HAMPTON, Ga. - It was a battle for supremacy in Week 11 of O’Reilly Auto Parts Friday Night Drags at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga. Friday night, as worthy contenders challenged one another for coveted championship points and a spot atop the standings.
In the final race of the night, between the fastest cars on the track, Harbin’s Mechanical Services Super Pro Division foes Billy Clevenger and Bobby Daniel faced off in a head-to-head race between the championship points standings leader and the current runner up.
Clevenger, driving a souped-up 1963 Chevrolet Corvette led Daniel and his 1995 Chevrolet Lumina “Batmobile” in the standings by four points entering the night, but Daniel was up to the challenge, narrowly beating Clevenger at the line to close the points gap and set his sights on the the division lead.
“It feels good. I finally got the car going and finally made a good run,” said Daniel.
Looking to capitalize on the momentum of his second win of the season, it’s no secret what makes the Batmobile go fast.
“Just bringing a bunch of nitrous,” said Daniel. “It’s all you can do.”
Taylor Wilder and Dwayne Bethune entered the night tied atop the Diesel Truck Division championship points standings with 15 points apiece. Both got through their respective first elimination races, and it appeared they were destined for a showdown of the division leaders in the final race of the night, but Bethune had engine troubles before he could race again and was forced to withdraw.
Wilder went on to claim the Week 11 victory and take sole position of the championship points standings lead.
“It sucks Dwayne lost a piston, I’m assuming, but that’s really the (best) competition I had out here,” said Wilder. “It’s a good feeling to win, but now I don’t have anyone out here to race.”
Despite the possibility of his biggest competition being out for a while, Wilder’s strategy for winning the season championship remains the same.
“Just take it easy and don’t try to kill it.”
Other notable winners on Friday night include David Clevenger in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Pro Division, Kyle Cumpton in the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Division, Chris Morgan in the Harding Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Domestic Division and Joshua/Tony Morse in the Zaxby’s Street Outlaw Division.
Atlanta Motor Speedway’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Friday Night Drags continues with Week 12 on Friday, July 17.
More information can be found at AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com/Drags.
Atlanta Motor Speedway – Hampton, GA
Friday Night Drags Week 11 – July 10, 2015
Super Pro: Bobby Daniel – 1995 Chevrolet Lumina “Batmobile”
Pro: David Clevenger – 1986 Chevrolet Corvette
Sportsman: Kyle Cumpton – 1996 Ford Mustang
Domestic: Chris Morgan – 1966 Ford Mustang
Domestic Advanced: Terry Bates – 1988 Ford Mustang
Street Outlaw: Joshua/Tony Morse – 1981 Chevrolet Malibu
Truck Advanced: Will Coots – 1985 Chevrolet C-10
Street Modified: Micah Patrick – 1955 Willy’s
Factory Street: Jeremy Godfrey – 1997 Pontiac Trans Am
Diesel Truck: Taylor Wilder – 1994 Dodge Ram 1500
Truck: Brian Leath – 1976 Chevrolet C-10
Tuner: Leo Martinez – 1993 Honda Civic
Sport Compact: Charles Myers – 1994 Honda Civic
Super Bike: Tim Houghland – 2012 Suzuki Hayabusa
Sport Bike: Tony Freeman – 2012 Suzuki Hayabusa
Motorcycle: Jamar Copes – 200 Suzuki GSXR 750
Cruiser/Dirt Motorcycle: Robert Thomas – Harley
ATV: Tyler Camp – 2005 Polaris Predator 500
