Hot Times, Hot Racing At Atlanta Dragway’s Night Of Fire

Michael Morris came away with the win in the Super Pro category at Saturday’s Night of Fire at Atlanta Dragway. Photo by Wanda Glover

Thousands of fans attended the 2012 edition of the Night of Fire at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA. For the second event in a row, Mel Abney (Sportsman), Tim Sutton (Motorcycle) and Peter Mansolillo (Pro) found themselves in the final round. Abney and Sutton went on for the win, and Mansolillo had to settle for the second place spot after his car slowed in the final.

Michael Morris from Woodstock, GA has been racing at Atlanta Dragway for three decades, and rose to the top in Super Pro with his ’01 Undercover dragster. He faced off against former Jr. Dragster racer Hank Wilhelm of Commerce, GA in the final. Both drivers were gunning for the win, and Morris had it even before he left the starting line after Wilhelm’s ’96 Ed Quay dragster tripped the dreaded cherry colored bulb with a -0.008 second red light. However, Morris did not leave any room to work with, reacting with a telepathic 0.007 reaction time, and backing it up with a dead-on 5.084 at 134.64 mph (5.08 dial in time). Ricky Rogers (’00 Spitzer roadster – Hiawassee, GA) and James Wilson (’00 Undercover dragster – Taylors, SC) earned the semi-finalist purse.

Jeff Voyles scored his first Night of Fire victory after several years of trying. Photo by Wanda Glover

Pro winner Jeff Voyles from Hoschton, GA said he has been trying to win the Night of Fire event for years, and finally accomplished his goal (he came close in 2010 when he finished runner up to Larry Chance). Voyles’ ’69 Camaro has already been to the winner’s circle in 2012, when Tim Polnaszek won with it, and Voyles took the victory this time against Peter Mansolillo (’80 Monza – Suwanee, GA) with a good 6.62 at 104.24 mph (6.60 dial). Mansolillo reacted with a great 0.003 second time, but then his car fell off after spinning the tires, running 7.60 at 92.23 mph (7.50 dial). Dickey Forrester (’68 Firebird – Hickory Flat, GA) and Travis Bryant (’68 Camaro – Bowman, GA) ended their day in the semi-final round.

“I waited a long time to win the Night of Fire,” said Voyles.

Mel Abney scored the Sportsman victory. Photo by Wanda Glover

Cumming, GA racer Mel Abney won his second event in a row with his ’67 Camaro, this time against Rickey Morris, who recently won his class at the Chevy High Performance Nationals. Morris had a good reaction time advantage in the final, but broke out in his Ellenwood, GA based ’06 Trailblazer with a 14.75 at 80.83 mph (14.77 dial). Abney crossed the win stripe with a 12.47 at 108.12 mph (12.39 dial). Frank Woods (Beat the Heat ’96 Impala SS – Lawrenceville, GA) was the lone semi-finalist.

“It was a good day, and I had a couple of lucky breaks,” Abney said. He then added, “I think the toughest opponent today was the weather.”

Tim Sutton also took home a win for the second week in a row, in Motorcycle class. This time his opponent was Scott Saemisch (’00 Kawasaki – Lawrenceville, GA). Sutton dialed his Clermont, GA based ’89 Suzuki on an 8.97, had a good reaction time, and then posted an 8.99 time at 143.11 mph at the big end stripe. Saemisch broke out by 0.008 seconds with an 8.592 at 149.58 mph, but his run was already negated with a red light start. Jimmy “Cha Cha” Heisler (’00 Kawasaki – Woodstock, GA) and David Fletcher (’84 Kawasaki – Lawrenceville, GA) took home the semi-finalist portion of the purse.

“I want to thank my wife Jennifer, she didn’t complain (about the heat) all day,” said Sutton.

Although most of the Jr Dragster eliminations were finished by early afternoon, the finals took place later in the day, shortly before the second session of exhibition cars. In addition to the two final rounds, all the other Jr Dragster racers were able to do crowd pleasing exhibition passes for the Night of Fire spectators.

Eleven year old Atlanta Dragway newcomer Daetyn Bates from Locust Grove, GA took the win in 8-12 Jr Dragster class with his new car against Katie Wilhelm (12 – Commerce, GA). Bates’ reaction time advantage made the difference after his car ran a 0.02 over 8.98 at 71.67 mph. Wilhelm’s car also ran 0.02 over, with an 8.92 at 69.58 mph. Charlie Smith (13 – McDonough, GA) and Jessie Daniel (11 – Loganville, GA) took home a semi-finalist trophy for their efforts.

Mackenzie Butler (14 – Jackson, GA) earned the 13-17 Jr Dragster win against Wesley Mayfield (15 – Gainesville, GA). Butler’s win was sealed before her car even left the starting line after Mayfield’s car left too soon, leaving the red-light glowing in his lane. Butler went on to a 7.873 at 82.14 mph (7.90 dial) and Mayfield’s car ran closer to its 7.90 dial with a 7.891 at 82.45 mph.

For more information on Atlanta Dragway, visit www.atlantadragway.com.

Atlanta Dragway – Commerce, GA
Race Results – June 30, 2012

SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Michael Morris ’01 Undercover Woodstock, GA 5.084 134.64 (5.08)

R/U: Hank Wilhelm ’96 Ed Quay Commerce, GA(foul) 5.30 121.41 (5.24)

Semi: Ricky Rogers ’00 Spitzer Hiawassee, GA

Semi: James Wilson ’00 Undercover Taylors, SC

PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Jeff Voyles ’69 Camaro Hoschton, GA 6.62 104.24 (6.60)

R/U: Peter Mansolillo ’88 Monza Suwanee, GA 7.60 92.23 (7.50)

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Semi: Travis Bryant ’68 Camaro Bowman, GA

SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Mel Abney ’67 Camaro Cumming, GA 12.47 108.12 (12.39)

R/U: Rickey Morris ’06 Trailblazer Ellenwood, GA 14.75 80.83 (14.77)

Semi: Frank Woods ’96 Impala SS Lawrenceville, GA

MOTORCYCLE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Tim Sutton ’89 Suzuki Clermont, GA 8.99 143.11 (8.97)

R/U: Scott Saemisch ’00 Kawasaki Dacula, GA (foul) 8.59 149.58 (8.60)

Semi: David Fletcher ’84 Kawasaki Lawrenceville, GA

Semi: Jimmy Heisler ’00 Kawasaki Woodstock, GA

8-12 JR DRAGSTER AGE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Daetyn Bates 11 Locust Grove, GA 8.98 71.67 (8.96)