FRIDAY NIGHT DRAGS – TEST & TUNE THIS FRIDAY NIGHT!!!

FRIDAY NIGHT DRAGS – TEST & TUNE THIS FRIDAY NIGHT!!!
May 2, 2008

MOPAR MADNESS & FRIDAY NIGHT DRAGS
Gates Open at 6pm. Registration and Tech opens at 6pm.
New tech officials for 2008 – Eddie Freshwater, Art Petry and Russ Sapp.
Practice Runs start at 6:30pm.
Practice Ends at 10:00pm.
Drag racing - $20
Spectators - $7 (no grandstand – infield only)
Enter through the main tunnel located on Speedway Boulevard (near Airport).

New class added to Friday Night Drags rules. Domestic Advanced!!!! Check it out!!!

ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

FRIDAY NIGHT DRAGS RULES

The rules and/or regulations set forth herein are designed to provide for the orderly conduct of racing events and to establish minimum acceptable requirements for such events. These rules shall govern the condition of all events, and by participating in these events, all participants are deemed to have complied with these rules. NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OR SAFETY SHALL RESULT FROM PUBLICATIONS OF OR COMPLIANCE WITH THESE RULES AND/OR REGULATIONS. They are intended as a guide for the conduct of the sport and are in no way a guarantee against injury or death to a participant, spectator or official.

GENERAL RULES – Applies to all vehicles and competitors entered in event.
NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED IN THE COMPETITION AREA.
Maximum of 10 mph speed limit in pit area. No burnouts in the pit area.
Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated and is cause for immediate dismissal and may result in arrest.
All decisions by officials, tech personnel and management are final and binding.
All vehicles must complete technical and safety inspection prior to practice and competition.
All vehicles must have working seat belts or up-to-date safety harness.
All drivers must wear a helmet when doing burn-out, practice or competing.
All vehicles must be free of fluid leaks.
Air-conditioners must be turned off when in the staging, burn-out and track areas. Use of air conditioners is grounds for disqualification and dismissal from the event area.
All vehicles must have battery secured in car.
A driver’s accumulated points do not transfer divisions.
HAVE FUN! MAKE FRIENDS! GO HOME HAPPY!

DIVISIONAL RULES – Applies to all divisions.
All vehicles will be placed in a racing division by the technical inspector at the completion of the annual technical and safety inspection. Their decision is final and binding.
All vehicles are subject to inspection at any time during the event and must remain within the division guidelines provided herein or will be disqualified from the event.
All drivers are eligible for point’s championship in their respective division. There will be no points awarded in the Domestic, Domestic Advanced or Tuner divisions. These divisions are for fun racing only and will be awarded trophies only at the end of each race night.
NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OR SAFETY SHALL RESULT FROM PUBLICATIONS OF OR COMPLIANCE WITH THESE RULES AND/OR REGULATIONS.

All divisions will have a point’s race crowning a season champion. Points will be accumulated at all events scheduled. AMS will honor the top drivers in each point’s division during the NASCAR weekend this October. Nightly points awarded as follows:

Final round winner = 3 Final round runner-up = 2 All others = 1


PRO – Any and All. This is the class that is wide open. If your car does not fit in the rules listed below, this is the class you run.

STREET OUTLAW – Any car or truck with stock appearing body with stock rear frame rails. Minimal tubing allowed (full tubing ‘narrowed up’ is not allowed). Four links, ladder bars and coil over shocks are permitted. Any engine modification is allowed. Any tire is allowed.

PRO FOUR – Foreign and Domestic cars or trucks with three or four cylinders and anything more than stock. Racing slicks, nitrous, modified suspension, rotary engines, power adders and drive train modifications are allowed. This is the wide open class for the Tuner guys.

SPORTSMAN – Foreign and Domestic cars or trucks with stock body. All control arms, shocks and springs must be in stock location. No cutting of inner or rear fender wells (only outside can be rolled). Any engine modification allowed. Maximum tire size is 28 x 10.5. No ‘W’ tires allowed. No wheelie bars allowed.

TRUCKS – Foreign and Domestic trucks with eight or ten cylinder stock style engines (diesel or gas). No nitrous allowed. Only factory turbos and super chargers permitted. Stock suspension in stock locations. Stock drive train. DOT treaded tires only. No drag radials or DOT slicks.

DOMESTIC ADVANCED – Same rules as the Domestic class only nitrous and drag radials will be allowed. No points championship in this division. Nightly honors only.

DOMESTIC – American made cars with stock suspension in stock location, stock interior, no cutting of the body, fender wells or floor pan. No nitrous allowed. DOT treaded tires only. No drag radials or DOT slicks. No points championship in this division. Nightly honors only.

TUNERS – Foreign and Domestic cars and trucks with three, four or six cylinders (no diesel and no nitrous) with stock suspension in stock location, stock interior and no cutting of the body, fender wells or floor pan. DOT treaded tires only. No drag radials or DOT slicks. No points championship in this division. Nightly honors only.

ATV – Any four wheeled ‘All-Terrain Vehicle’. Drivers must wear long pants and long sleeve shirts while competing. Any ATV displaying fluid leaks in the staging area or starting box will be disqualified from the entire event.

MOTORCYCLES – Any motorcycle is eligible for competition. Driver must wear a helmet and full leathers. Motorcycle drag races will take place only on the following dates: May 30; July 11; August 22.


All competitors must register their vehicle prior to being eligible for competition. Registration takes place at the Drag Race Tech Area located inside the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage. All drivers must register each night they compete, regardless of division. All cars must pass through an annual tech inspection prior to their first competition.


FRIDAY NIGHT SHOW-N-SHINE DIVISIONS

SHOWROOM CURRENT - Stock vehicles from 1973 through current.

SHOWROOM CLASSIC – Stock vehicles from 1972 and prior.

o TUNER – Sport Compact vehicles.

CLASSIC CUSTOM – Custom vehicle models from 1972 and prior.

CURRENT CUSTOM – Custom vehicle models from 1973 through current.

MOTORCYCLE – All two-wheeled rides.

PRESIDENT’S CHOICE – Nightly award chosen by AMS track president.


All Show-N-Shine vehicles must register at the show area in the NASCAR Nationwide Garage. Participants are invited to the Show-N-Shine Speedway Parade. Each night around 8:30pm participants will parade around the speedway and park in front of the grandstand on the front stretch. Fans will be invited to view the cars on the front stretch while final judging is completed. Awards will be given at this location prior to opening ceremonies.

Event winners will be invited back to our NASCAR show on Sunday, October 26. We will showcase our 2008 Show-N-Shine winners along the front stretch during opening ceremonies and driver introductions for the Pep Boys Auto 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race.


ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY DRAG RACING & CAR SHOW
2008 Event Calendar – Schedule is subject to change

Friday, May 2 MOPAR Madness – Open Drag Racing for all cars, trucks and ATVs
Special Racing for all MOPAR powered machines presented by North
Georgia Mopar Club and Mopar Muscle Magazine. Test & Tune for FND.

Saturday, May 3 MOPAR Southern Classic Car Show & Swap Meet (No drags on Saturday)
Visit http://www.northgeorgiamoparclub.com/ for more information.

Friday, May 30 Street Warriorz National Tour (Car Show, Stereo Wars & More)
Drag racing for all cars, trucks, ATVs and motorcycles. Plus, car show, stereo wars,
swimsuit contest, live music and lots more. Test & Tune for FND.

Friday, June 6 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine “Season Opener” (Non-Points Race)
Come on out and join the fun of Friday night street drags and the
fabulous show-n-shine car show. It’s a ‘get ready for the season’ blow-
out of fun with hot rods and hot bods.

Saturday, June 14 Goodguys Rod & Custom Southern Nationals (No drag racing this weekend)
& Sunday, June 15 Thousands of classic and customs to 1972. Hundreds of awards,
vendors, seminars, specialty garages, entertainment and lots more. Its
acres and acres of vintage steel in candy colors and chrome.

Friday, June 20 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine “Points Opener” (Tuner Tourney)
The first night of points and the special ‘Tuner Tourney’. All drag
racers and show cars are invited to the first points night of Friday Night Drags!

Friday, June 27 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine
Drag racers and show cars! Plus, a special ‘General Lee Challenge’ will
take place as Dukes Fest ’08 opens up the following morning.

Friday, July 4 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine
Celebrate the 4th of July with family and friends including one of the
largest fireworks displays in the Atlanta area taking place just before
eliminations begin.

Friday, July 11 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine
Drag racers, show cars and motorcycles allowed to drag race!

Friday, July 18 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine
Drag racers and show cars! Plus, the crazy backwards drag racing!

Friday, July 25 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine
Drag racers and show cars! Plus, the wild jet-powered dragster!

Friday, August 1 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine
Drag racers, show cars and SEMDRA motorcycles!

Friday, August 8 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine (Mustang Mania)
Drag racers and show cars! Special racing and show awards for the
mighty Ford Mustang! Celebrate 44 years of pony power!

Friday, August 15 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine (Chevy Challenge)
Drag racers and show cars! Special racing and awards for all Chevy
powered dragsters and show cars!

Friday, August 22 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine Points Championship
The final of points for drag racers! This night determines the drivers competing at
our NASCAR weekend special event! Motorcycles can drag race, too!
Friday, Sept. 26 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine (Non-Points Race)
Come on out and join the fun of Friday night street drags and the
fabulous show-n-shine car show.

Friday, Oct. 3 Super Chevy Weekend
Saturday, Oct. 4 Everything from Chevy Nitro Coupes to jet cars to brackets.
Sunday, Oct. 5 Plus a huge car show, vendor area and swap meet! All GM vehicles invited!!!

October Friday Night Drags NASCAR Shoot-Out
The top drivers in the points will be invited back for a flat out race in
front of the NASCAR fans, drivers and media!

October 26 NASCAR Show-N-Shine
We will showcase our 2008 Show-N-Shine winners along the front stretch during
opening ceremonies and driver introductions for the Pep Boys Auto 500 NASCAR
Sprint Cup race.


Ted Austad
Event Promotions Coordinator
Atlanta Motor Speedway
770-946-3954 office
http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/


UPCOMING EVENTS AT ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Street Warriorz Drag Racing & Car Show
May 30

Thursday Thunder Season Opener
June 5

Friday Night Drags Season Opener
June 6

2nd Annual Goodguys Rod & Custom Southern Nationals
June 13, 14 and 15


Dukes Fest ’08 and Hazzard County Fair
June 28 and 29


Major League of Monster Trucks
July 6

Pep Boys Auto 500 weekend
October 24, 25 and 26

Reserve your seats today!
Call 770-946-4211.

NHRA Southern Nationals Photos by Fred Simmons

Fred Simmons shot photos at the Southern Nationals for GeorgiaDragRacing.com last weekend. I've posted a few and more will be posted as soon as possible. Thanks for the great photos, Fred!

2008 NHRA Southern National Photos

Bevins and Arnold dominate Summit Racing Series event at SGMP

Cecil, GA April 26 and 27.

After winning last month’s Summit Series event, Kenny Bevins, Jr. returned to South Georgia Motorsports Park with his Camaro to continue to dominate the Sportsman category. On Saturday night, Bevins beat J. P. Hickman with a decisive reaction time advantage. In Sunday Sportsman action, Bevins went five rounds to defeat a fouling Gaines Hickman in the finals.

Young Jessica Arnold had a huge weekend in the Advanced Jr. Dragster category, winning on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Jessica beat Cory Cox in the final round when she took the reaction time advantage and ran a fine 7.971 on her 7.97 dial. Jessica would have been hard to catch with that package, and Cory broke out trying to run her down. On Sunday, after five rounds of hard racing, Jessica again won over a fouling Sam Slater. In the runoff between the Intermediate winner and the Advanced winner on Sunday, Jessica defeated Drew Hostetter. Jessica’s only defeat during the entire weekend came in the Runoff on Saturday, when her sister, Intermediate winner Jordan Arnold, put her on the trailer.

In other action, John Konnick won Saturday’s seven-round Super Pro race with a fine .016 rt and a 4.923 on his 4.92 dial to defeat Ricky Williams who fouled by .002 seconds. Marty Nichols in the Flintstone Flyer dragster won Sunday’s Super Pro race when Margie Richardson broke in the semifinals and could not return. Ken Grant won Saturday’s Pro category over Ronnie Weeks, and Kelly King beat Hugh West in Sunday’s Pro final when West fouled. In the Junior Dragster Intermediate category, Jordan Arnold defeated a fouling Colton Sapp on Saturday, and Drew Hostetter beat Colton Sapp on Sunday when Sapp narrowly broke out.

Marvin T. Smith

ASHLEY FORCE MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST FEMALE TOP FUEL FUNNY CAR WINNER; BEATS DAD JOHN FORCE IN FINAL ROUND

by Tim Glover
Tim Glover photos

Fans who came to experience the 28th NHRA Southern Nationals will always remember they witnessed a piece of history watching twenty five year old Ashley Force become the first female to win the professional class of Top Fuel Funny Car; at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA. Force also came into the event as the Powerade points leader, increasing that lead with her win. In 2007, then rookie Top Fuel Funny Car racer Ashley Force met her famous dad for the first time ever in competition at Atlanta Dragway during the 27th Southern Nationals. Ashley did take that win, and made it to the semi-final round.

Force not only had the experience of her lifetime winning her first professional race, she did it by defeating her dad, John Force, in the final round. This was also the first time a father and daughter met in the final round of competition in the professional categories. Ashley, who earned lane choice by going .003 seconds quicker than her dad in the semi-final round (4.842 seconds at 317.79 mph to John’s 4.845 at312.93mph), left the starting line first with a .110 second reaction time and blistered the track en route to the second quickest quarter mile time of the day, 4.837 seconds at 320.36 mph. Her dad also came to the final round hopped up to win, as he was gunning for his 1000th career round win. However, he brought just a little too much power, and spun the tires hard shortly after leaving the starting line, which forced him to coast to an 11.223 at just 85.97 mph. Prior to the final, John told everyone he wasn’t cutting her any slack, telling her,“If you want to know what it feels like to win, you have to win it yourself.”Ashley came back with “It doesn’t matter who’s in the other lane, we just want to kick their behinds!” She then added, “It’s an exciting time, you know, with Danica (Patrick) winning. There are a lot of women in a lot of different motor sports and we’re getting our practice, we’re getting our experience and we’re making our way toward those wins.” John will have the opportunity to win his 1000th round win at Saint Louis during his birthday weekend. The semi-final finishers were Ron Capps and Bob Tasca III.

John Force, who is usually surrounded quickly after exiting his car past the finish line, didn’t hear much more than crickets this time. Everyone flocked to his daughter Ashley’s car,and he barely had time to give her a hug before she was whisked off to the winner’s circle.

During the past three national events, Ashley noticed every time rookie Top Fuel racer Antron Brown won a round, she also won. She said that as soon as she saw Brown win his semi-final round, she became confident she had a great shot at winning this race.

Top Fuel Dragster rookie Antron Brown overcame a minor problem with his brakes during competition and went on to defeat former teammate and defending champion Tony Shumacher by an ultra close margin of .009 seconds in the Top Fuel final round. Shumacher had a decided performance advantage, and chose the favored right lane. However, the new track surface was very good on both sides, and Brown’s crew chief Lee Beard tuned the car up to a great 4.537 at 325.14 mph. Shumacher’s crew chief Alan Johnson also did a great job, tuning their car to an actually quicker 4.521 at329.58 mph. However, Brown earned his keep at the starting line reacting first with a .035 second reaction time. Shumacher was second out of the gate, .025 seconds later, with a .060 second react.

Local racer Bob Vandergriff Jr from Cumming, Ga. finished the day in the Top Fuel Dragster semi-final round with his UPS backed machine, along with Brown’s teammate Rod Fuller.Brown said he saw Bob running right with him almost to the finish line during the semi-final round, but unfortunately for Vandergriff, his engine expired near the finish line, causing it to slow to a 4.64 at 296.11 mph, while Brown’scar posted a better 4.555 at 330.47 mph. Brown does have experience in the professional categories, winning many Pro Stock Motorcycle races, and finishing second in that points series.

The brand new racetrack surface was also a contributing factor to the weekend’s successes. Many elimination rounds on Sunday were determined by margins of .003 to .009 seconds, which works out to less than a foot difference between the cars crossing the quarter mile finish line. Very few racers complained about the surface. Ron Krisher, who qualified in the number one spot in Pro Stock, said “This is the best race track I’ve seen at Atlanta!”

Rain was predicted each day,but the only time it delayed the show was on Sunday, when six rain delays pushed the event back to an evening finish.

After a two year long dry spell, Mike Edwards enjoyed visiting the Pro Stock winner’s circle again. “You can’t describe the feeling of winning a race in this class. It’s so hard, so tough. I’m so thankful to God, and to Him I give the glory.” Edward’s Penhall backed ’08 Pontiac GXP ran 6.680 at 206.20 mph for the win against Jason Line’s similarly prepared Summit Pontiac ’08 GXP. Line turned in a nearly identical performance of 6.680 at 206.92 mph, but Edward’s stellar .009 second reaction time was the deciding factor after Line reacted with a slightly off pace .059.The semi-final finishers were Jeg Coughlin (’08 Cobalt) and Justin Humphreys(’08 GXP).

Warren “WJ” and Kurt Johnson, who live in nearby Buford, Ga., exited earlier in the Pro Stock rounds. Warren lost in round one to eventual semi-finalist Jeg Coughlin, and Kurt lost on a holeshot (opponent Justin Humphreys had a quicker reaction time) in round two.

Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Andrew Hines set a new track record of 6.950 seconds during qualifying with his’07 V-Rod Harley on the way to his top finish against Chip Ellis. Hines’ machine was deadly all weekend, only varying from a quickest elapsed time of 6.946 seconds at 191.40 mph in the final round to a slowest of 6.964 seconds during qualifying. Hines had the reaction time advantage and the quicker ET against Ellis’ ’03 Suzuki TL, which left the starting line with a very good .022 time and ran 6.958 at 190.70mph. Angelle Sampey (’08 Buell) and Craig Treble (’03Suzuki TL) finished their day in the semi-final round.

Rookie Pro Stock Motorcycle racer and Atlanta Dragway regular Junior Pippin from Conyers, Ga. enjoyed a good weekend. Pippin, who is still sorting out his combination, qualified in the 14th spot, allowing him to race on Sunday. Pippin lost to eventual runner up Chip Ellis in round one, but experienced his best mph ever, at 188.20mph.

Dan Lucas of Cumming, Ga. entered his Top Alcohol Dragster in the Southern Nationals, and enjoyed one of his quickest passes, posting a 5.887 at239.36mph. Unfortunately, the bump spot to get into the 16 car field this weekend was 5.63 seconds.

Spencer Massey, who recently earned his Top Fuel license and won two other events, won for the second year in a row at Atlanta in the Top Alcohol Dragster category. Massey’s Gene“ Snowman” Snow owned and tuned machine lit up the scoreboards with a 5.356 at 268.92 mph against defending Lucas Oil champion Bill Reichert. Reichert’s machine suffered serious engine damage during the semi-final round, and was only able to muster a 13.147 at 84.11mph for the final. Diana Harker from Gainesville, Ga. experienced engine damage during her quarter-final win, and was only able to run 11.510 at 101.19 mph in the semi-finals. The other semi-final finisher was Jeff Bohr.

Diana Harker’s dad, Steve Harker, also from Gainesville, Ga., ended a good weekend in the runner-up spot in Top Alcohol Funny Car. Harker’s ’06 Monte Carlo got a little out of shape in the final, allowing Frank Manzo, who has won the Southern Nationals 13 times (74 total wins) to take the win with a 5.558 at 260.81 mph. Harker was very close,with a 5.569 at 257.83mph. Marc White (’08 Mustang) and Mickey Ferro (’06 Monte Carlo) were the semi-final pair.

Other winners include:

Competition Eliminator:

Win: Rick Brown, ’00 S10 pickup, Lebanon, OH, 8.339 160.90 (8.85 index)

R/U: David Rampy, ’32 Bantam, Piedmont, AL 7.342 168.28 (7.87 index)



Super Stock:

Win: Kevin Helms, ’95 Achieva, Belle Rose, LA, 9.718, 110.84mph, (9.29 dial)

R/U: Jeff Gillman, ’05 Sunfire, Mame, MI, (foul) 9.733, 107.50mph, (8.91 dial)



Stock:

Win: Lee Zane, ’98 Firebird, Perry Hall, MD, 11.02, 101.94mph, (11.85dial)

R/U: Adam Davis, ’67Camaro, Cullman, AL, (foul) 11.32, 93.98mph, (11.85 dial)



Super Comp:

Win: Bubba Watts, ’00 Ray Miller, Sharpsburg, GA, 8.919, 170.51mph, (8.90dial)

R/U: Tom Ratliff ’57Corvette, Eustis, FL 8.894 157.93mph, (8.90dial)



SuperStreet:

Win: Gary Frederico, ’87 Grand National, Hopewell, NY, 10.886,153.42mph, (10.90 index)

R/U: Lamar Stevenson ’69 Camaro, Montgomery, AL (foul) 10.885, 125.29mph, (10.90 index)

Ashley Force First Female NHRA FC Winner, Brown, Edwards and Hines Other Pro Winners at Commerce - GA's Eddie Ware Wins Pro Mod

Ashley Force becomes the first female NHRA Funny Car winner by defeating John Force in the finale. Antron Brown wins Top Fuel, Mike Edwards wins Pro Stock, Andrew Hines wins Pro Stock Bike and Marietta, GA's Eddie Ware wins Pro Mod at the Southern Nationals at Commerce.

NHRA Recap