Summit event at Atlanta Dragway in 2008
RACE DATE: July 12, 2008
SEASONED SUCCESSES
By: Amy Glover
(Commerce,GA – July 12) The three car-class winners in tonight’s Atlanta DragwaySummit ET Series action used “well-seasoned” vehicles, proving one doesn’t needthe latest technology and fancy equipment to win. Competition was shortenedfrom six to four classes this weekend due to the Atlanta Dragway Junior Dragster team representingthe track at the NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League EasternConference Finals, presented by Gaged Engineering. The top ranking juniordragster driver was Brandon Thompson from Douglasville, GA, who finishedas a quarterfinalist in the 16-17 category. The missing numbers were replacedby a visiting Pro Mod team, Gotham City Racing, and though it was just fortesting, drivers Joe Baker and Roger Burgess gave a good show for spectators. Dueto the rainout at the last race (Night of Fire), there was no Hayes BracketBounty to be had; Saturday’s winners Joshua Cohen, Kelly King, Randy Franklin,and Jeff Shropshire are the new Hayes Bracket Bounty targets.
Super Pro winner Joshua Cohen of Lawrenceville, GA securedhis first victory with a well-seasoned ’77 Camaro, previously owned and ran bythe Atlanta Dragway veteran Bates family. The car went from street legal toserious race car in the early 90’s, providing Cohen a machine that’s beenwinning since he was too young to go behind the wheel. In his sixth race ever,Cohen pulled off a beautiful win with a .0004 margin of victory, running a 5.13on a 5.08 dial, against Woodstock, GA’s MichaelMorris, who ran a 6.73 on a 6.70 dial in his ’01 Undercover Dragster. Cohenthanked John and Samantha Bates, and attributed his involvement in drag racingto helping out their son Matt for the last two years. Cohen was aided by hisgirlfriend Tara, explaining, “All my buddies are racing now – so we can’t helpeach other out.” Jim McKelvey (’96 Spitzer – Snellville, GA) andAshley Hancock (’00 R.E.D. Dragster – Commerce, GA) placed in the semi-finals.
Long-time racer Kelly King, fromStockbridge, GA, showed up his shinier opponents in the Pro class with hiswell-worn ’74 Vega Wagon. King won with a tighter package, running a 7.12 on a7.06, against Brian Lyle (’69 Camaro – Waynesville, NC), runningan 8.06 on a 7.98. King remarked on the visual status of vehicles, stating, “Aclean car doesn’t win races.” Winners of previous races this season, HowardWarren (’72 Maverick – Douglasville, GA) andJustin Buchanan (’72 Chevy Nova – Six Mile, SC) ended their night in thesemi-finals.
In the Sportsman class, another long-timeracer, Randy Franklin of Loganville, GA, broke out less (16.69 on a 16.84) inhis 314,000 miled ’79 Chevy C-10, than his friend of 30 years, John Snapp ofConyers, GA, who ran a 16.69 on a 16.84 dial in his ’07 Mustang (notably hisfirst Ford after living life as a Mopar man). Franklin mentionedthat while he has had his fair share of the runner-up position, this was hisfirst win at Atlanta Dragway. Franklin thankedhis second-placed racing buddy John Snapp, with whom he ran together in Lexington. Formerwinner D.A. Streber from Greenville, SC placedthird in his ’02 Hyundai.
Dallas, GA’s Jeff Shropshire won in the Motorcycle category, pulling off a 15.04 on a 14.84dial-in in his ’08 Kawasaki, againstHomer, GA’s Howard Bowman. Bowman’s wife’s ’06 Harley finished in a largerovershot of prediction, running 9.77 on a 9.60 dial-in. A man of few words,Jeff Shropshire stated he was “just glad to be here.” Steve Jackson, from Bogart, GA, was thesemi-finalist of the category in his ’08 Kawasaki.
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 DragRaceResults.com bracket racing event on July 26-27, may be obtained by callingthe track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com .
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Joshua Cohen ’77 Camaro Lawrenceville,GA 6.73 101.57 (6.70)
R/U: Michael Morris ’01 UndercoverDragster Snellville, GA 5.13 125.26 (5.08)
Semi: Jim McKelvey ’96Spitzer Snellville, GA
Semi: Ashley Hancock ’00 R.E.D. Dragster Commerce,GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Kelly King ’74 Vega Wagon Stockbridge, GA 7.12 94.33 (7.06)
R/U: Brian Lyle ’69 Camaro Waynesville, NC 8.06 85.40 (7.98)
Semi: Howard Warren ’72Maverick Douglasville, GA
Semi: Justin Buchanan ’72 Chevy Nova Six Mile, SC
———————————————————————————————————————————————
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Randy Franklin ’79 Chevy C-10 Loganville,GA 16.69 81.31 (16.84)
R/U: John Snapp ’07Mustang Conyers, GA 16.02 80.81 (16.20)
Semi: D.A. Streber ’02Hyundai Greenville, SC
———————————————————————————————————————————————
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jeff Shropshire ’08 Kawasaki Dallas, GA 9.77 136.94 (9.60)
R/U: Howard Bowman ’06 Harley Homer,GA 15.04 78.38 (14.84)
Semi: Steve Jackson ’08 Kawasaki Bogart,GA
SEASONED SUCCESSES
By: Amy Glover
(Commerce,GA – July 12) The three car-class winners in tonight’s Atlanta DragwaySummit ET Series action used “well-seasoned” vehicles, proving one doesn’t needthe latest technology and fancy equipment to win. Competition was shortenedfrom six to four classes this weekend due to the Atlanta Dragway Junior Dragster team representingthe track at the NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League EasternConference Finals, presented by Gaged Engineering. The top ranking juniordragster driver was Brandon Thompson from Douglasville, GA, who finishedas a quarterfinalist in the 16-17 category. The missing numbers were replacedby a visiting Pro Mod team, Gotham City Racing, and though it was just fortesting, drivers Joe Baker and Roger Burgess gave a good show for spectators. Dueto the rainout at the last race (Night of Fire), there was no Hayes BracketBounty to be had; Saturday’s winners Joshua Cohen, Kelly King, Randy Franklin,and Jeff Shropshire are the new Hayes Bracket Bounty targets.
Super Pro winner Joshua Cohen of Lawrenceville, GA securedhis first victory with a well-seasoned ’77 Camaro, previously owned and ran bythe Atlanta Dragway veteran Bates family. The car went from street legal toserious race car in the early 90’s, providing Cohen a machine that’s beenwinning since he was too young to go behind the wheel. In his sixth race ever,Cohen pulled off a beautiful win with a .0004 margin of victory, running a 5.13on a 5.08 dial, against Woodstock, GA’s MichaelMorris, who ran a 6.73 on a 6.70 dial in his ’01 Undercover Dragster. Cohenthanked John and Samantha Bates, and attributed his involvement in drag racingto helping out their son Matt for the last two years. Cohen was aided by hisgirlfriend Tara, explaining, “All my buddies are racing now – so we can’t helpeach other out.” Jim McKelvey (’96 Spitzer – Snellville, GA) andAshley Hancock (’00 R.E.D. Dragster – Commerce, GA) placed in the semi-finals.
Long-time racer Kelly King, fromStockbridge, GA, showed up his shinier opponents in the Pro class with hiswell-worn ’74 Vega Wagon. King won with a tighter package, running a 7.12 on a7.06, against Brian Lyle (’69 Camaro – Waynesville, NC), runningan 8.06 on a 7.98. King remarked on the visual status of vehicles, stating, “Aclean car doesn’t win races.” Winners of previous races this season, HowardWarren (’72 Maverick – Douglasville, GA) andJustin Buchanan (’72 Chevy Nova – Six Mile, SC) ended their night in thesemi-finals.
In the Sportsman class, another long-timeracer, Randy Franklin of Loganville, GA, broke out less (16.69 on a 16.84) inhis 314,000 miled ’79 Chevy C-10, than his friend of 30 years, John Snapp ofConyers, GA, who ran a 16.69 on a 16.84 dial in his ’07 Mustang (notably hisfirst Ford after living life as a Mopar man). Franklin mentionedthat while he has had his fair share of the runner-up position, this was hisfirst win at Atlanta Dragway. Franklin thankedhis second-placed racing buddy John Snapp, with whom he ran together in Lexington. Formerwinner D.A. Streber from Greenville, SC placedthird in his ’02 Hyundai.
Dallas, GA’s Jeff Shropshire won in the Motorcycle category, pulling off a 15.04 on a 14.84dial-in in his ’08 Kawasaki, againstHomer, GA’s Howard Bowman. Bowman’s wife’s ’06 Harley finished in a largerovershot of prediction, running 9.77 on a 9.60 dial-in. A man of few words,Jeff Shropshire stated he was “just glad to be here.” Steve Jackson, from Bogart, GA, was thesemi-finalist of the category in his ’08 Kawasaki.
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 DragRaceResults.com bracket racing event on July 26-27, may be obtained by callingthe track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com .
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Joshua Cohen ’77 Camaro Lawrenceville,GA 6.73 101.57 (6.70)
R/U: Michael Morris ’01 UndercoverDragster Snellville, GA 5.13 125.26 (5.08)
Semi: Jim McKelvey ’96Spitzer Snellville, GA
Semi: Ashley Hancock ’00 R.E.D. Dragster Commerce,GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Kelly King ’74 Vega Wagon Stockbridge, GA 7.12 94.33 (7.06)
R/U: Brian Lyle ’69 Camaro Waynesville, NC 8.06 85.40 (7.98)
Semi: Howard Warren ’72Maverick Douglasville, GA
Semi: Justin Buchanan ’72 Chevy Nova Six Mile, SC
———————————————————————————————————————————————
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Randy Franklin ’79 Chevy C-10 Loganville,GA 16.69 81.31 (16.84)
R/U: John Snapp ’07Mustang Conyers, GA 16.02 80.81 (16.20)
Semi: D.A. Streber ’02Hyundai Greenville, SC
———————————————————————————————————————————————
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jeff Shropshire ’08 Kawasaki Dallas, GA 9.77 136.94 (9.60)
R/U: Howard Bowman ’06 Harley Homer,GA 15.04 78.38 (14.84)
Semi: Steve Jackson ’08 Kawasaki Bogart,GA
posted by David @ 10:42 PM
