HANK WILHELM TAKES THRONE IN KING OF THE TRACK EVENT

RACE DATE: September 13, 2008
FROM: Amy Glover
EVENT: Summit event at Atlanta Dragway in 2008

(Commerce, GA – September 13) As the racing season nears its end, Atlanta Dragway competitors are just getting started in defending their points standings, relentless in pursuing their mutual passion. Beautiful weather coupled with no delays kept the racers moving, leaving little time to breathe between rounds. Along with the regular winnings, tonight’s race provided a unique opportunity for racers to strut their stuff, with the King of the Track honor. The winner from the four adult classes; Motorcycle, Sportsman, Pro, and Super Pro competed to achieve the tightest package; which meant the closest dial-in time coupled with the quickest reaction time would secure the title, along with a Wally. The scoreboards were darkened, leaving no man to know who would take the throne until the suspenseful announcement – Rob Hogue’s ’68 Camaro broke out by just eight thousandths of a second, Jeff Shropshire’s ’08 ZX14 overshot his dial-in, and J.D. Burford’s Corvette lost the heat of overlapping rounds, pulling an 8.61 on an 8.58 dial. This left the title to Hank Wilhelm, who cut a .044 light, and ran a 5.17 second lap on the 5.15 dial-in time, leaving him with the crown winning .065 package.

Hank Wilhelm’s Super Pro performance lent him a great advantage in the Summit points, thanks to his all-day consistency using a 5.15 dial-in, a considerably difficult thing to achieve in the testy world of racing engines. The final round in Super Pro was all about sticking to the prediction, something Wilhelm (Commerce, GA) managed in his ’96 Ed Quay Dragster by running a 5.16 on his 5.15 dial, with a .025 light. This proved to be a tighter package against Lloyd Kaylor (Winder, GA), whose ’87 Regal left the line with an impressive .002 light, but trailed across the stripe with a 7.60 on his 7.56 dial. Wilhelm then proceeded to conquer the King of the Track contest, obtaining his second Wally, his first being won in an event just one year before. Hank’s new reign was received with a number of goodies, including an Aerospace Components, Inc. t-shirt, a $100 Aerospace Components Inc. gift certificate, winner stickers, a King of the Track Hat, and last but not least, the coveted Wally, all atop his Super Pro prize money. Hank was surrounded be cheering family and friends, yet his gratitude went to an opponent, thanking fellow racer Thomas Bell for betting $100 against Wilhelm’s father that Hank would lose in the finals. This leaves the question of whether the appreciation was for an extra $100 or a helpful jinx. Joshua Cohen (’77 Camaro – Lawrenceville, GA) and Jesse Young (’00 Undercover Dragster) ended their night in the semi-final round.

The Pro finals were dominated by Rob Hogue, whose consistency and quick reaction lent him a deadly edge before the King of the Track was determined. After cutting a .019 light, Hogue, hailing from Loganville, GA, crossed the finish line in his ’68 Camaro, dead-on at a 7.57. Justin Buchanan, of Six Mile, SC, could not overtake Hogue, beginning with his .068 light, and ending by breaking out with a 7.10 on a 7.13 dial in his ’72 Nova. Hogue notably began the season with his ’08 Super Chevy Show win, coming in after a 22 month break and no time trials. Since then, Hogue’s stayed out of the ranks, surfacing tonight with his deserved success. Hogue finished the night by thanking his wife Jennifer, and their two daughters Chloe and Kyra. Allen Clark (’73 Camaro – Buford, GA) completed his day in third place.

The Sportsman category was overtaken by double-dipper J.D. “Doc” Burford, who entered his jet black C6 Corvette in both the Sportsman and Pro classes. After being taken out in the Pro quarter-finals, Burford’s focus shifted to the Sportsman battle. Burford, out of Greenville, SC, ran an 8.61 time on his 8.59 prediction, following a .084 light. His competitor, Austell, GA’s Allen Schaffer, broke out in his ’04 Dodge Rumble Bee, finishing with a 9.868, just two thousandths of a second below his 9.87 forecast. Asked about the craziness of his double-dipping routine, an enthused Burford exclaimed, “I love the excitement of every lap down the track… it’s a tremendous release, you never lose concentration when you’re double-entered.” Burford thanked his long-time mechanics Hal Rhodes, Tom McMakin, and Dwayne Reinhardt. Scott Reynolds (Cartersville, GA) finished third-place in his ’05 Chevy truck.

Nightfall seemed to steal the advantage from the Motorcycle finals, with both Jeff Shropshire (’08 ZX14, Dallas, GA) and Tim Sutton (’83 Suzuki – Clermont, GA) running much slower than their dial-ins suggested. Shropshire’s win-light flashed, given his two-tenths difference with a 6.35 on a 6.15, against Sutton’s three-tenths difference; a 6.02 on a 5.72 target. Shropshire’s fast ride is a deceptive piece of work, remaining street legal but ever the race bike it was meant to be. Shropshire’s racing career has been steady since age 16, only taking a break for kids – Shropshire thanked his family for their support, stating, “Because they let me race.” Steven Jackson (Bogart, GA), the less fortunate ’08 ZX14 owner, finished in the semis.

Chase Mullinax 17 – Buford, GA) made it to the 13-17 Junior Dragster finals for the second consecutive weekend, this time attaining the win, amongst a group of female challengers. Mullinax and Jackie Lastinger (15 – Lilburn, GA) both dialed a 7.90, Lastinger breaking out with a 7.89 while Mullinax stayed afloat with his 7.95 time. Mullinax not only ruled the top end, but won at the tree with a .030 against Lastinger’s .100 reaction time. Kelsey Lynn (14 – Marietta, GA) and Brittany Vancica (15 – Lawrenceville, GA) finished the day in the semi-finals.

Chris Bowden (12 – Homer, GA) won the 8-12 Junior Dragster category. Before Bowden reached the win stripe, the race was decided by his opponent and points leader Wesley Mayfield’s -.013 foul. Mayfield (12 – Gainesville, GA) also broke out with an 8.84 on an 8.93, while Bowden stayed legit with a 9.55 on a 9.51 dial. Bowden had been struggling since he blew his engine in Bristol, at the NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern Conference Finals. Dad Bobby parked his Pro-class S-10 to take care of Chris, staying on top by changing the oil every round and paying attention to the many other details necessary to win. Chris remarked, “Today was the best my engine has run.” Cole Wood (11 – Jefferson, GA) left the track in third place.

The race track was visited by a testing-turned-exhibition driver Danielle Jordan. Jordan had only made a handful of passes, harnessing an animal of a supercharged, alcohol-burning front-end dragster built by Julius Hughes, with the intention of joining either the Nostalgia circuit or the Top Alcohol tour. The personable Jordan jumped right into the game, with no baby steps leading to the fast dragster, her previous experience limited to a three year tour with Don Prudhomme, as well as being an NHRA trophy girl.

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 may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com.

SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Hank Wilhelm ’96 Ed Quay dragster Commerce, GA 5.16 124.43 (5.15)
R/U: Lloyd Kaylor ’87 Regal Winder, GA 7.60 89.97 (7.56)
Semi: Joshua Cohen ’77 Camaro Lawrenceville, GA
Semi: Jesse Young ’00 Undercover Danielsville, GA
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PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Rob Hogue ’68 Camaro Loganville, GA 7.57 93.36 (7.57)
R/U: Justin Buchanan ’72 Nova Six Mile, SC 7.10 94.06 (7.13)
Semi: Allen Clark ’73 Camaro Buford, GA
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SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: J.D. Burford ’07 Corvette Greenville, SC 8.61 86.57 (8.59)
R/U: Allen Schaffer ’04 Dodge Rumble Bee Austell, GA 9.86 70.92 (9.87)
Semi: Scott Reynolds ’05 Chevy Truck Cartersville, GA
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MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jeff Shropshire ’08 ZX14 Dallas, GA 6.35 113.55 (6.15)
R/U: Tim Sutton ’83 Suzuki Clermont, GA 6.02 105.40 (5.72)
Semi: Steven Jackson ’08 ZX14 Bogart, GA
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8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chris Bowden 12 Homer, GA 9.55 66.66 (9.51)
R/U: Wesley Mayfield 12 Gainesville, GA 8.84 73.72 (8.93) (foul)
Semi: Cole Wood 11 Jefferson, GA
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13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chase Mullinax 17 Buford GA 7.95 81.28 (7.90)
R/U: Jackie Lastinger 15 Lilburn, GA 7.89 82.04 (7.90)
Semi: Kelsey Lynn 14 Marietta, GA
Semi: Brittany Vancica 15 Lawrenceville, GA