GeorgiaDragRacing.com - Information about Georgia drag racing history, personalities, activities and events.
 |
|
GeorgiaDragRacing.com - Information about Georgia drag racing history, personalities, activities and events.
|
|||||||
| About Us | Activities | Articles & Stories | Bookstore | Classifieds | Directory | ||
| Drag Strips | Forum | Free eCards | Links | News | Photo Gallery | ||
|
|||||||
|
Click to subscribe to |
Atlanta Dragway Results
RACE DATE: March 15-16, 2003FROM: Tim Glover EVENT: NMCA / HOT ROD POWER FESTIVAL COMPLETED IN SPITE OF WET WEATHER AND OILDOWNS at Atlanta Dragway in 2003 (Commerce, GA - March 15-16) For the third time in four weekends, Saturday racing action at Atlanta Dragway was rained out. Fortunately, eliminations were scheduled on Sunday for the NMCA / Hot Rod Power Festival, so the only casualties from 2003's first scheduled NMCA event were the bracket race, the car show, the swap meet and a couple of qualifying sessions. Four classes did manage to get qualified Saturday in between bouts of liquid sunshine. Qualifying was finished Sunday, and then eliminations began Sunday afternoon. More liquid slowed the show down, but on Sunday it was oil, not rain, delaying the event. Numerous oildowns (mostly from overstressed engines expiring) made the show last longer for Sunday's race fans. All the racing was in the history books by 10:00 pm Sunday evening. Exhibition runs helped fill time for spectators between rounds. The Classic Thunder group, featuring nostalgia race cars, Paul Miller's Next Generation US One Jet Dragster and Pro Street champion Pat Musi's kids, Trisha and Lizzy, in seven second (eighth mile) Jr. Dragsters, all helped keep the fans interested. Two Atlanta Dragway regulars participated in the Classic Thunder exhibition, Chris Scrocca from Buford, GA in his '69 Camaro and Sean McDonald from Jefferson, GA, in a '72 Opel. Both cars sported huge superchargers sticking way out of their hoods, and laid down some fast tracks at Atlanta Dragway. The fastest Classic Thunder racer was Fairburn, GA racer Jim Dickey, who put down a 4.16, 171.77mph blast on the eighth mile course in his '23 T Altered. Pat Musi's Carteret, NJ based Comp Cams Pro Street '97Firebird got out of shape off the starting line, but the win was already his after teammate Dan Parker's '69 Chevrolet Camaro left the red light glowing at the starting line, fouling away his shot at victory. After straightening his car out, Musi eased on down the track with a 13.56, 61.22mph. After seeing he had lost the event, the Columbus, GA based Parker clicked his Pat Musi owned '69 Camaro off early, turning in a 9.98 second pass at only 85.39mph. Justin Kalwei ('57 Chevrolet - Greenwood, MO) and Paul Daigrepont (driving what he claims is the world's fastest Powerglide equipped '84 Pontiac Firebird - New Orleans, LA) made up the semi-final pair. Chuck Samuel set a new Accel DFI Pro Outlaw record in the semis, 6.51 seconds at 218.48mph, and then took the win light against James Clark in the final. Samuel doesn't talk much, he just goes out there and gets the job done. Samuel, who hails from Kinston, IL, shut out Clark with a convincing and deadly fast 6.62, 217.42mph in an '02 Ford Mustang. Clark's Laurel, MS based '97 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was close, running 6.75, 206.45 for the runner-up trophy. Tinley Park, IL racer Randy Adler switched from his GTO to a chopped top '57 Chevrolet, and made it to the semi-finals today, along with another long time NMCA racer, Randy Eakins ('01 Mustang - Sikeston, MO). John Jones from Cranston, RI, has been competing in Edelbrock Pro Nostalgia for four years, and tonight, after nearly matching multi time champion Paul Adam's reaction time (.464 seconds to .465 seconds) he matched Adam's incremental numbers all the way down the track, except for the finish line, which Jones took .009 seconds ahead of Adams, giving Jones his first ever Pro Nostalgia win. Both racers chose '66 Ford Fairlanes to participate in what Jones' crew called "Prehistoric Pro Stock". "I felt like I was taking on Bob Glidden," Jones exclaimed in the winner's circle. Adams, who comes from Barbersville, WV, added, "We had a good race." Jim Mckenzie ('62 Chevrolet Bel Air bubbletop - Elkton, MD) finished his day in the semi-finals when his car was unable to make it to the starting line. Brian Ferrari's "Mean Green Machine" from Aberdeen, NJ, stomped out Omtonville, MI racer Ross Stomp's chance of victory in the Nitrous Express Nostalgia Pro Street final. Ferrari's '66 Chevrolet Chevelle laid down a 7.65, 177.88mph winning pass, negating Stomp's otherwise great 7.70, 178.59mph in a '69 Nova. Bruce "The Big Guy" Poulos went back to Pallatine, IL with a semi-final finisher's check in his '72 Chevrolet Chevelle. Joining him in the semis was John Schroeder, whose day was ended when his Stamford, CT based '02 Camaro SS got way out of shape on the racetrack, forcing him to lift and save his car for another race. DTS Super Modified winner Jim Huber from St. Leon, IN happily pointed out that BES engines made it to seven out of the 13 final rounds contested in this weekend's action, winning four. Huber used his BES powered '00 Chevrolet S10 pickup to take the win light against John Baio's immaculate Burbank, IL based '69 Chevrolet Camaro. Huber went 7.67, 176.49mph, crossing the finish line ahead of Baio's 7.87, 173.09mph best. Emidio Catalano ('68 Chevrolet Camaro - Toronto, Canada) was the lone semi-finalist. Dan Millen's Dearborn Heights, MI based Ramchargers Super Street '02 Ford Mustang left a huge cloud of smoke and a good bit of oil down track after his semi-final win, leading many to think his car was done for the night. Millen didn't think so, and came back to win decisively against Grainsville, GA racer Keith Szabo's '93 Mustang. Millen didn't take the finish line by much, leading Szabo by only .026 seconds at the quarter mile mark. Millen's time was 7.35, 195.68mph to Szabo's 7.40, 189.10mph. Nick Scavo ('69 Chevrolet Camaro - Oak Grove IL) and Ed Grisez ('93 Pontiac Firebird - Oberlin, OH) took home the semi-final purse. Rick Moroso, of the famous Moroso performance parts family, won the 2002 Competition Engineering Hot Street championship, and was off to a good start by winning the first 2003 Hot Street event. Moroso's final round opponent, Rockin' Al Miller, finally figured out why his Elk Grove Village based '85 Corvette was so slow in the final. Somehow, the parachute was launched immediately after he left the starting line, which slowed his car way off pace to a 9.88, 110.57mph. Moroso's '00 Chevrolet Corvette was wide open with an 8.80, 152.04. "Last year we did well. We're just trying to back it up the best we can," said Moroso about his victory. Al Pritchett ('84 Camaro - Rockford, IL) and Ed Dobias ('79 Camaro - North Homestead, OH) got to go home with the semi-finalist purse. One could hardly see the race cars after some super smoky burnouts in the Corteco Limited Street final. Lawrenceberg, IN racer Gary Rohe, the mega time EZ Street champion, was undecided a few weeks ago if he was even going to race in 2003. He made a good move in the 2003 Limited Street points this weekend, coming out on top after defeating the defending champion, Mike Libecap from Connersville, IN, in the final. Rohe's '80 Ford Mustang was back on track with an 8.26, 165.46mph shot. Libecap's car got loose, forcing him to lift and coast to a 14.03, 68.08mph. Cuy Richardson ('86 Mustang - Georgetown, KY) and Bill Trovato ('78 Oldsmobile Starfire - Rochester, NY) ended their day in the semi-finals. Both Real Street finalists had identical reaction times (.476 seconds), but Syracuse, NY based Jamie Stanton prevailed over defending champion Bruce LaGory from Lawrenceberg, IN. Stanton's '00 Chevrolet Camaro made it to the finish line first, running 8.91, 154.12mph. LaGory's '69 Plymouth Barracuda was close, but all he could muster in the final was a 9.03, 151.53. Houston, TX racer Patrick Topolinski, an instructor for the School of Automotive Machinists, was the semi-final finisher in his '79 Malibu. Troy Pirez, who comes from the same hometown that "Big Daddy" Don Garlits is from, Seffner, FL, qualified second, but finished first in BF Goodrich Drag Radial Eliminator. Pirez' '70 Chevrolet Nova was the best in the final, turning in an 8.63, 160.73mph pass. Pirez' final round victim was Marengo, IL racer Chris Singleton. Singleton's '72 Nova mustered a good 8.82, 159.02mph for the final. Rob Wells of Tampa, FL was the crowd's favorite to win. He brought his rusty, many hued '72 "Frankenstein" Nova, which looked like it was on its last mile (until one looked under the hood) to the starting line up until the semifinals. The other semi-finalist was Dave Rudisell ('84 Ford Mustang - Lawrenceberg, IN). Chysler products dominated in Nostalgia Super Stock, but a GM product took the winner's trophy home. Gary Pund brought his '62 Pontiac Grand Prix down from Fairborn, OH, and went home with the win, turning in an 11.55, 105.39mph (11.50 index). Jack Nelson from Shelby Township, MI had to settle for the runner up spot after his '65 Dodge Coronet slowed to 11.57, 115.69mph on a 11.00 second index. Joe Ewing ('63 Polara - Evansville, IN) was the sole semi-final finisher. Local racer Bobby McNair said he was glad he went back to his roots in a footbrake car. McNair took the winner's check and trophy in BF Goodrich American Muscle with his Seneca, SC based '68 Ford Mustang after defeating Brad Crumley's '71 Ford Maverick. McNair defeated the Roan Mountain racer with a slight breakou 12.49, 108.44mph pass on a 12.50 second index. Crumley's run, however, was over the moment he left the starting line too quickly, resulting in a red light. Steve Jones ('70 Pontiac Formula - Washington Courthouse, OH) was the semi-finalist. McNair added that his Super Pro Maverick was up for sale. Mr. Gasket EFI winner Linda Massingill from Houston, TX, seemed to give everyone credit but herself for her victory. The students at the School of Automotive Machinists built the engine in her '98 Camaro, helping her win in only her second time out in the car. She also credited luck for the win, after John Lovett went too quick in his Cleveland, MS based '86 Mustang, breaking out and giving her the win. Massingill did well during the other rounds just to get to the final. Defending EFI champion Todd Merkel had to dig his trailer out of three feet of snow in St. James, NY to get to Atlanta Dragway this weekend, and went home third in points after his semi-final finish with his '85 Firebird. 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 2003 events, including the 23rd annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac on May 1 - 4, may be obtained by calling the track office (706-335-2301) or logging on to www.atlantadragway.com. NOTE: If you would like this report via email, please contact me, tim.glover@stork.com or call the track. PRO STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Pat Musi '97 Firebird Carteret, NJ 13.56 61.22 R/U: Dan Parker '69 Camaro Columbus, GA (foul) 9.98 85.39 Semi: Justin Kalwei '57 Chevrolet Greenwood, MO Semi: Paul Daigrepont '84 Firebird New Orleans, LA PRO OUTLAW CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Chuck Samuel '02 Mustang Kingston, IL 6.62 217.42 R/U: James Clark '97 Monte Carlo Laurel, MS 6.75 206.45 Semi: Randy Adler '57 Chevrolet Tinley Park, IL Semi: Randy Eakins '01 Mustang Sikeston, MO PRO NOSTALGIA CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: John Jones '66 Fairlane Cranston, RI 9.08 147.07 R/U: Paul Adams '66 Fairlane Barberville, WV 9.09 147.07 Semi: Jim MacKenzie '62 Bel Air Elkton, MD Semi: NOSTALGIA PRO STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Brian Ferrari '66 Chevelle Aberdeen, NJ 7.65 177.88 R/U: Ross Stomp '69 Nova Omtonville, MI 7.70 178.59 Semi: Bruce Poulos '72 Chevelle Pallatine, IL Semi: John Schroeder '02 Camaro Stamford, CT SUPER MODIFIED CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Jim Huber '00 S10 Pickup St. Leon, IN 7.67 176.49 R/U: John Baio '69 Camaro Burbank, IL 7.87 173.09 Semi: Emidio Catalano '68 Camaro Toronto, Canada Semi: SUPER STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Dan Millen '02 Mustang Dearborn Heights, MI 7.35 195.68 R/U: Keith Szabo '93 Mustang Grainsville, GA 7.40 189.10 Semi: Nick Scavo '69 Camaro Oak Grove, IL Semi: Ed Grisez '93 Firebird Oberlin, OH HOT STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Rick Moroso '00 Corvette Guilford, CT 8.80 152.04 R/U: Rockin' Al Miller '85 Corvette Elk Grove Village, IL 9.88 110.57 Semi: Al Pritchett '84 Camaro Rockford, IL Semi: Ed Dobias '79 Camaro North Homestead, OH LIMITED STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Gary Rohe '80 Mustang Lawrenceberg, IN 8.26 165.46 R/U: Mike Libecap '90 Trans Am Connersville, IN 14.03 68.08 Semi: Cuy Richardson '86 Mustang Georgetown, KY Semi: Bill Trovato '78 Starfire Rochester, NY REAL STREET CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Jamie Stanton '00 Camaro Syracuse, NY 8.91 154.12 R/U: Bruce LaGory '69 Barracuda Lawrenceberg, IN 9.03 151.53 Semi: Patrick Topolinski '79 Malibu Houston, TX Semi: DRAG RADIAL ELIMINATOR CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH Win: Troy Pirez '70 Nova Seffner, FL 8.63 160.73 R/U: Chris Singleton '72 Nova Marengo, IL 8.82 159.02 Semi: Rob Wells '72 Nova "Frankenstein" Tampa, FL Semi: Dave Rudisell '84 Mustang Lawrenceberg, IN NOSTALGIA SUPER STOCK CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX Win: Gary Pund '62 Grand Prix Fairborn, OH 11.55 105.39 (11.50) R/U: Jack Nelson '65 Coronet Shelby Township, MI 11.57 115.69 (11.00) Semi: Joe Ewing '63 Polara Evansville, IN Semi: AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX Win: Bobby McNair '68 Mustang Seneca, SC 12.49 108.44 (12.50) R/U: Brad Crumley '71 Maverick Roan Mtn., TN (foul) 11.05 119.37 (11.00) Semi: Steve Jones '70 Formula Washington Courthouse, OH Semi: EFI CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH INDEX Win: Linda Massingill '98 Camaro Houston, TX 11.41 121.63 (11.00) R/U: John Lovett '86 Mustang Cleveland, MS 11.47 117.50 (11.50) Semi: Todd Merkel '85 Firebird St. James, NY Semi:
|
