Georgia Drag Racing News

Information about Georgia drag racing history, personalities, activities and events from GeorgiaDragRacing.com.

Monday, June 18, 2007

FIVE CLASS WINNERS EARN SECOND 2007 WIN AT DRAG NEWS ALL STAR EVENT

FROM: Tim Glover
EVENT: Summit Snap-On event at Atlanta Dragway in 2007


(Commerce, GA - June 16) The Drag News Magazine All Star Tour rolled into town again, bringing awards and bounties to Atlanta Dragway racers. Five racers enjoyed earning their second win of the season, D.A. Steber (Sportsman - won March 24 Summit), Jacob Rutledge (Pro - won June 9 Summit), Wayne Brooks (Super Pro - won March 24 Summit), Ryan Coover (Motorcycle - won March 17 Summit) and Brooke Buchanan (13-17 Jr Dragster - won DRR
event).

In addition to the regular purse, Drag News Magazine gave out several special awards. The Master's award went to Lloyd Kaylor and the Young Guns award went to Jeremy Hancock. J.D. Reid's ultra quick dragster earned the Best Appearing Car award, and Bobby Mullinax's mount earned Best Engineered Car. Pete Dugan won the Mickey Thompson dial-in challenge with a 7.110 on a 7.11 dial. Two girls (Kim Ellington - Pro) and B.J. Pitman (Super Pro) had a bounty put on them, as they had the best reaction time in their respective classes during the dial-in challenge.

Wayne Brooks made his interval between wins much shorter this time, three months versus two years. As usual, Brooks was on his game, knocking out an ultra close 4.842 at 139.49mph (4.84 dial) in the final with his Between, GA based '00 Racetech dragster. Ed Nalley, who comes from nearby Maysville, GA was also close, but crossed the finish line .0027 seconds later with his '76 Vega, which turned in a 6.411 at 105.13mph (6.40 dial). Hank Wilhelm ('96 Ed Quay dragster - Commerce, GA) was one of the semi-final finishers. Doug Richardson ('02 Miller dragster - Ballground, GA) was the other. "Ray Wilkings told me my hat was the ugliest he had ever seen. But I told him it's my lucky-ugly hat that helped me win," added Brooks with a smile. Nalley, who celebrated his sixth wedding anniversary to his wife Dianne tonight, thanked his major sponsor, Bill Boomhower of Super Service Tire and Alignment.

Jacob Rutledge was also in the March 24 final, but had to settle for runner-up that time due to an untimely red light in his Hoschton, GA based '79 Capri. Tonight, the story was different, and his quick starting line reaction time made the difference when he faced Jessie Wilson from
Tallapoosa, GA. Wilson could not ask any more from his '70 Nova, which posted a spot-on 7.740 at 87.52mph (7.74 target). However, Rutledge had a ..032 second advantage in the reaction time department, and crossed the win stripe first with a 7.541 at 87.45mph (7.53 dial). Dickey Forrester ('67 Camaro - Hickory Flat, GA) and Bill Boomhower ('65 Belvedere - Walhalla, SC)
were the semi-final pair. Rutledge thanked sponsors Buddy's Tire and Nan Harman-Dempsey for their help. He also noted his wife Holley had to stay home to work this time, but his mom Rachel and son Tyler came with him.

D.A. Streber of Greenville, SC proved once again that the slowest car can take the win in Sportsman class. Streber made his '02 Hyundai a little quicker this time, and took the big end stripe first with a 19.76 at 68.93mph (19.74 dial). His opponent, Harold Wilson from Winder, GA, also went .02 over his dial in time of 13.56, with a 13.58 at 93.97mph. The margin of victory at the finish line was only .012 seconds. Former Sportsman Division Two champ Scott Preves ('93 Lumina - Monroe, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Streber, who used to road race flat track motorcycles in the 1980s, noted he is currently building a small block Chevy powered, full
frame '80 Datsun 310 that should go nearly twice as quick as his current Hyundai.

Ryan Coover of Cartersville, GA has taken command of the Motorcycle points series, as he has now won both Motorcycle events. He sold the bike he won with last time in order to purchase a faster '04 Kawasaki, and kept turning the win lights on. His final round opponent, Scott Reynolds, also of Cartersville, GA, made it easier for Coover when he pushed the starting line
react a little too hard with his '03 Suzuki, resulting in the dreaded tomato colored foul light. Coover ran his bike out to the race winning 6.36 at 109.61mph (6.45 dial), and Reynolds also chose to run the course, posting a 6.67 at 109.41mph (6.69 dial). Zach Hulsey ('00 Suzuki - Clermont, GA) was the semi-final purse winner. The Coovers have now graced the 2007 Atlanta Dragway winner's circle three times in 2007, as Ryan's dad, Dennis, earned a win during the DragRaceResults.com race in March.

Fourteen year old Brooke Buchanan from Six Mile, SC, took a Saturday win during the DRR event earlier in the season, and stepped up to the plate again in today's 13-17 Jr Dragster final, scoring a near perfect 7.931 at 82.03mph (7.93 dial). Although both racers actually left the starting line slightly before the green light glowed, Harvey Snelgrove (15 - Dahlonega,
GA) committed the infraction first, handing the automatic win to Buchanan. Snelgrove's machine posted an 8.961 at 71.12mph (8.90 dial). Taylor Ramsey (14 - Commerce, GA) and Jackie Lastinger (14 - Lilburn, GA) were the semi-final trophy earners.

8-12 Jr Dragster winner Bailey Denton from McDonough, GA took out points leader Chris Bowden in round two, and then had the better react and the closer ET in the final, running 8.97 at 72.09mph (8.92 dial) for the win. Salina Shanks (10 - Jefferson, GA) crossed the finish line a moment later with an 8.96 at 71.12mph (8.90 dial). Dylan Hutchins (12 - Monroe, GA) and
John Gordon (12 - Hiram, GA) finished their day in the semi-final round.

The Drag News people also put on a "Queen of the Hill" event which placed the two Junior class winners against each other in a one round runoff. Buchanan earned that win, which places her in the running for a Space Camp trip. Buchanan also won a custom designed Drag News watch.

Early in the day, the remaining Jr Dragsters from the rain delayed Super Chevy event were able to finish their race. In 13-17 Jr Dragster, Taylor Ramsey (14 - Commerce, GA) won, Jordan Thurmond (14 - Statham, GA) placed runner up, and Matt Gillen (15 - Gainesville, GA) earned a semi-final finish, along with Harvey Snelgrove (15 - Dahlonega, GA). Two 8-12 Jr Dragster competitors remained in competition, and Dylan Kent (12 - Acworth, GA) took that win against John Gordon (12 - Hiram, GA).

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: Wayne Brooks '00 Racetech Between, GA 4.842 139.49 (4.84)
R/U: Ed Nalley '76 Vega Maysville, GA 6.411 105.13 (6.40)
Semi: Doug Richardson '02 Miller dragster Ballground, GA
Semi: Hank Wilhelm '96 Ed Quay dragster Commerce, GA
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PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacob Rutledge '79 Capri Hoschton, GA 7.541 87.45 (7.53)
R/U: Jessie Wilson '70 Nova Tallapoosa, GA 7.740 87.52 (7.74)
Semi: Dickey Forrester '67 Camaro Hickory Flat, GA
Semi: Bill Boomhower '65 Belvedere Walhalla, SC
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SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: D.A. Streber '02 Hyundai Greenville, SC 19.76 68.93 (19.74)
R/U: Harold Wilson '74 Nova Winder, GA 13.58 93.97 (13.56)
Semi: Scott Preves '93 Lumina Monroe, GA
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MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Ryan Coover '04 Kawasaki Cartersville, GA 6.36 109.61 (6.45)
R/U: Scott Reynolds '03 Suzuki Cartersville, GA (foul) 6.67 109.41 (6.69)
Semi: Zach Hulsey '00 Suzuki Clermont, GA
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8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Bailey Denton 13 McDonough, GA 8.97 72.09 (8.92)
R/U: Salina Shanks 10 Jefferson, GA 8.96 71.12 (8.90)
Semi: Dylan Hutchins 12 Monroe, GA
Semi: John Gordon 12 Hiram, GA
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13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Brooke Buchanan 13 Six Mile, SC 7.931 82.03 (7.93)
R/U: Harvey Snelgrove 15 Dahlonega, GA (foul) 8.22 80.98 (8.09)
Semi: Taylor Ramsey 14 Commerce, GA
Semi: Jackie Lastinger 14 Lilburn, GA
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Super Chevy 8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Dylan Kent 12 Acworth, GA 8.93 72.38 (8.90)
R/U: John Gordon 12 Hiram, GA (foul) 8.83 73.86 (8.90)
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Super Chevy 13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Taylor Ramsey 14 Commerce, GA 7.901 81.85 (7.90)
R/U: Jordan Thurmond 14 Statham, GA 7.896 80.94 (7.90)
Semi: Matt Gillen 15 Gainesville, GA
Semi: Harvey Snelgrove 15 Dahlonega, GA
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