NEW FACES IN FINAL ROUNDS, REPEAT WINNERS AT ATLANTA DRAGWAY
(Commerce, GA - May 19) There were new faces in four final rounds today at Atlanta Dragway (Scott Griffith-Super Pro, Sedrick Wiggins-Sportsman, Michael Tlapa and Guillermo Roman-Motorcycle and Wallace Wilson-8-12 Jr Dragster), although not all of them took the victory. Tim Polnaszek (Pro), Howard Warren (Sportsman) and Cole Sheriff (13-17 Jr Dragster) all scored wins at the previous Summit ET series event, and continued that streak today. John Norris won the 7.00 Index class at the previous No-Box event, and trumped that feat today with a double win in 7.00 Index and Open Comp Full Body. The only thunder heard today was that of Team Ford Thunder. The Pro and Sportsman finals were all Ford, and there was also a Ford in the 6.50 Index final, along with Fords in the Super Pro and Sportsman semi-final rounds.
Defending champion Stan Sinack ('69 Dart - Lilburn, GA) enjoyed another 6.50 Index win, this time against Bobby McNair from West Union, SC. Sinack used a better react and a 6.51 at 99.93mph to take the win stripe, followed closely by McNair, who slowed a bit to 6.54 at 109.43mph. Walt Mesik ('77 Vega - Madison, GA) ended his day in the semi-final round. Sinack dedicated his win to his former neighbor Michael Slaton, who recently passed away at the age of 24. He then thanked Ed Nalley and Bill Boomhower for their help.
John Norris, the multi-time Index champ from Royston, GA drove Kenneth Mason's '80 Malibu in 7.00 Index again, and for the second event in a row, also brought home the winner's check. Norris faced long time racer Gerry Williams' '73 Challenger in the final. Williams actually crossed the top end stripe first, but broke out with a heart-breaking 6.991 at 88.90mph. Norris slowed to a 7.04 at 98.53mph. Ed Nalley ('71 Z-28 - Carnesville, GA) ended his day in the semi-final round. Norris thanked Wade Bryant Automotive, Tri-County Chevrolet and Kenneth Mason for their help with his win.
Not to be outdone, John Norris then took the Open Comp Full Body class win with his trusty blue '86 Camaro. Norris faced off against good friend Woody Bryant, and just like the Index class, received the win from causing his opponent to break out. Bryant's '82 Camaro went just a little too quick, with a 7.35 at 94.37mph (7.37 target). Norris, who had a 0.008 second reaction time advantage over Bryant, crossed the win stripe 0.023 seconds later with a great 0.01 second over 7.39 at 92.33mph (7.38 target). Harold Wilson ('74 Nova - Winder, GA) and Keith Tullar - 79 Camaro) were the semi-final finishers. After the event, Woody Bryant said, "I was looking right at him (near the finish line) and thought 'this one is going to be close'."
Another Wilhelm family member graced the winner's circle today. (Wilhelm's sister Katie won Jr Dragster at the previous event.) Former Jr Dragster competitor Hank Wilhelm from Commerce, GA went to the top of the class in Super Pro with his '96 Ed Quay dragster. His opponent this time was Racers For Christ pastor Scott Griffith, driving his newly completed '10 M&M dragster. Griffith had been getting great reaction times all day, including a perfect 0.000 second react during the second round, and delivered again for the final with a 0.018 reaction time. However, Wilhelm was also doing well, and reacted first with a 0.003 second time. He combined this with a good 0.02 over 5.220 at 131.08mph to cross the win stripe 0.012 seconds ahead of Griffith's Homer, GA based dragster, which posted a 5.026 at 137.26mph (5.01 dial). Wilhelm and Griffith got together before the final and agreed to donate $100 of the winnings to Maysville Baptist Church, and then split the rest of the purse evenly. Griffith, who has never been to a final round at Atlanta, said the last time he was in a final was over ten years ago at Paradise. After that he parked his race car, and coached his sons for many years in the Jr Dragster program until they aged out. Doug Richardson ('02 Miller dragster-Ballground, GA) runner upped earlier in the season and finished in the semi-final round today, along with Lane Parham ('88 Mustang - Seneca, SC).
For the second time in a row, Tim Polnaszek from Nicholson, GA took the Pro class win. This time, however, Polnaszek was back in his own car, an '84 Mustang. (The brakes were not working at the previous event, so Jeff Voyles helped by letting him drive his '69 Camaro.) Polnaszek was on a mission, posting a near-perfect 6.741 at 101.61mph (6.74 dial) for the win, coupled with a great 0.027 react. However, the race was handed to him shortly after he left the starting line when Ryan Johnson lit up the dreaded cherry colored bulb with a slightly too quick -0.004 second red light. Johnson's Pendergrass, GA based '82 Mustang then spun the tires down track, after which he slowed to a 6.31 at 92.43mph (6.09 dial). Matt Ward ('69 Camaro - Fair Play, SC) and Paul Smith, Jr ('98 Corvette - Alpharetta, GA) earned the semi-finalist portion of the purse. Polnaszek expressed his thanks to Mitchell Pressley for helping him during the event. Johnson kidded with Polnaszek afterward, stating, "I'll be on the other side of the red-light next time."
The Motorcycle final featured a first time winner, Michael Tlapa from Loganville, GA. Tlapa placed his Livingood Motorsports tuned '01 Hayabusa in the winner's circle courtesy of a better react and a 9.70 at 131.23mph (9.62 dial). His opponent, Guillermo Roman of Cartersville, GA crossed the stripe next with a 9.69 at 143.47mph (9.59 dial) on an '08 Honda CBR. Jay Rhyne ('82 Suzuki - Athens, GA) was the semi-final finisher. Tlapa thanked his brother Paul Cavanaugh for all his help with the bike and for talking him into racing. He also thanked his wife Ciji for letting him come up to race.
Marathon man Howard Warren has been in every 2012 Sportsman final round. He took the Sportsman victory for the second time in a row, and for the third time in 2012 with his '72 Maverick, this time against first time racer Sedrick Wiggins' Carrollton, GA based '98 Mustang. Track personnel and racers alike helped out Wiggins with advice and tips during the event, and Wiggins showed he was a fast learner by making it to the final. Wiggins' machine fell off pace to a 13.01 at 103.79mph (12.90 dial), while Warren's ride posted a 12.04 at 105.94mph (12.00 dial). For the second event in a row, Josh Richardson ('89 Mustang - Stockbridge, GA) made it to the semi-final round. "I'm just on a lucky streak. I'll go with it as long as it lasts," added Warren.
8-12 Jr Dragster class featured a first time winner, eight year old Wallace Wilson from Taylor, SC. Wilson's dad, who also races in Super Pro, helped him out through the event, along with his mom Tammy and sister Lauren. For the final, Wilson met Jacob Wilson (no relation) of the "Wilson Gang". Wallace survived the double-breakout final with a 12.92 at 49.83mph (12.95 dial), while Jacob's Tallapoosa, GA based race car broke out a little more with a 12.91 at 49.51mph (13.04 target). Defending champ Austin Carden (12 - McDonough, GA) got to take home the semi-finalist trophy. Wallace Wilson first thanked God for keeping everyone safe, and then thanked his family for helping him earn his first win in only his second time to Atlanta Dragway. "I liked it. It was all right," added Wilson.
For the second time in a row, 16 year old Cole Sheriff of Lula, GA found himself celebrating the 13-17 Jr Dragster class win. Sheriff met 14 year old Austin Solesbee from Sautee, GA in the final, and both racers did well. Sheriff posted the winning time of 7.945 at 81.62mph (7.92 target). Solesbee, who had a slightly slower reaction time (0.045 for Solesbee and 0.020 for Sheriff) did everything he could to win, and actually crossed the big end stripe first by a narrow 0.005 seconds, but broke out with a close 7.895 at 82.19mph (7.90 target). Alex Krause (14 - Peachtree City, GA) and Brittney Hellemn (16 - Buford, GA) earned the semi-finalist trophies. Sheriff thanked the Lord first, and then thanked his parents Misty and Todd, along with "Pappy". "We definitely had some luck with us today," added Sheriff.
