(Commerce, GA – June 25) The largest fireworks show in North Georgia, four Jet Cars, a wheelstander and lots of really fast cars made the 2011 edition of Atlanta Dragway's Night of Fire a hit with the fans. Thousands of spectators enjoyed the show, which included six different classes of Summit ET racing and a manufacturer's midway capped off with a play area for the younger fans.
The four jet cars included the Cannonball Express driven by K.C. Jones, Chattanooga Choo Choo (Paul Kelley), Police Interceptor (Mike "Hojo" Hojnacki) and the Miller Welding car (Elaine Larsen). All thrilled the audience with smoke and flame shows and then proved they were the fastest machines on the grounds with passes ranging from 235 to 275mph in two sessions. Longtime wheelstander Richard Hutchins put on a great show with his Chevy Rebellion, tripping the finish line timers with his rear wheels at over 130mph. Keith Szabo and Ronnie Davis showed off their revised hot rods, along with some blistering passes by the Vancica family in their Advanced ET supercharged alcohol burning dragsters.
Flowery Branch, GA racer Brian Smith enjoyed his third Super Pro win with his Blanton Collision Center '07 Undercover dragster against Hank Wilhelm of Commerce, GA. Unfortunately for Wilhelm, his '96 Ed Quay dragster turned on the dreaded tomato colored bulb at the starting line by leaving 0.008 seconds before the timers started. Choosing to preserve his equipment, Wilhelm coasted to a 14.05 at 27.34mph (5.18 dial-in time). Smith would have been very difficult to beat anyway, with a 0.003 second reaction time and a very close 5.234 second at 129.50mph pass (5.24 dial). Thomas Bell ('11 Undercover – Toccoa, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. Smith mentioned he had a bad second round, but the rest of the day went well. He thanked Stacy Blanton, Blanton Collision Center, Jefferson Quick Lube, and Robert Frizell.
Pro racer Matt Ward of Fair Play, SC has won at several other tracks, and earned his second Atlanta Dragway win against former Pro track champion Chad Brewer. This was a driver's race, as both of their cars were running very close to their predicted numbers all day. Ward carded what turned out to be the winning reaction time of 0.017 seconds in his '69 Camaro, and crossed the big end stripe with a 6.49 at 98.03mph pass (6.47 target). Brewer's '73 Nova ran a little closer to the number with a 7.234 at 93.73mph (7.22 dial), but his otherwise very good reaction time of 0.040 seconds was only good enough for a runner up finish. For the second Summit ET Series event in a row, Lee Marsengill ('74 Vega – Turnerville, GA) went home with the semi-finalist portion of the purse. Ward was relieved, mentioning he had brake and shifter problems through first round, but then everything settled down. Ward added, "First, thank God for keeping everyone safe today". He then thanked father-in-law Wayne Allen for building a great engine.
"I finally beat Jay Rhyne and Tim Sutton on the same day", exclaimed the happy Motorcycle winner Jimmy "Cha Cha" Heisler from Woodstock, GA. Heisler met Tim Sutton's Clermont, GA based '89 Suzuki in the final, and while both racer's machines were on their game, Heisler's '80 Kawasaki took the win stripe with a 0.01 second over 10.70 at 125.02mph. Sutton's ride finished second with a very close 0.02 over 9.08 at 141.49mph. The semi-final finisher was Brian Wilson ('82 Suzuki – Tallapoosa, GA). Heisler, who finished runner up to Jay Rhyne during the 2010 Night of Fire, said he and his wife Eeman were enjoying the win celebration with their friends so much that they almost forgot to come to the control tower to collect their winnings. Jimmy and Eeman, who recently celebrated their seventh anniversary, both made it to the quarterfinal round, and were hoping to run against each other in the final. Heisler thanked Jeff Sutton, Brad Mattei, Motul oil, Vanson Leathers, his adorable beautiful wife and then Paul Lee because he said so.
Sportsman winner Harold Wilson of Winder, GA topped off an already good day with a win against J.D. "Doc" Burford in the final round, which also moved him into second place in the points. Wilson's '74 Nova had been running mid 13.20s all day, and stayed true to form in the final with a breakout 13.23 at 99.62mph (13.26 dial). Burford's Greenville, SC based '07 Corvette was near perfect, crossing the finish line with a dead-on 13.08 second pass at 111.80mph. Unfortunately (for Burford), his starting line reaction time was slightly too quick, resulting in a red-light start. Terry Turpin ('11 Mustang – Maysville, GA) and Chris Moat ('74 Nova – Commerce, GA) ended their day in the semi-final round. "I want to thank God, and then my son Matthew," added Wilson. He then wished J.D. Burford's wife a happy birthday. Burford added, "It's been a good day for the Burford family. My wife Peggy Sue's birthday is tomorrow, and part of her present is going to be a card with this check (runner up portion of the purse) in the middle." He also mentioned that his daughter Lucie's birthday was the day before.
8-12 Jr Dragster winner Austin Carden (12 – McDonough, GA) is the defending 8-12 champion, and enjoyed his second win in a month, this time against new racer Jackson Earwood (8 – Cleveland, GA). Because he had a better reaction time, Carden slowed his car a bit to an 8.97 at 70.15mph (8.90 dial). Earwood's car broke out just a little bit with a 12.97 at 50.34mph (12.99 dial). "Good time" Charlie Smith (12 – McDonough, GA) ended the day in the semi-final round. Carden's win moved him up to third place in the Atlanta points, and he mentioned he is also currently in first place points at Silver Dollar Raceway. He added that he was a little nervous running in front of so many people, but was thrilled to win the Night of Fire.
13-17 Jr Dragster winner Paul Charette from Evans, GA had the pleasure of meeting his 17 year old step brother Ricky Hebert in the final round. Although the 16 year old Charette wouldn't have minded if Hebert won, his 0.037 reaction time coupled with a great 0.01 over 8.09 allowed him to take the win stripe 0.023 seconds before Hebert did. Hebert's mount barely broke out with an 8.009 at 82.15mph (8.01 dial) trying to catch his brother. Former champs Blake Griffith (17 – Homer, GA) and Bailey Denton (17 – McDonough, GA) earned the Night of Fire semi-finalist trophy for their efforts. "I'm glad that I won, but it's bittersweet because this is Ricky's last year in Jr Dragsters," added Charette.
