4th Annual "Celebrating Motorsports Racing Heritage" Event - This Saturday - September 8, 2007
The 4th Annual "Celebrating Motorsports Racing Heritage" Event will be held this Saturday (September 8, 2007) at Diamond Lakes Regional Park (Hephzibah, GA). This is the site of the former Augusta International Raceway. The complex featured a drag strip, road course and several other tracks while still in operation. Check the flyer for the features and activities. No admission charge!
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Old Drag Racers Reunion - September 28-30, 2007 Panama City, Florida
It's that time of year again.........almost time for Sol Stewart's Old Drag Racers Reunion at the Holiday Inn Select Panama City, Florida. Don't miss this one, it's always a lot of fun!
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Nostalgia Nationals at Carolina Dragway - October 12 & 13, 2007
BELL DOMINATES SUPER PRO, SECOND GENERATION RACER WESLEY TUCKER WINS PRO, ABNEY SEALS SPORTSMAN CHAMPIONSHIP WITH FOURTH FINAL IN FIVE EVENTS
RACE DATE: September 1, 2007
EVENT: Summit Snap-On event at Atlanta Dragway in 2007
by Tim Glover
(Commerce, GA - September 1) Former Sportsman champ (2003) Mel Abney sealed the deal in the 2007 Sportsman points chase with his fourth final round appearance (three wins) in the past five Summit ET Series events. Thomas Bell enjoyed running five dead-on passes en route to the Super Pro win.
Toccoa, GA racer Thomas Bell had a tremendous day in Super Pro. Prior to the final, Bell ran three 4.700 second passes (4.70 dial) with his '05 Undercover dragster, and made them even better with a .002, a .003 and a .019 react. He then ran a 4.699 on a 4.69 dial, and backed that up with a final round winning 4.704 at 141.58mph (4.70 dial). Topping it all off was another stellar final round reaction time of .002 seconds. Bell's final round opponent was Snap-On Tools representative Bobby Hattaway. Hattaway's Cleveland, GA based '96 Undercover dragster was also on target, running a 5.385 at 126.46mph (5.38 dial). Bell made sure to thank his crewman Freddie Lewis for all the help. Bell came from fourth in the points to a slim lead, but not near enough to clinch the championship, with one Snap-On / Summit ET Series points event left. Lloyd Kaylor, who won the previous Summit event at Atlanta Dragway, finished his day in the semi-final round.
Earlier this season, Wesley Tucker, a second generation racer from Lawrenceville, GA, told Trent (the Atlanta Dragway race announcer) "I've got a win coming this year." Tucker used up almost every bit of his starting line holeshot advantage (.032 seconds) to take the Pro victory against another experienced racer, Jessie Wilson ('70 Nova - Tallapoosa, GA). Tucker's 7.325 at 88.16mph (7.30 dial) took his first ever Atlanta Dragway win stripe a mere .008 seconds in front of Wilson, whose car went dead-on with a 7.331 at 94.26mph (7.33 dial). Tucker has been racing on the National and Divisional level with his '68 Camaro, and took a break this season,
choosing to race closer to home. Jessie Wilson's wife, Sue, came to the payout window to collect his runner-up winnings and added with a smile, "This is a great present. It's our 34th anniversary." Bill Boomhower ('65 Belvedere - Walhalla, SC) was the lone semi-finalist.
Sportsman winner D.A. Streber campaigns virtually the slowest car on the grounds (even slower than the vast majority of Jr Dragster racers), an '02 Hyundai. The beauty of bracket racing is that speed isn't everything, which Streber demonstrated by earning his third win of the season against the newly crowned Sportsman champion, Mel Abney of Cumming, GA. Abney, who also
won the championship in 2003, misjudged the finish line with his '67 Camaro, posting an 8.44 at an off pace 77.79mph (8.35 dial). Streber's mount put the winning 12.49 at 56.50mph on the scoreboards (12.43 target). Abney, who was in his fourth final in the last five events (with three wins), was very happy to clinch the 2007 Sportsman championship with only one event
remaining. John Oliver ('99 Durango - Buford, GA) maintained his second place spot in the points with a semi-final round finish. The other semi-finalist was Scott Reynolds ('93 Crown Victoria - Cartersville, GA).
Bailey Denton from McDonough, GA turned thirteen years old this season and will graduate to the older class next season. With only one younger event left, she earned the 8-12 Jr Dragster win in style with a dead-on 8.905 at 73.49mph (8.90 dial). Denton's starting line reaction time advantage caused Wesley Mayfield (11 - Gainesville, GA) to push his car just a touch too quick. Mayfield actually crossed the big end stripe .009 seconds in front of Denton, but unfortunately for Mayfield his elapsed time was too quick, breaking out with an 8.896 at 72.49mph (8.93 goal). Dylan Hutchins (12 - Monroe, GA) increased his 8-12 Jr Dragster points lead with a semi-final
round appearance.
Homer, GA racer Blake Griffith (13 - Homer, GA) ended his day on a high note in 13-17 Jr Dragster action. Griffith put down a convincing .01 over 9.146 at 72.09mph (9.13 dial) on the boards for the win. Kelsey Lynn (13 - Marietta, GA) also went .01 over her dial with a 7.941 at 82.87mph (7.93 dial), but her later reaction time made the pass only good for the runner up
position. Ashley Riggs (16 - Madison, GA) earned the semi-finalist trophy for her efforts.
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 may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to http://www.atlantadragway.com/ .
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SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Thomas Bell '05 Undercover Toccoa, GA 4.704 141.58 (4.70)
R/U: Bobby Hattaway '96 Undercover Cleveland, GA 5.385 126.46 (5.38)
Semi: Lloyd Kaylor '87 Regal Winder, GA
Semi:
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PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Wesley Tucker '68 Camaro Lawrenceville, GA 7.325 88.16 (7.30)
R/U: Jessie Wilson '70 Nova Tallapoosa, GA 7.331 94.26 (7.33)
Semi: Bill Boomhower '65 Belvedere Walhalla, SC
Semi:
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SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: D.A. Streber '02 Hyundai Greenville, SC 12.49 56.50 (12.43)
R/U: Mel Abney '67 Camaro Cumming, GA 8.44 77.79 (8.35)
Semi: John Oliver '99 Durango Buford, GA
Semi: Scott Reynolds '93 Crown Victoria Cartersville, GA
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8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Bailey Denton 13 McDonough, GA 8.905 73.49 (8.90)
R/U: Wesley Mayfield 11 Gainesville, GA 8.896 72.49 (8.93)
Semi: Dylan Hutchins 12 Monroe, GA
Semi:
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13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Blake Griffith 13 Homer, GA 9.146 72.09 (9.13)
R/U: Kelsey Lynn 13 Marietta, GA 7.941 82.87 (7.93)
Semi: Ashley Riggs 16 Madison, GA
Semi:
