By: Jerry Towns
Danny Dixon’s first win of the Season
Super Pro – Danny Dixon from Cleveland, GA took his ’81 Malibu to his first win of the year when he defeated Debbie Blanton from Jefferson, GA in her “10 Undercover Dragster. This is Debbie’s second runner up in a row. Dixon ran a 6.907 ET on his 6.89 dial in at 99.60 mph with a 0.024 reaction. Blanton ran a 4.998 ER on her 4.97 dial in at 137.79 mph with a 0.015 reaction. Dixon wanted to thank Jerry Turpin for getting him to return to drag racing.
Semifinals had Dixon’s win over another dragster, Paul Dooley from Gainesville, Gain his ’06 Chevrolet. Blanton in the semis tripped the win light first over Jeff Stanford from Campibelo, SC in his ’87 Sptizer Roadster.
Steve Wagner’s first win of 2015 season.
Pro – Steve Wagner from Jefferson, GA in his ’69 Dart defeated Eric Lewis from Commerce, GA in his ’82 Mustang in the Pro finals crossing the win stripe first. Wagner ran a dead on 7.370 ET off a 7.37 dial in at 90.73 mph with a 0.045 reaction, while Lewis ran a 6.960 ET on his 6.93 dial in at 101.16 with a 0.018 reaction time.
In the semifinals Wagner beat Jody Blalock, Sr. in his ’49 Hudson from Commerce, GA. Lewis had a single in the semis.
Steve Wagner wanted to thank God first and foremost, and thanked his Dad and brothers. He also gave thanks to the track crew for doing a great job.
Scott Reynolds, point’s leader, chalks up another win.
Sportsman – Scott Reynolds from Cartersville, GA in his ’02 Camaro defeated Austin Smith from Baldwin, GA in his ’70 Nova in the final. Reynolds ran a 13.321 ET on his 13.24 dial in at 104.69 mph with a 0.056 reaction. Smith ran a 12.703 ET (break out) off a 12.75 dial in at 98.73 mph with a 0.039 reaction.
The semifinals matched up Reynolds with Allen Long from Ball Ground, GA in his ’96 Silverado. While Smith had a solo run into the finals.
Tim Sutton wins 4 out of 6 races in a month.
Super Pro Bike – Tim Sutton from Clermont, GA on his ’89 Suzuki took the win again with a run of 5.703 ET on his 5.66 dial in at 119.76 mph with a great 0.007 reaction time. Randy Barnett took 2nd place with his red light start. He ran a 6.018 ET on his 5.96 dial in at 119.73 mph and foul -0.016 reaction time.
In the semifinals Sutton defeated Jordan Autrey from Travelers Rest, SC on his 2011 Kawasaki. While Barnett, who’s from Colbert, GA on his ’08 Suzuki defeated T. J. Elliott from Winder, GA.
Tim Sutton wanted to thank his wonderful wife Jennifer.
Father and son double up in Street ET Bikes and 13-17 Jr. Dragster
“At Commerce, W stands for win when it comes to Wilson’s, Wagner’s and Wilhelm’s” said Atlanta track announcer Tony Sheffer.
Street ET Bike – Brian Wilson from Tallapoosa, GA on his Suzuki was the big winner over Randy Barnett from Colbert, GA on his ’08 GSXR. Wilson ran a 7.413 ET on his 7.38 dial in at 97.77mph and his reaction of 0.040 to better Barnett’s 6031 ET on his 5.98 dial in at 119.41 mph with a 0.080 reaction.
Semifinals matched up Wilson’s winning run over Andrew Patterson from Taylors, SC, while Barnett defeated Howard Bowman from Homer, GA on his Harley.
Brian Wilson, a 2nd generation drag race, saw his son Adria Wilson win in the 13-17 Jr. Dragster class.
6-9 Jr. Dragster – Stephen Skelton from Cleveland, GA defeated last race (Wally race) winner Alayna Carden. Skelton in the final ran a 15.189 ET on his 14.80 dial in at 42.84 mph with a 0.689 reaction to Carden’s 11.986 ET on her 11.93 dial in at 53.20 mph but she left too soon with a foul -0.166 reaction.
Adam Brown, son of last race Super Pro winner Michael Brown, racks up his 3rdrace of the year.
10-12 Jr. Dragster – Adam Brown from Covington, GA defeats, last race winner, Carter Marsengill from Clarkesville, GA. Brown, a 3rd generation racer, in the final ran a 9.061 ET on his 8.96 dial in at 70.06 mph with his great 0.006 reaction to Marsengill’s 8.915 ET on his 8.91 (dead on run) at 72.86 mph, but with a 0.144 reaction time, he couldn’t catch up with Brown.
Adam in semis defeated Jackson Earwood from Cleveland, GA and Carter had a single in the semis.
Adrian Wilson almost won it all.
13-17 Jr. Dragster – Adrian Wilson won 13-17 Jr. Dragster, he won the run for the money and he runnered up in Jr. Street. Wilson from Tallapoosa, GA, son of ET Bike winner Brian Wilson) in the final ran a 7.971 ET on his 7.96 dial in at 82.3 mph with a 0.062 reaction time. He defeated Maddie Kate Halsey form Clermont, GA in her Jr. She ran a 7.966 ET off her 7.93 dial in at 81.95 mph but she left the big red light on with her -0.047 reaction time (foul).
Semifinals Wilson defeated Katie Wilhelm from Commerce, GA and Halsey in the semis defeated Jessie Daniel from Loganville, GA.
Jr. Street – Maddie Kate Halsey from Clermont, GA in her S-10 pickup defeated Adrian Wilson from Tallapoosa, GA in his Chevy pickup. Halsey ran an 11.120 ET on her 11.06 dial in at 62.45 mph with a 0.057 reaction to Wilson 11.3363 ET on his 11.27 dial in at 63.60 mph with a 0.162 reaction.
In semifinals Wilson beat Katie Wilhelm from Commerce, GA in a 2010 Camaro.
Street ET Bike finals from the 2015 Night of Fire had to be run 8/22/15.
Street ET Bike – Winner Randall Long from Buckhead, GA won over Nick Young from Travelers Rest, SC. Long took his Suzuki run of 6.077 ET on a 6.00 dial in at 105.41 mph to Young’s 6.204 ET on a 6.07 dial in at 112.74 for the Kawasaki rider.
Semifinalist were Randy Barnett from Colber, GA and Tim Houghland from Lawrenceville, GA.
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 2015 events may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com.