FATHER SON FINAL, NORRIS NICKS WIN
By: Amy Glover
(Commerce, GA – August 1) Tonight’s Saturday Insanity brought out more numbers than ever to Atlanta Dragway. Despite spots of rain throughout the week, the track had perfect weather conditions for the race.
Last Saturday Insanity’s 6.50 Index semi-finalist, Matt Ward (Fair Play, SC), made it to the final this time in his ’69 Camaro, to race against the most recent 6.50 Index winner, Matt Bates (Loganville, GA), in a ’70 Datsun. Both Matts staged for the run, but Ward left a little too soon, with a -.002 red light, automatically signing the win over to Bates, who cut a more agreeable .021 green light. Ward ran it out in 6.51 seconds at 107.14 mph, while Bates finished with flair, running dead-on the 6.50 index, at 89 mph. Bates felt exhilarated by the run: “[Matt Ward]’s a good guy – I’m lucky, I tell you.” Bates recounted a terrifying first round, his steering wheel falling off during the run, but like a trooper, Bates bought back in to the competition. He thanked his dad and his “good luck charm” “Grasshopper” Lee, and credited his comic poses (for the winner photos) to his girlfriend Karen. Mardy Kennedy (Auburn, GA) was the 6.50 Index semi-finalist, in a ’67 Camaro.
John Norris (Royston, GA) and Woody Bryant (Bowman, GA) had a Camaro duel in the 7.50 Index final, Norris reacting first with a .010 light in his ’86 model against Bryant’s .044 light in the ’82 edition. The two were neck-and-neck until the very end, Norris crossing first (thanks to his deadly reaction time) with a 7.54 ET at 87.20 mph, Bryant following closely with a 7.51 ET at 90.84 mph, giving a .008 margin-of-victory for Norris, as well as the only foul-free final of the evening. Norris was happy to have such a good run with Woody: “We come up together, and have wanted to run each other in a final for a while.” Norris thanked Woody, Wade Bryant Automotives, Mason Racing, and Atlanta Dragway. Gerry Williams (’73 Dodge – Snellville, GA) finished in the semi-final round.
Charlie McCulloch (’98 Cobra – Kennesaw, GA), Open Comp winner of the last two Saturday Insanity events, was taken out in the semi-finals by Travis Bryant (’68 Camaro – Bowman, GA). Bryant was set to race his father Wade Bryant (’73 Camaro – Bowman, GA), who had the bye run into the finals. Unfortunately, Bryant Sr.’s transmission failed during the bye run, making for a solo performance in the Open Comp final. A disappointed but still triumphant Bryant Jr. reacted with a .016 light, and ran a 6.35 ET on a 6.34 dial-in, at 108.13 mph. “I’ve been racing for six years, and we’ve been hoping for a final. I hate that we didn’t get to run each other,” Bryant lamented, “but he was running better than me earlier today.” Bryant Jr. also noted they had run each other in the second time trial, both cutting perfect .000 lights – the day was clearly theirs. Bryant thanked his dad for all his work on the car, and Mark Milford, who “helped get the car straightened out.”
Cumming resident Blaine Aldridge made it to the final round in the Old School category, racing his ’87 Regal against Dewayne Stiles (Winder, GA) in a ’91 Mustang. Stiles got a bit trigger happy at the Christmas tree, launching before its activation. The foul gave Aldridge an instant win light; Aldridge made a .100 reaction, finishing in 5.70 seconds at 124.04 mph. Originally present for the test and tune part of Saturday Insanity, Aldridge was told about the Old School class: “It was right up my alley. I came out to have fun, in a real car.” Aldridge has also won a few races as a 6.0 Outlaw in ORSCA, adding to his record his first Old School win. He thanked Rob’s Racing for all his chassis work and tune-ups, and gave special thanks to Bud. Tracy Simmons (’88 Mustang – Danielsville, GA) and Wesley Anglin (’51 Ford Truck – Carlton, GA) ended their evening in the semi-final round.
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 MIDNIGHT MADNESS TUNERFEST SHOOTOUT EVENT on August 8, 2009, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com .
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
6.50 INDEX CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX
Win: Matt Bates ’70 Datsun Loganville, GA 6.50 89.00 (6.50)
R/U: Matt Ward ’69 Camaro Fair Play, SC 6.51 107.14 (6.50) (foul)
Semi: Mardy Kennedy ’67 Camaro Auburn, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
7.50 INDEX CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX
Win: John Norris ’86 Camaro Royston, GA 7.54 87.20 (7.50)
R/U: Woody Bryant ’82 Camaro Bowman, GA 7.51 90.84 (7.50)
Semi: Gerry Williams ’73 Dodge Snellville, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
OPEN COMP CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Travis Bryant ’68 Camaro Bowman, GA 6.35 108.13 (6.34)
R/U: Wade Bryant ’73 Camaro Bowman, GA (broke)
Semi: Charlie McCulloch ’98 Cobra Kennesaw, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
OLD SCHOOL CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Blaine Aldridge ’87 Regal Cumming, GA 5.70 124.04
R/U: Dewayne Stiles ’91 Mustang Winder, GA (foul)
Semi: Tracy Simmons ’88 Mustang Danielsville, GA
Semi: Wesley Anglin ’51 Ford Truck Carlton, GA
(Commerce, GA – August 1) Tonight’s Saturday Insanity brought out more numbers than ever to Atlanta Dragway. Despite spots of rain throughout the week, the track had perfect weather conditions for the race.
Last Saturday Insanity’s 6.50 Index semi-finalist, Matt Ward (Fair Play, SC), made it to the final this time in his ’69 Camaro, to race against the most recent 6.50 Index winner, Matt Bates (Loganville, GA), in a ’70 Datsun. Both Matts staged for the run, but Ward left a little too soon, with a -.002 red light, automatically signing the win over to Bates, who cut a more agreeable .021 green light. Ward ran it out in 6.51 seconds at 107.14 mph, while Bates finished with flair, running dead-on the 6.50 index, at 89 mph. Bates felt exhilarated by the run: “[Matt Ward]’s a good guy – I’m lucky, I tell you.” Bates recounted a terrifying first round, his steering wheel falling off during the run, but like a trooper, Bates bought back in to the competition. He thanked his dad and his “good luck charm” “Grasshopper” Lee, and credited his comic poses (for the winner photos) to his girlfriend Karen. Mardy Kennedy (Auburn, GA) was the 6.50 Index semi-finalist, in a ’67 Camaro.
John Norris (Royston, GA) and Woody Bryant (Bowman, GA) had a Camaro duel in the 7.50 Index final, Norris reacting first with a .010 light in his ’86 model against Bryant’s .044 light in the ’82 edition. The two were neck-and-neck until the very end, Norris crossing first (thanks to his deadly reaction time) with a 7.54 ET at 87.20 mph, Bryant following closely with a 7.51 ET at 90.84 mph, giving a .008 margin-of-victory for Norris, as well as the only foul-free final of the evening. Norris was happy to have such a good run with Woody: “We come up together, and have wanted to run each other in a final for a while.” Norris thanked Woody, Wade Bryant Automotives, Mason Racing, and Atlanta Dragway. Gerry Williams (’73 Dodge – Snellville, GA) finished in the semi-final round.
Charlie McCulloch (’98 Cobra – Kennesaw, GA), Open Comp winner of the last two Saturday Insanity events, was taken out in the semi-finals by Travis Bryant (’68 Camaro – Bowman, GA). Bryant was set to race his father Wade Bryant (’73 Camaro – Bowman, GA), who had the bye run into the finals. Unfortunately, Bryant Sr.’s transmission failed during the bye run, making for a solo performance in the Open Comp final. A disappointed but still triumphant Bryant Jr. reacted with a .016 light, and ran a 6.35 ET on a 6.34 dial-in, at 108.13 mph. “I’ve been racing for six years, and we’ve been hoping for a final. I hate that we didn’t get to run each other,” Bryant lamented, “but he was running better than me earlier today.” Bryant Jr. also noted they had run each other in the second time trial, both cutting perfect .000 lights – the day was clearly theirs. Bryant thanked his dad for all his work on the car, and Mark Milford, who “helped get the car straightened out.”
Cumming resident Blaine Aldridge made it to the final round in the Old School category, racing his ’87 Regal against Dewayne Stiles (Winder, GA) in a ’91 Mustang. Stiles got a bit trigger happy at the Christmas tree, launching before its activation. The foul gave Aldridge an instant win light; Aldridge made a .100 reaction, finishing in 5.70 seconds at 124.04 mph. Originally present for the test and tune part of Saturday Insanity, Aldridge was told about the Old School class: “It was right up my alley. I came out to have fun, in a real car.” Aldridge has also won a few races as a 6.0 Outlaw in ORSCA, adding to his record his first Old School win. He thanked Rob’s Racing for all his chassis work and tune-ups, and gave special thanks to Bud. Tracy Simmons (’88 Mustang – Danielsville, GA) and Wesley Anglin (’51 Ford Truck – Carlton, GA) ended their evening in the semi-final round.
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 MIDNIGHT MADNESS TUNERFEST SHOOTOUT EVENT on August 8, 2009, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com .
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
6.50 INDEX CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX
Win: Matt Bates ’70 Datsun Loganville, GA 6.50 89.00 (6.50)
R/U: Matt Ward ’69 Camaro Fair Play, SC 6.51 107.14 (6.50) (foul)
Semi: Mardy Kennedy ’67 Camaro Auburn, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
7.50 INDEX CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX
Win: John Norris ’86 Camaro Royston, GA 7.54 87.20 (7.50)
R/U: Woody Bryant ’82 Camaro Bowman, GA 7.51 90.84 (7.50)
Semi: Gerry Williams ’73 Dodge Snellville, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
OPEN COMP CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Travis Bryant ’68 Camaro Bowman, GA 6.35 108.13 (6.34)
R/U: Wade Bryant ’73 Camaro Bowman, GA (broke)
Semi: Charlie McCulloch ’98 Cobra Kennesaw, GA
———————————————————————————————————————————————
OLD SCHOOL CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH
Win: Blaine Aldridge ’87 Regal Cumming, GA 5.70 124.04
R/U: Dewayne Stiles ’91 Mustang Winder, GA (foul)
Semi: Tracy Simmons ’88 Mustang Danielsville, GA
Semi: Wesley Anglin ’51 Ford Truck Carlton, GA
posted by David @ 7:20 PM
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