FATHER SON DUO IN SUPER PRO FINAL OF NHRA NATIONAL DRAGSTER CHALLENGE RACE
(Commerce, GA – July 16) In addition to the regular purse, racers from all over Georgia came to Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA with hopes of winning the annual NHRA National Dragster Challenge event, which awards a coveted "Wally" trophy to the winner of each class. Even though he was defeated in the final round of Super Pro, Mark Hancock could hardly have been prouder of his son Jeremy Hancock, who was the one that committed Mark's defeat. NHRA Pro Stock racer Warren Johnson added to the thrills, making early shutoff passes with his 2010 Pontiac GXP Pro Stock car in preparation for the three week long "Western Swing". Keith Szabo did some more testing with his twin turbo Mustang, running the eighth mile course in the mid four second range at nearly 170mph.
"We're going to be in National Dragster y'all," said excited Super Pro winner Jeremy Hancock, who earned his first "Wally" trophy. Adding to the thrill was the fact that he got to race his dad, Mark Hancock, in the final. At the starting line, however, there was little love shown, as both racers were going for the victory. Jeremy took the win and the "Wally" courtesy of a .016 react and a dead-on 4.699 at 141.31mph in his Commerce, GA based '05 Undercover dragster. His dad Mark, also from Commerce, was campaigning his '74 Vega he recently acquired from Ed Nalley (which Jeremy drove to a win the previous weekend at another track). This time the Vega, which had been running a string of passes in the 6.06 second area, decided to go just a little quicker, and broke out with a 6.045 at 114.29mph (6.06 dial). In addition to thanking the Lord, Jeremy said he was thinking about his Granny Rose, who had been praying for him all day. He also thanked Junior Pippin, PAR Racing Engines, Neal Transmissions and his whole family, as many of them were there with him. The semi-final finishers were Phil Owens ('05 M&M dragster – Lithia Springs, GA) and Jesse Young ('01 Undercover dragster – Danielsville, GA). Jeremy's win also placed him number one in the 2011 Summit Super Pro points series.
"I got that one by the hair of my chinny chin chin," exclaimed Pro winner Chad Brewer. Brewer met the likeable Peter Mansolillo from Suwannee, GA in the final round, and after what he described as an interesting race, took the win stripe 0.01 seconds (7.18 at 94.08mph on a 7.15 dial) before Mansolillo did with his Canton, GA based '73 Nova. Mansolillo's '80 Monza broke out by a mere 0.006 seconds trying to catch Brewer, posting a 7.464 at 91.79mph pass (7.47 dial). Joel Kyle ('74 Vega – Gay, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. When asked, Brewer said this was his fourth Wally overall, and his second one in a row at Atlanta Dragway (Brewer also won the 2010 National Dragster Challenge at Atlanta). The win tied Brewer for first place in the Pro points with defending champion Bruce Wilson.
Motorcycle winner Jay Rhyne's "Wally" trophy shelf may have to be reinforced now after tonight's victory against Michael Tlapa from Loganville, GA. Rhyne, who has won many of the other National Dragster Challenge "Wally" trophies awarded at Atlanta Dragway, got the instant win this time after Tlapa's '01 Hayabusa proved to be just a little too quick at the starting line, leaving the dreaded red light glowing. Rhyne has recently been campaigning a faster bike, but had to go back to his faithful '81 Kawasaki again after transmission problems sidelined the other one. He was rewarded with a 12.39 at 102.72mph (12.35 dial), while Tlapa's machine posted a too-quick 9.57 at 143.93mph (9.74 dial). "I had a terrible day," Rhyne added with a grin. Tim Sutton ('82 Suzuki – Clermont, GA) was the semi-final finisher.
Sportsman winner Matthew Bates of Loganville, GA "borrowed" his mom Samantha's '99 Firebird today (she is in England visiting family and did not know about it) and was thrilled to find himself in the final facing another Firebird, a '90 model driven by current points leader Scott Reynolds of Cartersville, GA. Bates earned his family's first ever "Wally" with a near telepathic 0.003 second react, and took the big end stripe 0.048 seconds in front of Reynolds with a slowing 13.91 at 95.48mph (13.84 target). Reynolds carded a 14.15 at 96.73mph (14.10 dial). Bates thanked his mom and dad for all their support through the years. He then added, "I like the hat, and really like the trophy." Harold Wilson, who won the previous Summit ET event, made it to the semi-final round today with his Winder, GA based '73 Nova.
8-12 Jr Dragster winner Austin Carden (12 – McDonough, GA) is the defending 8-12 champion, and enjoyed his third win in a row against Katie Wilhelm (11 – Commerce, GA). Due to a better reaction time, Carden was able to slow his car to 9.00 at 68.02mph (8.90 dial). Wilhelm, who had been knocking out the other top racers through the rounds, was still thrilled to receive the runner-up trophy. Christopher Kittle (10 – McDonough, GA) ended the day in the semi-final round. Carden was excited about winning his first "Wally", and he mentioned this was his fourth Challenge race, third Challenge final and first Challenge win. The win also gives him some good momentum going in to next weekend's Eastern Conference finals. Carden thanked his family, including cousin Jacob, mom Charlene and dad Matt.
13-17 Jr Dragster winner Wesley Mayfield (15 – Gainesville, GA) has earned a lot of winner's hardware through the years, and added the National Dragster Challenge "Wally" to his shelf after defeating Taylor Ramsey (18 – Commerce, GA) in the final. Their dial in and reaction times were nearly identical, but in taking the big end stripe first, Ramsey broke out, posting a 7.84 at 81.30mph (7.90 dial). Mayfield was hard to beat, running a dead-on 7.92 at 77.71mph. Recent winner Bailey Denton (17 – McDonough, GA) and Kelsey Lynn (17 – Marietta, GA) earned the semi-finalist trophy for their efforts. Mayfield, who turned 15 years old last Saturday and immediately got his learner's permit, thanked God, his dad Jim, mom Linda, and Junior Specialties for all their help.
