BOWDEN BROTHERS IN FINAL ROUNDS, BREWER DOUBLES UP IN PRO AND OPEN COMP
(Commerce, GA – April 7) Perfect conditions were the rule of the day on this Easter weekend Summit ET Series event. Brothers Austin Bowden (8-12 Jr Dragster) and Chris Bowden (13-17 Jr Dragster) enjoyed making it to the final round in their classes, with Austin taking a victory trophy home. Chad Brewer had a busy day fielding his '73 Nova in two classes, Pro and Open Comp, but made the work worthwhile with the victory in each class. Racers also had the added attraction of watching NHRA Pro Stock racer and former champion Warren Johnson making six second test passes.
Covington, GA racer David Brand enjoyed the 6.50 Index win with his '67 Camaro against Bobby McNair of West Union, SC. Brand parlayed a better reaction time and a 6.52 at 107.56mph to take the win light. McNair's '82 Mustang actually crossed the finish line stripe 0.015 seconds in front of Brand, but broke out with a 6.47 at 101.88mph trying to beat Brand. Defending champion Stan Sinack ('69 Dart – Lilburn, GA) ended his day in the semi-final round.
John Norris, a multi-time Index champ from Royston, GA chose to drive Kenneth Mason's '80 Malibu in 7.00 Index, a good move for both men. For this event, Norris faced Travis Burel's immaculate '87 Monte Carlo SS, and took the win stripe a mere 0.015 seconds in front of Burel. Norris' time was 7.01 at 94.51mph and Burel carded a 7.03 at 96.75 mph. Gerry Williams, who finished runner up in the first event of the season, made it all the way to the semi-final round during tonight's action in his Snellville, GA based '73 Challenger. Norris was too busy today for comment, but probably thanked Kenneth Mason for letting him use the car.
Chad Brewer of Canton, GA is no stranger to the winner's circle, and began his day well with a victory in Open Comp Full Body. Brewer was ready in the final, but Jeff Wagner made it a bit easier by turning on the dreaded red light with a barely red -0.007 second react. Brewer's '73 Nova turned in a good 7.19 at 94.19mph (7.18 dial), and Wagner's Braselton, GA based '71 Duster went 8.17 at 85.87mph on an 8.13 target. Former Open Comp champ Charlie McCulloch ended his day in the semi-final round.
Jesse Young of Danielsville, GA jumped from a semi-final finish last week to the Super Pro winner's circle tonight. Young's '00 Undercover dragster actually had an ailing carburetor beginning in round two, but he quickly adapted to it by dialing the car slower and racing the finish line. Young faced off against long time racer Doug Richardson from Ballground, GA, and while both drivers turned in .01 over elapsed times, a slight reaction time advantage gave Young the final round win. Richardson's '02 Miller dragster went 5.06 at 136.02mph, and Young's mount posted a 4.82 at 135.06mph. Thomas Bell ('11 Undercover dragster – Toccoa, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. "It was pure luck. I just dialed up and raced the finish line. I want to thank James D. Young contracting, my dad, wife Corie, son Lukas and Wilkerson racing for their help," added Young.
Chad Brewer enjoyed his second win of the day, this time in the Pro category. Brewer's opponent, Woody Bryant from Bowman, GA, was also trying very hard for perfection in the final, but he tried just a little too hard, resulting in a -0.003 second red light in his '82 Camaro, handing the victory to Brewer. However, Brewer would have been very difficult to beat, as he posted a 0.013 second react, and knowing he had the win in hand, legged his '73 Nova on out through the finish line with a 7.178 at 94.99mph (7.18 dial). Chris Moat ('74 Nova – Commerce, GA) earned the semi-finalist portion of the purse. "Whooo! It's definitely been a long day. This doesn't happen very often. I want to thank the mayor of Hickory Flat for all his help," Brewer commented after the event.
The Motorcycle final was also determined by a red-light. This time the beneficiary was Jay Rhyne ('82 Suzuki – Athens, GA). Rhyne's run was still very close, with a 9.36 at 140.01mph on a 9.34 dial. Mark Welch's red-lighting '05 Suzuki went just a little too quick on the top end also, with a 9.84 at 141.05mph (9.90 dial). For the second week running, Michael Tlapa ('01 Hayabusa – Loganville, GA) made it to the semi-final round. The other semi-finalist was David Fletcher ('84 Kawasaki – Lawrenceville, GA). Rhyne thanked Jennifer and Tim Sutton for all their help, as Jennifer ended up pushing Rhyne's machine to the starting line each time, which helped save a considerable amount of fuel.
Harold Wilson earned the Sportsman win with his Winder, GA based '74 Nova against Howard Warren, who was undefeated in 2012 Sportsman action up to that point. "He's definitely good," said Wilson about Warren. Wilson put that out of his mind in the final, setting his sights on the win light, and used a better reaction time to take the win stripe with a 13.16 at 101.59mph (13.15 dial). Warren's Douglasville, GA based '72 Maverick also ran 0.01 over, with a 12.01 at 109.60mph, but trailed Wilson at the finish line. Josh Richardson ('90 Mustang – Stockbridge, GA) was the semi-final finisher. "I want to thank God for blessing me and everyone at Atlanta Dragway. I also want to wish everyone a happy Easter," added Wilson.
Proud father Bobby Bowden enjoyed watching both of his sons make it to the final round in their respective classes.
First up was ten year old Austin Bowden who enjoyed his first ever race win in the 8-12 Jr Dragster class. The Homer, GA racer actually broke out slightly with an 8.975 at 72.94mph (8.98 dial), but the race was already over when 12 year old Charlie Smith from McDonough, GA left the starting line too early with a red-light. Smith also broke out, posting an 8.971 at 74.31mph (8.98 dial). Last week's winner, Trey Butler (10 – Jackson,GA) and Malone Wilson (12 – Tallapoosa, GA) earned the semi-finalist trophy for their day's work. Bowden's dad said the former 12.90 champ Austin was still getting used to his faster 8.90 car, but Austin quickly corrected him, saying, "I'm used to it now. Also, my brother made it to the final."
Zach Hebert (17 – Evans, GA) ended up winning the 13-17 Jr Dragster trophy, courtesy of a dead-on 7.900 at 79.50mph pass (7.90 dial). Hebert's opponent was 15 year old Chris Bowden of Homer, GA, who had just watched his brother win the 8-12 class. Bowden's car turned in an off-pace 8.14 at 80.14mph (7.99 dial). Brittney Hellemn (16 – Buford, GA) took home the semi-finalist trophy. Hebert, celebrating his first 2012 win, thanked his family, friends and girlfriend Trisha Goff, who helped him prepare for each round.
