GATORNATIONALS – The Georgia Perspective
by Marvin T. Smith
More Gatornationals photos by Marvin T. Smith
This year’s Tire Kingdom Gatornationals was an amazing speed fest. Track records fell in an amazing display of power. Unfortunately, Georgia boasted no winners this year.
In Top Fuel, we had no entries. Tony Schumacher defeated Antron Brown in the final, blasting to a track-record 3.797 beating the old record by nearly a tenth! He also set a track record (and NHRA national record speed) earlier with an amazing 324.98 in 1000 ft. This bested the old track record by nearly ten miles per hour!!
There were no entries in Funny Car from Georgia. Matt Hagan ran an amazing 316.15 mph to set the track record and run the fastest funny car speed ever recorded for 1000 ft. Unfortunately Matt lost round 2. In an all Shelby Mustang final, Tim Wilkerson defeated last year’s winner Bob Tasca with a good 4.09 at 303mph.
Georgia’s favorite sons Warren and Kurt Johnson both failed to qualify in Pro Stock at the Gatornationals. It looked like Mike Edwards was on his way, overpowering the track record with an elapsed time of 6.520 at 212.23 mph, but in the end, Jason Line defeated Edwards with a holeshot.
Georgia’s Pro Stock Motorcycle hope Junior Pippin led qualifying on Friday with a nice pass of 6.95. Unfortunately, his time wouldn’t hold up through the remainder of qualifying. Karen Stoffer looked like she had the field covered, setting the track and National Record at 6.847, but lost in Round 2 to eventual runner-up Shawn Gann. Eddie Krawiec was the winner, running as quick as 6.85 at 195.68 during eliminations.
Georgia’s Roger Burgess led Pro Mod qualifying, but lost to his teammate Michael Gullqvist in Round 2. In the final round, Kenny Lang defeated Michael Gullqvist with a 5.908 at 243 when Michael fouled. Melanie Troxel, in another Burgess team car, lost in round two to eventual winner Lang.
Georgia’s hope in Top Alcohol Funny Car, Steve Harker, lost in Round 3 to Mickey Ferro. Ferro was then defeated by Frank Manzo in the final. Manzo ran a great 5.475 at an amazing 265.33 to beat Ferro’s close 5.498 at 262.44.
Georgia had no entries in Top Alcohol Dragster, but Division 2 Racer Duane Shields took the win over Darren Nicholson.
In Competition Eliminator, Georgia’s Grant Lewis lost round 3. In the final, Arnie Martel defeated Florida’s Glen Treadwell.
In Super Stock, Sal Biondo defeated Chuck Gallaher, while Joe Santangelo bead Wes Neely for the Stock title.
In Super Comp, Canton, Georgia’s Trevor Wiggins made it to the finals, only to lose to Steve Furr on a holeshot.
Georgia had three racers in Super Gas: Arnold Reed of Loganville, Jimmy Fuller of Savannah, and Ricky Purcell of Jesup. All were gone by Round 3. In the finals, Jerry Heffelfinger defeated Mike Ruff.
More Gatornationals photos by Marvin T. Smith
This year’s Tire Kingdom Gatornationals was an amazing speed fest. Track records fell in an amazing display of power. Unfortunately, Georgia boasted no winners this year.
In Top Fuel, we had no entries. Tony Schumacher defeated Antron Brown in the final, blasting to a track-record 3.797 beating the old record by nearly a tenth! He also set a track record (and NHRA national record speed) earlier with an amazing 324.98 in 1000 ft. This bested the old track record by nearly ten miles per hour!!
There were no entries in Funny Car from Georgia. Matt Hagan ran an amazing 316.15 mph to set the track record and run the fastest funny car speed ever recorded for 1000 ft. Unfortunately Matt lost round 2. In an all Shelby Mustang final, Tim Wilkerson defeated last year’s winner Bob Tasca with a good 4.09 at 303mph.
Georgia’s favorite sons Warren and Kurt Johnson both failed to qualify in Pro Stock at the Gatornationals. It looked like Mike Edwards was on his way, overpowering the track record with an elapsed time of 6.520 at 212.23 mph, but in the end, Jason Line defeated Edwards with a holeshot.
Georgia’s Pro Stock Motorcycle hope Junior Pippin led qualifying on Friday with a nice pass of 6.95. Unfortunately, his time wouldn’t hold up through the remainder of qualifying. Karen Stoffer looked like she had the field covered, setting the track and National Record at 6.847, but lost in Round 2 to eventual runner-up Shawn Gann. Eddie Krawiec was the winner, running as quick as 6.85 at 195.68 during eliminations.
Georgia’s Roger Burgess led Pro Mod qualifying, but lost to his teammate Michael Gullqvist in Round 2. In the final round, Kenny Lang defeated Michael Gullqvist with a 5.908 at 243 when Michael fouled. Melanie Troxel, in another Burgess team car, lost in round two to eventual winner Lang.
Georgia’s hope in Top Alcohol Funny Car, Steve Harker, lost in Round 3 to Mickey Ferro. Ferro was then defeated by Frank Manzo in the final. Manzo ran a great 5.475 at an amazing 265.33 to beat Ferro’s close 5.498 at 262.44.
Georgia had no entries in Top Alcohol Dragster, but Division 2 Racer Duane Shields took the win over Darren Nicholson.
In Competition Eliminator, Georgia’s Grant Lewis lost round 3. In the final, Arnie Martel defeated Florida’s Glen Treadwell.
In Super Stock, Sal Biondo defeated Chuck Gallaher, while Joe Santangelo bead Wes Neely for the Stock title.
In Super Comp, Canton, Georgia’s Trevor Wiggins made it to the finals, only to lose to Steve Furr on a holeshot.
Georgia had three racers in Super Gas: Arnold Reed of Loganville, Jimmy Fuller of Savannah, and Ricky Purcell of Jesup. All were gone by Round 3. In the finals, Jerry Heffelfinger defeated Mike Ruff.
posted by David @ 9:46 PM
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