BOWDEN SCORES THIRD STRAIGHT WIN AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY, FATHER DEFEATS SON IN SPORTSMAN SEMIFINAL
FROM: Tim Glover
EVENT: Summit Snap-On event at Atlanta Dragway in 2007
(Commerce, GA - June 9) Finally! After three Summit ET Series events cancelled by the weather, Atlanta Dragway racers enjoyed their first complete race since March 24. Chris Bowden enjoyed his third win in a row in 8-12 Jr Dragster, and is now 50 points ahead of his closest competitor, Wesley Mayfield. Allen Schaffer Jr's years of experience paid off with a
Sportsman win; he also took out his son during the semi-final round.
"Thanks to my major sponsor., my dad," said Super Pro winner Don Brown Jr of Buford, GA. His dad is taking the year off, which is fortunate for Jr, as he has been borrowing many parts from dad's race car to keep his own '03 Spitzer dragster going. Brown put a 4.82 dial on his car for the final against Dahlonega, GA racer Henry Snelgrove Sr, and made it good with a right on 4.828 at 140.20mph. Snelgrove's '98 Bos dragster had been running well all night, and was close with a 5.08 at 135.28mph (5.06 target). Hank Wilhelm ('96 Ed Quay dragster - Commerce, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Brown said the breakage of the day was the radiator, so he just added more cool water after each pass. Dad, you might better check the radiator in your car, it looks like it may be moving over soon.
Jacob Rutledge from Hoschton, GA is no stranger to winning, and the evening's work in his '79 Capri proved the point. Rutledge advanced through the rounds steadily, saving his best reaction time (.012 seconds) for the final. In less than a second, it didn't really matter, as that was the point final round opponent Dale Anderson turned on the dreaded cherry colored bulb with a -.028 second react in his Hayesville, NC based '68 Camaro. Rutledge was dialed a bit off, posting a 7.49 at 93.29mph (7.52 dial). Anderson couldn't have asked for better from his mount, as it scored a dead-on, but losing, 6.57, 106.30mph pass (6.57 target). Jesse Farmer ('71 Maverick -
Pickens, SC) was the semi-final finisher. "Rutledge's first words to his wife Holly were "Thank you for all your help." He then added, "Every time she's come to the track this year I've been in the finals."
Allen Schaffer Jr from Austell, GA began racing again about four years ago, and enjoyed the Sportsman win with his '04 Dodge Rumble Bee truck. He campaigned a regular Hemi truck last year, but had no luck with that one. His current ride served well, putting up the winning 15.46 at 85.98mph on the scoreboard (15.41 dial). His final round opponent was Matthew Bates of
Loganville, GA, who borrowed a friend's '00 Mustang for the evening. Bates actually crossed the big end stripe first, but went too quick in the process, breaking out with a 16.74 at 80.73mph (16.78 dial). Allen Schaffer, III, ('81 Malibu wagon - Austell, GA) son of tonight's winner Allen Schaffer Jr, learned a lesson from his father during the semi-final round, which is where Junior's day ended. The other semi-final finisher was Harold Wilson ('74 Nova - Winder, GA). "Go Team Lo-Buc," added a happy Tracy Schaffer.
Fifteen year old Brandon Thompson from Douglasville, GA enjoyed the final round win in 13-17 Jr Dragster against Colton Dahlem (14 - Acworth, GA). Thompson took the win stripe first by .018 seconds, carding an 8.08 at 76.61mph (8.03 dial). Dahlem's slower react cost him the race after he posted an otherwise great 8.42 at 75.85mph (8.40 dial). Justin Fancher (13 -
Loganville, GA) and Kyle Denton (17 - McDonough, GA) earned a semi-finalist trophy for their efforts.
Ten year old Chris Bowden from Homer, GA scored his third 8-12 Jr Dragster win in a row, this time at the expense of Bailey Denton (13 - McDonough, GA). Bowden's pass of 9.261 at 69.28mph (9.26 dial and .028 react) would have won every class but Super Pro tonight (and it would have been a dead heat in Super Pro). Denton also turned in an otherwise good pass, 8.98 at 72.32mph (8.93 target). Mitchell Hennessee (12 - Dallas, GA) was the lone semi-final finisher. "Oh, we're so proud. Daddy needs to take some lessons from him," added Patty, his happy mom.
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 2007 events, including the Night of Fire, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to http://www.atlantadragway.com/ .
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Don Brown, Jr '03 Spitzer Buford, GA 4.82 140.20 (4.82)
R/U: Henry Snelgrove, Sr '98 Bos dragster Dahlonega, GA 5.08 135.28 (5.06)
Semi: Hank Wilhelm '96 Quay dragster Commerce, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Hoschton, GA 7.49 93.29 (7.52)
R/U: Dale Anderson '68 Camaro Hayesville, NC (foul) 6.57 106.30 (6.57)
Semi: Jesse Farmer '71 Maverick Pickens, SC
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Allen Schaffer, Jr '04 Rumble Bee Austell, GA 15.46 85.98 (15.41)
R/U: Matthew Bates '00 Mustang Loganville, GA 16.74 80.73 (16.78)
Semi: Allen Schaffer, III '81 Malibu wagon Austell, GA
Semi: Harold Wilson '74 Nova Winder, GA
-----------------------------------------------
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chris Bowden 10 Homer, GA 9.261 69.28 (9.26)
R/U: Bailey Denton 13 McDonough, GA 8.98 72.32 (8.93)
Semi: Mitchell Hennessee 12 Dallas, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Brandon Thompson 15 Douglasville, GA 8.08 76.61 (8.03)
R/U: Colton Dahlem 14 Acworth, GA 8.42 75.85 (8.40)
Semi: Justin Fancher 13 Loganville, GA
Semi: Kyle Denton 17 McDonough, GA
-----------------------------------------------
EVENT: Summit Snap-On event at Atlanta Dragway in 2007
(Commerce, GA - June 9) Finally! After three Summit ET Series events cancelled by the weather, Atlanta Dragway racers enjoyed their first complete race since March 24. Chris Bowden enjoyed his third win in a row in 8-12 Jr Dragster, and is now 50 points ahead of his closest competitor, Wesley Mayfield. Allen Schaffer Jr's years of experience paid off with a
Sportsman win; he also took out his son during the semi-final round.
"Thanks to my major sponsor., my dad," said Super Pro winner Don Brown Jr of Buford, GA. His dad is taking the year off, which is fortunate for Jr, as he has been borrowing many parts from dad's race car to keep his own '03 Spitzer dragster going. Brown put a 4.82 dial on his car for the final against Dahlonega, GA racer Henry Snelgrove Sr, and made it good with a right on 4.828 at 140.20mph. Snelgrove's '98 Bos dragster had been running well all night, and was close with a 5.08 at 135.28mph (5.06 target). Hank Wilhelm ('96 Ed Quay dragster - Commerce, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Brown said the breakage of the day was the radiator, so he just added more cool water after each pass. Dad, you might better check the radiator in your car, it looks like it may be moving over soon.
Jacob Rutledge from Hoschton, GA is no stranger to winning, and the evening's work in his '79 Capri proved the point. Rutledge advanced through the rounds steadily, saving his best reaction time (.012 seconds) for the final. In less than a second, it didn't really matter, as that was the point final round opponent Dale Anderson turned on the dreaded cherry colored bulb with a -.028 second react in his Hayesville, NC based '68 Camaro. Rutledge was dialed a bit off, posting a 7.49 at 93.29mph (7.52 dial). Anderson couldn't have asked for better from his mount, as it scored a dead-on, but losing, 6.57, 106.30mph pass (6.57 target). Jesse Farmer ('71 Maverick -
Pickens, SC) was the semi-final finisher. "Rutledge's first words to his wife Holly were "Thank you for all your help." He then added, "Every time she's come to the track this year I've been in the finals."
Allen Schaffer Jr from Austell, GA began racing again about four years ago, and enjoyed the Sportsman win with his '04 Dodge Rumble Bee truck. He campaigned a regular Hemi truck last year, but had no luck with that one. His current ride served well, putting up the winning 15.46 at 85.98mph on the scoreboard (15.41 dial). His final round opponent was Matthew Bates of
Loganville, GA, who borrowed a friend's '00 Mustang for the evening. Bates actually crossed the big end stripe first, but went too quick in the process, breaking out with a 16.74 at 80.73mph (16.78 dial). Allen Schaffer, III, ('81 Malibu wagon - Austell, GA) son of tonight's winner Allen Schaffer Jr, learned a lesson from his father during the semi-final round, which is where Junior's day ended. The other semi-final finisher was Harold Wilson ('74 Nova - Winder, GA). "Go Team Lo-Buc," added a happy Tracy Schaffer.
Fifteen year old Brandon Thompson from Douglasville, GA enjoyed the final round win in 13-17 Jr Dragster against Colton Dahlem (14 - Acworth, GA). Thompson took the win stripe first by .018 seconds, carding an 8.08 at 76.61mph (8.03 dial). Dahlem's slower react cost him the race after he posted an otherwise great 8.42 at 75.85mph (8.40 dial). Justin Fancher (13 -
Loganville, GA) and Kyle Denton (17 - McDonough, GA) earned a semi-finalist trophy for their efforts.
Ten year old Chris Bowden from Homer, GA scored his third 8-12 Jr Dragster win in a row, this time at the expense of Bailey Denton (13 - McDonough, GA). Bowden's pass of 9.261 at 69.28mph (9.26 dial and .028 react) would have won every class but Super Pro tonight (and it would have been a dead heat in Super Pro). Denton also turned in an otherwise good pass, 8.98 at 72.32mph (8.93 target). Mitchell Hennessee (12 - Dallas, GA) was the lone semi-final finisher. "Oh, we're so proud. Daddy needs to take some lessons from him," added Patty, his happy mom.
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 2007 events, including the Night of Fire, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to http://www.atlantadragway.com/ .
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Don Brown, Jr '03 Spitzer Buford, GA 4.82 140.20 (4.82)
R/U: Henry Snelgrove, Sr '98 Bos dragster Dahlonega, GA 5.08 135.28 (5.06)
Semi: Hank Wilhelm '96 Quay dragster Commerce, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Hoschton, GA 7.49 93.29 (7.52)
R/U: Dale Anderson '68 Camaro Hayesville, NC (foul) 6.57 106.30 (6.57)
Semi: Jesse Farmer '71 Maverick Pickens, SC
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Allen Schaffer, Jr '04 Rumble Bee Austell, GA 15.46 85.98 (15.41)
R/U: Matthew Bates '00 Mustang Loganville, GA 16.74 80.73 (16.78)
Semi: Allen Schaffer, III '81 Malibu wagon Austell, GA
Semi: Harold Wilson '74 Nova Winder, GA
-----------------------------------------------
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chris Bowden 10 Homer, GA 9.261 69.28 (9.26)
R/U: Bailey Denton 13 McDonough, GA 8.98 72.32 (8.93)
Semi: Mitchell Hennessee 12 Dallas, GA
Semi:
-----------------------------------------------
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Brandon Thompson 15 Douglasville, GA 8.08 76.61 (8.03)
R/U: Colton Dahlem 14 Acworth, GA 8.42 75.85 (8.40)
Semi: Justin Fancher 13 Loganville, GA
Semi: Kyle Denton 17 McDonough, GA
-----------------------------------------------
posted by David @ 7:23 PM
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