HAMPTON, Ga. - The second of three Street Wars nights in 2017 took center stage during Week 10 action of O’Reilly Auto Parts Friday Night Drags at Atlanta Motor Speedway Friday evening, as several of the Southeast’s fastest drag cars went head-to-head in an all-out battle for coveted cash prizes in two separate racing divisions.
With fierce competition permeating the atmosphere on the pit-lane drag strip and a boisterous crowd that only added to the excitement, it was a full night of intense, battles and lightning-quick reactions with more than just a trophy and bragging rights on the line.
In the Hard Tire Division, it was déjà vu, as David Waksman piloted his grey Chevrolet Camaro through three preliminary rounds before finding himself in the final race, much like he did back in May, when Street Wars I debuted at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
On Friday night, Waksman lined up next to Jeff Nance, who drove a blue Chevrolet Corvette, but the final result the same as in May. Waksman used a perfectly timed start to explode off the line and beat Nance to the finish to claim the Hard Tire Street Wars II title, setting his sights on a season sweep when Street Wars III wraps up the money races Aug. 4.
The Big Tire Division featured several of the fastest cars of the evening, with more than $1,000 on the line for the winner and guaranteed cash for each of the semi-finalists as well as the runner-up.
Like the Hard Tire Division, the Street Wars I winner, John Bonner, survived through each of the first three rounds to put himself back in the final for a chance at a second-straight big-money payout.
As he came to the line, it was Jimmy Hunter waiting for him in his black 1966 Ford Mustang, and Hunter was up to the challenge.
On the start, Bonner nosed ahead of Hunter through the first 100 feet, but it was the older Mustang that proved to be faster, as Hunter denied Bonner a second straight Street Wars win, cashing in on the hefty cash prize and setting up a potential rubber match for the third and final contest next month.
For all other Friday Night Drags racing divisions, Friday night was the second of a three-event Street Wars championship series for the 2017 season, which also wraps up later on Aug. 4.
Adding to their Street Wars championship leads were Jody Scott in the Street Performer Division, Brian Sparrow in the Diesel Truck Division, Ed Blanford in the Truck Division and Omar Ruiz in the ATV Division, all of whom won in their respective classes in both Street Wars I last month as well as Friday night.
Other notable winners included Tony Byrd in the Super Pro Division, Dale Rodgers in the Pro Division, Joey Cates in the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Division and Terry Brown in the Harbin’s Mechanical Sport Compact Division.
Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Friday Night Drags continues with Week 11 on Friday, July 14, while Street Wars III will wrap up the 2017 money races on Aug. 4.
For more information, visit AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.
Atlanta Motor Speedway – Hampton, GA
Friday Night Drags – June 16, 2017
Week 10 Results
28-Inch Big Tire Street Wars II: Jimmy Hunter – 1966 Ford Mustang
Hard Tire Street Wars II: David Waksman – Chevrolet Camaro
Super Pro: Tony Byrd – 1986 Pontiac Firebird
Pro: Dale Rodgers – 1981 Pontiac Firebird
Sportsman: Joey Cates – 1984 Chevrolet Camaro
Domestic: Donnie Henderson – 1980 Chevrolet Malibu
Sport Compact: Terry Brown – 2014 Ford Mustang
Tuner: Jose Samniego – 1998 Honda Civic
Street Modified: Joe Gramling – 1993 Ford Mustang
Factory Street: Eric Moseley – 2015 Dodge Challenger
Street Outlaw: Doug Ragan – 1998 Ford Mustang
New Edge: Steve Shaffer – 2017 Chevrolet Corvette
Street Performer: Jody Scott – 1995 Chevroleet S-10
Diesel Truck: Brian Sparrow – 2005 Ford F-250
Truck: Ed Blanford – 1968 Ford F-100
Super Bike: Toney Freeman – 2007 Suzuki Hayabusa
Sport Bike: Bryan Berube – 2013 Suzuki Hayabusa
Motorcycle: Justin Goodman – 2007 CBR 600
Cruiser: Andrew Bunn – 1999 Harley-Davidson
ATV: Omar Ruiz – ATV
http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/7/558252/waksman-wins-in-ams-friday-night-drags-street-wars-ii