Georgia Drag Racing News

Southeastern Dragway Reunion

2013-03-04T22:29:00.001-05:00

Vintage Race cars and swap meet!
Drivers, car owners, mechanics, pit crew and fans all invited.

Date: March 16, 2013
Time: 10 AM - 4 PM
Place: Hardy Chevrolet
1249 Charles Hardy Parkway
Dallas, GA 30157

ATLANTA SPEED SHOP HOSTS TENTH EDITION OF ATLANTA $10,000 AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY

2012-10-16T18:32:00.001-04:00

By: Tim Glover

(Commerce, GA – October 13) After a 40 year hiatus, Atlanta Speed Shop hosted the tenth edition of the popular Atlanta $10,000 Drag Races and Car Show at Atlanta Dragway on October 13, 2012. For the history buffs, the Atlanta $10,000 was one of the first “Big Money” races held in the country. The first nine were held at Atlanta Speed Shop Dragway in Covington, GA from 1964 to 1972. Nostalgia Top Fuel and Funny Cars from the 60s were featured, along with a Gasser Shootout class of vintage race cars racing in a Chicago style format that thrilled the fans, Nostalgia Super Stock cars and Nostalgia Comp, Nostalgia Gas and Hot Rod classes.

Thrilling the fans, the nitro burning Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars were loud and unpredictable. Richard Hartman’s Carolina Cruiser ’55 Chevy was the fastest car on the grounds, posting a best time of 6.262 at 223.06mph. Troy Ray brought his “Wild Side” ’69 Charger to the event, and gave fans a scare when the suspension broke during the burnout, forcing the car over to the wall. Randall Davis entered his restored 70-1/2 Camaro “Dixie Twister” that used to belong to Houston Platt. However, like Ray, he was unable to run when his “dry hop” broke a radius rod after the car came back down to the ground. Keith “Rooman” Burgin from Australia treated fans to a pass with his “Back Yard Guys” Top Fueler. Following that, Julius Hughes III debuted his ZOT VI Top Fuel dragster, which he and his crew had just finished building at 6:00 am Saturday morning. After a good launch, he eased off to a 10.88 at 81 mph.

A “Geezer Alley” exhibition was set up in the midway to allow people to meet and greet racing greats from the past, including Jim Erler who used to announce for Atlanta Speed Shop Dragway and Gene Cromer. The Car Show took up a large space in the pits, featuring dozens of examples of hot rods, ranging from “rat rods”, which were still plenty fast but a bit lacking in the appearance department, to full on customs, like the “Creamsicle” sherbet orange Camaro. The swap meet area also featured a plethora of vintage muscle car parts for sale.

Tom Pellete from Spartanburg, SC just finished building his version of a Nostalgia car and brought it to Atlanta for its racing debut. It is a 1937 Fiat Altered, featuring a flip-up body, a 239 Ford flathead V8 bored out to 267 cubic inches, a tube frame and many other old school items. As most do, he took it easy on its first time out, easing it to 13 second times in the quarter mile.

In addition to the posted purse, class winners (excluding bracket classes) were awarded custom made trophies made by Atlanta Speed Shop from former top fuel engine parts, which had seen extreme action. The racers raved about the trophies, and were as excited about them as the purse.

The final four Gasser Shootout competitors in competition were Ron Bloomquist (’51 Henry J – Mooresburg, TN), Greg Porter (’55 Chevrolet – Greenville, SC), Quain Stott (’41 Willys – Columbia, NC) and Steven McLeod (’67 Chevelle – Anderson, SC).

Andrew Wheeler from Loganville, GA ended his day in the number one spot of Nostalgia Super Stock with his ’74 Charger. Wheeler met Tim Stefina’s Auburn, GA based ’64 Mercury Comet in the final, and took the double breakout victory after Stefina went under his Index more than Wheeler. Wheeler’s times were 10.99 at 121.53mph (11.00 Index). Although he crossed the top end stripe 0.08 seconds in front of Wheeler, Stefina’s 11.47 at 116.78mph was 0.03 seconds under his 11.50 Index, handing the win to Wheeler. Stephen Moore (’73 Duster – Winder, GA) and Mike Davis (’66 GTO – Monroe, GA) earned the semi-finalist’s portion of the purse.

Nostalgia Comp featured a first time race winner, Jeff Sanford, Jr from Campobello, SC. Sanford met former Bracket Racing USA and Drag Racing USA editor “Double A” Dale Wilson’s Alpharetta, GA based front engine dragster in the Comp final, and got the win with his ’87 Spitzer roadster after Wilson’s machine started losing traction down track. Sanford’s time was 10.14 at 101.92mph (10.00 Index) and Wilson posted a 10.15 at 88.40mph (9.00 Index). “I’ve been third and fifth before, but this is the first time I have ever won. I can’t wait until next year,” added the happy Sanford. Richard Killian’s wild looking Canton, GA based ’28 Ford, powered by an 820 cubic inch former Kaase Pro Stock engine, placed in the semi-final round.

Nostalgia Gas was won by Tom Moran from Walhalla, SC. Moran, who began racing in 1995, slowed his ’72 Swinger to the winning time of 11.36 at 91.19mph (10.50 Index) after his opponent, Joe McLaughlin (’71 Nova – McDonough, GA) fell way off pace with an 11.69 at 83.46mph (9.50 Index). The semi-finalist pair was Erwin Aderhold (’51 Henry J – Woodstock, GA) and Lou Salemi (’65 Chevy II – Hoschton, GA). “I was just lucky. It was a fun day. I hope they do it again next year,” added Moran.

The Wagner family entered their cars in numerous classes, and by the end of the day, Steve Wagner was the number one man in Hot Rod. Wagner took control of the final with a 0.015 react, and then trimmed the speed of his Jefferson, GA based ’71 Duster a little on the top end to a 12.75 at 104.48mph (12.70 dial) against John Hobb’s beautiful ’55 Chevrolet, which had slowed a little more to an 11.89 at 112.01mph (11.82). Chad Brewer (’67 Camaro – Canton, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. “I give God the glory for the win. Also, I want to thank ABC paint and my family for their help. I also had a few lucky breaks,” added Wagner.

Mixing things up a bit, Hank Wilhelm of Commerce, GA jumped into the seat of Don Brown Jr’s ’03 Spitzer dragster, and enjoyed immediate success. He met Mark Milford (’71 Vega – Canon, GA) in the final, and although Milford had a small advantage in the reaction time department (.011 to Wilhelm’s .034), Wilhelm prevailed with a 4.76 at 139.17mph (4.74 dial). Milford’s car fell off pace to a 6.27 at 111.19mph (6.20 dial). Kevin Brown of Boiling Springs, SC was the sole Super Pro semi-finalist. Wilhelm is no stranger to the Super Pro winner’s circle, and has been in three finals just in 2012. “I did everything he told me. Thanks to Big Don for loaning all of the parts we needed, and thanks to Don Jr for the coaching,” added Wilhelm.

Until a couple of weeks ago, Loganville, GA Pro racer Rob Hogue had been out of racing for nearly two years. He began making rounds with his ’68 Camaro, earned the runner-up spot at the recent NOPI Nationals, and then won tonight’s Pro event against Eddie Chapman from McDonough, GA. Both racers were wired to the tree (Hogue’s react was .022 seconds and Chapman’s was .020) and neither gave up anything at the finish line. After the smoke cleared, and the numbers were tallied, Hogue scored the win with a 0.02 under 7.310 at 93.42mph on the 7.33 dial, and Chapman broke out a little more with a 0.027 under 5.993 at 112.54mph (6.02 dial). Brian Massingale (V8 powered ’68 VW Beetle – McDonough, GA) and Stephen Moore (’73 Duster – Winder, GA) ended their day in the semi-final round. “I had a great time. Now my wife Kim and her son Dalton are addicted,” added Hogue with a smile.

Mel Abney from Cumming, GA added another Sportsman win under his belt with his ’67 Camaro. Abney met another Wagner family member, Nick in the final round. Abney’s Camaro crossed the win stripe 0.027 seconds in front of Wagner’s Jefferson, GA based ’04 Neon, breaking out slightly with an 11.997 at 112.00mph (12.00 dial). However, Wagner broke out by a larger margin, posting a 12.799 at 106.54mph run (12.86 dial). Steve Wagner, who had already won Hot Rod, made it to the Sportsman semi-final round, along with Mike “Critter” Garland (’94 Infiniti G20T – Hoschton, GA). “I’m gonna get Wagner next time,” promised Garland. “This has been a fun day, with all the Nostalgia racers. I also got lucky in the semis,” Abney added.

After several years away from the action, David Fletcher has been moving up the ladder in Pro ET Motorcycle. Tonight he made it back to the winner’s circle again. His final round opponent was Shawn Welch (’82 Suzuki – Waynesboro, GA). The round was over as soon as Welch left the starting line too soon, leaving the red light glowing. Rubbing it in further, his bike was close to the dial-in time, running 8.801 at 143.89mph (8.81 dial). Fletcher’s Lawrenceville, GA based ’84 Kawasaki also broke out with a 9.187 at 140.78mph (9.20 target). Paul Cavanaugh (’02 Hayabusa – Loganville, GA) and Brian Wilson (’95 Suzuki – Tallapoosa, GA) were the semi-finalists. Fletcher thanked Paul Cavanaugh and Scott Saemisch for all their help with the win. Move over Tim Sutton, Fletcher’s on his way!

Randy Barnett of Colbert, GA has been a Year One Fast Friday regular for quite a while, and made the jump into Atlanta Dragway competition today, doing quite well. His ’08 Suzuki was off a little bit in the final round, posting a 9.97 at 143.31 (9.70 dial), but it didn’t matter after Bill Benton from Cumming, GA lit up the dreaded cherry colored starting line bulb with his ’76 Honda. Benton’s bike went on to a breakout 12.18 at 110.75mph (12.26 dial). Steve Jackson from Bogart, GA and Michael Howard from Pelzer, SC made it all the way to the semi-final round.

The last cars on the track were old school nitro burning Top Fuel dragsters, there to show the fans how the racecars were push started by their tow vehicles, and then they idled the engines for a while in what is called a “Cacklefest” with several nitromethane burning engines all running at the same time.

After the event was complete, promoter Julius Hughes III added, “It was a booming success. We had great weather and great participation. This was a great start for bringing back the Atlanta $10,000.”

NOSTALGIA SUPER STOCK CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX

Win: Andrew Wheeler ’74 Charger Loganville, GA 10.99 121.53 (11.00)

R/U: Tim Stefina ’64 Comet Auburn, GA 11.47 116.78 (11.50)

Semi: Stephen Moore ’73 Duster Winder, GA

Semi: Mike Davis ’66 GTO Monroe, GA

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NOSTALGIA COMP CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX

Win: Jeff Sanford, Jr ’87 Roadster Campobello, SC 10.14 101.92 (10.00)

R/U: Dale Wilson ’97 Front engine Alpharetta, GA 10.15 88.40 (9.00)

Semi: Richard Killian ’28 Ford Canton, GA

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NOSTALGIA GAS CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX

Win: Tom Moran ’72 Swinger Walhalla, SC 11.36 91.19 (10.50)

R/U: Joe McLaughlin ’71 Nova McDonough, GA 11.69 83.46 (9.50)

Semi: Erwin Aderhold ’51 Henry J Woodstock, GA

Semi: Lou Salemi ’65 Chevy II Hoschton, GA

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HOT ROD CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Steve Wagner ’71 Duster Jefferson, GA 12.75 104.48 (12.70)

R/U: John Hobbs ’55 Chevrolet Conyers, GA 11.89 112.01 (11.82)

Semi: Chad Brewer ’67 Camaro Canton, GA

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SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Hank Wilhelm ’03 Spitzer dragster Commerce, GA 4.76 139.17 (4.74)

R/U: Mark Milford ’71 Vega Canon, GA 6.27 111.19 (6.20)

Semi: Kevin Brown ’00 dragster Boiling Springs, SC

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PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Rob Hogue ’68 Camaro Loganville, GA 7.31 93.43 (7.33)

R/U: Eddie Chapman ’69 Nova McDonough, GA 5.99 112.54 (6.02)

Semi: Stephen Moore ’73 Duster Winder, GA

Semi: Brian Massingale ’68 Beetle McDonough, GA

———————————————————————————————————————————————

SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Mel Abney ’67 Camaro Cumming, GA 11.997 112.00 (12.00)

R/U: Nick Wagner ’04 Neon Jefferson, GA 12.79 106.54 (12.86)

Semi: Steve Wagner ’71 Duster Jefferson, GA

Semi: Mike “Critter” Garland ’94 Infiniti G20T Hoschton, GA

———————————————————————————————————————————————

PRO ET MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: David Fletcher ’84 Kawasaki Lawrenceville, GA 9.18 140.78 (9.20)

R/U: Shawn Welch ’82 Suzuki Waynesboro, GA (foul) 8.801 143.89 (8.81)

Semi: Paul Cavanaugh ’02 Hayabusa Loganville, GA

Semi: Brian Wilson ’95 Suzuki Tallapoosa, GA

———————————————————————————————————————————————

STREET ET MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Randy Barnett ’08 Suzuki Colbert, GA 9.97 143.31 (9.70)

R/U: Bill Benton ’76 Honda Cumming, GA (foul) 12.18 110.75 (12.26)

Semi: Steve Jackson ’00 motorcycle Bogart, GA

Semi: Michael Howard ’00 motorcycle Pelzer, SC

10th annual Atlanta $10,000 Nostalgia Drags & Car Show

2012-03-21T15:08:00.002-04:00

Plans are now being refined for the return of this exciting and classic event after a 40 year hiatus. The first nine events occured from 1964-1972 at Atlanta Speed Shop Dragway. Event number 10 will take place at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia on Saturday October 13, 2012. Atlanta Dragway will have a Test and Tune on Friday night October 12.

Classes will include Front Engine Top Fuel, Nostalgia Funny Car, Nostalgia Fuel Altered, Gassers, Nostalgia Super Stocks, Jet Cars, Wheelstanders, Nostalgia Comp, Hot Rod and many more. In addition we will have a bracket race including Super Pro, Pro, and Sportsman eliminators.

Atlanta $10,000 Class Structure
Nostalgia Top Fuel
4 car Chicago StyleNostalgia Funny Car/Fuel Altered
4 car Chicago StyleNostalgia Pro Comp
8 car Chicago Style ( Front Engine Alcohol Dragsters, Funny Cars, and Altereds(
Nostalgia Comp Eliminator All run
Nostalgia Gas Eliminator All run
Nostalgia Super Stock All run
Hot Rod Eliminator All run
Nostalgia Exhibition All run
Super Pro All run
Pro All run
Sportsman All run

We will also have a Geezer Alley to honor Drag Racing pioneers, a Vendor Midway, a Cacklefest, a Car Show & Rod Run, and a Swap Meet.

For more information, visit www.AtlantaSpeedShop.com or www.AtlantaDragway.com .

Huston Platt passes

2011-11-30T22:42:00.001-05:00

Drag racing pioneer Huston Platt passes today.
R.I.P. Huston Platt
http://www.flaniganfuneralhome.com/obituary.aspx?ObitID=130

2010 Old Drag Racers Reunion DVDs

2010-11-06T19:03:00.002-04:00

Frank Moye has let us know that he has DVDs available from the 10th Anniversary Old Drag Racers Reunion held in Panama City, FL for $15. Should be a good DVD as the event was always great the times I attended.

For more information:

Frank Moye - phone 706-663-8314
PO Box 542
Pine Mountain, GA 31822

Dennis Bailey "Blow Over" at SGMP

2010-10-25T21:34:00.005-04:00

Dennis Bailey's down track wheelie at SGMP this past weekend. Dennis was OK! Photos by Marvin T. Smith.

WILSON GANG GOES 1, 2, 3 DURING FIRST SUMMIT ET RACE AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY

2010-03-27T20:00:00.000-04:00

By: Amy Glover

(Commerce, GA – March 20) Inclement weather stamped out the first scheduled points race of Atlanta Dragway’s 2010 season, but racers were met with perfect conditions this time around. The spring breeze cooled off the black top and kept racers comfortable throughout the rounds. From the time trials onward, the runs looked good and the reaction times were top notch, guaranteeing a competitive new season. Today was especially memorable for the Wilson brothers, who finished first, second and third in their respective classes.

The Super Pro finals came down to a door car vs. dragster scenario, Ricky Page (Monroe, GA) in a ’90 Mustang against Michael Morris (Woodstock, GA) in his ’01 Undercover dragster. Page launched first with a .025 reaction time; perhaps inspired by the sticker on his back window that reads “DRAGSTER SLAYER,” Morris came after with a .011 green light. Morris’s dragster couldn’t catch the track in the cool night air, and crossed the finish line in 5.17 seconds on his 5.09 dial-in time, at 128.79 mph. Page claimed the win with a 7.44 ET on his 7.43 dial-in, at 91.01 mph. Page had some technical difficulties in the first round, but kept to his personal mission to overtake the dragster-dominated field. Page thanked Mike “Peanut” Smith for helping him stage the car, and thanked his wife Angela: “She lets me come out to race.” Page plans on jumping into the 7.50 Index of the Saturday Insanity series, in hopes of leading two classes. John Hobbs of Conyers, GA was the semi-finalist in his fiery ’71 Vega.

Bruce Wilson (Tallapoosa,GA) had some good mojo in his ’71 Nova, after his brothers finished second and third in the Motorcycle class, leaving Greg Allen (Greenwood, SC) with some tough luck in his ’80 Camaro. Allen left the handicap tree with .086 reaction on a 6.81 dial-in; Wilson jumped after with a perfect .000 green, a great head start for his 6.70 dial-in. Allen ran a bit too quick, breaking out in 6.74 seconds at 102.08 mph. Wilson was the victor with a 6.72 run at 100.48 mph. Wilson thanked his wife Cassie, who stayed at home, pregnant with another member of the Wilson gang, and also thanked his mom and dad, for always supporting the family. “The car was perfect, and I couldn’t ask for better,” Wilson commented, “I might come to more points races now that I’ve got a lead.” Jeff Voyles (Hoschton, GA) finished third in a ’69 Camaro.

Matthew Bates (Loganville, GA) had a bye run into the finals in his black ’99 Firebird, and then lined up against Sportsman veteran Mel Abney (Cumming, GA) in a ’67 Camaro. Bates gained the advantage on the tree with a .049 green light, Abney trailing with a .066 light. Both men broke out, but Abney overshot the most with a 13.01 run on a 13.12 dial-in at 106.36 mph; Bates got the win light with a 13.58 run on a 13.62 prediction, at 100.82 mph. Bates thanked “mom and pop” Samantha and John Bates: “It’s her car, and he lets me race it.” Having raced all the other classes of bracket racing (including bicycles, junior dragsters, high school, Sportsman, Pro, and Super Pro), Bates has plans to complete the list and bring an ’05 Suzuki C50 to the next points race. However, with the 2010 points lead he’s bringing along the Firebird to keep his edge in the competition. D.A. Streber (Greenville, SC) was the semi-finalist in an ’02 Hyundai.

New racer Trent Pippin (Conyers, GA), son of the renowned NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Junior Pippin, went on to the finals on his high-performance ’02 Buell Blast, against Michael Wilson (Tallapoosa, GA) on an ’01 Suzuki. Pippin left the line first with a .039 reaction on a 15.80 dial; Wilson cut an off-pace .415 green light, and couldn’t catch Pippin at the top end. Pippin set off the win light, crossing first in 16.02 seconds at 81.72 mph, as Wilson followed with a 13.29 ET at 93.91 mph (11.60 dial). Motorcycle racing is certainly in the blood for Pippin: “I was mechanic for my dad’s [pro stock] bike, and wanted to see what I could do.” The class has Pippin hooked, winning his first race of the two he’s competed in. “I definitely think I’ll come more frequently.” Pippin thanked his dad and Rick Maney, as well as his loving wife Sonya. Brian Wilson (Tallapoosa, GA) finished on his ’82 Suzuki in the semis.

Madison Lee (12-Campobello, SC) enjoyed her second Atlanta Dragway win, this time at the expense of Alex Krause (12 – Peachtree City, GA). Krause had the lucky bye run into the finals against Lee, and dialed an 8.96 against Lee’s 8.90 dial-in. He then cut a good .040 light, which was quickly matched with Lee’s better .039 reaction time. At the big end of the track, however, Krause ran a bit too quickly with an 8.90 elapsed time at 72.36 mph, while Lee broke out a bit less in 8.88 seconds at 72.45 mph, triumphant with a .03 margin of victory. “I wanted to win this one for Chelsey Mitchell, a dear friend,” said a happy Madison Lee. Her dad, Scott Lee added, “I never saw such a string of good lights. Can’t put nothing on dad, she did it all herself.” Wesley Syme (10 – Atlanta, GA) finished in the semi-finals.

It was a not-so-sweet sixteen final between Banks County High tenth grader Blake Griffith (16 – Homer, GA) and Kelsey Lynn (16 – Marietta, GA), both dialed at 7.90. Griffith gained the final round advantage in his JR powered Motivational Tubing car with a .038 reaction against Lynn’s .096 light, and crossed the finish line first in 7.95 seconds at 79.40 mph. Lynn finished close behind at 7.96 seconds and 83.97 mph. Griffith secured the win with a .06 margin of victory. “Give God all the praise and honor. This is a great way to start they year,” said his dad Scott Griffith. Jackie Lastinger (16 – Lilburn, GA) and Jennifer Jarrett (17 – Cartersville, GA) 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 2010 events, including the NITTO TIRE NMRA PEACH STATE NATIONALS on March 26-28, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com .

SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Ricky Page ’90 Mustang Monroe, GA 7.44 91.01 (7.43)

R/U: Michael Morris ’01 Undercover Woodstock, GA 5.17 128.79 (5.09)

Semi: John Hobbs ’71 Vega Conyers, GA

———————————————————————————————————————————————

PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Bruce Wilson ’71 Nova Tallapoosa, GA 6.72 100.48 (6.70)

R/U: Greg Allen ’80 Camaro Greenwood, SC 6.74 102.08 (6.81)

Semi: Jeff Voyles ’69 Camaro Hoschton, GA

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SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Matthew Bates ’99 Firebird Loganville, GA 13.58 100.82 (13.62)

R/U: Mel Abney ’67 Camaro Cumming, GA 13.01 106.36 (13.12)

Semi: D.A. Streber ’02 Hyundai Greenville, SC

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MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Trent Pippin ’02 Buell Blast Conyers, GA 16.02 81.72 (15.80)

R/U: Michael Wilson ’01 Suzuki Tallapoosa, GA 13.29 93.91 (11.60)

Semi: Brian Wilson ’82 Suzuki Tallapoosa, GA

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8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Madison Lee 12 Campobello, SC 8.88 72.45 (8.90)

R/U: Alex Krause 12 Peachtree City, GA 8.90 72.36 (8.96)

Semi: Wesley Syme 10 Atlanta, GA

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13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Blake Griffith 16 Homer, GA 7.95 79.40 (7.90)

R/U: Kelsey Lynn 16 Marietta, GA 7.96 83.97 (7.90)

Semi: Jackie Lastinger 16 Lilburn, GA

Semi: Jennifer Jarrett 17 Cartersville, GA

Georgia On My Mind - Notes from 1970s Funny Car Racer Jeff Foulk (The Finagler Cougar)

2010-03-16T23:13:00.003-04:00

Georgia On My Mind

To the best of my recollection, I can remember running 3 race dates,in Georgia. It is about as far South as we ever got,racing,and a long haul from our home base,in Pennsylvania.
The first trip was to Savannah,in spring of 1970. We didn’t run good,but it was memorable for other reasons. The drive into town,in those days,would get your attention.The bridge,across the river,was about 300 feet in the air,steel girdered,and narrow,especially when towing a trailer.Being such a long trip,I wanted to save money,so I picked a $7.00 motel.Back then,you could stay at the Ramada,or Holiday Inn for $15.It must have been furnished from Navy surplus,because every thing in the room was battleship gray.My crewman,Charlie,was skeptical,but he wasn’t paying the bills.Since there was no TV in the room[that was extra and,probably,battleship gray,rather than color] we decided to go over to a fellow racers room,after dinner.Wallace Knotts was a good ol’boy,from Alabama,was staying at Howard Johnson’s and invited us over.At 7:00,The Porter Wagoner Show came on.Country music was still country,back in those days,and we northerners had never seen this before.Porter Wagoner came on,wearing a white buckskin fringe jacket,with a huge eagle embroidered on the back.Wallace was mesmerized.”Gaw* da**,look at that jacket”,he exclaimed.”I’ll bet that sombi***cost him a thousand dollas”.Charlie and I were comically bemused.
Before retiring to our own humble abode,there were several tornado warnings posted on the TV,for the overnight hours.Charlie remarked about it,and I said that I had heard that a tornado sounds like a locomotive coming.Several times during the night,I thought I heard trains,but rolled over,and went back to sleep.In the morning,we could see what darkness had hidden the night before:the motel backed up to a railroad yard.

Our next foray,into Georgia,was the race at Dallas,Ga.,in September of ’70.We were filling the field for a qualifier show,against most of the circuits top cars.The Dallas track was a 1/5th mile,and very slick,especially the right lane.This would work to my advantage,although we were having traction problems,too. After my second of two qualifying runs,we sat on the bump spot,with about 3 good cars still to make their runs.When all of them failed to negotiate the track,we were in.I drew Jim Wigglesworth,in the “Virginia Twister” Charger,in the first round.We flipped for lane choice,and I lost,and got the right lane.As usual,I was out first,off the tree,but got crossed up,in low gear,and was looking right down the guardrail when I had to lift.The Charger streaked on by,and my day was done.Jim got that lane,the next round,and had the same thing happen.Who knows:if I had won that coin toss,I could have won the race.Lane choice was everything,that day.I don’t know why that days sticks out in my mind;we weren’t all that successful.But I used it for the basis of a short story I wrote,about minor league professional drag racing.
Our third,and most memorable trip,was to Warner Robbins,in the summer of 1971.We arrived at about 3p.m.,for a Saturday night race.We were so early,we almost beat the track owner.Since we had plenty of time to kill,I engaged the owner in conversation,while Charlie wandered up to the starting line,to look at the track.I never spent much time studying tracks.We didn’t have traction gauges, thermometers or weather stations.We just showed up,and ran..I used to tune for the way the air felt on any given day,and learned how to factor in altitude.It was all seat of the pants.Drag racers have always been of the philosophy that you couldn’t possibly make too much power!
I remarked to the owner,that I did not recall hearing of his track.When he started telling me some of the history,I said”Oh,now I know,this used to be called Houston County Dragway”,as in the city,or Sam Houston.”Yes”he said”but around here we call it House-ton county”.Charlie came wandering back,and we set about unloading the car,and setting up our pit area.This just involved parking the trailer,and backing the pick-up truck to the front of the race car.Not the deal it is today,which rivals the circus coming to town.Charlie said to me”I’ve been studying these tracks lately.This place has a lot of that grainy shit in the asphalt.I don’t think it is going to have much bite.I think we ought to raise up the wheelie bars”.”OK” I said”whatever you think”.I had no reason to question his judgement,yet!We continued our work.Come 8 in the evening and time for the first round.It was an 8 car show,with no qualifying.Our first round opponents were the Carlton brothers Camaro,with a big block Chevy on board.John,the driver was a stout man,and his brother even bigger around.Some said they made more power than anybody,to pull the extra weight.Others said they must have been the fastest,because they always took the long way,to get there.The car rarely ran straight,but they were formidable racers.At 127 pounds,two of me would not have made one of John!The Carlton’s were having a problem,with a slow leak in one of their slicks,so they let us know they would need a few seconds,after the burnout,to pump some air in the tire.Sure,no problem!I could sit and idle all day and my little motor would not overheat.To watch John’s brother back up the car was quite a sight,but now ,there he was,frantically flailing away on a hand tire pump!
We staged,and I cut an excellent light,and was well out on the Camaro.There was only one problem:all I could see out the windshield was stars!I had stood that bi***as straight up as it would go.Charlie said he could see the drivshaft turning from his spot on the guardrail,as I went by.What did I do?Well,hell,I knew I was ahead and I sensed the car was straight,so the thought of lifting never entered my mind.I figured if it went straight,it would come down,sometime.We were using a Hurst dual gate shifter in the car,which was a piece of junk.We had a lot of trouble with it,because if you didn’t hold it over hard to the right,it would shift past second into high gear.That is what happened this time.After all,I was kind of busy!Shifting into high,it settled down,as light as a feather.However,the resulting loss of torque slowed the run,and allowed the Camaro to come around,and get there first.It was undoubtedly fortunate,because I had not factored in the air getting under the car,at higher speed.The only way it would have come down,was a backward pirouette.I would have one-upped Garlits,by years,but never would have gotten the publicity.It probably would have destroyed the car,and ended my racing career,so luck comes in all forms.Charlie said the crowd went absolutely bananas.When we towed back to the pits,the promoter came running up hollering”Can you do that again?”.We did come back,after lowering the wheelie bars,and made another run.It still carried the wheels,about 4 feet,on the second pass.This timeI did hit second gear,but it pushed a head gasket before the lights,and I went skating through the traps,in my own water.After that adventure,I preferred to make my own decisions about the track.I don’t think Charlie would have had the nerve to make that suggestion again,except in jest.I wasn’t mad.It was a neat,memorable experience and one of many.
We headed home,planning on stopping for the night along the way.But everywhere we stopped,along I-85,the motels were full.By the time it got light,we just kept going,and drove straight through.By the the time we got home,on Sunday afternoon,we had been going for more than 36 hours.Using a slogan of the day,our Gillette 24 hour protection was long gone.Those were the best times of our lives.We were living lots of peoples dreams,at the best possible time.As the cars got more technical,and the tour more professional,the whole thing spiraled out of control.The cost killed the match racing,and the sport is poorer for it.You reached a whole lot more fans when,on any given summer weekend,in the northeast,there would be one or more 8 car funny car shows.I would not trade my time for any of these modern deals.Those were the best of times,and a lot of it happened in Georgia.
Jeff Foulk

Georgia Drag Racing News (blog) to stay online when GeorgiaDragRacing.com shuts down

2010-03-16T22:56:00.002-04:00

I'll be posting news to www.gdrn.blogspot.com after we shut the site down. More details later.

Wiggins Just Misses His First “Wally”

2010-03-16T22:50:00.000-04:00

Wiggins Just Misses His First “Wally” in Super Comp Category at NHRA 41st annual Gatornationals

(March 15, 2010) – Third-year Super Comp racer Trevor Wiggins, Canton, Ga., made his first final-round eliminations appearance during an NHRA national event at the 41st annual Gatornationals, held Sunday, March 14, 2010 in Gainesville, Fla.

From a field representing 90 of the nation’s best Super Comp competitors, Wiggins drove his Undercover dragster to wins over Tisha Wilson, Marc Caruso, Mark Daniels and Ray Llanusa, which earned Wiggins the “bye” into the finals. Wiggins lost in the final round eliminations to Steve Furr, who had a better reaction time. Furr, right lane, (0.025) 8.947 defeated Wiggins, (0.122) 8.916 0.016, after winning the coin toss for lane choice.

“After our early season struggles, it’s awesome to have such an amazing run. The car was so consistent. Unfortunately, I wasn’t consistent on the tree when it counted in the final round,” Wiggins recalled. “With all of the rain delays, we weren’t sure we’d even be able to race. So to even be in the finals – and at the Gators – was just great.”

Wiggins now ranks seventh nationally among NHRA’s 1,500 Super Comp drivers after his strong showing at the Gatornationals – the third race of the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Racing Series.

Wiggins thanked sponsors Steve Schmidt Racing Engines, Willy’s Garage and DART Machinery, for their support, along with all the NHRA contingency sponsors that support sportsman racing.

Trevor Wiggins is well known throughout the automotive and racing industries, having been involved with both since a young age. He has raced shifter carts, Formula Ford, Formula Mazda and Toyota Atlantic, and participated in NTPA truck and tractor pulling before getting involved with NHRA Super Comp drag racing. In his second year drag racing, Wiggins finished the 2009 season ranked seventh in his home division and 40th nationally.

# # #

Contact: Jami Wiggins

GATORNATIONALS – The Georgia Perspective

2010-03-16T21:46:00.007-04:00

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.

RAINS FORCE CANCELLATION OF MARCH 13 SUMMIT ET SERIES EVENT AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY

2010-03-16T21:38:00.001-04:00

RAINS FORCE CANCELLATION OF MARCH 13 SUMMIT ET SERIES EVENT AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY

by Amy Glover

(Commerce, GA – March 13) Inclement weather prevented Atlanta Dragway personnel from hosting the Fast Friday and Summit ET Series events scheduled for the weekend. Track manager Ray Wilkings posted a notice to that effect on the site Friday afternoon, stating, “The Year One Fast Friday event on March 12th and the Summit Racing Series event on March 13th have been cancelled due to weather. With the continuous rainfall and the low track temperatures, management cancelled the Summit Racing Series for tomorrow.”

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 2010 events, including the NHRA Summit Southern Nationals on May 14-May16, 2010, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com .

Drag Strip Land Targeted by Holt from WaltonTribune.com

2010-03-11T17:45:00.001-05:00

Drag strip land targeted by Holt

By Stephen Milligan
The Walton Tribune

Published March 10, 2010

SOCIAL CIRCLE — A new wrinkle has appeared in the battle over the proposed motorsports complex along Interstate 20 in Social Circle, as a local state representative is taking the fight to the capitol.

Rep. Doug Holt, R-Social Circle, is looking to propose legislation to the state assembly to amend the city charter to de-annex the land owned by Donnie Clack, who has been pushing for months to get his property re-zoned and his application approved to begin construction on a motorsports complex, including an 1/8-mile drag strip.

“It’s mainly to put an option on the table to resolve this drag strip issue,” Holt said. “We could put a permanent end to this discussion.”

Holt’s District 112 covers primarily Newton and Morgan counties, but he said the portion of Social Circle within Newton — including Clack’s property — is of great concern to him right now.

“(The drag strip) is dramatically out of character with that region,” Holt said. “It would dramatically undermine the tech park at Stanton Springs.”

Social Circle City Manager Doug White said de-annexation was a drastic step that would negatively impact the city.

“We think we have a vested interest in that area,” White said. “We hope to see it develop as a gateway to our community. We would hope it can be resolved without resorting to legislation.”

Holt, however, sees little alternative to stop the motor sports complex from winning approval with the planning and zoning board.

“The city almost can’t say no to it,” Holt said. “We could cure the problem through de-annexation.”

Clack said his first reaction to the possible legislation was “shock,” and said legislative action was premature and misguided.

“I’d like to see what studies he’s done or seen to convince him this was the best action,” Clack said. “Does he have all the public in mind or just the elite few?”

Holt has not formally presented any legislation to the house and said no action would be taken until he has full approval from the entire local delegation, including Rep. Jeff May, R-Monroe, and Sen. John Douglas, R-Social Circle.

“We need to try everything to resolve this,” Holt said.

Social Circle Drag Strip Plan Revised from WaltonTribune.com

2010-03-11T17:42:00.002-05:00

Social Circle drag strip plan revised

SOCIAL CIRCLE - The proposed motorsports complex in Social Circle will see some changes in its plans after the applicant temporarily withdrew the application. The change comes following scrutiny from residents who say the site will be noisy among other concerns. In order to implement some changes, owner Donnie Clack said he would withdraw his application - "without prejudice," which would allow him to resubmit at a later date - and re-apply within the next 30 to 45 days. Clack's lawyer, Michéle Battle, said the move was necessary to implement some changes designed to compromise with local complaints from opponents of the proposed drag strip. "We've gone back and re-examiend the plan," Battle said. "We've re-designed it to move that noise further away." The new plan moves the drag strip to the far western edge of the property, at a lower elevation and behind a larger tree buffer, to reduce noise levels. The finish line would now be nearly half a mile from the nearest residence. Battle said they planned to re-apply after the plans were revised and hoped concessions could be made by both sides. "We are willing to address the issues and compromise," Battle said. "My question to the opposition is what are you willing to do?" See more in Sunday's edition of The Walton Tribune.

See http://www.waltontribune.com/ for updates.

1974 NHRA Funny Car Champion Shirl Greer Passes

2010-03-10T17:45:00.004-05:00

R.I.P. Shirl Greer

Check CompetitionPlus.com for details
His family is in our prayers.

Fred Simmons Photo (top).

GeorgiaDragRacing.com to shut down soon

2010-03-09T19:11:00.005-05:00

Due to family health concerns, GeorgiaDragRacing.com will probably be closing down before long. We'd like to thank all of our readers, contributors and sponsors for the years of support. If things change, we'll let you know.

THANK YOU!

ESTN at SGMP

2010-03-09T19:02:00.004-05:00

ESTN 2010 photos by Marvin T. Smith

AMA Drag Bike Photos at SGMP by Marvin T. Smith

2010-03-07T22:07:00.004-05:00

AMA Drag bike photos by Marvin T. Smith taken at SGMP this weekend.

Drag Radial Event at South Georgia Motorsports Park

2010-02-28T22:32:00.004-05:00

Click here for more of Marv's photos.

Drag Radial Event at South Georgia Motorsports Park
Cecil, GA February 26-28

Racers from 24 states, including California, journeyed to South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil, Georgia for the Outlaw Radial Tire Championship series event. This was THE race to determine who had the best car racing on radial tires. The headliner class, Radial vs. the World, pitted cars with radial tires against cars using racing slicks. Eighty-two cars attempted to qualify for the 32 car field to prove who was the best. After five rounds of tough racing, David Wolfe from Fort Worth, Texas, defeated Scotty Guadagno from New York. On his way to victory, Wolfe ran the quickest elapsed time ever recorded on radial tires when he scorched the SGMP track with an amazing 4.447 second run in the eighth mile.

In the Ultimate Street class, Mike Freeman of Lehigh, Florida, outlasted 56 other competitors for the victory when he defeated Bob Kurgan in the final. Brian Goss of Lehigh, Florida, had the best times ever recorded for the class when he ran 5.019 seconds at 141.43 mph.

Troy Pirez of Dover, Florida, won the XTreme 275 class over Joe Morgan of Sharpsburg, Georgia after the two waded through 36 competitors. Dave Bowman from Fremont, California had the best times, 4.912 seconds at 156.81 miles per hour, but lost to Morgan in the semifinals.

Valerie Clements from Central, South Carolina, won the 330 Outlaw class for ultimate Jr. Dragsters.
Marvin T. Smith

A Workmanlike WJ Looks for a Vintage Performance in Pomona

2010-02-10T15:54:00.001-05:00

Contact: Jon Knapp
J2Racing

Sugar Hill, Ga., February 8, 2010 – This weekend, the National Hot Rod Association will celebrate the 50th running of one of its most prestigious races, the Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals in Pomona, CA. There have been numerous changes and advancements since that inaugural event in 1961, from the sport ascending to national prominence to the establishment of four professional classes. However for almost 30 years, there has been one constant at the traditional NHRA season-opener, namely the participation of Pro Stock stalwart Warren Johnson.

Since qualifying third and defeating Lee Edwards in 1976, “The Professor” has steadily earned his place in Winternationals history, participating in every race since 1984, with his five Pro Stock wins second only to fellow Hall of Famer Bob Glidden, and the most among active competitors in the sport’s most competitive category. Despite these many accomplishments and the prestige of this weekend’s silver anniversary event, for WJ and his K&N Filters Pontiac crew it will simply be business as usual, as they look for a return trip to the winner’s circle.

“Although I have raced in 30 Winternationals and won my share of them, I can’t say that any one race stands out,” said Johnson. “I think a lot of that has to do with the timing of the event. It’s our first race of the season, and when you get to the track, you’re still pretty much in turmoil, because you’re still trying to wrap up everything you wanted to accomplish during the off-season.

“For that reason, we’ve always come into Pomona looking to get the race in so we can see how we fare against the competition before heading into the rest of the season. But even though the research and development work might not be complete, you still prepare for the race the same way as you do any other event, which explains our success in the past, and why this K&N Filters crew is looking forward to getting the year started.”

Throughout his career, Johnson has been known for his off-season work ethic, and the past few months were no exception, with the research and development efforts starting within days after the end of the 2009 season. Although acknowledging that the true measure of success will come on the racetrack, the six-time champion nevertheless heads to the Golden State with a renewed sense of optimism.

“I feel I’ve had a more productive off-season this year than I’ve had in a long time in so far as projects as I have been able to finish,” said Johnson. “Therefore, we feel pretty good heading into Pomona, although I would have preferred to do a little testing beforehand. Unfortunately, timing and Mother Nature were against us. Although the lack of testing certainly won’t help our K&N Filters GXP, our notes should help us keep things under control. Whether we’re ready or not, it’s time to find out if we did enough work during the so-called off-season. I think we’ll be in good shape.”

The Professor’s Winternationals By The Numbers -

5 - a) WJ Winternationals wins, which is the most among all active Pro Stock competitors.
b) WJ Winternationals No. 1 qualifying performances.

11 – WJ Winternationals final round appearances, most recently in 2005.

19 – Top Four Starting Positions by The Professor in 28 Prior Winternationals starts.

20 – WJ Winternationals Finishes of the Semifinals or better.

42 – Different drivers WJ has faced in eliminations at the Winternationals, beginning with Lee Edwards in 1978.

2003 - Year of WJ’s most recent Winternationals win, when he qualified 2nd and defeated Troy Coughlin, Kurt Johnson, Darrell Alderman and Allen Johnson en route to his 89th national event win.

Event Schedule:
Thursday & Friday, February 11 - 12: A single qualifying session at 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 13: Two qualifying sessions at 12:00 noon & 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 14: Final eliminations starting at 11:00 a.m.

Television Coverage (all coverage on ESPN2):
Qualifying: Saturday, February 13 – 11:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Eliminations: Sunday, February 14 – 8:00 - 11:00 p.m.
RaceDay: Sunday, February 14 – 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
(All times Eastern)

With the Help of a Long-Time Friend, a Hungry KJ Targets Second Winternationals Win

2010-02-10T15:43:00.004-05:00

Contact:
Jon Knapp
J2Racing

Sugar Hill, Ga., February 10, 2010 – On the outside, things will seem very different for Pro Stock stalwart Kurt Johnson at this weekend’s O’Reilly Kragen NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, CA. The familiar blue, red and white livery he has carried for over 20 years has been replaced by a mostly white design. His two-man crew is completely new, having joined the Sugar Hill-based organization during the winter.

However, a closer inspection will show that many of this perennial championship contender’s key components remain in place, including a proven race car powered by the legendary Johnson horsepower. Most importantly, Ontario, CA-based Mark Christopher Auto Center, who has been with the team virtually since its inception has stepped forward to sponsor the team for the first few races of the 2010 Full Throttle season.

“We’ve certainly gone through some changes this off-season, but when Q1 rolls around on Thursday, we will be ready thanks to Chris, Mark and Shirley Leggio as well as everyone at the Mark Christopher Auto Center,” said Johnson. “This past off-season wasn’t all that different from a year ago when our sponsorship for last year wasn’t finalized until the very last minute. We’ve had some changes in personnel, and our Cobalt’s going to have a different look to it, but everything is good right now.

“Mark Christopher has been with us since my rookie year in 1993, when I had their name on my door at the Finals and I was the runner-up to Dad (six-time champion Warren Johnson). Through all the years, they have treated us like kings, rolling out the red carpet. I look forward to racing in their backyard this weekend and carrying their colors. I think we may surprise a few people this weekend in Pomona.”

Despite the challenging times, Johnson is optimistic about his prospects for the upcoming season, as he looks to return to the winning ways for which he is so well known. With so much on the line, motivation will certainly not be a problem.

“I’m ready to let the clutch out,” said Johnson. “For a variety of reasons, including some very uncooperative weather, we haven’t been able to test, so we’ll have a couple questions heading into the weekend, but it’s nothing we can’t handle. In fact, it will force us to pay a little extra attention, which isn’t a bad thing. Pomona has been a pretty good track for us, so we should be fine.

“The bottom line is that this is a big race and we’re hungry. We want to win now more than ever, simply because it’s been a while. We have a new crew that’s all pumped up and a sponsor to whom we’d like to show our appreciation. We’ll see where we stand starting on Thursday, and hopefully we’ll end the weekend with our Mark Christopher Cobalt in the winner’s circle. If we do, it’s going to be one heck of a party.”

Kurt Johnson and the Mark Christopher Chevy Cobalt Racing team
By the Numbers – Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals edition:

1- KJ Winternationals wins, which came in 2001, when he qualified fifth and defeated Mark Osborne, Mike Edwards, Bruce Allen and Darrell Alderman.

2 – KJ Winternationals final round appearances in 1997 & 2001

6.546 – KJ’s career best elapsed time (in seconds) recorded last October in Richmond, VA.

6.12 – KJ’s average starting position at the Winternationals

9 – Number of finishes of the semifinals or better by Kurt in his previous Winternationals starts.

13 – Top half starts by Kurt at the Winternationals

17 – Previous KJ Winternationals starts, dating back to his rookie debut in 1993.

24 – KJ Winternationals round wins, versus 16 losses for a .600 win percentage

39 – Kurt career national event wins, most recently at the 2008 Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals in Phoenix, AZ

210.64 - KJ’s career best top speed (in mph) recorded last October in Richmond, VA

Event Schedule:
Thursday & Friday, February 11 - 12: A single qualifying session at 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 13: Two qualifying sessions at 12:00 noon & 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 14: Final eliminations starting at 11:00 a.m.

Television Coverage (all coverage on ESPN2):
Qualifying: Saturday, February 13 – 11:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Eliminations: Sunday, February 14 – 8:00 - 11:00 p.m.
RaceDay: Sunday, February 14 – 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
(All times Eastern)

Congratulations to Marvin T. Smith - 2009 National Dragster NHRA Division 2 Contributor of the Year!

2010-02-01T21:11:00.006-05:00

Congratulations go out to Marvin T. Smith for being named 2009 National Dragster Southeast Division Contributor of the Year! Marv has also been contributing articles and photos to GeorgiaDragRacing.com since its inception. Way to go, Marv!

Photo of Marvin T. Smith by Phil Hubbard.

Photo of award by Julie B. Smith

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-25T18:49:00.002-05:00

AMA Dragbike XXX Racing Fuel National Finals at South Georgia Motorsports Park

2009-11-18T14:24:00.002-05:00

South Georgia Motorsports Park hosted the final 2009 AMA Dragbike series event on November 13-15.

Series champions were crowned, and records were smashed.

Headlining the event were the top fuel motorcycles. Korry Hogan qualified number 1 on Friday night with a tremendous blast of 5.889. On this run, Korry scraped the wall on the top end, and on Saturday he announced his withdrawal from the event and his immediate retirement from Top Fuel racing. Korry will be missed, and everyone wishes him a great future. Qualifying Number 2 was Larry “Spiderman” McBride, perennial champion and crowd favorite. The Spiderman ran a 5.956 at 222.02 on his first attempt on Saturday. On his second run, McBride suffered a massive blower explosion, but was back in action on Sunday. Completing the field was Geoff Pollard at 5.963 and Chris Hand at 6.19 at the fastest qualifying speed of 236.22. In round one, Chris Hand received the bye when Hogan withdrew. Hand ran a fine 6.14 at 244.12 (top speed of the meet). Geoff Pollard defeated Larry McBride when McBride’s ride developed a fuel leak and was shut off on the line. Pollard would have been hard to beat with his 5.932 at 241mph. In the final, Chris Hand defeated Geoff Pollard with a 6.76 at 170 when Pollard slowed to an 8.75.

In Funny Bike qualifying, Joey Sternotti made big noise when he rode the Ray Price Harley to an amazing 6.144 at 234.37 mph late on Saturday afternoon. This run was two tenths below the current national et record and faster than the current miles per hour record, and led second place qualifier Travis Davis by .336 seconds! Sternotti then won rounds one and two with relatively slow times, but stepped it up in Round 3 to run a winning 6.49 at 199 to defeat Perry Hollie. In the other semifinal, Travis Davis defeated Ashley Owens with a 6.502 to the losing 6.553. In the final, Sternotti was not to be denied. He ran a very fast 6.287 at 233.76 to defeat Davis’ troubled 7.774 at 117.

Eric McKinney led Pro Mod qualifying with a sub-record 6.61 at 199.17. He ran 6.628 in the first round and 6.69 in the second to advance to the semifinals. Paul Gast was the only other rider in the 6.60s. In the semifinals, McKinney dipped into the 6.50s with a great 6.577 at 202.48 mph to defeat Paul Gast’s slowing 7.16 at 153. In the other semifinal, TT Jones defeated Terry Wynn with a 6.751 at 196 mph to Wynn’s losing 6.860 190.51. In the finals, McKinney reset the record with a great 6.553 (201.58mph) to defeat Jones’ 6.732 at 193.60.

Rob Budgell led Pro Street qualifying with a sub-record 7.159, and Mike Kovacevich ran a near-record 206.51 in his fifth place qualifying effort. Budgell was ousted in the second round by Keith Brooks. In the Semis, Kovacevich defeated Brooks, 7.345 to 7.351, and Victor Gotay defeated a broken Barry Henson. In the finals, Victor Gotay ran a 7.28 to defeat Kovacevich’s 7.37, but Kovacevich ran a record 207.50 mph in his losing effort.

In SuperSport, Rickie Gadson led the way at 8.938 closely followed by Jeremy Teasley at 8.945. These two best qualifiers met in the finals, with Gadson winning on a holeshot with an 8.964 to Teasley’s 8.958.

In the Super Street class, Stacy Smith led qualifying with a fine (and sub-record) 7.822 at 195.99. In the finals, John Fernandez ran 7.843 at 186.33 to defeat Stacy Smith’s 7.948 at 168.41.

Jeremy Teasley led Real Street qualifying with a 7.980 at 187.91. In the finals, Teasley defeated Coby Adams, 7.93 to 8.09.

In other action, Mike Konopacki won Top Gas, Andy Baumbach won Super Comp and Sunday’s Street ET race, Dave Page won Street Fighter, Dennis Steward won Pro Street on Sunday, and Dustin Burchett won Street ET on Saturday. Jeff Kerridge made an amazing exhibition run in his Sled/Snowmobile at 7.598 176.26 mph.

Photos and text by Marvin T. Smith.

East Coast Drag Times 2007 Hubert Platt Clip

2009-10-17T14:35:00.001-04:00