(Commerce, GA – September 25) Racers lined up early for the first of two events today (several events were rained out earlier in the season, so Atlanta Dragway officials scheduled a second event to allow competitors to earn more championship points), ready to defend their points standings and end their season with a bang. Winners of the Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, and Motorcycle classes were given a chance to compete in the NHRA King of the Track event after the second race was finished. Points leaders didn't allow the standings to shift too much, maintaining the top ranks with fierce focus.
Doug Richardson (Ballground, GA) raced through the ranks to the Super Pro final in his '02 Dragster, against John Hobbs ('71 Vega—Conyers, GA), focused on defending his points lead. Richardson dialed in at 5.13, giving Hobbs the handicap tree with a 6.52 dial-in. Hobbs left the line with a .042 green light, before Richardson launched with an advantageous .008 light. Richardson caught up with Hobbs, and took out the points leader in 5.14 seconds at 126.42 mph; Hobbs crossed in 6.53 seconds at 105.86 mph. "The car was horrible," Richardson said, "but the good Lord—he was driving the car, not me—and my family made it good today." Richardson was "very thankful for everything." Mark Milford (Canon, GA) placed third in his '71 Vega.
Chad Brewer (Canton, GA), second in Pro points, took his yellow '67 Camaro to the Pro finals to face off with points leader Bruce Wilson (Tallapoosa, GA), in a blue '70 Nova. Brewer, dialed in at 7.27, left the line first with a .017 green light. Wilson, dialed in at 6.94, cut a .035 light, holding fast to the pedal to catch Brewer at the top end. Brewer broke out with a 7.26 run at 94.24 mph, but Wilson broke out worse in 6.92 seconds at 98.89, giving Brewer a .015 margin of victory. "It was luck," Brewer said, "we're good friends, so it's all good." Brewer thanked "the mayor of Hickory Flat" for the win. Pete Wagner (Jefferson, GA – '71 Demon) finished third.
The Sportsman class was overtaken by Scott Reynolds (Cartersville, GA), who lined up his '90 Firebird in the finals against Nick Wagner (Jefferson, GA) in an '04 SRT-4. Wagner, dialed in at 8.25, waited for Reynolds, dialed at 9.03, to leave the line first with a .064 light. Wagner followed with an .054 light, but couldn't catch Reynolds at the top end. Reynolds crossed the win stripe first in 9.04 seconds at 74.73 mph, before Wagner finished in 8.29 seconds at 83.37 mph, giving Reynolds a .018 margin of victory. Reynolds "had a great time today," but kept focused on competing in the night's second event. Points leader Mel Abney ('68 Camaro—Cumming, GA) was the Sportsman semi-finalist.
Jimmy "Cha Cha" Heisler ('00 Kawasaki—Woodstock, GA) entered his fourth Motorcycle final in a row, having won across the East Coast on previous weekends. Heisler, with a 6.77 prediction, lined up against Steve Winn ('92 Suzuki—Athens, GA), who dialed in at 6.35 seconds. Heisler cut a .083 light while Winn followed with a .111 green light; Heisler kept ahead until the finish, gaining a .066 margin of victory in 6.79 seconds at 99.14 mph before Winn crossed in 6.41 seconds at 106.65 mph. Heisler and his wife Eeman thanked Jeff Sutton, Motul, Vanson Leathers, and Mattei Cycle Supply for their successes. Heisler said, "the luck's just been swinging my way." Paul Lee ('00 Hayabusa—Mt. Airy, GA) finished in the Motorcycle semi-finals.
Shelby Nelson (12—Fort Payne, AL) lined up against points leader Madison Lee (12—Campobello, SC) for the 8-12 Junior Dragster final. Nelson predicted an 8.97 run against Lee's 8.90 dial-in, and left the line with a .140 green light; an energized Lee jumped the tree and made a -.010 foul, giving Nelson the win. Nelson held it down for an 8.95 second run at 71.92 mph, while Lee finished in 8.92 seconds at 73.24 mph. Tied in first for points, Austin Carden (11—McDonough, GA) went out in the semi-finals, along with Wesley Syme (10—Atlanta, GA). Lee (dialed in at 8.90) and Carden (predicting an 8.94 elapsed time) ran off for the championship title—Carden won the tree with a .035 reaction that outdid Lee's .105 green light. Lee ran closer to the dial in 8.94 seconds at 72.90 mph, but her slow reaction made Carden's 9.04 second run at 70.70 mph the winning package; Carden grasped the championship with a slim .006 margin of victory.
Cole Sheriff (14—Lula, GA) ran next to Taylor Ramsey (17—Commerce, GA) in the 13-17 Junior Dragster final. Ramsey predicted 7.90 run while Sheriff dialed closely with a 7.93 prediction. Sheriff kicked off the final with a .057 green light, as Ramsey cut it short with a -.029 red light. Sheriff basked in his win lights for 7.86 seconds at 82.76 mph, while Ramsey finished in 7.82 seconds at 83.26 mph. 2010 was Sheriff's first season, and he capped it off with his first win ever: "I thank my parents and the Lord." Sheriff, whose racing career was started by his parents coming to watch the Year One Friday night action at Atlanta Dragway, finished sixth in points. Kelsey Lynn (16—Marietta, GA) finished in the semi-final round.
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Doug Richardson '02 Dragster Ballground, GA 5.14 126.42 (5.13)
R/U: John Hobbs '71 Vega Conyers, GA 6.53 105.86 (6.52)
Semi: Mark Milford '71 Vega Canon, GA
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Chad Brewer '67 Camaro Canton, GA 7.26 94.24 (7.27)
R/U: Bruce Wilson '70 Nova Tallapoosa, GA 6.92 98.89 (6.94)
Semi: Pete Wagner '71 Demon Jefferson, GA
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Scott Reynolds '90 Firebird Cartersville, GA 9.04 74.73 (9.03)
R/U: Nick Wagner '04 SRT-4 Jefferson, GA 8.29 83.37 (8.25)
Semi: Mel Abney '68 Camaro Cumming, GA
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jimmy Heisler '00 Kawasaki Woodstock, GA 6.79 99.14 (6.77)
R/U: Steve Winn '92 Suzuki Athens, GA 6.41 106.65 (6.35)
Semi: Paul Lee '00 Hayabusa Mt. Airy, GA
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Shelby Nelson 12 Fort Payne, AL 8.95 71.92 (8.97)
R/U: Madison Lee 12 Campobello, SC 8.92 73.24 (8.90)(foul)
Semi: Austin Carden 11 McDonough, GA
Semi: Wesley Syme 10 Atlanta, GA
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Cole Sheriff 14 Lula, GA 7.86 82.76 (7.93)
R/U: Taylor Ramsey 17 Commerce, GA 7.82 83.26 (7.90)(foul)
Semi: Kelsey Lynn 16 Marietta, GA
