Saturday Insanity event at Atlanta Dragway

(Commerce, GA – August 7) Saturday Insanity got a little more old school this week, but carried on smoothly thanks to the hard work of the Atlanta Drgway staff. Lightning struck the ticket booth some time last week, disabling the time slip printers. Several members of the staff worked together to copy down every run by hand for competitors and testers, reminding some veterans of how it was done in "the good ol' days." Tonight there were also several special attendees, including Pro Stock racers Warren and Kurt Johnson from nearby Sugar Hill and Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Steve Harker from Gainesville. A new racer, Steve Moore from North Carolina, made his first full Top Alcohol Dragster pass during his licensing runs, at 5.37 seconds and 249mph.

Stan Sinack ('69 Dart—Lilburn, GA) regained his points lead by making it to the 6.50 Index finals against T.J. Thomas ('71 Chevelle—Baldwin, GA). Sinack's red Dart left the line with a .055 reaction time, just before Thomas cut a .081 green light. It was anybody's race until the finish; though Thomas made a 6.52 second run at 108.23 mph, Sinack's reaction time made his 6.53 second run at 101.47 mph the winning package. "I ran T.J. first round," Sinack commented, "and then I had to beat him in the finals." Sinack thanked Ed Nalley and Jody Blalock, Jr. for helping him earlier in the day, when a header had to be bent back into position before the race began due to an unloading incident. He also thanked Bill Boomhower, saying "we missed him today." David Brand ('67 Camaro—Covington, GA) and Lloyd Shanks, Jr. ('92 Beretta—Pendergrass, GA) placed in the semi-finals.

Shane Williams ('99 Mustang—Knoxville, TN) lined up for his fourth final this season in the 7.50 Index category against Randall Roop ('66 Mustang—Canton, GA) of "Team Ford Thunder." Williams and Roop were quick to stage, revving up for that third amber bulb. Roop jumped at the last moment, cutting a heart breaking -.001 foul; Williams wasn't distracted by Roop's red light, leaving the line with a hard-to-beat .012 green light. Roop carried on for a 7.52 second run at 88.06 mph, while Williams finished his winning run on a high note with a 7.503 elapsed time at 91.14 mph. Williams thanked his girlfriend Holly Warren and her daughter Abby, as well as Tim Matherly of MV Performance for tuning his ride. "All the friends we've made down here is kinda cool," Williams said, "the track is great." Williams has now locked down the first position in the 2010 7.50 Index points, leaving racers to compete for second place. Mel Abney ('64 Chevy II—Cumming, GA) and David Beatenbo ('67 Camaro—Bowman, GA) were the 7.50 semi-finalists.

John Norris ('86 Camaro—Royston, GA) staged for the Open Comp finals against Steve Adams ('78 Malibu Wagon—Buford, GA). Norris, dialed in at 7.34, left first with an excellent .010 green light. Adams, with a 6.98 dial-in, was itching to catch up, but left the line a little slower with a .073 reaction. Adams never caught Norris, running over his dial with a 7.07 second run at 98.56 mph; Norris his second win for the season in 7.38 seconds at 92.53 mph. Norris thanked Wade Bryant Automotive and Jimmy and Kenneth Mason for fixing his Camaro after breaking in last weekend's Open Comp final. He also thanked Atlanta Dragway "for having a good track this week." Norris holds the top spot for the Open Comp points standing. Charlie McCulloch ('98 Mustang—Kennesaw, GA) placed third.

6.50 HEADS-UP                     CAR                            HOMETOWN              ET       MPH    INDEX

Win:     Stan Sinack                 '69 Dart                       Lilburn, GA                  6.53     101.47 (6.50)

R/U:     T.J. Thomas                '71 Chevelle                Baldwin, GA                6.52     108.23 (6.50)

Semi:   David Brand                '67 Camaro                 Covington, GA

Semi:   Lloyd Shanks, Jr.        '92 Beretta                   Pendergrass, GA

7.50 HEADS-UP                     CAR                            HOMETOWN              ET       MPH    INDEX

Win:     Shane Williams           '99 Mustang                 Knoxville, TN               7.50     91.14   (7.50)

R/U:     Randall Roop              '66 Mustang                 Canton, GA                 7.52     88.06   (7.50)(foul)

Semi:   Mel Abney                    '64 Chevy II                  Cumming, GA

Semi:   David Beatenbo          '647 Camaro               Bowman, GA

OPEN COMP                          CAR                            HOMETOWN              ET       MPH    DIAL-IN

Win:     John Norris                  '86 Camaro                 Royston, GA                7.38     92.53   (7.34)

R/U:     Steve Adams              '78 Malibu Wagon       Buford, GA                  7.07     98.56   (6.98)

Semi:   Charlie McCulloch       '98 Mustang                 Kennesaw, GA