Hernandez, Harper, Hill, and Thomas win ADRL Hardee’s Georgia Drags at South Georgia Motorsports Park

by Marvin T. Smith

Photos

The American Drag Racing League, sponsored by Flowmaster and presented by the National Guard, put on the Hardee’s Georgia Drags at South Georgia Motorsports Park May 8-9. This is THE event for pro mods in the Deep South.

Twenty-four Pro Extreme blown pro mods battled for the sixteen car field. Wes Johnson led qualifying with a fine 3.846, but went out in the first round. In the final round, Joshua Hernandez ran low elapsed time and top speed of the meet at 3.824 195.87 to beat a troubled Quain Stott.

In Pro Nitrous, Kentucky’s Billy Harper was the class of the field. Harper ran a string of amazing elapsed times throughout qualifying and eliminations. Some of his times were thrown out when the 60 foot times were simply unbelievable, but Harper was credited with the number one qualifying position at 3.954. On Saturday night, Harper put down a 3.82, but apparently something was hanging below his car and the time was disqualified. In the final, Harper beat Alabama’s Dan Parker with a 3.930 at 186.67 to Parker’s close, but losing 3.994 at 184.47. Harper’s elapsed time became the new ADRL record.

In Extreme 10.5, Georgians Mike Hill and Steve Kirk, Jr. battled throughout the event. Hill set the ADRL record only to have Kirk battle back and retake the record at 4.266. Hill got his revenge in the final round against Kirk, when he ran a 4.285 173.61 to beat Kirk who broke. Hill gets the win, and Kirk is forced to settle for the new ADRL elapsed time record.

In Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Billy Vose led qualifying with a fine 4.305, but was eliminated by eventual winner Georgian Coodee Thomas in the semi-final round with a 4.271 170.19. In the final, Thomas beat Matt Prophit with a 4.31 to the losing 4.409. Thomas exceeded the ADRL speed record, but was unable to back it up.

Even with temperatures in the 90s and adjusted altitude in the 3,500 foot range, drag strip manager Wade Rich groomed the track to record setting performances. It was a great race!