THRILLER VIPER JET CAR THIS WEEK AT THE SPEEDWAY

Virginia’s Dick Rosberg and his Thriller Viper Jet Car will return to Atlanta Motor Speedway this Thursday and Friday night. Rosberg entertained fans last season with an exciting 250 mile per hour pass down pit road during the NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend. He will be back again this week to entertain at both Thursday Thunder and Friday Night Drags presented by AC Delco. We have attached a photo of Rosberg firing the jet into place at the starting line.

Rosberg will create a 6,000 degree flame while approaching the start line before hitting the thrust that will create thousands of horsepower propelling him down the eighth mile drag strip. The show is reminiscent of Wiley Coyote riding his TNT rocket while chasing the elusive road runner.

Race fans will also enjoy a full night of racing on the quarter-mile bullring Thursday night and the eighth mile drag strip on Friday. All weekly divisions of competition will be in action on both nights. Legends Cars, Bandoleros and Thunder Roadsters on Thursday evening. Pro, Street Outlaw, Sportsman, Pro Four, Tuner, Trucks, Domestic Advanced, Domestic and ATV on Friday.

The Friday Night Drags points became jumbled this past weekend with a few regular drivers not making runs and track officials tracking down drivers who had not made points runs the previous weeks of the season. Three points are awarded to the main event winner while the runner-up receives two points. All others competing receive one point. Officials found a few drivers who had not competed, but had received one point on certain nights. Those points have been eliminated from the standings and the correct and current point standings are listed below (top ten in each division). For a complete points update, visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com and click on the Friday Night Drags icon.

The top six drivers will fill the first six positions in the championship bracket to be run at the AC Delco Street Car Nationals in September. The final two positions to fill the bracket of eight will be determined the weekend of the nationals. Championship winning drivers will be honored at the NASCAR weekend in October prior to the running of the Pep Boys Auto 500 Sprint Cup Series event.

Pro Division (position, driver name, points)

1-Tony Morse (10) 2-Billy Clevenger (7) 3-Alan Kidd (6) 4-Arnie Cobb (5) 5-Wayne Boggs (3) 5-Tony King (3) 7-David Sisk (2) 7-Ronnie Richardson (2) 7-Bobby Daniel (2) 10-several drivers are tied with one point.


Street Outlaw

1-Danny Lowry (13) 2-John Bonner (6) 3-Daryl Stiles (5) 3-Jeff Coker (5) 5-David Sammons (4) 6-Steven Kidd (3) 6-Lee Williams (3) 6-Ross Cole (3) 9-four tied with 2


Sportsman

1-Bill Hatfield (10) 2-Jeremy Rhodes (7) 2-Mark Harris (7) 4-Greg Adamek (6) 5-Russell Raines (5) 5-Scott Jeritt (5) 5-Joey Stone (5) 5-John Morris (5) 5-Johnny Sims (5) 10-three tied with 4


Pro Four

1-Mike Chambers (8) 2-Tommy Gillepin (7) 3-Matt Baade (5) 3-Tony Taylor (5) 5-Chris Santos (4) 6-Jason Miller (3) 6-Michael Martin (3) 8-six tied with 2


Truck

1-Dwayne Bethune (11) 2-Cliff McBurnett (9) 3-John Schwarz (6) 4-George Swan (5) 4-Mike Kidd (5) 6-James Hames (4) 6-TJ Johnson (4) 6-Adam Cason (4) 9-five tied with 3



Domestic Advanced

1-Mike Munoz (7) 2-Tim McArthur (5) 2-Tommy McArthur (5) 2-John Morgan (5) 2-Lewis Hinton (5) 6-six tied with 4



The Friday Night Drags presented by AC Delco Show-N-Shine will take place every night along with the drag racing series. Winners from each night’s judging (including motorcycles) will be invited back to show during the pre-race event on Sunday, October 26. The winner’s entries will be lined up along the front straightaway of the speedway during all pre-race activities including the driver introductions of the starting field for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pep Boys Auto 500. This is a unique opportunity for the Show-N-Shine winners at Friday Night Drags presented by AC Delco.


The very popular Show-N-Shine speedway cruise will also take place each night during Friday Night Drags presented by AC Delco. Show-N-Shine participants are welcome to join the three lap cruise around the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway before showcasing their machines along the drag strip prior to eliminations. The cruise is popular with both the drivers and the fans attending the weekly show.


Upcoming Events (mark the calendar)

Thursday, July 24 – Thursday Thunder & Thriller Viper Jet Car. Plus, Joe Momma Night (if your name is Joe and you bring your momma, both get in for free)

Friday, July 25 – Friday Night Drags, Show-N-Shine & Thriller Viper Jet Car

Thursday, July 31 – Thursday Thunder & Kid’s Bike/Trike Races (all kids receive prizes for participating in the kids races)

Friday, August 1 – Friday Night Drags, Show-N-Shine & motorcycles added to drag races

Thursday, August 7 – Thursday Thunder Championship Night

Friday, August 8 – Friday Night Drags and Show-N-Shine

Friday, August 15 – Friday Night Drags and Show-N-Shine

Friday, August 22 – Friday Night Drags and Show-N-Shine final points night to qualify for the top six spots at AC Delco Street Car Nationals

Friday, August 29 – make up night for any rain out (if needed)

Friday, September 19 – AC Delco Street Car Nationals (more tba)

Saturday, September 20 – AC Delco Street Car Nationals (more tba)

Friday, September 26 – Friday Night Drags & Super Chevy warm-up race

Friday, October 3 – Super Chevy Show. Visit www.superchevyshow.com

Saturday, October 4 – Super Chevy Show. Visit www.superchevyshow.com

Sunday, October 5 - Super Chevy Show. Visit www.superchevyshow.com

Friday, October 24 – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hot Shot Qualifying Night

Saturday, October 25 – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Atlanta 200

Sunday, October 26 – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pep Boys Auto 500


Gate times and ticket information:

Thursday Thunder – Gates Open at 6pm. Adults are $5. Children 6-12 are $1. Five and under are admitted for free.

Friday Night Drags – Pits Open at 6pm. Drag practice runs begin at 6:15pm. Grandstands open at 6:30pm. Show-N-Shine judging begins at 6:30pm. Drag practice ends at 8:15pm. Speedway cruise begins at 8:15pm. Show-N-Shine awards ceremony is at 8:50pm. Opening ceremonies is at 9pm. Drag race eliminations begin at 9pm. Tickets are $7. Children six and under are admitted for free. Drag race or Show-N-Shine entry is $20.

For more information, visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com and click on the icons for Thursday Thunder or Friday Night Drags.



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

Brady Kelly, Matt Cook, and April Spell dominate Summit Bracket Series at South Georgia Motorsports Park

Cecil, Georgia July 19 and 20, 2008
by Marvin T. Smith


Brady Kelly, Matt Cook, and April Spell swept the two days of Summit Series bracket racing at South Georgia Motorsports Park in their respective categories. After the June event was rained out, racers were ready to go in July. Although the track temperature reached 148 on Sunday afternoon, the racing was hot and heavy.

In the Super Pro category, seven rounds of racing on Saturday night came down to Todd Osting against Michael Bonacci. Osting ran a perfect 5.320 on his 5.32 dial to beat Bonacci who narrowly broke out. In Sunday’s event, Guy Sawter in his dragster defeated Roger Mann in his 69 Camaro by breaking out the least. Saturday winner Osting lost in the semifinals to Sawter, narrowly missing a chance to double up.

In Pro, it was all Brady Kelly. On Saturday, Kelly defeated Ken Grant. Kelly took a narrow reaction time advantage and ran a 7.61 on his 7.59 dial to beat Grant’s 7.57 on his 7.56 dial. On Sunday, Brady Kelly defeated Roger Kelly. Roger took a great starting line advantage, but couldn’t run his number. Brady ran a 7.579 on his 7.56 dial for the win.

In the Sportsman category, Joe Tillman beat a fouling Gaines Hickman on Saturday, and frequent winner Kenny Bevins, Jr. beat Beau Gay on Sunday when Gay fouled.

In the Intermediate Junior Dragster class, Matt Cook dominated Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Matt beat Shelby Tejera by gaining the reaction time advantage and running a fine 8.936 on his 8.93 dial while Shelby broke out by .006 seconds. On Sunday after five rounds of tough racing, Matt defeated his cousin Drew Hostetter who fouled.

April Spell dominated five rounds of Advanced Junior Dragster racing on Saturday and Sunday. In the Saturday final, she defeated Dalton Samuel by running a 7.96 on her 7.94 dial to Dalton’s 8.006 on his 7.95 dial. On Sunday, April beat Ladson Selph in a tight race. April took the reaction time advantage, .031 to .050 and ran a 7.986 on her 7.97 dial to defeat Selph’s 8.017 on his 8.00 dial.

RACERS COMPETE FOR WALLY HONOR

RACE DATE: July 19, 2008

FROM: Amy Glover

EVENT: Summit event at Atlanta Dragway in 2008


(Commerce,GA – July 19) This weekend’s race day was guaranteed to produce hightensions and a determined turnout for the National Dragster Challenge andJunior Dragster Challenge, occurring alongside Race Track Ministry Day. Theannual race provides a chance for bracket racers to pick up an NHRA Wally, theultimate prize to represent the best of racers. The loaded prize table awaitedanxious winners, two of them veterans in the Wally game, two of them first-timeWally winners, all now endowed with bragging rights for the future. In additionto the “Wally”, first and second place finishers also received a trophy,courtesy of the Racers for Christ team. Junior Dragster Challenge winners alsoreceived a Racebricks collectible car.

Two-time track champion Thomas Bell(’05 Undercover – Toccoa, GA) claimed his third Wally in the Super Procategory, against Ed Nalley (’76 Vega – Maysville, GA); the round began with astaging battle, neither man pulling through the beams first, a strategy oftenapplied against Bell, known for his habit of staging last. “I don’t know whythey do that,” Bell said,“I’ll burn a hole in the piston.” And if the battle was meant to intimidate, itdidn’t throw Bell’s gameoff in the least, winning with a .019 reaction time, running 4.77 on a 4.74dial, alongside Nalley’s .053 light, running 6.88 on a 6.82 dial. Bell alsocollected the Hayes Bracket Bounty on last weekend’s winner, Joshua Cohen, inthe second round. Jeremy Hancock (’05 M&N Dragster – Commerce, GA), son oftonight’s Sportsman winner, and Michael Brown (’96 Horton – Covington, GA)placed in the semi-final round.

Pro Class winner Bruce Wilson’svictory was a full-fledged family achievement, his win-light met with deafeningscreaming from his nieces and wide smiles from his racing relations father Jessie,mom Sue and brother Michael. Wilson (Tallapoosa, GA – ’70Nova) is a tried-and-true champion, winning his first Wally at the ’01 NHRADivision Two ET finals. The race was a relentless final, Wilson securing thewin with a dead-on dial of 6.68, and the better reaction time of .070 againstMonroe, GA’s Barry Camp’s .159, running a 6.40 on a 6.39 dial in his Z11 409powered ’62 Bubbletop BelAir. Wilson said hewas just glad not to red-light, as he did in his past five races, having beatenhimself on the tree. Wilson said heoriginally planned on staying at home, if it weren’t for the Wally opportunity,and thanked his mother and father, and wife Cassie for staying at home to takecare of their child Cole. Greg Allen (’80 Camaro – Greenwood, SC) andDavid Simmons (’95 S-10 – Suwanee, GA) finishedin the semis.

Mark Hancock of Commerce, GA earnedhis first Wally in the Sportsman class, a long-overdue triumph after previouslyrunning in four other finals competing for the respected trophy, three of themin the motorcycle rank, and one of them the same ’00 Jeep Cherokee he wontonight’s race with. Though his competitor in the finals, Harold Wilson (’74Nova SS – Winder, GA), fouled at the start, Mark gave a surprisingly solid runfor his street car, pulling off a .004 light and a dead-on dial-in at 16.28.Mark thanked his wife Paula for letting him race, and the continued support ofJunior Pippin and Wayne Smith. Mark was hoping for a side-by-side victory withhis son, Jeremy Hancock (who finished in the semis in the Super Pro class), yethe was “glad to finally win.” Hayes Bracket Bounty winner Scott Reynolds (’05Chevy Truck – Cartersville, GA) and JeffWagner (’71 Duster – Jefferson, GA) placedthird.

Steve Winn from Winterville, GA won theMotorcycle category, making his first racing career triumph that much sweeterwith the simultaneous gaining of a Wally and the Hayes Bracket Bounty on hisfinal-round opponent, Jeff Shropshire. Winn’s ’92 Suzuki sank Shropshire (’08ZX14 – Dallas, GA) with the better package, cutting a .012 light, and trippingthe win stripe with an 11.04 on a 10.90 dial, in opposition to Shropshire’s .046light and 9.78 run on a 9.63 dial. Winn races for Winner Circle Motorsports,and thanked Danny Thompson and Phil Nuckles. “I’m just happy,” Winn said, “Allthe hard work paid off. It’s real cool.” Jimmy “Chacha” Heisler (’02 Kawasaki – Woodstock, GA) andMichael Tlapa (’01 Hayabusa – Loganville, GA) finishedin third place.

For the second year in a row, the13-17 Junior Dragster Challenge was won by Danielle Krause, winning with an8.00 run on a 7.91 dial and a .036 light, facing Jordan Thurmond, who beathimself by running a hundredth of a second under his dial-in with a 7.96 on a7.97. Valerie Clements (15 – Central, SC) and Jeff Osborn (15 – Woodstock, GA)earned the third place trophies.

Wesley Mayfield (12 – Gainesville, GA) won inthe 8-12 Junior Dragster category, for playing by the rules, in opposition toDaulton Roger’s foul, illuminating Mayfield’s side with the win light beforethe finish line was reached. Ten year old Hiawassee, GA racer AlexKrause (brother of 13-17 winner Danielle Krause) finished in the semi-finals.

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 www.atlantadragway.com .



SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Thomas Bell ’05 Undercover Toccoa, GA 4.77 139.44 (4.74)

R/U: Ed Nalley ’76 Vega Maysville,GA 6.88 94.31 (6.82)

Semi: Jeremy Hancock ’05 M&N Dragster Commerce,GA

Semi: Michael Brown ’96Horton Covington, GA

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PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Bruce Wilson ’70 Nova Tallapoosa, GA 6.68 96.15 (6.68)

R/U: Barry Camp ’62 BelAir Monroe, GA 6.40 108.95 (6.39)

Semi: Greg Allen ’80Camaro Greenwood, SC

Semi: David Simmons ’95 S-10 Suwanee,GA

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SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Mark Hancock ’00 Jeep Cherokee Commerce,GA 16.28 83.50 (16.28)

R/U: Harold Wilson ’74 Nova SS Winder,GA 13.26 100.08 (13.24)(foul)

Semi: Scott Reynolds ’05 Chevy Truck Cartersville,GA

Semi: Jeff Wagner ’71Duster Jefferson, GA

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MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Steve Winn ’92 Suzuki Winterville, GA 11.04 120.46 (10.90)

R/U: Jeff Shropshire ’08 ZX14 Dallas,GA 9.78 142.34 (9.63)

Semi: Jimmy “Chacha” Heisler ’02 Kawasaki Woodstock, GA

Semi: Michael Tlapa ’01 Hayabusa Loganville,GA

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8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Wesley Mayfield 12 Gainesville, GA 8.92 73.05 (8.90)

R/U: Daulton Rogers 10 Hiawassee,GA 9.08 70.03 (8.97) (foul)

Semi: Alex Krause 10 PeachtreeCity, GA

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13-17 JRDRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Danielle Krause 17 PeachtreeCity, GA 8.00 82.72 (7.91)

R/U: Jordon Thurmond 16 Statham,GA 7.96 78.36 (7.97)

Semi: Valerie Clements 15 Central,SC

Semi: Jeff Osborn 15 Woodstock, GA

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