Atlanta Motor Speedway's third-full season of Friday Night Drags kicked off on Friday, June 5 with points awarded to the victors in 10 classes of high speed racing on Atlanta Motor Speedway's pit lane drag strip.
The points opener for the Friday Night Drags season featured four new full-time classes competing on Friday Night - Truck Advanced, Sport Compact, Motorcycle and Super Bike - and a host of local winners, including one drag racer and two Show-N-Shine entries from Atlanta Motor Speedway's hometown of Hampton. Hampton resident Tommy Buffington claimed the win in the Domestic class in his 1969 Chevrolet Corvette, while Hampton's Jesse Olive (Tuner) and Patricia Hayes (Current Custom) each took first in their respective Show-N-Shine class.
Points will be awarded each night during the 13-week points season in every class except the Domestic, Truck and Sport Compact classes. Each division winner will take home three points, second-place two points and the rest of the participants will be awarded one point. The competitor with the most points at the end of the season wins the championship title on September 11. In the event of a tie, the competitor with the most wins will be awarded the title.
Below is a complete list of the June 5 winners:
Pro: Bobby Daniel (Stockbridge) in a 1983 Chevrolet Cutlass
Pro Four: Jose Samaniego (Jonesboro) in a 1988 Honda CRX
Street Outlaw: Chris Striplang (Stockbridge) in a 1987 Ford Mustang
Sportsman: Mike Mele (Braselton) in a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS
Truck Advanced: Steve Long (Zebulon) in a 1994 Dodge 2500
Truck: Chuck Prickett (Covington) in a 1995 Dodge Dakota
Domestic Advanced: Howard Wolf (Marietta) in a 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
ATV: Jason Hydrick (Brooks)
Domestic: Tommy Buffington (Hampton) in a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle
Sport Compact: Chris Richardson (Kennesaw) in a 2007 Honda Accord
Tuners: Tony Taylor (Stockbridge) in a 2005 Mitsubishi Evolution
Super Bike: Justin Barlow (Flovilla) on a Suzuki GSXR 1000
Motorcycle (Cruiser/Dirt bike): Jacob Turner (Griffin) on a 1988 Honda CR 500
The Show N' Shine competition featured everything from new imports to classic muscle cars. Below is a complete list of the June 5 winners:
Showroom Current (1973 through current): Rick Vanthof (Peachtree City) in a 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
Runner-up: Tony Manning (Hampton) in a 2009 Dodge Challenger
Third-place: Gary Wallace (McDonough) in a Chevrolet Corvette
Showroom Classic (1972 and prior): Rod Harris (Stockbridge) in a 1971 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Runner-up: Keith Liles (Stockbridge) in a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Third-place: Larry Bell (McDonough) in a 1966 Pontiac GTO
Tuner (all sport compact vehicles): Jesse Olive (Hampton) in a Toyota Scion XB
Runner-up: Deanna Hall (Griffin) in a 1999 Honda Accord
Third-place: Matthew Parsons (Monticello) in a Dodge Caliber SRT-4
Current Custom (1973 through current): Patricia Hayes (Hampton) in a 2003 Ford Mustang GT
Runner-up: Joy Jones (Jackson) in a Ford Mustang GT
Third-place: Neal Anthony (Fayetteville) in a Ford Mustang GT
Classic Custom (1972 and prior): Jerry Crawford (Newnan) in a 1932 Ford Roadster
Runner-up: Ken Thaxton (Fayetteville) in a 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II
Third-place: Randy Thornton (Oxford) in a 1956 Ford F-100
Motorcycle: Bubba Hohenberger on a 2003 Suzuki
Runner-up: John O'Conner Jr. (Jackson) on a Honda CBR 600
Third-place: Matthew Price (Moreland) on a Yamaha YZF-R1
President's Award (chosen by AMS president Ed Clark): Wayne Wells (Newnan) in a 1967 Ford F100
Special Class - '50s are Forever: Billy Poore (Locust Grove) in a 1951 Ford Victoria
Atlanta Motor Speedway's Friday Night Drags is held nearly every Friday night through September 11. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and nightly drag race eliminations start at 9:09 p.m. Entry for drag racing or the Show N' Shine is $20 or a combo ticket can be purchased for $30, spectator tickets are $7 for adults and children under six are free. More information can be found at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.
