Reichert, Payne among champs at Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at Atlanta Dragway

Courtesy NHRA.com

Sunday 10/5/2008

COMMERCE, Ga. – Racing is complete and the winners have been crowned at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event hosted at Atlanta Dragway. This wraps up the fifth of six in Southeast division competition where racers definitely helped their cause in hopes of attaining divisional and national championships. Top winners included Top Dragster pilot Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., and Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., in Top Alcohol Funny Car.

Reichert continues his winning streak obtaining his fourth victory in a row and has the national championship in his sights. Arthur Allen, of Jacksonville, Fla., who qualified No.4 coming into Sunday, made his way to the finals, but was shut down by Reichert's pass of 5.267 seconds, 277.43 mph.

Top Alcohol Funny Car continues to be dominated by Jay Payne of Claremont, Calif. Payne defeated Keeter Ray, Newport Beach, Calif., to pick up his second divisional win of the season. Payne's 5.696-second, 249.16 mph. pass was more than enough to defeat Ray's run of 5.930 seconds at 214.35 mph.

Other winners included Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn. in Comp Eliminator; Mike Tueffel, Browns Summit, N.C., in Super Stock; and Stock Eliminator driver Brenda Grubbs of Plant City, Fla. Super Comp honors went to Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kan.; Brian Forrester of Parrish, Fla., won in Super Gas; and Mike Desio, Seminole, Fla., took the Super Street crown in his '67 Chevy II.

Davis In-Motion Satellites Top Sportsman Series event winner was Jeffrey Barker of Warner-Robins, Ga., taking his '02 Camaro down the track at 7.224 seconds, 177.37 mph. Also winning big was Mark Brown of Lake Worth, Fla., in Top Dragster presented by Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales.



The following are Sunday's final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Southeast
Division event at Atlanta Dragway:
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:
Round 1
4) Arthur Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.360, 256.60 def.
5) Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, N.J., broke;
1) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.361, 266.32 def.
8) Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., 5.520, 257.87;
3) Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 9.701, 119.92 def.
6) Jeff Bohr, Plymouth, Mich., 23.782, 23.77;
2) Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., 5.395, 260.01 def.
7) Gene Arrigoni, Yorktown Hts, N.Y., broke;
Semifinals
Reichert, 5.281, 273.39 def. Samsel, 5.359, 268.44;
Allen, 5.848, 228.77 def. Thacker, 8.490, 97.91;
Final
Reichert, 5.267, 277.43 def. Allen, 5.830, 197.77.

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
Round 1
5) Keeter Ray, Newport Bch, Calif., '08 Mustang, 6.756, 192.58 def.
4) Mark Rogers, Highlands, N.C., '02 Firebird, 6.597, 175.73;
6) John Sullivan, Pike Road City, Ala., '02 Trans Am, 5.923, 249.49 def.
3) John Bojec, Chardon, Ohio, '03 Avenger, broke;
2) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '07 Mustang, 5.815, 250.88 def.
7) Mark Billington, Norcross, Ga., '01 Avenger, broke;
8) Nick Bastiao, Sacramento, Calif., '05 Monte Carlo, 5.738, 245.27 def.
1) Mickey Ferro, Stamford, Conn., '05 Monte Carlo, foul;
Semifinals
Payne, 5.705, 254.14 def. Sullivan, 5.956, 247.43;
Ray, 5.886, 250.46 def. Bastiao, 12.997, 67.22;
Final
Payne, 5.696, 249.16 def. Ray, 5.930, 214.35.

COMP ELIMINATOR
Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '07 Sunfire, A/SM, 7.902, 172.08 def.
David Eaton, Merritt Island, Fla., '32 Bantam, A/AP, 10.203, 93.65.

SUPER STOCK
Mike Tueffel, Browns Summit, N.C., '98 Grand Am, SS/BM, 8.816, 142.93 def.
David Simmons, Suwanee, Ga., '98 S-10, GT/TA, 10.532, 118.53.

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Brenda Grubbs, Plant City, Fla., '69 Camaro, C/SA, 10.574, 123.97 def. Mickey Whaley, Kinston,
N.C.., '69 Camaro, C/SA, 10.717, 107.83.

SUPER COMP
Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kan., dragster, 8.941, 181.40 def.
Lindsey Wood, McAlpin, Fla., dragster, 8.945, 180.28.

SUPER GAS
Brian Forrester, Parrish, Fla., '63 Corvette, 9.908, 165.31 def.
Steve Furr, Harrisburg, N.C., '68 Camaro, 9.864, 158.17.

SUPER STREET
Mike Desio, Seminole, Fla., '67 Chevy II, 10.984, 123.47 def.
Charlie Fitzsimmons, Rossville, Ga., '68 Barracuda, broke.

TOP SPORTSMAN
Jeffrey Barker, Warner-Robins, Ga., '02 Camaro, 7.224, 177.37 def.
Allen Holcomb, Fairburn, Ga., '63 Corvette, 8.186, 164.31.

TOP DRAGSTER
Mark Brown, Lake Worth, Fla., dragster, 7.229, 179.95 def.
Wade Lanier, Palm Bch Gardens, Fla., dragster, 7.230, 188.96.

Thacker, Martel, Dennis, Livingston, Albritton Jr. and Careccia Lead Qualifying at Commerce

Courtesy of NHRA Field Marketing

COMMERCE, Ga. -- All but Top Alcohol Funny Car final qualifying rounds are in the books from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Atlanta Dragway. Eliminations will kick off tomorrow morning, in which racers hope to add points leading to divisional and national championships. Top qualifying honors went to Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Marty Thacker of Robinson, Ill.

Thacker, who urgently hopes to improve on his third place national points standing, ran a 5.344 - second, 271.24 mph. pass to take the top spot.. Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., who qualified in the third spot today, holds a narrow margin at 2nd place in national points.

In Comp Eliminator, Arnie Martel of Tewksbury, Mass., drove his '34 Chevy to the top of the class posting a 7.832 seconds, -0.598 under index pass. Mt. Holly, N.C., resident Frank Cervelli is searching for his second Southeast divisional win of the year qualifying a close second.

Terry Earwood, Deland, Fla., was able to move up a position landing him in second, yet Friday's run from Bob Dennis of Shorter, Ala., was enough to keep the Super Stock field at bay.

Top qualifying honors went to John Livingston, Murfreesboro, Tenn., in the Stock Eliminator category. He was able to improve on his Friday time by running a 11.652-second, -1.298 under index pass putting him just ahead of Doug Patrick, Boca Raton, Fla.

The Davis In-Motion Satellites Top Sportsman Series top position went to Stanley Albritton Jr., Bradenton, Fla., which moved him just ahead of Friday's leader and Georgia resident Ronnie Davis of Suwanee. Eddie Careccia of Mars Hill, Fla., was able to retain his lead position in Top Dragster presented by Hickory Enclosed Trailer Sales.

Sunday, Oct. 5 gates will open at 8 a.m. with eliminations beginning at 9 a.m. Top Alcohol final qualifying is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

General Admission / Pit Pass -- $20 Sunday. Children 12 are admitted free with paid adult. For more information please call Atlanta Dragway, (708) 335-2301 or visit www.AtlantaDragway.com

The following are Saturday's qualifying results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Southeast Division event at Atlanta Dragway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
1) Marty Thacker, Robinson, Ill., 5.344 seconds, 271.24 mph
2) Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., 5.519, 256.26
3) Bill Reichert, Owosso, Mich., 5.527, 258.17
4) Arthur Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.537, 255.19
5) Cliff Bozzelli, Absecon, N.J., 5.576, 251.67
6) Jeff Bohr, Plymouth, Mich., 5.605, 258.91
7) Gene Arrigoni, Yorktown Hts, N.Y., 5.642, 238.76
8) Rich McPhillips, Phoenixville, Pa., 5.828, 239.27

Not Qualified
9) Tim Bowgren, Valparaiso, Ind., 6.306, 230.84
10) Dan Lucas, Cumming, Ga., 7.287, 155.45
11) Jared Dreher, Clinton, Iowa, 13.130, 79.98
12) Bill Evans, Miramar, Fla., 16.983, 60.97
13) Cherissa Griffis, Smallwood, Gainesville, Fla., (no time)

COMP ELIMINATOR
1) Arnie Martel, Tewksbury, Mass., '34 Chevy, B/SR, 7.832 seconds, -0.598 (under index)
2) Frank Cervelli, Mt. Holly, N.C., dragster, C/DA, 7.036, -0.594
3) Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., '23 roadster, F/EA, 8.030, -0.590
4) Michael Hardee, Hampstead, N.C., '05 Sunfire, E/SM, 8.561, -0.579
5) Jenny Treadwell, Mt. Plymouth, Fla., dragster, E/ED, 8.314, -0.556
6) Gary Wisecarver, Rustburg, Va., '05 Cavalier, H/SM, 9.033, -0.527
7) Don Eberly, Brunswick, Ga., '05 Cavalier, C/AA, 7.507, -0.513
8) Keith Roberts, Mooresville, N.C., '05 Cavalier, I/SMA, 9.242, -0.498
9) David Eaton, Merritt Island, Fla., '32 Bantam, A/AP, 6.795, -0.495
10) Dennis Mitchell, Huntsville, Ala., '06 Grand Am, F/A, 8.188, -0.492

SUPER STOCK
1) Bob Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '90 Calais, GT/MA, 10.687 seconds, -1.363 (under index)
2) Terry Earwood, Deland, Fla., '87 Camaro, SS/KA, 10.404, -1.146
3) Patrick Twitchell, Cape Coral, Fla., '03 S-10, GT/TD, 10.467, -1.133
4) John Fogle, Norway, S.C., '05 Cavalier, GT/AA, 9.330, -1.070
5) Jonathan Richardson, Lexington, N.C., '68 Camaro, SS/AS, 8.847, -1.053
6) Matt Hoover, Adamsville, Tenn., '01 S-10, GT/TC, 10.355, -1.045
7) Gary Stinnett, Emporia, Kan., '92 Camaro, GT/AA, 9.370, -1.030
8) Jeff Adkinson, Damascus, Ga., '95 Achieva, SS/EM, 9.349, -1.001
9) Arthur Leong, Richmond Hill, Ga., '95 Neon, SS/GS, 13.301, -0.999
10) Terry Pearson, Spanish Fort, Ala., '05 Cavalier, GT/AA, 9.411, -0.989

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1) John Livingston, Murfreesboro, Tenn., '91 Camaro, K/SA, 11.652 seconds, -1.298 (under index)
2) Doug Patrick, Boca Raton, Fla., '72 Cutlass, L/SA, 11.765, -1.235
3) Gregory Hill, Louisville, Ky., '71 Camaro, E/SA, 10.841, -1.159
4) Norman Griffis Jr., Johnston, S.C., '84 Firebird, V/SA, 14.641, -1.159
5) McNeal Freeman, Lithonia, Ga., '85 Caprice, V/SA, 14.658, -1.142
6) Brandon Wood, Thomasville, Ga., '69 Nova, B/SA, 10.411, -1.139
7) Robbie Shaw, Douglasville, Ga., '01 Firebird, A/SA, 10.184, -1.116
8) Jeff Adkinson, Damascus, Ga., '69 Camaro, C/SA, 10.657, -1.043
9) Bobby Robbins, Byrdstown, Tenn., '79 Malibu Wgn, N/SA, 12.258, -1.042
10) Tom Stevenson, Flowery Branch, Ga., '69 Nova, G/SA, 11.262, -1.038

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Stanley Albritton Jr., Bradenton, Fla., '04 Trans Am, 6.793 seconds, 201.58 mph
2) Ronnie Davis, Suwanee, Ga., '63 Corvette, 6.835, 203.71
3) Tommy Turner, Naples, Fla., '07 GTO, 6.907, 202.79
4) Jerry Barker, Fort Valley, Ga., '06 Cobalt, 6.955, 200.14
5) Billy Vaughn, Knoxville, Tenn., '01 S-10, 7.016, 193.40
6) Jeff Pittman, Conover, N.C., '68 Chevelle, 7.102, 188.91
7) Dewey Pedrick, Lighthouse Pt., Fla., '63 Corvette, 7.125, 195.51
8) Matthew Buck, Lantana, Fla., '96 Firebird, 7..137, 195.00
9) Kurt Damron, Fruitland Park, Fla., '09 Camaro, 7.156, 190.86
10) Jeffrey Barker, Warner-Robins, Ga., '02 Camaro, 7.191, 190.46

TOP DRAGSTER
1) Eddie Careccia, Mars Hill, Fla., dragster, 5.885 seconds, 239.61 mph
2) John Weidner, Lake Worth, Fla., dragster, 6.699, 200.32
3) Angela Travis, Hickory, N.C., dragster, 6.778, 201.73
4) Ronald Raymond, Ft Lauderdale, Fla., dragster, 6.800, 194.02
5) Raymond Miller, Spring Hill, Fla., dragster, 6.853, 195.34
6) Robert Nichols, Charlestown, Ind., dragster, 6.914, 193.93
7) Jeffrey Burnett, Orlando, Fla., '23 roadster, 6.926, 195.85
8) Stanley Albritton, Bradenton, Fla., dragster, 6.963, 188.94
9) Donny Urban, Pittsboro, N.C., dragster, 7.036, 189.63
10) Michael Fitzgerald, Hawthorne, Fla., dragster, 7..067, 186.33

Alcohol Funny Car Racer Martindale Suffers Fatal Injuries in Atlanta

Courtesy of NHRA.com

COMMERCE, Ga. -- Bobby Martindale, 65, of Glen Allen, Va., suffered fatal injuries in a high-speed racing accident Saturday during the NHRA Southeast Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series race. Preliminary reports are that his Top Alcohol Funny Car experienced engine failure and continued down the racetrack at a high rate of speed.

Martindale, a veteran drag racer, was 11th in the Division 2 point standings. Racing was halted after the incident on Saturday and NHRA immediately began conducting an investigation. Racing was scheduled to resume on Sunday, Oct. 5.

Martindale is survived by his wife Geraldine and family.