Year One Experience and Nostalgia Dragsters This Weekend at Atlanta Dragway
Atlanta Speed Shop (in conjunction with ORSCA and Year One Experience) will be sponsoring a nostalgia dragster event at Atlanta Dragway (Commerce, GA) May 18th and 19th. If you know anyone that wants to compete or come out and enjoy the fun, please help us spread the word!
For information about the event, contact Julius Hughes at the Atlanta Speed Shop (770-534-1560 shop - 770-356-3468 cell) or check Year One's website for other details/schedules.
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Drag Racing Brings Griffin Father – Son Team Closer Together
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Marcy Scott
Trey Sanders
Drag Racing Brings Griffin Father – Son Team Closer Together
HAMPTON, Ga. (May 16, 2007) – For Griffin, Ga.’s Arnold Sr. and Arnie Cobb Jr., Castrol GTX Friday Night Drags at Atlanta Motor Speedway are more than a chance to race friends and foes; it is an opportunity to spend time together and bring the entire family out for an evening of heads-up drag racing.
When they are not spending their Friday evenings at AMS, the two can be found operating Cobb’s Auto Repair in Griffin, Ga., a business that has been family-owned for 30-years. It is through Cobb’s Auto Repair they can fund their drag racing addiction. An addiction that has been in the Cobb family as long as anyone can remember.
“I knew Arnie was going to be into drag racing from a very young age,” Arnold Cobb Sr. said. “When you grow up doing mechanic work, racing gets in your blood and it never gets out. I just would have never guessed that we would be racing cars worth this much and putting this much money into it.
“But, you don’t have long here on earth and you can’t take any of this stuff with you when you leave, so you better enjoy it while you can,” The elder Cobb said.
The younger Arnie started drag racing in high school and like then, his father still plays a major role in their drag racing.
“He built the engine and transmission in my current drag car,” said Arnie. “He also did all of the welding on the car. He really is the man behind it all. I do the electrical work, tune it and of course, I drive it.”
The Cobb’s race a 1974 Chevrolet Nova equipped with a big-block Chevrolet engine producing upwards of 1,300 horse power. Fans can see Cobb race his black Nova in the Super Pro division at AMS.
On any given night you will find Arnie, his father, mother, wife, daughter and sister on the AMS infield taking in the tire smoke and race fuel exhaust. Part of what makes racing at AMS so special for Cobb is the recognition he has gotten from the experience.
“Racing at AMS is nice because it is so close to home and it’s easy for people to come out and watch the races,” Arnie said. “On Monday’s, people come by the shop all day and tell me they saw me at AMS on Friday night. The fans there are great.”
While Cobb is still searching for his first final-round win, he feels he is getting closer and closer and it is only a matter of time before he will be crowned champion for a night.
“We really have been racing ourselves until we can get the car dialed in,” Arnie said. “We are just trying to get a little faster and while you are really never finished working on a race car, we are pretty close. I think we have a great shot at that championship this year.”
Regardless of the wins, losses, trophies, or blown engines, drag racing has brought a father and son closer than they already were.
“When I was growing up, Pop and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye,” Arnie said. “But as he grew older, I grew up and now he is my best friend and my mentor. I plan to do this as long as he can.”
Fans can watch the Cobb’s race their black Nova during Castrol GTX Friday Night Drags at Atlanta Motor Speedway. More information can be obtained by contacting the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
Castrol GTX Friday Night Drags Series Refires on May 18
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Marcy Scott & Trey Sanders
Castrol GTX Friday Night Drags Series Refires on May 18
Drag Exhibition by the All Harley® Drag Racing Association Tour
HAMPTON, Ga. (May 15, 2007) – The Castrol GTX Friday Night Drags Series returns to the one-eighth-mile drag strip at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday, May 18.
Fans and competitors alike are looking forward to getting heads up, street-style drag racing underway, as inclement weather only allowed for practice runs last Friday night. Each competitor that registered on last week was awarded one point towards the season championship title; however no one was claimed the nightly winner as the elimination round was cancelled.
In addition to all the great race action, this Friday night will feature a drag exhibition from the All Harley® Drag Racing Association Tour ( www.ahdra.com ). These motorcycles will explode down the drag strip at speeds reaching 145 mph.
Classic cars will be on display in the Busch garage when the Show N’ Shine car show returns, with trophies awarded to the winner of each of the five classes.
The 2007 Castrol GTX Friday Night Drags Series will run this Friday then take a week off for Memorial Day weekend, returning on June 1, 8, 22, 29, August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 and September 7. Pit gates open at 6 p.m., grandstands open at 6:30 p.m. and practice drag runs begin at 6:40 p.m. Show N’ Shine car show judging begins at 8:30 p.m. with the Championship drag runs starting at 9:10 p.m.
Both drag and Show N’ Shine competitor entry fees are $20 while spectator admission is only $7. Children under six are free.
For more information about Castrol GTX Friday Night Drags, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
Dreher, Newberry, and Eaton Top SGMP NHRA Division 2 Points Meet; Sherman Adcock Scores Rare Double
by Marvin T. Smith
PhotosExtreme smoky conditions from south Georgia forest fires failed to stop the incredible drag racing action at South Georgia Motorsports Park. The smoke was so thick in the morning that the scoreboards could not be read from the starting line. The starter had to use radio communication to find out when the track was clear for the next pair to race. Nevertheless, racing continued and reached completion on schedule.
In Top Alcohol Dragster, local favorite Lindsey Wood fell in the final round to Jared Dreher from Indiana. Wood slipped from her consistent 5.60s in the first two rounds to a troubled 6.05 to lose to Dreher’s 5.68 at only 218. Dreher had low elapsed time of eliminations at 5.556, so he definitely earned the win.
Bob Newberry ruled Top Alcohol Funny Car with consistent 5.70s. Although both Monty Todd (round 1) and John Sullivan (round 2) strapped huge holeshots on Newberry, their 5.80s were no match for Newberry. In the final, Newberry was ready and left on Mark Billington and ran his best elapsed time of the event, a 5.734 at 254.38 to take the win when Billington had problems.
In Competition Eliminator, David Eaton took his Altered Bantam to the win over number one qualifier Glen Treadwell. Eaton ran a quick 6.77 at 198 to beat Treadwell’s 8.10. Eaton had a telepathic light - .008 in the final round for the easy win.
Jerry Holman won the Super Stock category in his Tennessee Firebird. His final round opponent was Gary Russell from Ohio.
Stock Eliminator was won by bracket superstar Edmond Richardson over David Toren of Canton, GA when Toren went red.
Sherman Adcock had a Super day, winning both Super Comp and Super Gas. In Super Comp, the Columbus, GA racer left on Chris Davis in a double breakout final. In Super Gas, Adcock won when finalist Michael Ruff broke out with a 9.891.
Kevin Mac Nicol won Super Street over Michael Desio when Desio broke out.
Bruce Thrift added another Georgia victory when he beat Bruce Duncan for the Top Sportsman crown. Georgian Mark Padgett ruled the Top Dragster category beating Ken Wells in the final with an amazing .001 rt.
It was a good event for Georgia racers, winning four of ten categories, and capturing two more runner-ups.
BOWDEN WINS SECOND STRAIGHT, MOTHER NATURE WINS REST
EVENT: Summit Snap-On event at Atlanta Dragway in 2007
FROM: Tim Glover
(Commerce, GA - May 12) Extreme cold forced the cancellation of the April 7 Summit event and the May 5 Summit event was rained out. Racers came back again today hoping to race, in spite of the weather prediction, and the Jr Dragster racers got their wish. Most of the other competitors did get to run one time trial before torrential rains set in, ending the race day.
For the second event in a row, ten year old Chris Bowden of Homer, Ga. won the 8-12 Jr Dragster final. Bowden put an 8.99 dial on his car at the beginning of the day, and never changed it throughout eliminations. For the final stanza, Bowden cut a great .018 light, and capped off the run with a great .01 over 9.006 at 71.94mph (a package which would also win many Super
Pro rounds). Bowden is now leading the 8-12 group points with 180. His dad, Bobby, did bring his Pro truck to the track, also intent on winning, but rain won out. Dylan Hutchins (12 - Monroe, GA) actually crossed the big end stripe .022 seconds in front of Bowden, but broke out with an 8.883 at 72.06mph (8.91 dial). Salina Shanks (10 - Jefferson, GA) and Wesley Mayfield
(10 - Gainesville, GA) were the semi-final finishers.
In 13-17 Jr Dragster action, Jacquelyn Lastinger (13 - Lilburn, GA) defeated DRR event winner Brooke Buchanan (13 - Six Mile, SC) courtesy of a stellar .012 reaction time, and an off-the-throttle 8.110 at 79.92mph (8.03 dial). Buchanan had an otherwise good .043 react, and was also off the pace, and .021 seconds behind Lastinger with an 8.089 at 81.69mph (8.02 dial).
Brittany Vancica (13 - Suwanee, GA) was the lone semi-finalist.
Also, congratulations to Atlanta Dragway racers Cole Wood and Chase Mullinax. Wood won the Powerade Fan Nationals competition held at the recent Southern Nationals event, and Mullinax came in right behind Wood. Thousands of race fans participated in the Powerade Fan Nationals 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 2004 events, including the Super Chevy Show, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com .
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8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chris Bowden 10 Homer, GA 9.006 71.94 (8.99)
R/U: Dylan Hutchins 12 Monroe, GA 8.883 72.06 (8.91)
Semi: Wesley Mayfield 10 Gainesville, GA
Semi: Salina Shanks 10 Jefferson, GA
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13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jacquelyn Lastinger 13 Lilburn, GA 8.110 79.92 (8.03)
R/U: Brooke Buchanan 13 Six Mile, SC 8.089 81.69 (8.02)
Semi: Brittany Vancica 13 Suwanee, GA
Semi:
