Ward Doubles Up With Saturday Wins At Atlanta Dragway

Matt Ward scored the victory in both the Pro division for the National Dragster Challenge and the King of the Track at Atlanta Dragway. Photo by Tim Glover

Racers finally got to compete in the rain delayed National Dragster Challenge and Jr Dragster challenge events Saturday at the Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA. Matt Ward was most likely the happiest winner of the event, scoring twice on the night.

Ward started off with a win in Pro competition. The Fair Play, SC racer earned not one, but two Wallys for his night’s work in the office of his stealthy ’69 Camaro. Ward got the first Wally after defeating Braselton, GA racer Jeff Wagner’s ’71 Duster. Ward was on time with a 0.017 second reaction time and a dead-on 6.434 at 107.05 mph. Wagner’s react was good, but he broke out trying to stay ahead of Ward with a 7.81 at 88.73 mph (7.84 dial). Chad Brewer (’67 Camaro – Canton, GA) was the lone semi-finalist.

Ward kept his same dial for the King of the Track competition, and was rewarded with yet another 6.434 to win the King of the Track Wally. Making his feat even better was this was only Ward’s second race of the year.

In spite of having to deal with an ailing MSD ignition box, Jim Onda from Toccoa, GA earned the Super Pro victory and his first every Wally trophy with his ’96 Bolling dragster against Phillip Sexton from Hampton, GA after Sexton’s fuel system broke midway through its final round pass, slowing his car greatly. Seeing he was way ahead, Onda lifted off his throttle and coasted to a 5.07 at 123.27 mph (4.90 dial). Moments later, Sexton’s ’04 Miller dragster crossed the finish line with a 5.41 at 93.54 mph pass (4.87 dial). Wayne Brooks (’98 RaceTech dragster – Between, GA) won the semi-finalist portion of the purse.

Gerald Wright of Ballground, GA was an Atlanta Dragway regular years ago, but has taken some time away from the sport. For Saturday night’s action he entered his street car, a ’68 Valiant, in Sportsman class, and was rewarded for his efforts with a National Dragster Challenge Wally. Wright met points champ Howard Warren in the final, and was already on his way to the finish line when Warren’s Douglasville, GA based ’72 Maverick slid through the starting line beams, causing the dreaded cherry colored foul bulb to light up due to a -0.033 second reaction time. Warren chose to run his car on out, carding a 7.52 at 89.46 mph (7.54 dial). Wright’s car ran for the first time in the 7.40 range, putting a 9.47 at 76.54 mph on the scoreboard (9.54 dial). Sid Hopper (’84 $10 Blazer – Gainesville, GA) and Chris Thompson (’73 Vega – Murphy, NC) were the semi-final finishers.

Super Pro Bike points leader and race winner Jay Rhyne may have sealed his 2013 championship with tonight’s win against Howard Bowman from Homer, GA. Rhyne’s Athens, GA based ’82 Suzuki was near perfect with 5.91 second pass at 105.14 mph on the 5.90 dial. Bowman’s ’02 Harley fell off the pace a little, posting an 8.57 at 79.25 mph (8.48 dial) Scott Saemisch (’80 Kawasaki – Dacula, GA) and Shawn Welch (’83 Suzuki – Waynesboro, GA) ended their day in the semi-final round.

Street ET Bike winner and points leader Jimmy “ChaCha” Heisler has a number of wins under his belt, but had never won a Wally before until tonight’s victory against Brian Livengood. Heisler’s Woodstock, GA based ’00 Kawasaki turned in a great 6.87 at 100.61 mph (6.85 dial), crossing the big end stripe ahead of Livengood’s ’08 Yamaha from Snellville, GA, which posted a 6.90 at 112.34 mph (6.70 dial). Randy Barnett (’08 Suzuki – Colbert, GA) made it to the semi-final round.

8-12 Jr Dragster Wally winner Nate Halsey’s dad Jeff had to go to Idaho to help his dad, so Bill Gillen pitched in to crew for Halsey (10 years old – Gainesville, GA) this weekend. Gillen has a long history with championship winning drivers Matt Gillen and Russ Glover, and stepped into the role without a hitch. Halsey’s car, which was built by Gillen several years and drivers ago, stayed right near the 9.00 mark all evening, and repeated the feat again for the final with a 9.003 at 69.64 mph (8.99 dial). Halsey’s opponent, first year racer Rachel Flowers (12 – Loganville, GA) did a great job getting to the final, and made Halsey work for the win with a 9.23 at 69.91 mph (9.20 dial). Blaine Rogers (12 – Hiawassee, GA) and Jared Noel (12 – Westminster, SC) were the semi-final finishers.

The winner in 13-17 Jr Dragster, Austin Carden, is well known at Atlanta Dragway having won many races and championships in his career. The 14 year old Carden met Maddie Lee (15 – Campobello, SC) in the Wally round, and barely won the event by crossing the finish line 0.004 seconds in front of Lee, in what could be considered as a dead heat. Carden reacted with a 0.022 time, and went 7.943 at 80.96 mph (7.90 dial). Lee’s react was 0.039, and her car went 7.926 at 82.82 mph. Daniel Bruce (14 – Covington, GA) and Brittney “Baja” Hellemn (17 – Buford, GA) made it to the semis.

Atlanta Dragway – Commerce, GA
Race Results – Aug. 10, 2013

SUPER PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Jim Onda ’96 Bolling dragster Toccoa, GA 5.07 123.27 (4.90)

R/U: Phillip Sexton ’04 Miller dragster Hampton, GA 5.41 93.54 (4.87)

Semi: Wayne Brooks ’98 RaceTech Between, GA

PRO CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Matt Ward ’69 Camaro Fair Play, SC 6.434 107.05(6.43)

R/U: Jeff Wagner ’71 Duster Braselton, GA 7.81 88.73 (7.84)

Semi: Chad Brewer ’68 Camaro Canton, GA

SPORTSMAN CAR HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Gerald Wright ’68 Valiant Ballground, GA 9.47 76.54 (9.54)

R/U: Howard Warren ’72 Maverick Douglasville,GA(foul) 7.52 89.46 (7.54)

Semi: Sid Hopper ’84 $10 Blazer Gainesville, GA

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Semi: Chris Thompson ’73 Vega Murphy, NC

SUPER PRO BIKE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Jay Rhyne ’82 Suzuki Athens, GA 5.91 105.14(5.91)

R/U: Howard Bowman ’02 Harley Homer, GA 8.57 79.25 (8.48)

Semi: Scott Saemisch ’80 Kawasaki Dacula, GA

Semi: Shawn Welch ’83 Suzuki Waynesboro, GA

STREET ET BIKE BIKE HOMETOWN ET MPH DIAL-IN

Win: Jimmy “ChaCha” Heisler ’00 Kawasaki Woodstock, GA 6.87 100.61(6.85)

R/U: Brian Livengood ’08 Yamaha Snellville, GA 6.90 112.34(6.70)

Semi: Randy Barnett ’08 Suzuki Colbert, GA

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

Win: Nate “Hot Rod” Halsey 10 Clermont, GA 9.00 69.64 (8.99)