Saturday Insanity Event at Atlanta Dragway
Racing the way it was meant to be, at Saturday Insanity
By: Amy Glover
(Commerce, GA – June 20) The second Saturday Insanity took place tonight; there were some not-to-be-missed moments, when racers were pushing the limits in pro-mods and old school cars, thrilling spectators with a few close calls. The Atlanta Dragway crew diligently handled the event, packed with some of the best racing spectators could hope for. The competition was intense, with three holeshot wins out of four finals, coupled with very close margins of victory, along with plenty of test-and-tune runs for participants, the ideal formula for Atlanta Dragway’s new Saturday Insanity series. The 6.50 and 7.50 Index classes mean a set ET goal for racers, competing to stick closest to the determined index. The Open Comp (Full Body) category is basically bracket racing with a pro-tree. The Old School category was about the old days of racing, making whoever crossed the finish line first the victor.
The 6.50 index final was a run between beauty and the beast, between Mike Johnson’s polished metallic blue ’66 Mustang and Joe Rampley’s matte black ’76 Vega Wagon (he calls it “the hairless mammoth,” in reference to the Pink’s All Out show’s “Woolly Mammoth,” a wool-covered ’76 Vega Wagon). Johnson traveled all the way from Easley, SC to join the show, while Rampley is a much closer Gainesville local. Rampley launched with a .014 green light, Johnson following just a hair behind with a .027 reaction time. The top end was a double-breakout finish; Johnson finishing in 6.46 seconds at 105.09 mph, while Rampley stuck closer to the 6.50 index with a 6.48 ET at 104.61 mph, giving him a .01 advantage at the win stripe. Johnson recalled, “I was watching his fender the whole way.” Rampley was in the last Saturday Insanity 6.50 final, losing against Ed Nalley, to whom he dedicated tonight’s win. “He’s struggling to recover (from a recent motorcycle accident).” If he was here, I feel like he’d be there with me. My thoughts and prayers are with him.” Rampley also thanked his wife Peggy. Kenny Woodall (90 Mustang – Central, SC) and T.J. Thomas (’71 Chevelle – Baldwin, GA) were the 6.50 index semi-finalists.
The 7.50 Index final was between Sean Garner out of Oxford, GA, in a black ’89 S-10 Blazer, against Stephen Rhoads (Rutledge, GA), in a breathtaking teal and white ’55 Chevy. Rhoads cut a .011 light, Garner following with a .042 green – the chase looked even, until Rhoads crossed the line in 7.55 seconds at 99.33 mph, winning with a .01 margin-of-victory against Garner’s 7.53 seconds run at 90.68 mph. Rhoads considered the race a “tune-up for the Night of Fire” next weekend, and everything that could go wrong did – a blown-out dipstick, a dead battery, and a red-light loss in the first round. Rhoads overcame with victory in the final, and enthusiastically thanked Brad Howard of Brad’s Machine Shop, his sponsor and owner of the ’55 Chevy. “He helps support all my sixteen kids,” Rhoads noted with a grin. John Norris (’86 Camaro – Royston, GA) was the 7.50 Index semi-finalist.
The Open Comp (Full Body) class final was Cobra meets Camaro; Kennesaw’s Charlie McCulloch in a ’98 Mustang against Jimmy Mason (Canon, GA) in a ’93 Chevrolet. Mason treed McCulloch with a .069 light, McCulloch trailing with a .086 reaction time. Mason ran a 7.54 on his 7.41 dial-in, at 93.09 mph, McCulloch tripping the win-light in 7.26 seconds on a 7.15 dial at 85.35 mph, with a .01 margin-of-victory. McCulloch has had an impressive track record, as the ’07 Super Street champ at Silver Dollar Raceway, the ’06 Fun Ford Weekend Mod-Comp champ, the ’04 World Ford Challenge 7 in St. Louis Open-Comp champ, the and winner of a NHRA Division 2 ‘Wally’ in a super street race. McCulloch is in it to win it, saying, “I go wherever I can get to,” as he travels around to chase the big money races. He thanked Tim Matherly at MV Performance (for help with the car), as well as Pro Line Racing Engines. A self-assured McCulloch said, “I’ll be back for the next one.” Scott Reynolds (’90 Formula 350 – Cartersville, GA), last weekend’s Summit ET Sportsman winner, and Eric Smith (’71 Nova – Baldwin, GA) finished in the semi-final round.
The Old School class featured a handful of classic cars made to go fast, blurring their gorgeous paint jobs down the track. Wesley Anglin (Carlton, GA) raced a bright red ’51 Ford truck, against Tracy Simmons (Danielsville, GA) in a shockingly orange ’88 Mustang. After a nerve-wracking run in the semi-finals (Simmons car lost the track groove, squirreling to the finish line), he ran to the finish in the final straight-as-an-arrow, after cutting a .083 light. Anglin’s truck lost the advantage of the tree with a .143 light, marring his 5.84 ET (at 118.79 mph) against Simmons’ 5.87 run at 127.76 mph. Simmons won with a .03 advantage at the finish line. Wishing his class had pulled a bigger car count, Simmons still “had a lot of fun” at the show, winning the Old School final a second time. Simmons thanked his pit crew and family, and “the good Lord above.” Dwayne Stiles (’91 Mustang – Winder, GA) and Tim Davis (’80 Malibu) ended the day 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 area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2009 events, including the NIGHT OF FIRE PRESENTED BY POWERADE Summit ET race on June 27, 2009, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to http://www.atlantadragway.com/ .
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
6.50 INDEX CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX
Win: Joe Rampley ’76 Vega Gainesville, GA 6.48 104.61 (6.50)
R/U: Mike Johnson ’66 Mustang Easley, SC 6.46 105.09 (6.50)
Semi: Kenny Woodall ’90 Mustang Central, SC
Semi: T.J. Thomas ’71 Chevelle Baldwin, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
7.50 INDEX CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX
Win: Stephen Rhoads ’55 Chevy Rutledge, GA 7.55 90.33 (7.50)
R/U: Sean Garner ’89 S-10 Blazer Oxford, GA 7.53 90.68 (7.50)
Semi: John Norris ’86 Camaro Royston, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
OPEN COMP CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Charlie McCulloch ’98 Cobra Kennesaw, GA 7.26 85.35 (7.15)
R/U: Jimmy Mason ’93 Camaro Canon, GA 7.54 93.09 (7.41)
Semi: Scott Reynolds ’90 Formula 350 Cartersville, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
OLD SCHOOL CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Tracy Simmons ’88 Mustang Danielsville, GA 5.87 127.76
R/U: Wesley Anglin ’51 Ford Truck Carlton, GA 5.84 118.79
Semi: Dwayne Stiles ’91 Mustang Winder, GA
Semi: Tim Davis ’80 Malibu Flowery Branch, GA
By: Amy Glover
(Commerce, GA – June 20) The second Saturday Insanity took place tonight; there were some not-to-be-missed moments, when racers were pushing the limits in pro-mods and old school cars, thrilling spectators with a few close calls. The Atlanta Dragway crew diligently handled the event, packed with some of the best racing spectators could hope for. The competition was intense, with three holeshot wins out of four finals, coupled with very close margins of victory, along with plenty of test-and-tune runs for participants, the ideal formula for Atlanta Dragway’s new Saturday Insanity series. The 6.50 and 7.50 Index classes mean a set ET goal for racers, competing to stick closest to the determined index. The Open Comp (Full Body) category is basically bracket racing with a pro-tree. The Old School category was about the old days of racing, making whoever crossed the finish line first the victor.
The 6.50 index final was a run between beauty and the beast, between Mike Johnson’s polished metallic blue ’66 Mustang and Joe Rampley’s matte black ’76 Vega Wagon (he calls it “the hairless mammoth,” in reference to the Pink’s All Out show’s “Woolly Mammoth,” a wool-covered ’76 Vega Wagon). Johnson traveled all the way from Easley, SC to join the show, while Rampley is a much closer Gainesville local. Rampley launched with a .014 green light, Johnson following just a hair behind with a .027 reaction time. The top end was a double-breakout finish; Johnson finishing in 6.46 seconds at 105.09 mph, while Rampley stuck closer to the 6.50 index with a 6.48 ET at 104.61 mph, giving him a .01 advantage at the win stripe. Johnson recalled, “I was watching his fender the whole way.” Rampley was in the last Saturday Insanity 6.50 final, losing against Ed Nalley, to whom he dedicated tonight’s win. “He’s struggling to recover (from a recent motorcycle accident).” If he was here, I feel like he’d be there with me. My thoughts and prayers are with him.” Rampley also thanked his wife Peggy. Kenny Woodall (90 Mustang – Central, SC) and T.J. Thomas (’71 Chevelle – Baldwin, GA) were the 6.50 index semi-finalists.
The 7.50 Index final was between Sean Garner out of Oxford, GA, in a black ’89 S-10 Blazer, against Stephen Rhoads (Rutledge, GA), in a breathtaking teal and white ’55 Chevy. Rhoads cut a .011 light, Garner following with a .042 green – the chase looked even, until Rhoads crossed the line in 7.55 seconds at 99.33 mph, winning with a .01 margin-of-victory against Garner’s 7.53 seconds run at 90.68 mph. Rhoads considered the race a “tune-up for the Night of Fire” next weekend, and everything that could go wrong did – a blown-out dipstick, a dead battery, and a red-light loss in the first round. Rhoads overcame with victory in the final, and enthusiastically thanked Brad Howard of Brad’s Machine Shop, his sponsor and owner of the ’55 Chevy. “He helps support all my sixteen kids,” Rhoads noted with a grin. John Norris (’86 Camaro – Royston, GA) was the 7.50 Index semi-finalist.
The Open Comp (Full Body) class final was Cobra meets Camaro; Kennesaw’s Charlie McCulloch in a ’98 Mustang against Jimmy Mason (Canon, GA) in a ’93 Chevrolet. Mason treed McCulloch with a .069 light, McCulloch trailing with a .086 reaction time. Mason ran a 7.54 on his 7.41 dial-in, at 93.09 mph, McCulloch tripping the win-light in 7.26 seconds on a 7.15 dial at 85.35 mph, with a .01 margin-of-victory. McCulloch has had an impressive track record, as the ’07 Super Street champ at Silver Dollar Raceway, the ’06 Fun Ford Weekend Mod-Comp champ, the ’04 World Ford Challenge 7 in St. Louis Open-Comp champ, the and winner of a NHRA Division 2 ‘Wally’ in a super street race. McCulloch is in it to win it, saying, “I go wherever I can get to,” as he travels around to chase the big money races. He thanked Tim Matherly at MV Performance (for help with the car), as well as Pro Line Racing Engines. A self-assured McCulloch said, “I’ll be back for the next one.” Scott Reynolds (’90 Formula 350 – Cartersville, GA), last weekend’s Summit ET Sportsman winner, and Eric Smith (’71 Nova – Baldwin, GA) finished in the semi-final round.
The Old School class featured a handful of classic cars made to go fast, blurring their gorgeous paint jobs down the track. Wesley Anglin (Carlton, GA) raced a bright red ’51 Ford truck, against Tracy Simmons (Danielsville, GA) in a shockingly orange ’88 Mustang. After a nerve-wracking run in the semi-finals (Simmons car lost the track groove, squirreling to the finish line), he ran to the finish in the final straight-as-an-arrow, after cutting a .083 light. Anglin’s truck lost the advantage of the tree with a .143 light, marring his 5.84 ET (at 118.79 mph) against Simmons’ 5.87 run at 127.76 mph. Simmons won with a .03 advantage at the finish line. Wishing his class had pulled a bigger car count, Simmons still “had a lot of fun” at the show, winning the Old School final a second time. Simmons thanked his pit crew and family, and “the good Lord above.” Dwayne Stiles (’91 Mustang – Winder, GA) and Tim Davis (’80 Malibu) ended the day 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 area of Commerce, Georgia. Information on all 2009 events, including the NIGHT OF FIRE PRESENTED BY POWERADE Summit ET race on June 27, 2009, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to http://www.atlantadragway.com/ .
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
6.50 INDEX CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX
Win: Joe Rampley ’76 Vega Gainesville, GA 6.48 104.61 (6.50)
R/U: Mike Johnson ’66 Mustang Easley, SC 6.46 105.09 (6.50)
Semi: Kenny Woodall ’90 Mustang Central, SC
Semi: T.J. Thomas ’71 Chevelle Baldwin, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
7.50 INDEX CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX
Win: Stephen Rhoads ’55 Chevy Rutledge, GA 7.55 90.33 (7.50)
R/U: Sean Garner ’89 S-10 Blazer Oxford, GA 7.53 90.68 (7.50)
Semi: John Norris ’86 Camaro Royston, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
OPEN COMP CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Charlie McCulloch ’98 Cobra Kennesaw, GA 7.26 85.35 (7.15)
R/U: Jimmy Mason ’93 Camaro Canon, GA 7.54 93.09 (7.41)
Semi: Scott Reynolds ’90 Formula 350 Cartersville, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
OLD SCHOOL CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Tracy Simmons ’88 Mustang Danielsville, GA 5.87 127.76
R/U: Wesley Anglin ’51 Ford Truck Carlton, GA 5.84 118.79
Semi: Dwayne Stiles ’91 Mustang Winder, GA
Semi: Tim Davis ’80 Malibu Flowery Branch, GA
posted by David @ 10:10 PM
<< Home