The temperatures on the drag strip at the Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga. may have been hot, but it was nothing compared to the competition on the quarter mile, as Convington, Ga.’s Mike Brown took home top honors in the Super Pro division in Summit ET Series action.
Brown’s ’96 Horton dragster closed the deal in the final against Buford, Ga. racer Don Brown, Jr’s ’03 Spitzer dragster. Mike reacted first with a 0.005 second time, and Don nearly matched him with a 0.006 react. At the win stripe, Mike bested Don again with a dead-on 5.275 at 130.51 mph for the win. Brown crossed the stripe 0.012 seconds later with a 4.77 at 135.62 mph (4.76 dial). Mark Hancock (’77 Vega – Commerce, Ga.) was the lone semi-finalist.
Pro winner Jody Blalock, Sr. from Commerce, Ga. races a unique Mopar powered ’49 Hudson, and took the top spot in today’s class against Bill Boomhower’s Walhalla, S.C. based ’65 Belvedere. Blalock used a stellar 0.003 second react and then used a deft application of the brakes at the finish line to post a dead-on 6.908 at 94.13 mph for the win against Boomhower, who posted an otherwise good 6.15 at 113.30 mph (6.13 dial). Mike Garland (’86 Mustang – Commerce, Ga.) and Allen Long (’67 Camaro – Ballground, Ga.) ended their day with the semi-finalist portion of the purse.
“It’s been a good day,” Blalock said. “A really good day. The car saved the day for me several times, and I saved the car once.”
Sportsman winner John Snapp 10 year long dry spell with his Sportsman victory against Mike Newby’s Roswell, Ga. based ’69 Chevelle. Snapp’s Conyers, Ga. based ’14 Mustang carded a 13.42 at 101.51 mph (13.35 dial) for the win. Newby’s mount broke out with a so-close 12.027 at 107.81 mph (12.03 dial). Newcomer Drew Cantrell (’91 S10 pickup – Commerce, Ga.) did well, finishing in the semi-final round.
“This is my first ever win in a Ford, and I was very lucky as all the racers in Sportsman are very tough,” Snapp said afterwards.
For the second event in a row, Randy Barnett won Super Pro Bike with his Colbert, Ga. based ’08 Suzuki. This time, his final round victim was David Fletcher (’84 Kawasaki – Lawrenceville, Ga.), who went to the semis at the previous event. Barnett’s elapsed time was perfect, 9.350 at 141.24mph on a 9.35 dial. Fletcher’s machine slowed just a little to 8.97 at 140.83mph (8.92 dial). Tim Sutton (’89 Suzuki – Clermont, Ga.) was the semi-final finisher.
Brian Wilson from Tallapoosa, Ga. was on point in Street ET Bike with his ’01 Suzuki. Both competitors were wired together at the starting line, with only one thousandth of a second separating their reaction times. Although Wilson broke out slightly with an 11.465 at 116.04 mph (11.47 dial), competitor Allen Hitt (’99 Kawasaki – Cartersville, Ga.) earned the runner-up spot by taking even more finish line stripe and breaking out with a 10.70 at 122.78 mph (10.72 dial). Randall Long (’06 Suzuki) was the remaining semi-finalist.
Jr Street winner Katie Wilhelm of Commerce, Ga. faced off against Maddie Kate Halsey from Clermont, Ga. in the finals. Wilhelm patted the gas pedal a few times near the finish line in her John Bates owned ’10 Camaro and finished with a 0.01 over 9.50 at 69.55 mph (9.49 dial). Reaction times made the difference in this event, as Halsey also posted a 0.01 over pass in her ’90 S10 pickup (11.14 at 63.09 mph – 11.13 dial). Adrian Wilson (’04 Silverado – Tallapoosa, Ga.) was the semi-final finisher.
13-17 Jr Dragster winner Robby Pettinato (17 – Fountain Inn, S.C.) scored his second Atlanta Dragway win in his final year of Jr Dragster racing. Pettinato’s final round competition was Adrian Wilson (15 – Tallapoosa, Ga.). Pettinato posted a very good 7.93 at 82.06 mph (7.92 dial) for the win. Wilson’s elapsed time was as good as one could ask for (8.000 at 81.64 mph – 8.00 dial), but the race was over the moment his car left the starting line with the foul light glowing. Blaine Rogers (14 – Hiawassee, Ga.) and Austin Carden (16 – McDonough, Ga.) were the semi-final pair.
Thirteen-year-old Jackson Earwood from Cleveland, Ga. scored his first win in the 10-12 Jr Dragster class. Earwood met previous event winner Adam Brown (11 – Covington, Ga.) and both were ready to take the victory. Unfortunately for Brown, his car left the starting line just a moment too early, leaving the foul light glowing, and then broke a few feet off the line. Seeing the victory was his, Earwood stayed on the gas through the finish line, posting an 8.89 at 74.46 mph (8.92 dial). Ryan Blanton (12 – Jefferson, Ga.A) and Dakota Bradley (11 – Colbert, Ga.) ended their day in the semi-final round.
Alayna Carden (7 – McDonough, Ga.) won in the 6-9 year old Jr Dragster class against Stephen Skelton (7 – Cleveland, Ga.). Carden had a slight reaction time advantage (0.021 to Skelton’s 0.027 react) and then got the win with a 14.39 at 43.16 mph (14.35 dial). Skelton’s car crossed the big end stripe first, but was too quick by four thousandths of a second, breaking out with a 17.096 at 36.99mph (17.10 dial).
For more information on upcoming events at the Atlanta Dragway, visit AtlantaDragway.com.
Atlanta Dragway – Commerce, GA
Race Results – June 13, 2015
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Michael Brown ’96 Horton Covington, GA 5.275 130.51 (5.27)
R/U: Don Brown Jr ’03 Spitzer Buford, GA 4.77 135.62 (4.76)
Semi: Mark Hancock ’77 Vega Commerce, GA
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jody Blalock Sr ’49 Hudson Commerce, GA 6.908 94.13 (6.90)
R/U: Bill Boomhower ’65 Belvedere Walhalla, SC 6.15 113.30 (6.13)
Semi: Mike Garland ’86 Mustang Maysville, GA
Semi: Allen Long ’67 Camaro Ballground, GA
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: John Snapp ’14 Mustang Conyers, GA 13.42 101.51 (13.35)
R/U: Mike Newby ’69 Chevelle Roswell, GA 12.027 107.81 (12.03)
Semi: Drew Cantrell ’91 S10 Pickup Commerce, GA
SUPER PRO BIKE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Randy Barnett ’08 Suzuki Colbert, GA 9.350 141.24 (9.35)
R/U: David Fletcher ’84 Kawasaki Lawrenceville, GA 8.97 140.83 (8.92)
Semi: Tim Sutton ’89 Suzuki Clermont, GA
STREET ET BIKE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Brian Wilson ’01 Suzuki Tallapoosa, GA 11.465 116.04 (11.47)
R/U: Randall Long ’06 Suzuki Colbert, GA 10.70 122.78 (10.72)
Semi: Allen Hitt ’99 Kawasaki Cartersville, GA
6-9 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Alayna Carden 7 McDonough, GA 14.39 43.16 (14.35)
R/U: Stephen Skelton 7 Cleveland, GA 17.096 36.99 (17.10)
10-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jackson Earwood 13 Cleveland, GA 8.89 74.46 (8.92)
R/U: Adam Brown 11 Covington, GA (foul, then broke)
Semi: Dakota Bradley 11 Colbert, GA
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Robby Pettinato 17 Fountain Inn, SC 7.93 82.06 (7.92)
R/U: Adrian Wilson 15 Tallapoosa, GA (foul) 8.000 81.64 (8.00)
Semi: Blaine Rogers 14 Hiwassee, GA
Semi: Austin Carden 16 McDonough, GA
JUNIOR STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Katie Wilhelm ’10 Camaro Commerce, GA 9.50 69.55 (9.49)
R/U: Maddie Kate Halsey ’90 S10 pickup Clermont, GA 11.14 63.09 (11.13)
Semi: Adrian Wilson ’04 Silverado Tallapoosa, GA
