(Commerce, GA – July 23) Bracket racing is known as a family sport, and for the second week in a row, family members found themselves paired off against each other for the final round. This week, two members of the "Wilson Gang", mom Sue Wilson and son Bruce Wilson were happy to meet in the finals. Also, father Allen Smith and son Mark Smith made it to the semi-final round in Sportsman.
"Fireman Joe" Rampley returned to the Atlanta Dragway Super Pro winner's circle after a two year hiatus (his last Atlanta victory came in the "Wooly Mammoth" Vega when he won the 6.50 Index championship). Rampley met Commerce racer Hank Wilhelm's '96 Ed Quay dragster for the final, and got the instant victory after Wilhelm's machine, which had just reeled off a string of deadly consistent 5.15 passes, decided not to cooperate with him for the final, and left the line before the "Christmas Tree" was activated. Rampley's Gainesville, GA based '94 S-10 pickup would have been very difficult to beat, as the reaction time was 0.002 seconds, and the elapsed time was 7.002 seconds at 99.77mph on a 7.00 dial. After the event Rampley commented with a smile about his son Craig, who has run a few races, "I think he's eyeballing the truck to see how well he fits in it now." Doug Richardson ('02 Miller dragster – Ballground, GA) ended his day in the semi-final round.
"Thank you for fixing my truck so I could beat you," was one of the first things Pro winner and mom Sue Wilson said to her son Bruce Wilson after defeating him in the final round. Bruce had spent the previous week repairing the differential in Sue Wilson's Tallapoosa, GA based '85 S-10 pickup. Then, in the final round, Sue's truck abruptly quit in the burnout box. Being a true sportsman (and also a smart son) Bruce immediately backed his '70 Nova away from the burnout box, and went over to look at her truck. He discovered and repaired an electrical problem with the ignition, and it was game-on again. They pulled up to the starting line, staged and both gave everything they had to win. Mom went first with a stellar .022 second react, followed by her son's also very good .028. Mom then took the win stripe by mere inches (0.0041 seconds) with a dead-on 7.313 pass at 94.35mph (7.31 dial). Bruce was right there, but had to settle for runner up with his dead-on 6.991 at 98.62mph (6.99 dial). For what it was worth, Bruce did win the coin toss for lane choice in the final, and put her out of her favorite lane. Last week's National Dragster Challenge Pro winner, Chad Brewer, was the lone semi-finalist.
Tim Sutton of Clermont, GA returned to the Motorcycle winner's circle for the second time in 2011, facing none other than last week's winner, Jay Rhyne from Athens, GA. Sutton was on his game, and reacted with a great 0.010 second time, following it up with a 9.14 at 139.46mph on his '83 Suzuki. Rhyne, who had been having some trouble with his reaction times during the event, said he threw everything he had into the final round, and unfortunately for him, he gave a little too much, turning on the dreaded cherry colored bulb 0.004 seconds before the clocks started. His trusty '81 Kawasaki then broke out a little with a 12.41 at 102.29mph. Paul Cavanaugh ('05 Hayabusa – Loganville, GA) and Paul Lee ('00 Suzuki – Mt. Airy, GA) were the semi-finalist purse winners. Sutton thanked his wife Jennifer and Paw Paw (his dad) for all their help.
J.D. "Doc" Burford from Greenville, SC, the 2009 Sportsman champion, was very pleased to enjoy his first 2011 Sportsman win. His final round competitor was 2009 High School champ Alan Long from Ballground, GA. Burford was on top of his game, reacting with a 0.010 and backing that up with a 13.117 at 107.58mph (13.11 dial) in his stock '07 Corvette. Long's '96 Silverado apparently found just a little too much traction, breaking out with a 17.51 at 75.43mph (17.54 dial). Father Allen Smith ('91 Chevrolet 1500 – Cleveland, GA) and son ('95 Camaro – McDonough, GA) earned the semi-finalist portion of the purse. Allen Smith, a long time racer (and apparently a good coach), noted this was his son's first bracket race. Burford mentioned his appreciation for track manager Ray Wilkings, who worked the water box all day. "He was my good luck charm today," added Burford.
Defending Super Pro champion John Hobbs also did well in Open Comp Full Body today, taking out the heavy hitters en route to the final, where he met Jesse Young in a '67 Camaro. Hobb's Conyers, GA based '71 Vega wagon carded a .01 over 6.68 at 100.55mph, crossing the finish line 0.02 seconds ahead of Young, who broke out with a 6.24 at 110.81mph (6.26 target). John Norris ('86 Camaro – Royston, GA) experienced his first good finish of the day, along with his semi-finalist team mate Bill Boomhower ('65 Belvedere – Walhalla, SC). Hobb's wife Helen added, "Heart and soul wins it every time because he has a lot of heart and a lot of soul."
Royston, GA racer John Norris had a better time in the 7.50 Index class. Norris met Peter Mansolillo, who was in his second final round in as many weeks, and used a starting line reaction time advantage to close the door on Mansolillo's '80 Monza with a 7.61 at 86.43mph (7.50 Index). Mansolillo's machine posted a 7.54 at 92.92mph on the 7.50 Index. Woody Bryant ('82 Camaro – Bowman, GA) and Ed Nalley ('71 Z-28 – Maysville, GA) ended their run in the semi-final round. Norris, the 2010 Open Comp champ and 2009 7.50 Index champ, thanked Wade Bryant Automotive, Tri-County Chevrolet, Mayberry Tire and Wheel and Atlanta Dragway track manager Ray Wilkings for pitching in and helping run the water box.
6.50 Index points leader Stan Sinack said he was glad to see there were two Dodge Darts in the final, referring to his closest competitor and second in the points Michael Goodwin. "I like running him because he's good," added Sinack. Sinack took the win in today's event with his Lilburn, GA based '69 Dart, crossing the big end stripe with a 6.56 at 96.73mph pass (6.50 Index). Due to a slightly slower react, Goodwin was close behind with a 6.55 at 101.23mph on the 6.50 Index. Lloyd Shanks ('92 Beretta – Pendergrass, GA) and Sean Garner ('89 S-10 Blazer – Oxford, GA) were the 6.50 class semi-finalists. Sinack, who had been to a cancer walk at Atlantic Station earlier in the day (his group helped raise more than $10,000), dedicated the win to his mother, who passed away in 2008.
