(Commerce, GA – May 29) Weather reports predicted thunderstorms all weekend long, but that didn't stop racers from coming out for the first Summit ET event since March. The sky held out until the race was finished, allowing for a shift in points. However, the hot and humid weather played havoc with the runs, creating a challenging atmosphere for competitors.
Jesse Young (Danielsville, GA) advanced to the Super Pro finals in his '00 Undercover dragster, against John Hobbs ('71 Vega—Conyers, GA), semi-finalist at the last Summit ET event. Young was dialed at 4.76, and poised to wait for Hobbs' Vega, dialed in at 6.54. Hobbs left the line with a .044 reaction time, outdone by Young's launch with a .021 green light. Hobbs ran .02 seconds over with a 6.56 elapsed time at 104.60 mph; Young got the better package with a 4.77 run at 138.86 mph, taking the win with a .02 margin of victory. Young claimed consistency was key, his dragster pulling the same ET every run. "This one's for my daddy," Young attributed the win to father David, whose birthday was yesterday, and thanked his crew chief/son Lukas and wife Corie. Young also gave thanks to James D. Young Contracting. Sixteen year old former Junior Dragster competitor Brittany Vancica ('02 Worthy dragster—Lawrenceville, GA) made it to the semi-finals in her first ever Super Pro race.
Bruce Wilson (Tallapoosa, GA) took his blue '70 Nova to the Pro finals again, against Tim Prince (Middleton, GA) in a '69 Chevelle. Wilson cut the better light with a .016 reaction against Prince, who left the line with a .044 green. Prince ran 7.11 on his 7.09 dial-in at 95.44 mph, but Wilson's start made his 6.86 second run, on a 6.83 dial-in at 94.93 mph, a victorious one. With this second consecutive win under his belt, Wilson has claimed a solid number one spot in Pro points: "The car was good, it was dead-on all day." Wilson said, crediting the win as a big plus for his father's birthday. Wilson thanked his dad Jesse and mom Sue, his wife Cassie and kids Malone and Cole, and the rest of the team that helped out. Woody Bryant (Bowman, GA) made it to the semi-finals in his '82 Camaro.
Rickey Morris ('91 Mustang—Ellenwood, GA) came to the Sportsman finals seeking revenge against Mel Abney ('67 Camaro—Cumming, GA), who beat Morris's son Mickey Morris in the semi-final round. Abney, dialed in at 13.18, cut the better light with a .051 reaction; Morris (dialed at 14.87) lost ground with a .072 green. Abney couldn't catch Morris at the top end, running a 13.27 elapsed time at 106 mph, after Morris took the win running dead-on at 90.44 mph. "My car wasn't very consistent, but you get lucky every once in a while," Morris said modestly. "I'm just glad to be here racing together with my son." He then thanked friend Jason Camp, currently on leave from the Army, for helping. Mickey Morris (Ellenwood, GA) placed third in his '98 Trans Am.
Howard Bowman (Homer, GA) cruised to the Motorcycle finals on his '02 Harley, next to Brian Wilson (Tallapoosa, GA) on an '82 Suzuki. Bowman got the handicap tree due to his 15.10 dial-in against Wilson's 8.80 second prediction. Bowman cut a .019 light, and the wait may have been too much for Wilson, who launched a bit early with a -.002 red light, automatically handing the win to Bowman. Bowman finished his victory lap in 15.32 seconds at 85.74 mph, while Wilson ran it out in 8.82 seconds at 146.26 mph. Bowman enthusiastically called his split winnings "beer money for Memorial Day!" He thanked his wife Kathy for all his long nights in the garage, and thanked his sons Brett and Chad for all their help, with an extra congratulations to Brett for graduating high school yesterday. Scott Reynolds ('98 Buell S1—Cartersville, GA) and Tim Sutton ('83 Suzuki—Clermont,GA) were the Motorcycle semi-finalists.
The 8-12 Junior Dragster finals featured Maddie Lee (12—Campobello, SC) against Wesley Syme (10—Atlanta, GA); Syme was dialed in at 9.10, Lee closely following with an 8.98 dial-in. Syme left the line too early, setting off the red bulb with a -.012 foul. Lee cut a .038 reaction time, and crossed the finish line in 8.89 seconds at 73.01 mph, as Syme held out with a 9.11 second run at 69.95 mph. This is Lee's second consecutive Summit ET win, giving her the top position in the 8-12 Junior Dragster points. "Every race I have two angels, Carlyn and Chelsey, with me," Lee said, and gave special thanks to "Papa Kenny." Lee is on a mission, having made it to Junior Dragster finals eight times this year. Mackenzie Butler (11—Jackson, GA) finished third.
Wesley Mayfield (13—Gainesville, GA) has moved up to the 13-17 Junior Dragster category, and ran his first 13-17 Summit ET final against 2009 13-17 Junior Dragster champion Bailey Denton (16—McDonough,GA), who dialed in at 7.92. Denton lost the tree with a .156 green, far behind Mayfield's .026 launch. Denton chased Mayfield hard, finishing in 7.93 seconds at 82.30, but Mayfield's killer reaction time flashed the win light with his 7.95 run at 78.31 mph. Mayfield joked that while his sister Leighann is learning the ropes in Super Pro, he's showing her how to win in the older junior class. Mayfield thanked his dad, Whaley Motorsports, and the Lord for his success. Blake Griffith (16—Homer, GA) and Chris Bowden (13—Homer, GA) finished their day in the semi-finals.
RACE DATE: May 29, 2009
FROM: Amy Glover
EVENT: Summit ET event at Atlanta Dragway in 2010
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jesse Young '00 Undercover Danielsville, GA 4.77 138.86 (4.76)
R/U: John Hobbs '71 Vega Conyers, GA 6.56 104.60 (6.54)
Semi: Brittany Vancica '02 Worthy dragster Lawrenceville, GA
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Bruce Wilson '71 Nova Tallapoosa, GA 6.86 94.93 (6.83)
R/U: Tim Prince '69 Chevelle Middleton,Ga 7.11 95.44 (7.09)
Semi: Woody Bryant '82 Camaro Bowman, GA
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Rickey Morris '91 Mustang Ellenwood, GA 14.87 90.44 (14.87)
R/U: Mel Abney '67 Camaro Cumming, GA 13.27 106.00 (13.18)
Semi: Mickey Morris '98 Trans Am Ellenwood, GA
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Howard Bowman '02 Harley Homer, GA 15.32 85.74 (15.10)
R/U: Brian Wilson '82 Suzuki Tallapoosa, GA 8.82 146.26 (8.80)(foul)
Semi: Scott Reynolds '98 Buell S1 Cartersville, GA
Semi: Tim Sutton '83 Suzuki Clermont, GA
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Madison Lee 12 Campobello, SC 8.99 73.01 (8.98)
R/U: Wesley Syme 10 Atlanta, GA 9.11 69.95 (9.10)(foul)
Semi: Mackenzie Butler 11 Jackson, GA
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Wesley Mayfield 13 Gainesville, GA 7.95 78.31 (7.90)
R/U: Bailey Denton 16 McDonough, GA 7.93 82.30 (7.92)
Semi: Blake Griffith 16 Homer, GA
Semi: Chris Bowden 13 Homer, GA
