MOTHER NATURE CUTS FIRST RACE SHORT FOR ATLANTA DRAGWAY by Amy Glover
RACE DATE: March 22, 2008
FROM: Amy Glover
EVENT: Summit ET Seriesevent at Atlanta Dragway in 2008
(Commerce,GA – March 22) The weekend’s event began with ideal conditions; it was the day after spring began, beautiful and breezy, the perfect setup for the first points race of the season. The night before, the track was packed, a trend continuing into Saturday’s race, demonstrating the racers’ eagerness to start the new season on a brand new track. A companion to the new track is its new cleaning equipment, which, perhaps unfortunately, got quite a workout when the event was delayed twice by oil downs. The accumulation of delays, along with unruly Georgia weather,cut the day short for competitors. However, the kids in the junior dragster classes managed to finish their race, with females dominating the playing field, before the temperature went down with the sun.
In the 8-12 Junior Dragster class, nine year old Mackenzie Butler, of Jackson, Ga. won against Madison Lee (10 – Campobello, SC), thanks to her quicker reaction time,as both she and Madison overshot their dial-ins at the top end. Butler went13.23 on a 13.14 dial and Lee went 9.02 on an 8.95 dial. Butler, whose home track was in Reynolds, GA, said it was her first time and win at Atlanta Dragway. When asked if she would return for competition in Commerce, she enthusiastically replied ‘yes.’ Mackenzie also thanked her new sponsor, Havoline Express Lube. Brittany Helleman (12 – Buford, Ga.) was the semi-final finisher.
In the 13-17 Junior Dragster Class,14 year old Valerie Clements, of Central, SC, an Atlanta Dragway veteran, ran a close race against Dylan Hutchins (13 – Monroe, Ga.); winning with the better reaction time and taking the win stripe .008 seconds in front of Hutchins. Clement’s time was 7.96 on a 7.90 and Hutchins’ time was 7.99 on a 7.94. Clements reported that she hadn’t bracket raced in a year, saying, “I’ve been doing outlaw.” On top of her time away from bracket racing, she brought a new car to the track, making her victory all the more exciting. Valerie said, “I’d like to thank my dad and mom, and my lucky handshake with Dani.” Jennifer “Leadfoot”Jarrett (15 – Cartersville, Ga.) and Taylor Griffith (17 – Homer, GA) finished in the semi-final round.
Marking the beginning of the big guns’ competition, round one for the Super Pro class started promptly after the Junior Dragster finals. Regrettably, conditions turned cold and windy, and officialsdecided the plummeting temperatures and wind were making race conditions unsafe.In consideration of driver safety, the race was canceled. In compensation for the cancellation, drivers will be given a tech card at the next Summit ET Series points race.
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 2008 events,including the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to http://www.atlantadragway.com/ .
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mackenzie Butler 9 Jackson,GA 13.23 47.40 (13.14)
R/U: Madison Lee 10 Campobello, SC 9.02 72.49 (8.95)
Semi: Brittany Helleman 12 Buford,GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
13-17 JRDRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Valerie Clements 14 Central,SC 7.96 82.39 (7.90)
R/U: Dylan Hutchins 13 Monroe,GA 7.99 81.09 (7.94)
Semi: Jennifer Jarrett 15 Cartersville,GA
Semi: Taylor Griffith 17 Homer,GA
FROM: Amy Glover
EVENT: Summit ET Seriesevent at Atlanta Dragway in 2008
(Commerce,GA – March 22) The weekend’s event began with ideal conditions; it was the day after spring began, beautiful and breezy, the perfect setup for the first points race of the season. The night before, the track was packed, a trend continuing into Saturday’s race, demonstrating the racers’ eagerness to start the new season on a brand new track. A companion to the new track is its new cleaning equipment, which, perhaps unfortunately, got quite a workout when the event was delayed twice by oil downs. The accumulation of delays, along with unruly Georgia weather,cut the day short for competitors. However, the kids in the junior dragster classes managed to finish their race, with females dominating the playing field, before the temperature went down with the sun.
In the 8-12 Junior Dragster class, nine year old Mackenzie Butler, of Jackson, Ga. won against Madison Lee (10 – Campobello, SC), thanks to her quicker reaction time,as both she and Madison overshot their dial-ins at the top end. Butler went13.23 on a 13.14 dial and Lee went 9.02 on an 8.95 dial. Butler, whose home track was in Reynolds, GA, said it was her first time and win at Atlanta Dragway. When asked if she would return for competition in Commerce, she enthusiastically replied ‘yes.’ Mackenzie also thanked her new sponsor, Havoline Express Lube. Brittany Helleman (12 – Buford, Ga.) was the semi-final finisher.
In the 13-17 Junior Dragster Class,14 year old Valerie Clements, of Central, SC, an Atlanta Dragway veteran, ran a close race against Dylan Hutchins (13 – Monroe, Ga.); winning with the better reaction time and taking the win stripe .008 seconds in front of Hutchins. Clement’s time was 7.96 on a 7.90 and Hutchins’ time was 7.99 on a 7.94. Clements reported that she hadn’t bracket raced in a year, saying, “I’ve been doing outlaw.” On top of her time away from bracket racing, she brought a new car to the track, making her victory all the more exciting. Valerie said, “I’d like to thank my dad and mom, and my lucky handshake with Dani.” Jennifer “Leadfoot”Jarrett (15 – Cartersville, Ga.) and Taylor Griffith (17 – Homer, GA) finished in the semi-final round.
Marking the beginning of the big guns’ competition, round one for the Super Pro class started promptly after the Junior Dragster finals. Regrettably, conditions turned cold and windy, and officialsdecided the plummeting temperatures and wind were making race conditions unsafe.In consideration of driver safety, the race was canceled. In compensation for the cancellation, drivers will be given a tech card at the next Summit ET Series points race.
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 2008 events,including the Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to http://www.atlantadragway.com/ .
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Mackenzie Butler 9 Jackson,GA 13.23 47.40 (13.14)
R/U: Madison Lee 10 Campobello, SC 9.02 72.49 (8.95)
Semi: Brittany Helleman 12 Buford,GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
13-17 JRDRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Valerie Clements 14 Central,SC 7.96 82.39 (7.90)
R/U: Dylan Hutchins 13 Monroe,GA 7.99 81.09 (7.94)
Semi: Jennifer Jarrett 15 Cartersville,GA
Semi: Taylor Griffith 17 Homer,GA
posted by David @ 9:11 PM
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