TKR & Associates Top Fuel
The biggest thunder inGeorgia was brewed up by the big nitro V-Twins of TKR & Associates Top Fuel. RyanPeery’s quickness nailed down numberone Top Fuel qualifier on Saturday, and remarkableconsistency carried him all the way to the final on Sunday. “Wewere the quickest on qualifying day, which paid off and gave us a bye run inthe first round, and we needed it,” said Peery, who didn’t really. His 6.55 wasthird quickest of the round.
Jay Turner’s path to the finalincluded low ET (6.412) and high MPH (224.28), but The Bulldog chewed up a camin the semi and couldn’t make the final against Peery—guaranteeing Ryan thewin.
“We weren’t the quickest on elimination day but weran consistent, and consistent passes will win races,” said Peery. “We also hada little luck too, and that trumps everything. When you gotta run The Bulldog,let alone in the finals, you need some luck as he’s tough. And then we heard hebroke a cam at the end of the round before and that ended up giving us the win.Not the way I want to win as I prefer to run side-by-side.”
So Peery had the opportunity to easeup or go for broke in the final, and broke is what happened. “Westill wanted to put on a good show for the fans so we left a good tune-up init, but unfortunately we ended up torching the front head (at about half track)on our finals pass.
“All in all it was agreat weekend. The last TFH race at Atlanta became my first ever TFH win.Thanks to Midwest Construction, P&C Johnson Trucking, everyone at Jay TurnerRacing, and nitro Harley’s biggest fan—Maddy!”
“We struggled with the fuel system allday Saturday but did manage to qualify eighth out of thirteen,” said Rich. “Sundaywe overpowered the track and spun the tire. We didn’t have the results wewanted, but the team worked together and overcame a bunch of issues. Theweather was great and we got to hang out with friends we hadn’t seen in ayear—God is good!”
Other semifinalists were Tracy Kileand Robert “Ziggy” Stewart. Kile had his BadApple Racing bike on kill, and nailed a killer .018 light on Turner. But thatwasn’t enough to keep Jay’s 6.41 from taking the stripe.
Ziggy was going rounds, beating FrankCapone in E1, getting a bye when “Doctor” Jim McMillan’s bike shut off afterthe burnout, and then falling to Peery.
Two-time NHRA champ Tii Tharpe’s SamsonExhaust bike dropped a hole at the hit in E1, Michael Beland had the light with a.009 but not the bike in an E1 loss to Kile, and TimKerrigan fell short against Turner in E1.
Atlanta saw the long-awaited return ofMark Conner to the seat of a Top Fuel Harley—in this case, Red Rhea’s bike thatMitch Brown rides at NHRA races. The bike has had its struggles, and Conner hasthe knowledge to help straighten things out. As Rhea said, “This is the firsttime I ever had someone riding for me that knows as much about my bike as Ido.”
Evenwith over six years away from riding, Conner brought all of his seat experienceto bear when the bike’s right axle adjuster broke in round one againstMcMillin. After an .028 light, Conner fought the bike away from the centerlineand mostly stayed in it until the last 320 feet. Let’s hope we see Mark at lotsmore AHDRA races this year.
HawayaRacing Nitro Funnybike
Rhea’s other bike experienced betterluck, taking the Hawaya Racing Nitro Funnybike win withbrand new rider Mike Baulch aboard.
Number one qualifier Armon Furr “Just got beat,” accordingto Furr, when he met Baulch in the final.
“It was absolutelyperfect,” Baulch said about his first win. “I just kept the throttle open andstayed in it. The tune-up Red put together gave me the ability to look goodwith a poor (.256) reaction time. That win belongs to Red.
“I could not have scripted a better weekend.Honestly, I’m blown away that I won this event. I’m a nitro fan before I am aracer, I’ve looked up to the Furrs, Tii, Jay Turner, Bob Spina, Larry McBride,and Jason Pridemore for years. I’m just blessed to be in the position to racewith these people.”
HawayaRacing Pro Fuel
Preston “President” Bartlett startedhis Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel championship defensewith a win in a stout seven bike field for the carbureted nitro class, but hisname wasn’t at the top of the charts until the final round win.
KirbyApathy qualified number one with a 7.32, but “Experienced acatastrophic mechanical failure in the semis” against Bartlett, who beat championRocky Jackson in round 1.
Preston faced steady JimMartin in the final, where Martin’s back tire kicked towards the wall at about150 feet. Jim was forced to back out and Preston—already with a .120 advantageat the tree—ran his best of the weekend (7.391) for the win.
“It was a tough weekend,” reported Bartlett. “Wehurt the motor during the third qualifier, so we scrambled till 2:00 in themorning, then stopped ‘cause everybody was tired. We finished up in the morning,then went one round at a time.
“I’d like to thank Bookie Rigsby for all the helphe gave Walter (Halonski) and I.”
GMSRacing Pro Open
Last year’s Extreme Gasand Outlaw Street are now GMS Racing Pro Open. Mike Motto won both of those last year and started this oneoff with a win in the new class.
But before Sunday’s wincame perhaps Motto’s biggest win of the weekend—a match with RichardGadson, who was on hand to make laps on Mike Beland’s turbocharged Meth Bethbagger. Make no mistake about it—both combinations were aiming to put 7s on theboard.
“We rolled the bikeoff the trailer with some new changes for this year,” said Motto. “We neededsome runs to test so we got down to business. We were not sure what the bikewould run with the new changes, but we were hoping for 7.60s at 175-180 mph.The bike ran great but fell a little short of the numbers we expected.”
Then came the race with Gadson—a huge rivalrybetween Mottos’ builder GMS and Beland’s A1. “It was a great race!” said Motto.
Gadson was on hand specifically to try for a 7second pass on the Beland bagger, and the “race” happened in round 2 ofqualifying. “It was a race?” Gadson asked later.
“There were people side-betting on the sidelineseverywhere,” remembered Motto. “A lot of people bouncing around and pointingwhen we pulled up to stage. I assume they were betting, but I was in my zone sono telling what else was going on around me!”
Motto left like it was a race,with an .070, while Gadson left like he was focusing on laying down a perfectpass, with a .173. After that it was all turbo pumping and nitrous spraying (orwould be…turns out Motto’s solenoid was broke) to the stripe. “I beat him with an 8.12 to his 8.18 in a veryclose race!” said Motto, who noted that his bike ran 7.92 at 169 last year.
“He treed me and beat the snot out ofme, that’s for sure” agreed Gadson. “A good old ass-kicking.”
“I’m pretty excited to be ableto line up next to a legend like Gadson and pull off a win,” said Motto. “GMS power,baby!”
That “Grudge” win held up fornumber one qualifier for Motto, who went on to handilybeat Kevin Campbell for the win in the final. Without the kind of conditionsfor a 7, Gadson was already well on the road to Pennsylvania to work on thenitrous Suzuki GS Pro Street bike he rides for Brad Mummert when eliminationsbegan in Atlanta.
“When you’re running with the best team in Harleydrag racing, anything is possible!” said Motto. “Thank you Gregg Dahl, Damon Kuskie, Steve Rominski,and the entire GMS Racing staff for all your help and support!
“We will get back to testing in the next coupleweeks so that we can meet our goals. Stay tuned because we have some new thingshappening at GMS Racing that are going to set the Harley no-bar racing world onfire!
“Special thanks to my wife Jennifer, who is alwaysby my side and assists with the tuning; my brother-in-law Chris Hoppe for allhis help in the staging lanes; our entire race family; Bill Rowe and the AHDRAfor giving us a great place to race; and our go-fast helpers—Fuel Tech systems,Energy 1 clutches, R&D Racing Transmissions, and Renegade Fuels. Thesecompanies supply the products that help our machines fly! See you at the races!”
Zippers Performance Pro Modified
Shane Pendergrast swept ZippersPerformance Pro Modified, qualifying number one, setting low ET (8.546) andhigh MPH (158.99) and winning the final against George Futch III.
“Just thank the AHDRA for a good event and mysponsors Hotshotz, SA Racing, and Pope’s Automotive.” Pendergrast also thanked thisauthor “For taking the time to write something for us.”
Pingel Modified
JeffWorkman is another defending champion who opened the season with a win—in thiscase, Pingel Modified.
Workman had to beat numberone qualifier Gary Douglass in the final, and it took low ET (9.376) to do thejob after Douglass halved Workman’s reaction time (.046 to .092).
“It was some very close racing all weekend long,”said Jeff. “I know it would be a very difficult task to keep my belt, but Ipulled it off!
“I’d like to thank AHDRA and Bill Rowe for a greatevent, Atlanta Dragway for hosting it, POWERMIST racing fuel, REBEL GEARS, DBRfabrication, family and friends for helping me along the way. Fantastic weekendof racing.”
Horsepower Inc. Hot Street
Gary Douglass may havelost the Pingel Modified final, but his son Charley sealed the deal in HorsepowerInc. Hot Street. Charley’s .030 light set the stage for the 9.68 to 9.87 winover number one qualifier, and defending champion, Scott Shenckel.
“Feltgood to get back to the track,” said Charley. “We only went to four raceslast year and one of those got rained out, so I was beyond rusty as a rider. Ididn’t even get to blast down the road before loading the trailer.
“First round of qualifying was my first timeriding this year. It was ugly for sure. We have to foot shift these bikes in HorsepowerInc. Hot Street, and I didn’t get a clean pass in qualifying.
“Sunday during eliminations I felt much more atone with my bike. I won the semifinal with a 9.84 and went on to win the finalswith a 9.680.
“I traveled this weekend with my best friend, crewchief, and he just so happens to also be my dad. Normally we travel withseveral members of our family and they were missed. My wife is my biggest fanand she is unable to attend the races, because she is a full time stay at homecaregiver for her mom.
“Energy One clutches has been a long time supporterof Douglass Racing. Lynchburg H-D and Vreelands H-D both also help withdiscounts on parts, thank you goes out to them. Thank you Bill Rowe for puttingon such a great event. Special thank you to Jesus for saving my soul andkeeping us all safe!”
Law Tigers Pro Bagger
In addition to Gadson,there was another Suzuki Pro Street racer sending a bagger in Atlanta. VictorGotay picked up a last minute ride and swept Law Tigers Pro Bagger—qualifyingnumber one, setting low ET (9.423) and high MPH (144.38) and then winning thefinal round against redlighting (-.010) Orlando Williams of Street Kings.
Vreeland’s Harley-Davidson 9.90
Brad Reiss Jr. won astirring Vreeland’s Harley-Davidson 9.90 final against Crosby Blair. Both bikesran identical 9.952s, but the winning difference came at the tree with Brad’s .094light obliterating Blair’s .171.
Vance Houdyshell qualifiednumber one with a perfect 9.90 but lost a double breakout quarterfinal toBlair.
Universal Fleet & Tire 10.90
Reiss followed up his Vreeland’s9.90 success with a Universal Fleet & Tire 10.90 win. Brad caught a littlebit of a break when double defending champion, final round opponent, KevinWinters took the tree by .011 but still broke out by .012. Reiss’ 10.904 litthe winlight.
Number one qualifier JasonLeeper lost early with a .197 reaction time.
10.30 index and T-Man Performance BaggerEliminator
Reiss wasn’t the onlydouble winner on Sunday, as Scott Tomsu won 10.30 index and T-Man Performance BaggerEliminator.
“Wow, what a great weekend atthe AHDRA Georgia Peach Nationals,” said Tomsu. “We won two classes, but I ampumped about the Super Pro 10.30 win. That is the closest side-by-side racing Ihave ever been a part of. Also, I was the only bagger in class, I had noelectronics (2-step, delay boxes, or air-shifter), and no wheelie bar. Theracers in that class are very experienced as well, so every round was tough.”
EspeciallyTomsu’s 10.30 final round opponent—9.70 number one plateholder John Shotts. Tomsutook the tree by a full .102 against wheelie bar racer Shotts in a doublebreakout race. Vance Houdyshell qualifiednumber one with a near-perfect 10.302 and lost to Shotts in the quarterfinals.
Tomsuwon Bagger Eliminator when final round opponent Brett Carlisle redlit.
“Dragbagalso went 141 mph! I believe that is the fastest of any naturally aspiratedHarley-Davidson with stock cases EVER! Just more proof that STFUmotorcycles.comhas the best pistons, rods, drop-on kits currently on market.
“Ialso want to thank my race family for the support this weekend—A1, Street Kings,and Casey Smith.
“Thesetrophies are special because the track is getting bulldozed. Seems unrealbecause I have been to this track many times as a spectator.”
Joe D. Gladden won BaggerEliminator on Saturday.
Mad Monkey Motorsports Eliminator and Trophy Street
Reiss and Tomsu may haveone two, but Drew Queen won THREE races last weekend in Atlanta. Queen wonTrophy Street both days and Mad Monkey Motorsports Eliminator on Saturday. JeffJennings was the Sunday Trophy runner-up.
Terry Mason won Sunday’s MadMonkey Motorsports Eliminator race, beating champion Kevin Winters in a doubleredlight final round.
9.30 index
Ken Strauss parlayed his9.30 index number one qualifier into the win on Sunday, beating Greg Howerhandily at the tree (.062 to .293) and maintaining a cushion to the stripe.
11.50 index
Last but not least is 11.50index, won by the ubiquitous 27X champ Donnie Huffman. He beat Eliminatorwinner Mason by running closer to the number (11.52) after losing the tree .093to .038.
Donnie was on his 2004Sportster, not his Livewire—which clicks off 11:50s so steadily that it is notlegal for the class. “Me and Chad Rawlings was going to the finals on theLivewires in Eliminator, but the redeye got us in the semis,” reported Huffman.
ShutdownArea
And with that, AHDRA closed the dooron their way out of Atlanta Dragway. The veteran and friendly Atlanta Dragway staffposed for one more photo in front of the iconic track tower.
But the AHDRA lives on. Bill Rowe, hisfamily, and the hardest working, all-American motorcycledrag racing organization in the business look forward to welcoming racers andfans to Cecil County Dragway on May 21-23 in Rising Sun, Maryland.
The AHDRA website is at http://raceahdra.com/
The AHDRA Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/ahdraracing/
The AHDRA Facebook group can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/AHDRA/
For more information, email AHDRA’s Bill Rowe at bcrowe92891@gmail.com
AHDRA is owned by Pulse Marketing, the Hellertown, Pennsylvania-based motorsports promotion companyrun by veteran drag racer Rowe and his family.
AHDRA thanks
