(Commerce, GA – March 19) Just like 2010, inclement weather stopped the first scheduled points race of Atlanta Dragway's 2011 season, but racers were met with near perfect conditions this time around. The 80 percent chance of sunshine held true, with only a few lightning flashes late in the event to worry anyone. New racer Nate "Hot Rod" Halsey, who is eight years old, enjoyed his first ever win in 8-12 Jr Dragster. Trey and Mackenzie Butler enjoyed being the first brother and sister to qualify number one in their respective Jr Dragster classes, Trey in 8-9 year old, and Mackenzie in 10-12 year old.
As he did in the first 2010 Summit ET event, Ricky Page made it to the Super Pro finals with his Monroe, GA based '90 Mustang. Unlike 2010, however, he missed the win light this time by .009 seconds, posting a breakout 7.971 at 86.92mph (7.98 dial) against another veteran, Donny Brown, Jr. from Buford, GA. Brown nailed his 4.78 dial with a 4.786 at 142.00mph in an '03 Spitzer dragster to take the win. The semi-final finishers were Brad Howard ('02 Miller dragster – Gainesville, GA) and P.J. Raines ('98 Undercover dragster – Monroe, GA). For many years, Brown has raced against his dad, Don Brown Sr, but for this event Sr chose to be the crew chief for Jr, and the combination worked well. Jr gave a big thank you to his dad for helping, noting it was also his first race with a four link suspension, and then added, "So far it's been a good decision. Maybe this will keep him coming with me."
Jody Blalock, Jr of Jefferson, GA races a really fast and unique '47 Hudson, and succeeded in turning on the final round win light in Pro class against Team Ford Thunder racer Randall Roop from Canton, GA. Blalock's small reaction time advantage helped him take the win in spite of a breakout pass of 6.264 at 109.47mph (6.27 dial). Roop actually took the finish line first, but broke out more in his '95 Mustang GT, which carded a 6.457 at 105.87mph (6.51 dial). Kim Ellington ('81 Camaro – Conyers, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Blalock noted this was the first time he had run the car on E85 fuel. Besides being an economic choice, he said the car also went one tenth of second quicker than it used to. He finished with a smile, saying, "The car did much better than the driver".
Scott Reynolds won the last two Sportsman class events at Atlanta Dragway in 2010, and kept the pace up, winning Sportsman with his Cartersville, GA based '90 Firebird. Former High School champion Alan Long of Ballground, GA finished third at the last 2010 Sportsman event, and advanced to second place in tonight's action. Reynolds took advantage of Long's off pace 17.60 at 68.63mph pass (17.51 dial) to run 14.12 at 96.56mph (14.05 dial). Allen Schaffer ('83 Thunderbird – Austell, GA) was the third place finisher. Reynolds humbly added, "I got them when I needed them (lucky passes where he was at a disadvantage)".
Clermont, GA Motorcycle racer Tim Sutton is no strange to the winner's circle. This time, Sutton slowed his '83 Suzuki to a 9.111 at 120.41mph (8.89 target) for the win against another top racer, Brian Wilson from Tallapoosa, GA. Wilson's '82 Suzuki was even more off pace, crossing the finish line with a 9.308 at 140.58mph (8.85 dial). "Phew!", said Sutton when it was over. "I changed a lot of stuff over the winter to get ready for the 2011 season." He thanked his wife Jennifer, and also thanked Paw Paw. Jimmy "Cha Cha" Heisler rode his wife Eeman's '00 Kawasaki Ninja for the first time in three years, and made it to the semi-final round, along with Jay Rhyne ('81 Kawasaki – Athens, GA).
Another Clermont racer, eight year old Nate "Hot Rod" Halsey, added his name to the Atlanta Dragway 8-12 Junior Dragster winner's list with a slightly quick 12.950 pass at 49.91mph (12.96 goal) against Austin Solesbee (12 – Sautee, GA). Solesbee broke out trying to catch Halsey and lost with an 8.878 at 72.41mph on an 8.90 dial. Mackenzie Butler (12 – Jackson, GA) earned a semi-finalist finish. Although Halsey is new to the scene, the same cannot be said for his race car. Bill Gillen of Young Guns Motorsports built the car originally, and it has carried Matt Gillen and Wesley Mayfield to numerous championships. Nate, who has only run three other races prior to today, thanked God first, and then thanked Bill Gillen and Jim Mayfield for their help.
Fourteen year old Wesley Mayfield of Gainesville, GA received a new Junior Specialties engine over the winter break, and promptly took it to the 13-17 Jr Dragster winner's circle with a breakout 7.846 at 82.53mph (7.92 dial) courtesy of a red-lighting Ricky Hebert. Hebert turned on the dreaded cherry colored bulb with a -.034 second reaction time, and then turned in a 7.874 at 84.50mph (7.92 dial) pass. Alex Krause (13 – Peachtree City, GA) was the single semi-finalist. Mayfield thanked the good Lord first, and then thanked Steve Waller of Junior Specialties and dad Jim Mayfield.
SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Don Brown Jr '03 Spitzer Buford, GA 4.78 142.00 (4.78)
R/U: Ricky Page '90 Mustang Monroe, GA 7.97 86.92 (7.98)
Semi: Brad Howard '02 Miller Gainesville, GA
Semi: P.J. Raines '98 Undercover Monroe, GA
PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Jody Blalock Jr '47 Hudson Jefferson, GA 6.26 109.47 (6.27)
R/U: Randall Roop '95 Mustang GT Canton, GA 6.45 105.87 (6.51)
Semi: Kim Ellington '81 Camaro Conyers, GA
SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Scott Reynolds '90 Firebird Cartersville, GA 14.12 96.56 (14.05)
R/U: Alan Long '96 Silverado Ballground, GA 17.60 68.63 (17.51)
Semi: Allen Schaffer '83 Thunderbird Austell, GA
MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Tim Sutton '83 Suzuki Clermont, GA 9.11 120.41 (8.89)
R/U: Brian Wilson '82 Suzuki Tallapoosa, GA 9.30 140.58 (8.85)
Semi: Jimmy Heisler '00 Ninja Woodstock, GA
Semi: Jay Rhyne '81 Kawasaki Athens, GA
8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Nate "Hot Rod" Halsey 8 Clermont, GA 12.95 49.91 (12.96)
R/U: Austin Solesbee 12 Sautee, GA 8.87 72.41 (8.90)
Semi: Mackenzie Butler 12 Jackson, GA
13-17 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN
Win: Wesley Mayfield 14 Gainesville, GA 7.84 82.53 (7.90)
R/U: Ricky Hebert 17 Evans, GA (foul) 7.87 84.50 (7.90)
Semi: Alex Krause 12 Peachtree City, GA
