Triple Header times two at South Georgia Motorsports Park, June 25 and 26

Photos

Photos and article by Marvin T. Smith

South Georgia Motorsports Park hosted the Southeast Super Gas Association, the Southern Stock and Super Stock Association, and the monthly Summit Bracket Series race on June 25 and 26 for a big weekend of racing.

Thirty Seven Super Gas cars battled for the win on Saturday. The Southeast Super Gas Association races on a 6.40 eighth mile index instead of the usual NHRA 6.30 index. After six rounds of hard-fought action, Gene Abbott took his 38 Chevy roadster to the win over Jimmy Fuller’s 74 Camaro. Abbott took the starting line advantage, .036 to .044 and ran 6.402 at 108.79 to defeat Fuller’s 6.430 at 120.92. David Marcus was the lone semifinalist. Sunday’s Super Gas Race was not completed before the rains came after round 3. Mike Alligood, Michael Ruff, Richard Prucell, and Tracy Bragge, were still in the hunt.

Saturday’s Stock and Super Stock race featured twenty-six cars. In the final round, J.J. Carnero from Miami, Florida took the starting line advantage in his Pontiac Firebird and ran 12.219 on is 12.21 dial to defeat Daran Summerton who ran 11.404 on his 11.33 dial. Dan Dobson and Scott Helms were the semifinalists. Again, Rain won after round 3 on Sunday, but Harry Morgan, Robbie Shaw, James Hill, and Jeff Adkinson were still in the running.

In the Saturday Summit Series event, after eight rounds of Super Pro racing, Victor Fera defeated Wheeler Davis who fouled by .001. Fera ran a 4.902 on his 4.89 dial for the win. Charlie Boyd was the lone semifinalist. On Sunday, only two rounds were completed prior to rain.

In Saturday Pro action, Ken Grant defeated Jon Siegel when he ran a dead-on 7.380 to beat Siegel’s 6.701 on his 6.67 dial. Siegel took the starting line advantage, but couldn’t run his number. Ed Mucherino and Roger Kelly were the semifinalists. On Sunday, rain again took the win. After three rounds of racing, thirteen racers were still in the field.

Saturday Sportsman action saw Joe Tillman defeat Ray Williams, Sr. in the final. Tillman took a big reaction time advantage. Jake Wheeler was the semifinalist.

In Saturday Junior Dragster Action, Josh Cook defeated Colby Fuller in Jr. Novice when Fuller broke out. Zachery Holland was the semifinalist. After five rounds, Matt Cook defeated Frankie Villante to claim the Jr. Intermediate trophy. Cook’s better reaction time sealed the win. Eric Bowman and Demi Sheffeld were the semifinalists. Five rounds of Junior Advanced action came down to Neil Williams beating a fouling Dalton Samuel. Cody Harrison was the lone semifinalist. On Sunday, only the Junior Novice class was completed prior to rain. Abby Hostetter defeated Zachery Holland in a double break out final. Hostetter took the starting line advantage and ran a 12.935 on her 12.94 dial to beat Holland’s 12.921 on his 12.93 dial.

FIREWORKS, JETS AND SPEED LIGHT UP POWERADE NIGHT OF FIRE

By: Amy Glover

(Commerce, GA – June 27) A surprise rainstorm turned the track into a sauna, but racers and fans were unfazed while the Atlanta Dragway crew worked to dry the track, for the annually anticipated Powerade Night of Fire event. The delays continued with car troubles and an extreme oil-down, but the show went on, giving the fans what they craved most – an action-packed experience loaded with exhibitions and entertainment. There was something for everyone – inflatable playgrounds for the kids, a midway for potential customers, the thrill of jet cars for adrenaline-seekers, and North Georgia’s largest fireworks show for the whole family.

This year’s Night of Fire showcased a handful of fast cars for the speed demon in all of us. A national anthem ceremony was held courtesy of visiting army officials, introducing the highlights of the night. Kate Harker (of the KDH racing team) brought her NHRA Top Alcohol dragster, covering the quarter mile in 5.97 seconds at 228 mph. Clayton Reeves, former Atlanta Dragway racer, ran his supercharged, alcohol burning Top Dragster (in preparation to run in the NHRA Top Dragster class), zooming past the grandstands in 6.97 seconds at 195.5 mph. Jeff Paulk (in a silver S-10 pick-up) and Keith Szabo (in a silver Mustang) demonstrated their outlaw series Limited Street cars, technically street legal with a TON of power – Szabo had an early shut-off, but Paulk covered the eighth mile course in 4.96 seconds at 150.38 mph. Szabo redeemed himself later in the evening, wowing the fans with a 4.87 at 160.67mph. Dan Parker (’63 Corvette) and Chris Patrick (’41 Willys) showed off their Dixie Pro Mods, thrilling the fans with sparks all the way down the track. Patrick had a 4.56 ET at 160 mph; Parker drove at 179.85 mph in 4.04 seconds.

The fans were already excited, but it spilled over when the jet cars rolled out – the quiet before the runs fueling the anticipation. First, Elaine Larsen in the Embry Riddle Jet Dragster pulled up alongside Mike “Hojo” Hojnacki’s police ‘Interceptor’ jet funny car (complete with sirens-and-flashing-lights crew vehicle), pumping the impressive flames spectators have come to expect from the outrageous machinery. Larsen “beat” Hojnacki’s run by covering the distance in 5.83 seconds at 271.17 mph, while Hojnacki finished in 6.22 seconds at 253.04 mph. Hojnacki made a show of ‘arresting’ Larsen in front of the crowd after the run. The final exhibition was a curious concept, a team of train-themed jet dragsters, their enormous tailpipes shielded by locomotive paintjobs. K.C. Jones manned the Cannonball Express, while James “Paul” Kelley “engineered” the Chattanooga Choo Choo. After a lengthy fire-show, the dragsters took off from the line with ferocity, Jones running a 7.06 ET at 224.06 mph and his teammate Kelley running a 7.60 ET at 217.32 mph.

Old age and treachery outdid youth and experience in the Super Pro final, pitting the seasoned Don Brown, Sr. (’01 Spitzer Dragster – Buford, GA) against former junior racer Jeremy Hancock (’05 M&M Dragster – Commerce, GA). In the previous two rounds, Brown had cut -.008 red-lights (with luck on his side and a bye run), preparing him to gear up for the final with fine-tuned anticipation. Both men were dialed at 4.95, keeping the race old school with a promise of some tight competition. Brown hit the tree hard with a .007 green, Hancock following closely with a .020 reaction time. Hancock ran dead-on the dial at 137.58 mph, but Brown’s reaction time took the win after crossing the line in 4.96 seconds at 139.73 mph, with a .004 margin-of-victory. “I was thinking ‘I got you now!’ at the tree,” Brown recalled. “I had to spray (nitrous) at the end, but I was thinking, ‘You’re done now.’ “Brown thanked his wife of 38 years, Susan, and Steve Carter, for helping him race. John Hobbs (’71 Vega Wagon – Conyers, GA) finished in the semi-final round of Super Pro.

After winning the last two points races, Chad Brewer was fired up in his deadly-consistent ’67 Camaro to stay on a roll, his challenger Randall Roop of Team Ford Thunder, bringing in a ’95 Mustang GT for a brand battle in the Pro finals. Both boys out of Canton meant business at the starting line, Brewer launching first (dialed at 7.29) with a .040 light, but Roop (dialed at 6.46) pulled a .007 green, making the chase neck-and-neck. Brewer finished in 7.30 seconds at 94.69, but Roop won with a .008 margin-of-victory, crossing the finish in 6.49 seconds at 104.11. “I told Chad I’d put him out of his misery tonight,” Roop joked, noting Brewer’s concern for the race as the current Pro points leader. Roop grinned appreciatively, saying, “When that car’s on, it’s just like sitting back in a lounge chair. It was all I asked it to be today.” Roop thanked Steve Garland for the win. “Whenever I’m in trouble, I go to him.” James Rice (’77 Camaro – Norcross, GA) and John Norris (’86 Camaro – Royston, GA) finished the day in the semi-final round.

Josh Richardson (’98 Mountaineer – Canton, GA) and Mickey Morris (’98 Trans Am – Ellenwood, GA) raced the Sportsman final. Richardson’s SUV was dialed-in at 16.45 seconds, while Morris predicted a 13.01 second run for his car. Richardson left first with the handicapped tree, with a respectable .051 green light; Morris couldn’t take the anticipation and jumped the amber too soon with a -.024 foul, running way under his dial in 12.14 seconds at 112.46 mph. Richardson cruised the track a winner, finishing with a 16.34 ET at 84.72 mph. It was the first time Richardson had raced in a year, a “spur of the moment decision” when he wanted to show his girlfriend the jet exhibitions. He thanked his dad Doug, his girlfriend Amanda, his family, and Robby Crain, the owner of the Mercury Mountaineer. Though thankful for the win, Richardson noted, “Now my girlfriend wants to race jets!” Points leader J.D. “Doc” Burford (’07 Corvette – Greenville, SC) ended his evening in the semi-final round.

The Motorcycle category pulled an impressive 33 bike count, giving regulars plenty of competition to flaunt their skills. Points leader Jay “Bird” Rhyne (’81 Kawasaki – Athens, GA) made it to the final round against Jeff Hackney (’00 Motorcycle – Ranger, GA). Rhyne had the handicap on the tree, leaving first on his 12.41 dial-in with a .040 reaction time. Hackney left the starting line too soon, fouling with a -.024 red on his 13.01 dial-in. Hackney ran it out, finishing in 11.02 seconds at 121.58 mph, while Rhyne sailed to the finish with a 12.37 ET at 103.30 mph. “It’s all for the love!” Rhyne declared. His solo efforts have again and again proved a winning formula for the skilled racer. “If I get enough of these, will you cut me a T-bone steak?” Rhyne joked, about the winner’s complimentary concession coupons he’d been stacking up. “I had my work cut out for me, but I can just feel that comfortable bed now,” Rhyne said, ready to go home. Tim Sutton (’71 Suzuki – Clermont, GA) finished in third place.

Jefferson locals Cole Wood (11) and Salina Shanks (12) raced in the 8-12 Junior Dragster final. Shanks wrapped up the run with a -.011 foul, while Wood cut a cool .020 green light. Shanks made the run bittersweet with a dead-on finish in 8.98 seconds at 72.55 mph, as Wood finished with an 8.89 ET on an 8.92 dial-in, at 74.37 mph. Wood, a seasoned junior racer in a self-proclaimed slump, found his way back to the top tonight in an all-or-nothing fashion. “I’ve gone out every first round this year,” Wood mentioned, after recalling his past championships. Not only did he break his chain of bad luck, but tonight was Wood’s first Night of Fire win. Wood thanked his dad Richie, mom Melanie, little brother, Uncle Travis, his grandparents, and Mike Bos Chassis. Avery Smith (12 – McDonough, GA) was the 8-12 Junior Dragster semi-finalist.

The girls dominated the 13-17 Junior Dragster category, with Bailey Denton (15 – McDonough, GA) and Valerie Clements (16 – Central, SC) in the final round. The two dragsters were dialed closely together (Denton with a 7.91, Clements with a 7.97), making the launch difference nearly indistinguishable – Denton left the line with a .059 green light, slightly better than Clements’ .076 reaction time. Their finish was just as close – Clements ran 7.98 seconds on her 7.97 prediction at 82.38 mph, while Denton closed in with a 7.93 second run at 82.36 mph. Denton grasped the win with her sharp reaction skills, maintaining her top position in points with her third Summit ET win of the 2009 season, and sixth win overall this year. Denton also raced her “best friend in the world” Clements last weekend in an Outlaw series, and won with a .005 margin of victory. Denton thanked her mom and dad, and has set a personal goal to beat friend Steve McMillan’s 15-wins-in-a-year record. She aims high, but delivers solid competition. Another female junior racer, Jackie Lastinger (16 – Lilburn, GA), holds third place tonight in the 13-17 Junior Dragster category.

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 SATURDAY INSANITY "No Box Pro Series" on July 11, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com .

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SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Don Brown, Sr. ‘01 Spitzer Dragster Buford, GA 4.96 139.73 (4.95)
R/U: Jeremy Hancock ’05 M&M Dragster Commerce, GA 4.95 137.58 (4.95)
Semi: John Hobbs ’71 Vega Wagon Conyers, GA
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PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Randall Roop ’95 Mustang GT Canton, GA 6.49 104.11 (6.46)
R/U: Chad Brewer ’67 Camaro Canton, GA 7.30 94.69 (7.29)
Semi: James Rice ’77 Camaro Norcross, GA
Semi: John Norris ’86 Camaro Royston, GA
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SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Josh Richardson ’98 Mountaineer Canton, GA 16.34 84.72 (16.45)
R/U: Mickey Morris ’98 Trans Am Ellenwood, GA 12.14 112.46 (13.01) (foul)
Semi: J.D. Burford ’07 Corvette Greenville, SC
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MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jay “Bird” Rhyne ’81 Kawasaki Athens, GA 12.37 103.30 (12.41)
R/U: Jeff Hackney ’00 Motorcycle Ranger, GA 11.02 121.58 (10.99) (foul)
Semi: Tim Sutton ’71 Suzuki Clermont, GA
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8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Cole Wood 11 Jefferson, GA 8.89 74.37 (8.92)
R/U: Salina Shanks 12 Jefferson, GA 8.98 72.55 (8.98) (foul)
Semi: Avery Smith 12 McDonough, GA
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13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Bailey Denton 15 McDonough, GA 7.93 82.36 (7.91)
R/U: Valerie Clements 16 Central, SC 7.98 82.38 (7.97)
Semi: Jackie Lastinger 16 Lilburn, GA

Sol Stewart 2009 Old Drag Racers Reunion Update

Well, I've got an interesting story to tell about a 1950 Chevrolet...this one a "Business Coupe".
In 1959, a young man named Aubrey Padgett, age 24 at that time, built a drag race car, a 1950 Chevrolet Business Coupe and named the car "BIG IRON". With this car, he proceeded to dominate the "C" gas class at all the local drag strips.....Such was the domination by this car that in 1974, he was approached by football great Kenny "Snake" Stabler and his partner Dale Watson to buy the car. The offer was too good and Padgett sold the car. In 1998, Padgett desided to build another "BIG IRON", again using a 1950 Chevy Business Coupe. Once again, this car became an instant winner, and a great conversation piece for race fans that remembered the first "BIG IRON".
In 2005, tragedy struck when "BIG IRON" #2 burned to the ground when Padgett's shop caught fire and burned up with the old car inside.
Shortly after the fire, Padgett, at age 72, started all over again...he had one and only one 1950 Chevy Business Coupe body left.....Within weeks, he had "BIG IRON" #3 ready to race. HOW MANY MEN AGE 72 HAVE THIS MUCH SPUNK ?????
"BIG IRON" # 3 is STILL flying down the local drag strips....This car consistantly in the 6.30s on the local 1/8 mile tracks....being raced by a 75 yr. old racer.
This man, before retiring, operated a service center and an auto repair garage. He is a former city councilman for the city of Evergreen, Al. He is still very active in community development in his home county.
On Sept. 25th,2009 at the OLD DRAG RACERS REUNION IN MONTGOMERY, AL., one of our features will be a two out of three heads up match race between Padgett and another old drag racer, 74 yr. old "SPEEDY" Ball from Anniston, Ala. Speedy also has been racing continuous since 1959...........These two men, as far as we can find out, are the two oldest continuous drag racers in the state of Alabama.
Both men have been honored by being inducted into the OLD DRAG RACERS REUNION HALL of FAME.
Please take a moment and look at the attachment...A picture of "BIG IRON" # 3 and the owner/driver Aubrey Padgett.........Picture was made Sept. 27, 2008.

SOL STEWART for the OLD DRAG RACERS REUNION..........