------------------
SATURDAY JEGS TROPHY CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mel Abney '67 Camaro Cumming, GA 8.59 76.59 (8.47)
R/U: Gordon Warren '67 Camaro Alpharetta, GA 6.87 97.82 (6.53)
Semi: Abraham Zebeverria '89 Mustang Gainesville, GA
Semi: Mike Hill '88 Corvette Atlanta, GA
-----------------------------------------------
SATURDAY JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Brandon Thompson 15 Dallas, GA 8.014 81.69 (8.02)
R/U: J.D. Marsh 16 Anderson, SC 7.881 81.10 (7.90)
Semi: Kelsey Lynn 12 Marietta, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
SUNDAY TROPHY CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chris Rose '95 Camaro Apex, NC 8.69 78.12 (8.67)
R/U: Troy Mader '98 Mustang Jacksonville, FL 9.54 74.50 (9.52)
Semi: Kevin Rich '93 Explorer Hull, GA
Semi:

TWO-TIME U.S. NATIONALS WINNER BAZEMORE CLAIMS NO. 4 IN INDY QUALIFYING

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
Contact: Judy Stropus

CLERMONT, Ind. (Sept. 3, 2006) - Two-time U.S. Nationals champion Whit Bazemore demonstrated once again that he has a potential winner underneath him in the Matco Tools "Tales of the Rat Fink" Dodge Charger Funny Car, after qualifying No. 4 for the U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.

Indianapolis resident Bazemore drove his Funny Car to the No. 2 spot in the first round of qualifying on Friday, clocking a 4.718-second elapsed time at 327.43 mph. This pass held on as his quickest lap through four more sessions, earning him No. 4.

His ensuing four attempts yielded a 4.917/247.11, a 9.855/80.99 when the car struck the tires early, a stout 4.860/310.41, and a broken fuel line at the starting gate, which resulted in his not beginning the run.

"We're focused on winning the race tomorrow," said a confident Bazemore. "We've got a great car, it's very, very competitive, and we have a very good team. And when we have everything just right, the car's going to run very, very competitively, and I think we can win the race.

"We made a really good run out of the trailer that put us second at the time, and eventually in fourth, and then we also were on a really good run Saturday morning and I decided to shut it off. It spun (the tires) a little bit way down track. We're coming back from the fire at Memphis and some parts damage. The numbers were good, and had I legged it through there it would have been low of the session.

"The performance is there and we've got to exorcise the demons out of our camp here."

Bazemore faces Tim Wilkerson in the opening round of eliminations on Monday.

In the Skoal Showdown today, Bazemore was eliminated by Robert Hight in the opening stanza. It was a close race, but it was Hight first at the finish line by a .0983 of-a-second margin over Bazemore, who crossed the finish stripe in 4.860 seconds at 310.41 mph to Hight's winning 4.768/321.58. "We were very, very frustrated. We had a very simple mechanical thing happen
which made the car slow down," said Bazemore. "We were very confident with the tune-up. The car has run really well here during qualifying and during testing and we were very confident. This little slip certainly hurt our performance by a lot."

KJ Steps Up, Starts Second in Indy

Contact: Jon Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing, Inc.

Kurt Johnson and the ACDelco Cobalt Racing Team completed a solid qualifying effort on Sunday at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, with his best pass of 6.672-seconds at 206.83 mph capturing the second starting position at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.

Despite his limited experience with this new race car, throughout the three days of qualifying, Johnson was consistently among the best of the 31 Pro Stock cars attempting to make the field. In each of his first four runs, he bettered his time from the previous session, and ended the qualifying procedure with a solid, 6.697-second clocking, putting himself in a good position to take home his third U.S. Nationals win.

"We're pretty pleased with this new ACDelco Cobalt. Even though we have less than 20 runs on it, we made five good ones here in the 6.67-6.71-second range, which was good enough for the No. 2 spot. That gives us lane choice for the first round, which is what we came here to do in qualifying. The hard part is done, the fun part is coming up tomorrow. It's not easy, but fun.

"The good news is that there's more left in it. For example, if we can get it to go straight, we'll be a lot better off. I'm not really all that concerned, because we've figured out how to make it go straight in the left lane, so as long as we keep lane choice, we should be in good shape. That will be the key - keeping lane choice. We'll just have to do what we did in Memphis two weeks ago, going four rounds, keeping lane choice and collecting our reward at the end."

WJ Overcomes New Car Blues, Will Roll Off 14th in Indy

Contact: Jon Knapp
TMG Sports Marketing, Inc.

Warren Johnson and the GM Performance Parts GTO Racing team put forth a tremendous effort in qualifying for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, overcoming various challenges to earn the fourteenth starting position for Monday's final eliminations.

After bringing a new and relatively untested race car to O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, Johnson and his crew found themselves battling various gremlins throughout the first two days of qualifying. For example, in each of their first two attempts, their data acquisition system, a key element in fine-tuning the car's set-up, failed to produce any information, further complicating their assignment.

Even so, the team never faltered, installing a new computer and replacing much of the wiring. Working their way from behind, through their final three attempts, they climbed their way through the 31-car field, with their 6.710-second, 205.79 mph pass on Saturday morning catapulting them into the starting line-up for drag racing's biggest race.

"We've certainly had our hands full so far this weekend. We started by having to deal with a few electrical anomalies which resulted in our computer not producing any data on the first two runs. Unfortunately, these cars have gotten so much more sophisticated than they were a few years ago that a data acquisition system is a mandatory piece of equipment. You just can't tune it based on the seat of your pants anymore.

"Once we got that handled, we were finally able to start dialing this GM Performance Parts GTO into the race track. After looking at the limited data we got from last night's run, we came out this morning with a somewhat conservative set-up, keeping it soft enough that we wouldn't shake the tires and miss the last good session.

"Fortunately, we were able to not only get ourselves in the show, but we now know the edges of this track's envelope under conditions that should be quite similar to what we'll see tomorrow. We should be in good shape."

Schumacher, Force, Anderson and Smith Top Pro Qualifiers at the NHRA POWERade Mac Tools U.S. Nationals

NHRA Recap