By: Tim Glover
(Commerce, GA – August 16) In spite of parts breakage, traffic jams and other opportunities, Atlanta Dragway racers prevailed at the NHRA King of the Track event. Congratulations to King of the Track winner Chad Brewer (Pro class), who had the best class winner’s package at the end of the event. Winners in the Bike and Car classes are eligible to earn the King of the Track “Wally” award. They each have a single pass, and the driver with the best package (composed of reaction time and amount over the dial) is awarded the Wally. The rest of the class winners received an NHRA King of the Track hat.
“I got to race my best friend in the final,” said Super Pro winner Hank Wilhelm of Maysville, GA after defeating points leader Jeremy Hancock. Seeing Hancock’s Commerce, GA based ’05 Undercover dragster slowing, Wilhelm trimmed the eighth mile time in his ’96 Ed Quay dragster to 5.15 seconds at 119.92mph (5.07 dial-in time). Hancock’s car slowed to a 5.03 at 124.64mph (4.72 dial) due to a broken rocker arm. Tommy Motes (Undercover dragster – Loganville, GA) was the lone semi-finalist. One of Wilhelm’s crew mentioned that although he didn’t feel well, he still maintained a high degree of concentration given the circumstances.
Pro winner Chad Brewer from Canton, GA enjoyed winning not only his class but also the King of the Track Event at the end of the day. The first win of the day in his ’73 Nova came versus Brien Kelley (’67 Coronet – Carnesville, GA) in the Pro final. Unfortunately for Kelley, the dreaded cherry colored bulb began glowing as soon as his Coronet left the starting line, handing the automatic victory to Brewer. Brewer’s car posted a very good 6.92 at 98.72mph (6.91 dial). Kelley chose to lift, and slowed to an 8.04 at 84.15mph (7.67 dial). “It’s been a long day. Thanks to the Mayor of Hickory Flat again, because the combination in this car is all his ideas,” added Brewer.
Sportsman winner Nick Wagner’s day began a little rough when his Jefferson, GA based turbocharged ’04 Neon snapped a front axle on the launch during the second time trial. Knowing this was a possibility, Wagner had a spare axle in his trailer. His family pitched in and had it changed in record time, allowing him to make it to round one. He never looked back, and found himself paired against former Division Two Sportsman champion Marshall York (’72 Nova – Tallapoosa, GA) for the final. York made it easier with a heart-breaking -0.006 red light, but Wagner would still have been difficult to beat with a 0.032 react and a 13.24 at 104.70 on a 13.20 dial. Russell Haskins (’13 Mustang – Marietta, GA) made it to the semi-final round. Wagner thanked his family for helping get his car back together so quickly.
Tim Sutton from Clermont, GA earned the Super Pro Bike class win with his ’83 Suzuki against close friend and competitor Jay Rhyne (’82 Suzuki – Athens, GA). Sutton had a decent 8.99 at 140.55mph on an 8.95 dial, and Rhyne was very close, crossing the top end stripe 0.0044 seconds later with a 9.42 at 138.43mph (9.37 dial). Jordan Autrey (’11 Kawasaki – Traveler’s Rest, SC) took home the semi-finalist portion of the purse. “It was an awesome day. I changed some things on the bike, and it’s working now,” added Sutton.
“I’m speechless,” stated the normally talkative Jimmy “Cha Cha” Heisler after winning Street ET Bike class aboard his Woodstock, GA based ’00 Kawasaki. Heisler’s final round opponent was Daryl Johnsey (’08 Kawasaki – Cartersville, GA). Shortly after leaving the starting line, Johnsey’s machine left the starting line too soon, resulting in the dreaded tomato colored foul bulb glowing. Heisler turned in a solid 10.66 at 125.15mph (10.64 dial). Johnsey’s mount crossed the top end stripe next with a 9.43 at 146.73mph (9.21 dial). Andrew Patterson (’06 Suzuki – Taylors, SC) earned the semi-finalist portion of the purse. His wife Eeman mentioned the Street ET Bike points leader Heisler has already been in five finals this season (in both Street ET and Super Pro Bike). He thanked Vanson Leathers, Broward Motorsports, Motul, Brock’s Performance, Mattei Cycle Supply and Dragbike.com for their help.
Congratulations to six year old Stephen Skelton, brother of Atlanta Dragway junior racer Jackson Earwood. Skelton became the youngest NHRA driver to be licensed at Atlanta Dragway after completing the license passes required for the Youth group (ages 6-7). Dad Bart Skelton said, “All Stephen has said since day one is he wants to put his brother on the trailer. Also, thanks to Jeff Halsey for loaning us his spare Bill Gillen built chassis (which to date has been driven by three different championship drivers).”
8-12 Jr Dragster winner Austin Bowden (12 years old – Homer, GA)enjoyed a good outing, having already made it to the Night of Fire makeup final earlier in the day. Bowden topped his day off with the win against Wallace Wilson (10 – Taylors, SC), runnning 9.12 at 69.75mph on a 9.08 dial. Wilson actually took the top end stripe first, but broke out with an 8.96 at 73.63mph (8.98 dial) in the process. Jackson Earwood (11 – Cleveland, GA) made it to the semi-final round. “I want to thank God first, and then my family,” said Bowden. His mom added he has been in the last four finals, and improved a lot this year, saying she was very proud of him.
Thirteen year old race winner Rachel Flowers from Loganville enjoyed meeting her boyfriend Christopher Kittle (14 – Oxford, GA) for their first final in 13-17 Jr Dragster class. Though both are friends before and after the run, at the starting line the other one is just another competitor. Flowers enjoyed the better reaction time, and trimmed the gap at the finish line to an extremely tight 0.005 second margin, posting an 8.01 at 81.07mph (7.97 dial). Kittle did all he could do, with a dead on 7.904 at 82.07 mph. Bailey Dunn (14 – Flowery Branch, GA) and Adrian Wilson (14 – Tallapoosa, GA) earned points up to the semi-final round. “It was fun! I want to thank mom and dad and Mellow Mushroom pizza for all their help,” added Flowers. Kittle thanked God, his family and uncle Duane, who has helped tremendously with the car.
Nate “Hot Rod” Halsey (11 – Clermont, GA) won the makeup final from the Night of Fire event in 8-12 Jr Dragster against Austin Bowden (12 – Homer, GA). Halsey was actually second across the stripe, but Bowden broke out with a 9.09 at 71.66mph on a 9.10 dial. Halsey was good with an 8.91 at 71.28mph (8.90 dial). Jacob Wilson (11 – Tallapoosa, GA) made it to the semi-final round. Halsey thanked God, his family, Little Bill, Papa and Katy and aunt Lindy.
Madison Lee (16 – Inman, SC) won 13-17 Jr Dragster against Katie Wilhelm (14 – Commerce, GA – Hank Wilhelm’s sister), running an 8.00 at 80.97mph (7.90 dial). Wilhelm’s reaction time cost her the win, as she ran a little closer to the dial with another 8.00 at 79.71mph (7.96 dial). Austin Solesbee (16 – Sautee Nacoochee, GA) and Jacob Baker (15 – Yorktown, VA) were the semi-finalist pair.
