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By: Tim Glover:
(Commerce, GA – August 11) Two father and son teams, and one grandfather – grandson team found themselves in the final round of their classes, and three of the six took race wins for their efforts at Atlanta Dragway. Travis Bryant won 6.50 Index earlier in the day, and then came back to win Pro class over Pete Wagner. Bryant’s dad, Wade Bryant, finished runner up in the 7.00 Index class. Pete Wagner and his son Nick both ended their day as runner-up; Pete in Pro and Nick in Sportsman. 12 year old Malone Wilson enjoyed a win in 8-12 Jr Dragster, and later in the evening enjoyed watching his grandfather Marshall York win Sportsman.
Travis Bryant began what turned out to be a great day of racing by winning 6.50 Index class. Bryant’s Bowman, GA based ’68 Camaro posted a 6.535 second pass at 101.13mph for the win. Doug Stringer of Loganville, GA also ran an identical 6.535 pass at 106.30mph, but his reaction time caused him to take the big end stripe shortly after Bryant. Stan Sinack (’69 Dart – Lilburn, GA) only had a semi-final finish, but still holds the points lead as Bryant, who is second in the points series, closed the gap to 40 points. “This has been a good track, and the car ran good. All the thanks go to my dad Wade,” added Bryant. He then smiled and added, “Even my mom Deborah made it here today to watch.”
American Legion Post 127 Commander Steve Adams earned his second win of the year with his Buford, GA based ’78 Malibu wagon, this time in 7.00 Index class. Adams met Bowman, GA racer Wade Bryant (father of today’s double winner Travis Bryant) in the final, and used a reaction time advantage, coupled with a 7.02 at 98.35mph to turn on the win light in his lane. Bryant’s ’67 Camaro ran flawlessly, posting a 7.008 second pass at 97.88mph, but crossed the finish line in second place. Jody Blalock (’49 Hudson – Commerce, GA) and Tanner Dutton (’67 Camaro – Gainesville, GA) earned the semi-finalist portion of the purse. Adams thanked Jeff Wilkerson Racing Engines and his grandson Austin.
Former Open Comp Full Body champ Charlie McCulloch from Kennesaw, GA has been absent from the winner’s circle for quite a while due to various problems with his ’04 Mustang. Today began no differently, when it broke the ring and pinion gear in the differential on the first qualifying run. However, his friend Mark Young literally got out of his Mustang and told McCulloch to take it, as he was still in the points. McCulloch then proceeded through the rounds and on to the winner’s circle for the first time in several years. McCulloch’s final round numbers would have won in any class this evening, with a 0.005 second reaction time and a dead-on 7.054 on a 7.05 dial. He faced a tough opponent, Chad Brewer of Canton, GA driving “Tweety”, a ’67 Camaro. However, this time Brewer left the starting line 0.002 seconds too soon, leaving the dreaded cherry colored bulb glowing in his lane. “Tweety” was flawless, however, also running a dead-on 6.913 at 98.46mph (6.91 dial). Jeremy Hancock (’77 Vega – Commerce, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. McCulloch thanked Mark Young, Tim Matherly of MV Performance and Lenny at Ultimate Converters.
Toccoa, GA racer Jim Onda enjoyed an instant win in Super Pro before his ’96 dragster even left the starting line. For the final, Onda faced Paul Dooley’s great looking ’34 Chevy roadster, which left the starting line too early (-0.012 second red light), handing the win to Onda. Onda chose to run his car flat out, and carded a breakout 4.842 at 143.11mph (4.86 dial). Seeing the red light glowing, Dooley chose to lift off the throttle early, and coasted through the top end beams with a 5.66 at 104.96mph (5.21 dial). Recent winners Brian Smith (’07 Undercover dragster – Flowery Branch, GA) and Don Brown Jr (’03 Spitzer dragster – Buford, GA) earned the semi-finalist portion of the purse. “It’s been a long hot summer, and we finally took the win. I want to thank the whole family for helping, especially my dad Joe for coming to all the races,” added Onda. He then added a smiling aside to his dad, “Remember, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”
Pro winner Travis Bryant made it back to the winner’s circle for the second time in the day after meeting Pete Wagner (who won Open Comp at the previous event) of Jefferson, GA. Wagner’s ’71 Demon was on a great run, with a small reaction time advantage to help, but even though Wagner crossed the finish line first, it was 0.008 seconds too soon, resulting in a breakout loss time of 7.432 at 90.51mph (7.44 dial). Bryant’s car ran dead-on its mark, with a 6.372 at 107.75mph (6.37 dial). Dickey Forrester (’68 Camaro – Hickory Flat, GA) and Larry Chance (’68 Camaro – Canton, GA) finished their day in the semi-final round. “The car won that race, not me,” added Bryant. Bryant also has the Pro points lead now over second place John Norris, with 440 points.
“Paw Paw” Marshall York, one of the “Wilson Gang” racers, enjoyed taking the Sportsman win against another Wagner family member, Nick. York had previously campaigned a Buick Grand National, but had consistency problems with the turbo car. His son in law, Bruce Wilson, helped him find his ’72 Nova on RacingJunk.com, and the rest is history. York’s machine posted the winning time of 12.303 at 109.00mph (12.30 dial). Wagner’s turbo powered ’04 Neon left the starting line with the red light glowing, courtesy of a minus 0.016 second react, and tripped the finish line beams 13.21 seconds later at 104.95mph (13.12 dial). Sportsman points leader Howard Warren (’72 Maverick – Douglasville, GA) and John Snapp (’12 Mustang – Conyers, GA) were the semi-finalist pair. “Thanks to the Wilson Gang for all they do. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here. Bruce does all the work,” added York.
David Fletcher of Lawrenceville, GA has been racing motorcycles for three decades, and enjoyed his first win in a while against Motorcycle class points leader Tim Sutton. Fletcher’s ’84 Kawasaki ran a good round, reacting first with a 0.012 second time, and crossing the win stripe with a 9.38 at 135.17mph. Sutton’s Gainesville, GA based ’89 Suzuki actually crossed the stripe slightly in front of Fletcher, but broke out with an 8.899 at 142.40mph (8.91 dial). Jimmy “Cha Cha” Heisler earned the semi-finalist portion of the purse. “This wasn’t my first final recently, but it was my first win in years. I did it with the help of my friends at the track, including Donnie Scott,” Fletcher stated after the event. Fletcher also passed Jay Rhyne in the points, and is now holding the second place points position.
Malone Wilson, another “Wilson Gang” racer, also received an instant victory in 8-12 Jr Dragster. The 12 year old Wilson from Tallapoosa, GA saw opponent Chris Kittle (12 – Oxford, GA) turn on the tomato colored bulb, so at the point, knowing the win was his, he hit the throttle and didn’t lift until after he crossed the finish line stripe, posting an 8.80 at 74.38mph (8.90 dial). Kittle’s brand new race car (he had not even sat in it before today) ran close to the mark with a 9.24 at 70.26mph (9.21 dial). Colton Reville (11 – Martinez, GA) took home the semi-finalist trophy for his efforts. Wilson was happy that his dad Bruce, who was recently promoted at work, was able to see his race win, along with his grandfather, Marshall York. Dad Bruce added, “He had a little luck and some skill, and was lucky when he needed to be. Kittle thanked his mom Debbie and dad Billy, and Uncle Dwayne, who had given him the new racecar to drive.
Eight time champ Wesley Mayfield (16 – Gainesville, GA) returned to the 13-17 Jr Dragster winner’s circle today after defeating 16 year old Buford, GA racer Brittney Hellemn. Mayfield used a reaction time advantage to post an off the throttle 7.98 at 74.65mph (7.93 dial). Hellemn’s machine broke out trying to catch Mayfield, carding a 7.895 at 82.76mph (7.90 dial). Paul Charette (17 – Evans, GA) also earned a semi-finalist trophy for his day’s work. Mayfield thanked his mom Linda and dad Jim. He then thanked Steve Waller for the engine. “It’s been a good day of racing for the Mayfields,” he added. Wesley’s days in Jr Dragster may be numbered, however, as he is getting his racer’s physical on Wednesday, and plans to make Super Pro dragster license passes this coming Friday during the Year One Fast Friday event at Atlanta Dragway.
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 2012 events, including the National Dragster Challenge on August 18, 2012, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com.
Below is a gallery of photos from the event, courtesy of Tim Glover of Atlanta Dragway:
