2009 Old Drag Racers Reunion Info

Sol Stewart recently sent a flyer with all kinds of information regarding this years Old Drag Racers Reunion and I've posted it here. The new location at Montgomery Motorsports Park should provide even more fun this year!

Summit Series Event at South Georgia Motorsports Park, May 16-17

by Marvin T. Smith

A large number of racers turned out for the monthly Summit Series Bracket Race at South Georgia Motorsports Park. The two day event featured full eliminations on both Saturday and Sunday.

Sixty-one cars fought for the Super Pro win on Saturday. It was dragster vs. door car in the finals, with Kevin Powers’ dragster topping Shannon Newell’s 70 Nova. In an amazingly close race, Powers ran a 5.454 on his 5.45 dial to defeat Newell’s 6.451 on his 6.45 dial. Powers had the slight starting line advantage, .012 to .018, to take the win.

Forty-six cars contested Pro on Saturday. Blake Carnell defeated Jon Siegel in a double breakout final. Carnell took the starting line advantage and forced Siegel to break out by more.

In the new Pro Cycle class, Kevin Cadby defeated Troy Crawford in the final round of the eight bike field. Jamey Addison, Jr. beat Britt Estes in the Street class. Lisa Mouat and Ronald Weeks were the semifinalists.

Abby Hostetter defeated Josh Cook in the four car Junior Dragster Novice class, Drew Hostetter defeated a fouling Frankie Villante in the twelve car Junior Intermediate class, and Neil Williams defeated Gevin Croft in the ten car Junior Advanced class when he ran a fine 8.098 on his 8.09 dial.

On Sunday, the racers returned to do it all over again. Only the Cycle class was not contested on Sunday.

In Super Pro action, Glenn Newmans took the dragster he had won from the track last year to the victory over Carol McCarty. Newmans had a great .006 light to take the win. Shaun Edenfield and David Kehren, Jr. were the semifinalists.

In Pro, Kelly King took his Jeep to yet another win, this time over Richard Wilson. Dan Dobson was the sole semifinalist as Wilson had the single.

Ronald Weeks won Street class, defeating Jamey Addison, Jr. in the finals. Addison won Saturday night for a near sweep.

In Junior Dragster action, Abby Hostetter completed her Novice class weekend sweep by defeating Josh Cook in a repeat of the Saturday final match. Daniel Young defeated Matt Cook for the Junior Intermediate trophy when Cook broke out. Cory Cox won Junior Advanced over Trever Estes. Cox had a psychic .004 light in the final to take the win.

Blast From the Past Photos from Jerry Coley's Collection

Thanks to Jerry Coley for sharing these shots of Georgia drag racers taken at Phenix City Dragway (Alabama)! Not sure of the years the shots were taken, but these are some of the best drag racers from the South East!

The top photo is Bob Callaham vs. Hood & Payne. Both of these cars were NHRA National Record holders at one time or another and this was a classic match-up in Street Eliminator (or Modified Elim.). I saw these cars many times at Houston Bros. Drag Strip in Fairburn, GA (and at several other tracks).

The second photo is Hubert Platt in the Platt & Yates (Larry) Pro Stock Maverick. This shot was probably taken in 1972. Hubert put on some of the best wheelstanding shows of anyone!

Last, but certainly not least is the late Pete Robinson in his SOHC Ford Top Fueler! Pete is still missed by many.

Thanks again for sharing your photos, Jerry!

Atlanta Motor Speedway Storms Into Summer with Thursday Thunder and Friday Night Drags, Providing Racing Entertainment for the Whole Family

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marcy Scott
Matthew Simmons


HAMPTON, Ga. (May 18, 2009) – Revered among local motorsports fans as annual rites of summer in Georgia, Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Thursday Thunder and Friday Night Drags are geared up for another summer of short-track racing and street-style drag racing.

Offering affordable racing entertainment for the whole family, Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Thursday Thunder and Friday Night Drags return for the 2009 seasons on May 22 and June 4 respectively. Featuring multiple classes of high-speed racing, weekly entertainment and affordable ticket prices, Thursday Thunder and Friday Night Drags have become among the most popular summer-entertainment options in the Atlanta area.

Each week at Thursday Thunder, the action features a full slate of Legends, Bandolero and Thunder Roadster racing, in addition to family entertainment that includes concourse activities, grandstand games and intermission amusements. Entertainment during the 10-week schedule includes weekly on-track autograph sessions, fireworks, and a kids’ bike, trike and Power Wheels race.

Adding to the intrigue surrounding Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Thursday Thunder, the series has become a training ground for young racers looking to advance their budding careers. In past years, fans have witnessed the meteoric rise of NASCAR upstarts David Ragan, Reed Sorenson and Joey Logano on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s “Thunder Ring”.

At Friday Night Drags, everything from grandma’s grocery getter to full-blown dragsters can be seen barreling down AMS’ one-eighth mile drag strip. Entering the event’s third-full season, the 2009 Friday Night Drags schedule has been expanded from 10 to 14 weeks to meet burgeoning fan and racer demand. With weekly entertainment that includes backwards drag racing, special competitor classes, kids’ Power Wheel races and fireworks, Friday Night Drags has quickly become a local Friday-night favorite. In addition, on select dates ladies can race for free or fans can ride-along in lower division cars for $20.

Adult tickets to Thursday Thunder are just $5 and children ages six to 11 are just $1, while ages five and under are admitted free of charge. Making Thursday Thunder an even better family value, exterior parking at the Speedway is free.

For Friday Night Drags, spectator entry is just $7, while children ages five and under are admitted free of charge. To compete, the cost to drag race or enter the Show-N-Shine car show is just $20 for one or $30 to enter both. Outside parking is free for spectators or just $20 to park on the AMS infield.

New for the 2009 seasons, both Thursday Thunder and Friday Night Drags will feature new competitor classes. The addition of the Young Lions class to Thursday Thunder will divide the Semi-Pro class, allowing the Young Lions division to serve as a developmental class for drivers ages 12 to 15, while resulting in more competitive racing among the Semi-Pros.

For Friday Night Drags, five new classes have been introduced to provide fans and competitors with more competitive racing. For stock foreign and domestic sport compact cars, the Sport Compact class has been introduced as a novice division for Tuners. The Truck Advanced class has been created for significantly-modified trucks, while AMS has fine tuned its Pro division by adding the Super Pro division for the most-advanced drag cars and leaving Pro for naturally-aspirated engines only. For motorcycle enthusiasts, AMS has also developed a Super Bike class and a Motorcycle division.

Grandstand gate 13 opens at 6:00 p.m. for Thursday Thunder and gate 15 opens at 6:30 p.m. for Friday Night Drags.

For more information on Thursday Thunder or Friday Night Drags, visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com or call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849) or 770-946-4211.

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2009 Thursday Thunder Promotional Schedule

June 4 – Clayton County Chamber of Commerce Night and Networking Night

June 11 – Kids' Candy and Coin Scramble and Georgia Auto Racing Hall of Fame Night

June 18 – Mascot Mania Night

June 25 – Kid’s Bike, Trike and Power Wheel Race Night

July 2 – Double Feature Night featuring Independence Day Fireworks Show

July 9 – Joe Momma Night featuring the Kid’s Candy & Coin Scramble

July 16 – Fastor Pastor Race Night

July 23 – Disco Night featuring the 2009 Bandolero Nationals ‘Green Flag Party’

July 30 – Classic Car Night featuring the Classic Car Cruise

Aug. 6 – Championship Night


2009 Friday Night Drags Promotional Schedule

May 22 – $20 Drag Ride-Along Night (Non-points night)

May 29 – OFF WEEK

June 5 – Points Opener and Kids’ Candy & Coin Scramble

June 12 – 60’s Muscle Cars Show Class and Kids’ Power Wheels Races

June 19 – Backwards Drag Racing and Modern Tuner Show Class

June 26 – Lucky Ladies Race Free and Hot Rod Heaven Show Class

July 3 – FIREWORKS! and Harley-Davidson Show Class

July 10 – Double Points Night and Ford Owners Rally

July 17 – Kids’ Candy & Coin Scramble and Mopar Owners Rally

July 24 – $20 Drag Ride-Along and Foreign Car Owners Rally

July 31 – Kids’ Power Wheel Races and Chevy Owners Rally

Aug. 7 – OFF WEEK

Aug. 14 – Double Points Night and Truck Show Class

Aug. 21 – The Great Moodini and Super Bike Show Class

Aug. 28 – Lucky Ladies Race Free and Classic Car Show Class

Sept. 4 – OFF WEEK for Atlanta’s first Sprint Cup night race on Sept. 6

Sept. 11 – Championship Night with Final Ladders