Drivers took to the pit lane drag strip at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Week 7 action of the O'Reilly Auto Parts Friday Night Drags, the popular street-style drag racing series and one of the largest organized programs of its kind in the country, with championship points on the line on Friday night. It was also an opportunity for competitors to prepare for the highly anticipated return of the Street Wars series next Friday night.
David Waksman, winner of the first Hard Tire division race in Street Wars I a few weeks ago, notched his second win in the street modified division. The Sharpsburg native, in his 1994 Chevrolet Camaro, outdueled the 1987 Ford Mustang piloted by Jonathan Delcambre of McDonough. Waksman now leads the street modified division with a pair of wins on the season as his focus turns to the second Street Wars race of the year next Friday.
While Waksman tuned up for the Street War Series, James Walker of Fayetteville found himself in victory lane for the first time this year in the New Edge division. In one of the newest classes at the O'Reilly Auto Parts Friday Night drags, it had one of the newest winners in Walker as he made just his second appearance at the pit lane drag strip on Friday night.
"This is my new hobby - racing - and I wanted to see what the car could do. I did some work to the car, but one of the things I'm learning to do out here is launch the car better," explained Walker as he indicated the car has over 900 horsepower to the crankshaft generating a lot of power. "I think I'm getting a little bit better at it."
Walker knocked off the 1990 Ford Mustang piloted by Dustin Pratt of McDonough in the final.
"I'm excited to make it to victory lane. Feels good to make the right turn," exclaimed Walker. "I will be back."
Robert Cheney of Stockbridge made it back to Victory Lane in the Super Pro Division in his American Dragster in just his second appearance of the season. With rain threatening, Cheney defeated the 1986 Ford Thunderbird piloted by Tony Byrd of Stockbridge in the final race of the night.
Other notable winners in Week 7 included the second win of the season for Jon Stovall of Alpharetta in the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Division. In the MetroPCS Tuner Division, Kris Edwards of Austell earned his first trip of the season to victory lane while Courtney Perry of Covington notched his second victory of the points season in the Harbin's Mechanical Sport Compact Class.
Below is a complete list of the June 16 race winners:
Super Pro
Robert Cheney (Jonesboro); American Dragster
Pro
David Clevenger (Hampton); 1986 Chevrolet Corvette
Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman
Jon Stovall (Alpharetta); 2000 Dodge Viper
Harding Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Domestic
Mike Capozzoli (Williamson); 1968 Ford Mustang
Harbin's Mechanical Sport Compact
Courtney Perry (Covington); 1995 Honda Del Sol
MetroPCS Tuner
Kris Edwards (Austell); 2016 Ford Fusion
New Edge
James Walker (Fayetteville); 2016 Dodge Challenger Hellcat
Street Performer
Jody Scott (Griffin); 1995 Chevrolet
Street Modified
David Waksman (Sharpsburg); 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
Street Outlaws
Mike Chambers (Griffin); 1988 Ford Mustang
Factory Street
Steve Shaffer (Newnan); 2017 Chevrolet Camaro
Truck
Shelton Maynard (Hampton); 1972 Chevrolet C10
Sport Bike
Bryan Berube (Forest Park); 2013 Suzuki Hayabusa
Motorcycle
Justin Goodman (Griffin); 2007 CBR 6000
ATV
Wayne Cline (Griffin); ATV
The Show-N-Shine competition featured everything from new imports to classic muscle cars and automobiles ranging as far back as the 1930s. Those vehicles then took part in the Speedway Cruise following judging.
Below is a complete list of the June 16 winners:
Classic Custom (Through 1972)
First Place: Earl Fendall (Hampton), 66 Chevy Hepside
Second Place: Gene Fuller (Hiram), 1955 Chevrolet
Third Place: John and Karen Vise (Forrest Park), 1957 Chevrolet
Modern Custom (1973 through 1999)
First Place: Lee Gentry (Tyrone), 1979 Corvette
Current Custom (2000 through current)
First Place: Ken Thaxton (Fayetteville), 2004 Corvette Z06
Second Place: Earl Reed (McDonough), 2014 Sting Ray
Third Place: Barry Campbell (Stockbridge), 2017 Corvette Grand Sport
Showroom Classic (Through 1972)
First Place: Dave Rubel (Peachtree City), 1962 Corvette
Second Place: Johnny Miller (Locust Grove), 1972 Monte Carlo
Showroom Modern (1973 through 1999)
First Place: Wayne Muchon (Fayetteville), Camaro
Second Place: Tommy Tollison (Georgia), Trans Am
Third Place: Tom Anderson (Fayetteville) , 1987 Chevy Corvette
Showroom Current (2000 through current)
First Place: Shane Wright (Fayetteville), 2011 Corvette Grand Sport Conv.
Second Place: Robert Tipton (Peachtree City), Corvette
Third Place: Steve West (Tyrone), 1972 Corvette LT1
Tuner
First Place: Adam Wallace (McDonough), Mini Cooper
Second Place: Riley Greenleaf (Newman), 1993 Mazda Miata
Third Place: Toronto Scruggs (McDonough), 2013 Hyundai Genesis
Truck
First Place: Zack Carter (Macon), 2015 White Silverado 1500 CT
Second Place: James L. Smith (Douglasville), 1990 Chevy Sport
Third Place: Justin Couch (McDonough), 2015 f-150
Open
First Place: Larry and Ashley Ferguson (Griffin), Honda Valkyrie Trike 2001
Second Place: Shane Hendrix (Zebeulan), 1953 Ratt Rod
Third Place: Doug Ellis (Stockbridge), 2017 Harley Soft Tail
Atlanta Motor Speedway's O'Reilly Auto Parts Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine continues with Week 8 on June 23 with "Street Wars II". Grandstand gates open at 6:30 p.m., and nightly drag race eliminations start after 9:00 p.m.
Entry to drag race or for the Show-N-Shine is just $20 or competitors can purchase a combo ticket for $30. Spectator tickets are just $10, and children 5 and under are free. More information can be found at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/drags or by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at (770) 946-4211.
