Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Friday Night Drags Presented by ACDelco Week 3 Results
CONTACT: Marcy Scott
Matthew Simmons
Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Friday Night Drags Presented by ACDelco Week 3 Results
HAMPTON, Ga. (July 4, 2008) – Atlanta Motor Speedway’s third points week of Friday Night Drags presented by ACDelco featured a Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration presented by Charter Communications and was capped off by tons of racing action.
After three weeks of competition, two racers are undefeated, Rodney Tolbert in the ATV class and Jose Samaniego in the Tuner division. Two other competitors claimed their second win in three weeks, Alan Kidd in the Pros and Danny Lowry from the Street Outlaws.
Points will be awarded each night during the 10-week season in every class except the ACDelco Domestic and Tuner. Each division winner will take home three points, second-place two points and the rest of the participants will be awarded one point. The competitor with the most points at the end of the season wins the championship title on August 22. In the event of a tie, the competitor with the most wins will be awarded the title.
Below is a complete list of the Independence Day winners:
Pro: Alan Kidd (Stockbridge) in a 1968 Chevrolet Nova
Pro Four: Tony Taylor (Stockbridge) in a 2005 Mitsubishi Laner
Charter Communications Street Outlaw: Danny Lowry (Griffin) in a 1998 Ford Mustang
Pep Boys Auto Sportsman: Ken Stone (Covington) in a 1977 Chevrolet Luv
Trucks: Dwayne Bethune (Covington) in a 2006 Dodge 2500
Domestic Advanced: Randy Jackson (Bonaire) in a 1988 Ford Mustang
ATV: Rodney Tolbert (Locust Grove) on a 1987 Yamaha
ACDelco Domestic: Raymond Morgan (McDonough) in a 1981 Chevrolet Corvette
Tuners: Jose Samaniego (Jonesboro) in a 1988 Honda CRX
The Show N’ Shine competition featured everything from new imports to classic muscle cars. Below is a complete list of the July 4 winners:
Showroom Current (1973 through current): Roy P. Marcin (Adrian) in a 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT
Runner-up: Sharon Doughty (McDonough) in a 2007 Pontaic Solstice
Third-place: Leigh Blakey (Jonesboro) in a 2002 Pontiac Trans Am
Showroom Classic (1972 and prior): Rodney Allen (Fayetteville) in a 1971 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Runner-up: Tom Hurt (Conyers) in a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Third-place: Fred Phillips (Stockbridge) in a 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Tuner (all sport compact vehicles): Kimmy Lozano (Jonesboro) in a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Runner-up: Clark Morris (Hampton) in a 1994 Toyota pickup
Third-place: Nick Rasmussen (Brooks) in a Honda del Sol
Current Custom (1973 through current): Reba Smith (Williamson) in a Ford Mustang
Runner-up: James White (Anniston, Ala.) in a Ford Mustang GT
Third-place: Bruce Boatright (Villa Rica) in a 2007 Ford Mustang GT
Classic Custom (1972 and prior): Phillip Dooley (Conyers) in a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Runner-up: Jerry Crawford (Newnan) in a 1955 Ford Panel
Third-place: Chuck Dowell (Dallas) in a 1965 Ford Mustang
Motorcycle: Mike Obert (Riverdale) on a 2003 Honda
Runner-up: Mark Wagner (Hampton) on a 2004 custom Jammer
President’s Award (chosen by AMS president Ed Clark): JW Howard (Hampton) in a 1961 Chevrolet Corvette
Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Friday Night Drags presented by ACDelco is held every Friday night through August 22. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and nightly drag race eliminations start around 9:00 p.m. Entry for drag racing or the Show N’ Shine is $20, spectator tickets are $7 for adults and children under six are free. More information can be found at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com .
FRIDAY NIGHT DRAGS presented by AC Delco – SPARKTACULAR SPECIAL EVENT THIS FRIDAY NIGHT!!!
FRIDAY NIGHT DRAGS presented by AC Delco – SPARKTACULAR SPECIAL EVENT THIS FRIDAY NIGHT!!!
You are invited to join the fun this Friday night as Atlanta Motor Speedway celebrates our nation’s birthday. A full night of drag racing in all eight divisions. The Show-N-Shine returns along with the very popular ‘speedway cruise’. Plus, the speedway will host one of the southside’s biggest and best FIREWORKS displays just after the first rounds of racing! It will be a family-fun filled event this Friday, July 4th at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
So far in 2008, the drag racing has been phenomenal with sixteen different drivers winning main events. There has not been a repeat winner in two point nights thus far. The competition has been very close in all divisions and nobody is dominating as was the case in a few classes last year.
Alan Kidd and Billy Clevenger have split the wins in the Pro Division. Throw in a ‘Season Opener’ victory by Tony King and the racing has been wide open and fast in the Pro class. Kidd leads the points with Clevenger, Arnie ‘Superman’ Cobb and Tony Morse snarled in a three way tie for second heading into this Friday’s special 4th of July tournament.
Last year’s Street Outlaw champion, Daryl Stiles, finally snared his first win for 2008 this past Friday. Stiles holds the points lead again with the first week’s winner Danny Lowry pushing him. Stiles was runner-up to Lowry at the first week tussle’s main event.
Another defending champion, Mike Chambers in the Pro Four division, picked up his first win of the season on Friday, June 27. Chambers victory has also placed him in a familiar spot on top of the point series standings. First week winner Tommy Gillepin is currently tied for second place with hot shoe Jason Miller.
Three drivers are locked into a first place tie in the highly competitive Sportsman division as drivers prepare for this weekend’s holiday sparktacular. Bill Hatfield and Jeremy Rhodes have picked up victories while Mark Harris has ended up a bridesmaid both point weekends. There are eleven drivers tied behind the leaders.
Twenty-four competitors have jumped in for the title chase in the Truck division. So far in 2008, Cliff McBurnett and Dwayne Bethune have locked up main event laurels. McBurnett heads the points going into week three of the series while Behtune is tied for second with John Schwarz. Several competitors are tied for third place.
Mike Munoz and Claude Hamby have split victories in the Domestic Advanced division while Rodney Tolbert has two victories in two races for the ATV class.
The Domestic Advanced and ATV classes are new to the series in 2008. The Domestic Advanced gives competitors with racing tires and power adders a division to compete leaving the Domestic class to stock vehicles. The ATVs ran on a regular basis last season, but were not included in a point series.
Friday Night Drags – July 4, 2008
Time Schedule
Orange Lot (tailgating) – Open all day
* across from the main tunnel entrance
Earnhardt Lot (tailgating) – Open all day
* in front of Grandstand Gate
6:00pm Pit Gates, Tech and Registration Open
6:00pm Show-N-Shine Garage Opens
6:15pm Practice Runs Begin
6:30pm Grandstand Gates Open
8:15pm Show-N-Shine Line-Up for Speedway Cruise
8:20pm Speedway Cruise
8:25pm Show-N-Shine on Pit Road
8:50pm Show-N-Shine Awards Ceremony
9:00pm Opening Ceremonies
9:05pm Eliminations Begin
Dusk Fireworks
Spectator Tickets - $7
Children 6 and under – FREE
Drag Race Competitor & Car - $20
Show-N-Shine Competitor & Car - $20
Both Competitions - $30
Infield Car Parking - $20
For additional information, check out the speedway website at http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/ .
***** The City of Hampton (located just across US 19/41 from Atlanta Motor Speedway’s main entrance) is having a 4th of July parade and festival. The festivities begin at 10am and will conclude around 6pm when the gates at the speedway open for racing and fireworks. Very family oriented city festival.
Ted Austad
Event Promotions Coordinator
Atlanta Motor Speedway
770-946-3954 office
http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/
UPCOMING EVENTS AT ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
FIREWORKS! FIREWORKS! FIREWORKS!
Thursday, July 3 - Thursday Thunder
Friday, July 4 - Friday Night Drags
TWO HUGE FIREWORKS SHOWS!!!!
Faster Pastor 2008
Thursday, July 17
Nine Pastors! Nine Laps! One Winner!
Atlanta's Holy War!!!
Pep Boys Auto 500 weekend
October 24, 25 and 26
Reserve your seats today!
Call 770-946-4211.
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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9th Annual Buford ACE Classic Cruise-In and Show Saturday November 8th, 2008 10:00am. -2:00pm
Saturday November 8th, 2008 10:00am. -2:00pm. The 9th Annual Buford ACE Classic Cruise-In and Show!
S&S ACE Hardware & Mower 3400 (swt 20) Buford Dr. (hwy20) Buford , Ga. 30518 . Buford Mall Parking Lot.
Modifieds,Vintage Cars, Street Rods, Classic Drivers, Muscle Cars, Motorcycles, Rare Rides of all kinds! Oldies DJ Mark Joseph , Dozens of Door Prizes. Free Hot Dogs, .25 cent soft drinks, PaintBall Fun. Optional Judging entry fee $15.
(All Benefits the North Gwinnett Food Bank Co-op).
Sponsored by S&S ACE Hardware & Mower, Website: ssacehardware.com ,Contact: Joe Gagnon, (770)932-1458 or e-mail:jgagnon@ssacehardware.com
Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Friday Night Drags Presented by ACDelco Week 2 Results
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Marcy Scott
Matthew Simmons
Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Friday Night Drags Presented by ACDelco Week 2 Results
HAMPTON, Ga. (June 27, 2008) – The second points round of Friday Night Drags presented by ACDelco featured only two repeat winners out of nine divisions. Jonesboro’s Jose Samaniego and Locust Grove’s Rodney Tolbert scored back-to-back wins in the Tuner and ATV divisions respectively.
Points will be awarded each night during the 10-week season in every class except the ACDelco Domestic and Tuner. Each division winner will take home three points, second-place two points and the rest of the participants will be awarded one point. The competitor with the most points at the end of the season wins the championship title on August 22. In the event of a tie, the competitor with the most wins will be awarded the title.
Below is a complete list of the June 27 winners:
Pro: Billy Clevenger (Jonesboro) in a 1977 Chevrolet Vega
Pro Four: Nate Chambers (Griffin) in a 1957 Volkswagen Bug
Charter Communications Street Outlaw: Daryl Stiles (Williamson) in a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro
Pep Boys Auto Sportsman: Bill Hatfield (Hampton) in a 1993 Ford Mustang
Trucks: Dwayne Bethune (Covington) in a 2006 Dodge 2500
Domestic Advanced: Mike Munoz (Stockbridge) in a 1991 Ford Mustang
ATV: Rodney Tolbert (Locust Grove) on a 1987 Yamaha
ACDelco Domestic: Raymond Morgan (McDonough) in a 1981 Chevrolet Corvette
Tuners: Jose Samaniego (Jonesboro) in a 1988 Honda CRX
The Show n’ Shine competition took a week off due to show preparation for DukesFest at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday and Sunday June 28 and 29.
Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Friday Night Drags presented by ACDelco is held every Friday night through August 22. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and nightly drag race eliminations start around 9:00 p.m. Entry for drag racing or the Show N’ Shine is $20, spectator tickets are $7 for adults and children under six are free. More information can be found at http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/ .