Night of Fire at Atlanta Dragway
NIGHT OF FIRE…& WATER
By: Amy Glover
(Commerce,GA – June 28) Nature did not rain on Atlanta Dragway’s parade, at leastnot until the fans were satisfied, at the 2008 Night of Fire event, presented byPowerade. In addition to the Summit ET Series bracket racing program, the Nightof Fire event promises exhibition runs, from wheel-standers to jet cars, andthe grand finale of a huge fireworks show. In the face of thunder andlightning, the show went on. A line-up of eight Pro Mod cars sent the fansa-roaring, topped by a face-off between Scott Kennedy’s Controlled??? InsanityFunny Car and Ken Nelson’s Cool Bus, racing to the finish line on just twowheels each. To complete the wild set, Elaine Larsen rolled up in theEmbry-Riddle jet dragster, with three successful runs, the final a uniquepresentation of jet dragster shows anywhere; the jaded were provided with afresh insight into the process. An in-car radio amplified the conversations ofthe Embry-Riddle jet dragster crew, including Elaine’s “Woohoo!’s” following each280-plus mph run. The Embry-Riddle jet team is all about innovation; inresponse to widespread efforts to seek out new means of fuel supply, the jetteam is running with a fuel mixture containing about 70% soybean-basedbio-diesel fuel and 30% conventional jet fuel, contributing engine results datato airplane & jet engine manufacturers via Embry-Riddle AeronauticalUniversity. The culmination of the event was the annual fireworks display,highlighting the approaching July 4th weekend, in celebration ofindependence and the sport of drag racing. The show was made more spectacularby nature’s own contribution; the clouds behind the fireworks lit up withlightning, carried by an approaching storm. Conveniently enough, the clouds didnot break until after the official highlights of the show came to a close,bringing the curtain down on the remaining racers of the accompanying SummitSnap-On points race. The winnings were split among the nine Super Pro, ninePro, eight Sportsman, and six motorcycle racers left in competition, while theJunior Dragster and Pro Mod classes were able to finish.
Along with help from the Pinks AllOut girls (from the previous event taking place at Atlanta Dragway), whocheered and jumped for the crowd’s enthusiasm, the visiting Pro Mods instilledawe in the fans, with super-fast runs almost too quick to keep up with. Thecategory was dominated by Corvettes, namely the ’63 model, with Dan Parker atthe head of the pack. Parker ran 180.28 MPH in 4.06 seconds against thenon-conformist ’04 model driver James Hancock III, whose car gave out mid-race,running 48.82 MPH in 8.93 seconds. Keith Baker from Dothan, AL, andSteve Kirk, Jr. from Monroe, GA placed inthe semi-final round.
The ever-changing weatherprecipitated a challenge for all racers, dial adjustment being the main issuewhen predicting elapsed times throughout unpredictable conditions. 8-12 JuniorDragster winner MacKenzie Butler (10 years old – Jackson, GA) met the challengewith determination, cutting a perfect .000 light against Cole Wood (10 yearsold – Jefferson, GA), who broke out by .05 seconds, running an 8.85 against an8.90. MacKenzie was bursting with pride at winning the big event, telling Embry-Riddlejet driver Elaine Larsen, “I’m very excited. I cut a .000!!” MacKenzie thankedher sponsors, parents James and Terri Butler, and God, and also thanked ChrisMcGee for the motor and MX2 for the clutch. 10 year old Alex Krause of Peachtree City, GA placedthird.
In the 13-17 Junior DragsterCategory, both Brett Bowman (16 years old – Homer, GA) and Taylor Ramsey (15years old – Commerce, GA) struggled with matching their dial-ins, Brett runningan 8.05 on an 8.00, Taylor runningan 8.02 on a 7.99. The race became all about reaction time, Brett ending therace at the starting line with a .059 light against Taylor’s .092, claimingthe win with a .008 margin of victory. Brett met the victory coolly, “It’s abig race, but just like any other win. A lot more people watchin’, y’know.”Brett thanked his parents Howard and Kathy, his friends, and the rest of histeam for supporting him. Amber Stroud (17 years old – Douglasville, GA) took thenumber three position.
Sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA),Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing areaof Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2008 events,including the DRAG RACE RESULTS.COM bracket racing event on July 26-27, may be obtained by callingthe track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to http://www.atlantadragway.com/ .
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PRO MOD CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Dan Parker ’63 Corvette Salem, AL 4.06 180.28 ––
R/U: James Hancock III ’04 Corvette Opelika, AL 8.93 48.82 ––
Semi: Steve Kirk, Jr. ’63 Corvette Monroe, GA
Semi: Keith Baker ’63Corvette Dothan, AL
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8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: MacKenzie Butler 10 Jackson,GA 13.19 79.32 (13.13)
R/U: Cole Wood 10 Jefferson,GA 8.85 71.97 (8.90)
Semi: Alex Krause 10 PeachtreeCity, GA
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13-17 JRDRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Brett Bowman 16 Homer, GA 8.05 77.70 (8.00)
R/U: Taylor Ramsey 15 Commerce,GA 8.02 82.50 (7.99)
Semi: Amber Stroud 17 Douglasville,GA
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By: Amy Glover
(Commerce,GA – June 28) Nature did not rain on Atlanta Dragway’s parade, at leastnot until the fans were satisfied, at the 2008 Night of Fire event, presented byPowerade. In addition to the Summit ET Series bracket racing program, the Nightof Fire event promises exhibition runs, from wheel-standers to jet cars, andthe grand finale of a huge fireworks show. In the face of thunder andlightning, the show went on. A line-up of eight Pro Mod cars sent the fansa-roaring, topped by a face-off between Scott Kennedy’s Controlled??? InsanityFunny Car and Ken Nelson’s Cool Bus, racing to the finish line on just twowheels each. To complete the wild set, Elaine Larsen rolled up in theEmbry-Riddle jet dragster, with three successful runs, the final a uniquepresentation of jet dragster shows anywhere; the jaded were provided with afresh insight into the process. An in-car radio amplified the conversations ofthe Embry-Riddle jet dragster crew, including Elaine’s “Woohoo!’s” following each280-plus mph run. The Embry-Riddle jet team is all about innovation; inresponse to widespread efforts to seek out new means of fuel supply, the jetteam is running with a fuel mixture containing about 70% soybean-basedbio-diesel fuel and 30% conventional jet fuel, contributing engine results datato airplane & jet engine manufacturers via Embry-Riddle AeronauticalUniversity. The culmination of the event was the annual fireworks display,highlighting the approaching July 4th weekend, in celebration ofindependence and the sport of drag racing. The show was made more spectacularby nature’s own contribution; the clouds behind the fireworks lit up withlightning, carried by an approaching storm. Conveniently enough, the clouds didnot break until after the official highlights of the show came to a close,bringing the curtain down on the remaining racers of the accompanying SummitSnap-On points race. The winnings were split among the nine Super Pro, ninePro, eight Sportsman, and six motorcycle racers left in competition, while theJunior Dragster and Pro Mod classes were able to finish.
Along with help from the Pinks AllOut girls (from the previous event taking place at Atlanta Dragway), whocheered and jumped for the crowd’s enthusiasm, the visiting Pro Mods instilledawe in the fans, with super-fast runs almost too quick to keep up with. Thecategory was dominated by Corvettes, namely the ’63 model, with Dan Parker atthe head of the pack. Parker ran 180.28 MPH in 4.06 seconds against thenon-conformist ’04 model driver James Hancock III, whose car gave out mid-race,running 48.82 MPH in 8.93 seconds. Keith Baker from Dothan, AL, andSteve Kirk, Jr. from Monroe, GA placed inthe semi-final round.
The ever-changing weatherprecipitated a challenge for all racers, dial adjustment being the main issuewhen predicting elapsed times throughout unpredictable conditions. 8-12 JuniorDragster winner MacKenzie Butler (10 years old – Jackson, GA) met the challengewith determination, cutting a perfect .000 light against Cole Wood (10 yearsold – Jefferson, GA), who broke out by .05 seconds, running an 8.85 against an8.90. MacKenzie was bursting with pride at winning the big event, telling Embry-Riddlejet driver Elaine Larsen, “I’m very excited. I cut a .000!!” MacKenzie thankedher sponsors, parents James and Terri Butler, and God, and also thanked ChrisMcGee for the motor and MX2 for the clutch. 10 year old Alex Krause of Peachtree City, GA placedthird.
In the 13-17 Junior DragsterCategory, both Brett Bowman (16 years old – Homer, GA) and Taylor Ramsey (15years old – Commerce, GA) struggled with matching their dial-ins, Brett runningan 8.05 on an 8.00, Taylor runningan 8.02 on a 7.99. The race became all about reaction time, Brett ending therace at the starting line with a .059 light against Taylor’s .092, claimingthe win with a .008 margin of victory. Brett met the victory coolly, “It’s abig race, but just like any other win. A lot more people watchin’, y’know.”Brett thanked his parents Howard and Kathy, his friends, and the rest of histeam for supporting him. Amber Stroud (17 years old – Douglasville, GA) took thenumber three position.
Sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA),Atlanta Dragway is located just off I-85 at Exit 149 in the Banks Crossing areaof Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2008 events,including the DRAG RACE RESULTS.COM bracket racing event on July 26-27, may be obtained by callingthe track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to http://www.atlantadragway.com/ .
———————————————————————————————————————————————
PRO MOD CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Dan Parker ’63 Corvette Salem, AL 4.06 180.28 ––
R/U: James Hancock III ’04 Corvette Opelika, AL 8.93 48.82 ––
Semi: Steve Kirk, Jr. ’63 Corvette Monroe, GA
Semi: Keith Baker ’63Corvette Dothan, AL
———————————————————————————————————————————————
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: MacKenzie Butler 10 Jackson,GA 13.19 79.32 (13.13)
R/U: Cole Wood 10 Jefferson,GA 8.85 71.97 (8.90)
Semi: Alex Krause 10 PeachtreeCity, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
13-17 JRDRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Brett Bowman 16 Homer, GA 8.05 77.70 (8.00)
R/U: Taylor Ramsey 15 Commerce,GA 8.02 82.50 (7.99)
Semi: Amber Stroud 17 Douglasville,GA
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posted by David @ 5:46 PM
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