Summary of Atlanta

Summary of Indy

Summary of Norwalk

Summary of Route 66

Summary of St. Louis

Summary of Bowling Green

Summary of Columbus

Summary of the Door Slammer in Louisville

Atlanta, Dart Top Sportsman Invitational, Was A Terrific Time

Jeffery Barker, in the left lane, RT. (0.007),  7.20 dial on a  7.220, defeated Jeremy Glidewell, RT. (0.050) 7.26 Dial  on a 7.271 in the Dart Final.  We had great racing conditions and terrific hospitality during the weekend.  Division 3 was represented by 6 racers, Don Peden "The Champ", Rick Corn crewed by Jimmy Englund, Reed Hughes crewed by Paul and Paula Mann, Tim Kirman, Brian Brown, and Mitch Smith.  

Dart, Country Motor Trailer Sales and some Casino treated us to dinner and soft drinks. It was a nice time listening to Leo Tower, Jay Hullinger, Red and the gang from Division 3 give us the run down of the up coming events.  Afterward the meal, we began to BS about racing, friends, and past experiences.  It was nice to meet all the friendly D2 racers from the Southeast.  Those guys are pretty sharp and on their game.  Looking at their schedule, they are at the tail end of their season.  This was the first race for many of us D3 racers, well the D3 racers with real jobs that could not go to Florida to race this winter.     

For first round the track was in great shape and the weather was cool and dry.  This made a perfect set-up for a break-out first round.  The first round survivors were:

1. Brian Brown, Coal City IL, with a red light win in his '02 Camaro, RT. (0.035) 7.50 Dial on a  7.452 -0.048, against Chris Rini, Holmes NY, '02 Neon, (-0.030 foul) 6.87 6.831 -0.039 

2. Don Peden, Edinburg IL, in his '05 Cobalt, RT. (0.005) 7.14 Dial on a 8.854 1.714, lucking out with a break out win by defeating Jay McHugh, Commack NY, '68 Camaro, TS, (0.057) 7.77 7.748 -0.022.  Hey Jay, look behind you.  Well the old saying holds true, I rather be luck than good, but Don is both luck and good.

3. Mitch Smith, Anderson IN, in his '06 GTO, with a perfect RT. (0.000) 7.30 dial on a 7.287 -0.013, break out win over Allen Firestone, Velma OK, '01 S-10 pick up (0.028) 6.74 6.690 -0.050.  This was a very close race at the finish line.  Mitch had him covered at the finish line with the perfect reaction time.  Allen took the strip and the loss.

The first round losers were:

1. Rick Corn, Benton IL, '05 Stratus, (0.031) 7.37 7.327 -0.043 with a break out loss to eventual finalist, Jeremy Glidewell, Corinth MS, '95 Cutlass, TS, Left lane, (0.026) 7.42 7.421 0.001.  

2. Tim Kirman, Morris IL, '01 Grand Am, TS, Red Lighted (-0.011 foul) 6.83 16.391 9.561 against Mike Forsythe, Orange Park FL, '63 Corvette, TS, Right lane, (0.039) 7.45 7.428 -0.022. 

3. Reed Hughes, Terre Haute IN, '68 Camaro, with a Red Light loss (-0.001 foul) 6.98 Dial on a 6.975 -0.005 giving Ed Foley, Warminster PA, '02 Cougar, TS, Left lane, (0.024) 7.53 7.506 -0.024.  It think Ed Foley's Mohawk hair do distracted me causing me to react too early.  (Nice race Ed)

Advancing past the second round was one division 3 racer, Mitch Smith making it to the semi finals.  The final 4 were both Jerry Barker Chevrolet cars, Jeremy Glidewell, and Mitch Smith.  Mitch had a very early red light foul.  He must have been distracted by something.  In the Battle of the Barkers there was and interesting turn of events.  The Senior Barker rolled into both the staging and pre stage lights.  Jeffery (Jr.) waited for what seemed to be a minute waiting for Sr. Barker to back out (not wanting the bite the hand the feeds him).  After waiting a long time Jr started to roll into the prestage beam when dad rolled out.  Now Jr is sitting waiting in the pre-stage beams.  Jr being the keen young man he is, quickly reversed the car and back out of the pre-stage beam.  Both settled down and starting over again in a more conventional routine.  Jr could have put it on old Dad but Jr was quite the gentleman.  One thing of note.  I raced the Barker Camaro my first year in Top Sportsman.  Before we had the staging combination figured out on Paul's twin turbo Firebird (RIP), I rolled in deep, and the Barker driving the car quickly bumped in causing me to foul.  Oh well, because I would have done it to him in the same circumstance.  

Good Job Mitch keeping a Division 3 racer in the semi-final.  

If You Missed This Race, You Missed the Race of the Year

Summit Raceway Park at Norwalk, OH  May 20, 2007

The facility at Norwalk has a reputation with high expectations.  I hate being the guy that is asked the question, "Do you know how many 'fill in the blank' to ' fill in the blank'?"  I always answer some huge number so I don't look stupid.  You know, like, Do you know 'what the Army paid DSM Racing' to 'sponsor his Team'?  So I don't want to look stupid,  I say "10 Gillion Dollars."  And the guy that asked the question says no only, "9 Gillion Dollars."  

Well!  When I went to the race I was expecting a 9 Gillion Dollar show and I was surprised to get a 20 Gillion Dollar show.  If you missed this race, you missed the race of the year.  Sorry Leo, I know you must have not been feeling well but I don't know if anyone can announce like Bill Bader Jr.  You know how the NASCAR TV and Radio personalities hype a race and make a boring 3 hour show turn into the something wild and exciting.  Bill Bader Jr. is a level above those guys and he is genuinely into it.  He makes a great show of it too.  Oh, by the way, I had 2 of those delicious bowls of $1 ice cream and the track had a cook-out Friday night too.  

Let's start out with qualifying.  There were a ton of Top Sportsman cars (50) and a ton of Stock, SS, SG, SC, S/St.  There were 14 F/C going for 8 spots.  Well Comp was a little light, and that is expected.  Top Dragster was a bit disappointing, 24 cars.  I think in TD the IHRA guys were afraid of the NHRA tech process, and the NHRA guys were afraid of the IHRA regulars out qualifying them.  Well now that I am an official door car guy, I can say the door cars are much faster than the dragster trash.  (Just kidding about the trash part)  21 TS cars qualified below 6.99.  Stupid Fast.  The TS  bump was 7.14 and fast qualifier was 6.52.  That won't hold up long but I can say it  for now.       

Saturday the pits were packed with fans and the weather was a bit on the crappy side.  Cool, Overcast, and light occasional sprinkles of rain.  Well the fans showed up anyway because the Norwalk track always gives the fans their money's worth.  We have all scene Jet Cars and exhibition cars with fireworks but this was a better show than I have ever observed.  It was set to music with all the showmanship and class you could bring to a show.  

Bill Bader Jr. was in a Tux, the track workers were all clean and in clean and pressed uniforms.  This track is the best NHRA track I have ever observed.  The US Nats, Los Vegas, Route 66, Gateway, Bristol, and many not worth mentioning could not hold a candle to the time I had at the Points Meet in Norwalk call the Cavalcade of Stars, at Summit Motorsports Park at Norwalk, OH.  It felt like I was at an amusement park.  All the walk ways were clean and neat.  The bathrooms (and showers) were fresh and well kept.  All the workers were friendly and they were glad to see us.  I can wait for next year. 

Oh yea, did I say there was racing?  The Top Sportsman field smashed the last fastest field by more than 0.35 seconds.  Oh by the way, the last fastest field race was my favorite race win, 2006 Route 66.  The top qualifiers for TD and TS were Cassie Simanton, Spring Lake Park MN, Meyers-KB 6.629 200.77 MPH and Scott Ray, Greenville OH, '63 Corvette 6.521, 219.36 MPH.  Ricky Adkins, took home the trophy in Top Sportsman with a quick run of 7.124 seconds at 184.98 mph beating Howard Michael.  Top Dragster racer John Maggiulli Jr. ran a time of 7.315 seconds at 167.45 mph to earn the win over Top Sportsman winner Adkins in Top Dragster.

The Paul's Custom Service 68 Camaro ran well qualifying 10th 6.891, 195 MPH.  In the first round of eliminations, the car experienced driveline failure at 1100 ft.  Paul and Paula are working to repair the damage.  The Paul's Custom Service Camaro will return as soon as the aluminum God's deliver new materials to the Jasper, Indiana shop.  Sponsorship or donations can be made to 585 Wernsing Road, Jasper, IN 47546.  Be a part of the history  making Top Sportsman Team of The Paul's Custom Service Team and the TURBOMANNRACING.COM as they go for the Top Sportsman Title in Division 3.  (That last line is funnier if you were at the race listening to Bill Bader Jr.)

Copied from the Dragracecentral.com website.  You can link to that website here.

Time To Get Your Kicks at ROUTE 66

Well this is the Route 66 race preview.  This is my estimate and prediction to what the racing action will be.  So far I have been pretty far off so if you would like to weigh in officially or anonymously, let's hear it by dropping me an Email.   Click here to E mail me.    The last race from Norwalk produced so predictions from the readers.  By the way, they were farther off than me.  Oh well, what do you expect for free.

The event highlights and low lights

Route 66 is one of the nicest tracks with the stadium seating and the widest longest smoothest racing surface.  The NHRA national event coverage made it sound as if the racing surface was coated with wax the way some of the pro's went on and on, so we will see when we get there.  Historically we have raced several small 1/8 mile venues by this time.  At those places the challenge is to find the best part of the track by zig-zag down the thing finding the smoothest part with the best rubber.  Usually a racer is lucky to find one whole groove to race in for a door car.  With that in mind, the racer pulls up to the staging beam at Route 66 to find 4 or 5 grooves to race in and a shut down area so big, you need a map to find the turn off.   No wonder last year this race produced the fastest field to date.  It would be nice if the powers that be at Route 66 installed showers for the racers like Norwalk, Beech Bend, Columbus, and IRP oops ORP.  If anyone at Gateway is listening, this is a good suggestion for you too. 

The track hosts it's Top Sportsman class contested 8 or 10 times a year so getting a full field will probably happen.  On the Top Dragster side... you Dragster whimps better not stay home like you did the weekend of Norwalk.  You guys should still be kicking yourselves for missing the best race of the year at Norwalk.  The NHRA tech guys won't bite too hard.  If you can race the Jeg's SQ stuff, you can race Top Dragster too.  The IHRA guys are afraid of the NHRA tech team so you NHRA dragster drivers will have an easy field to qualify in.  By the way IHRA racers, the NHRA technical guys bark is worse than their bite.  Some of them are a bit grouchy but they are looking out for your safety.  Racing at these speeds, you do need all that expensive safety equipment, buy it.  I can tell you, you will need all of it when you crash. (BTW look at my Crash pictures link at the top of the page) Yes, if you race enough, you will crash, and the safety equipment is cheaper than a funeral.  Oh, by the way, all I have heard for years out of you fast racers is that Super Comp is not for you because you hate slowing down.  Well guess what, speed is encouraged in Top Dragster, so poor it on and let's see how consistently fast you can race.  This is the things dreams are made of.  Some say racing is better than sex ... you can race over and over and over and you don't need to beg or any artifical male enhancement.  BTW, some things in racing are like sex unfortunately, the event only lasts a few seconds but that is OK.  The object of the game is to complete the event in the least amount of time.  That is a good thing for most of us with ADD.  

RACE PREVIEW Downers  

If I see another snow mobile race during 'Ice Cream Eating' weather, I think I will puke.  Those are some cool sleds but they have so much traction on pavement that they are boring.  Maybe they should race those things on the grass in the pits or something.  That would get a bigger croud than the one they get now.  What do you say Leo, Let's make them race in the tall grass to make it interesting?

I understand the weather is to be hotter than hell.  Take it easy in the sun.  I know we will keep ourselves well hydrated in the evening with frozen Margaritas'.  Don't get over heated and keep the pets safe.  

See ya at the races...

Don't for get to E-mail me your racer information and a picture and I will build a page for you on this sight.  Email me at rhughes@ma.rr.com...