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, resumed with Week 5 and the official 2016 points opener at Atlanta Motor Speedway Friday night.
With an explosive stunt by Benny the Bomb to help usher in the highly competitive points competition for 2016, drivers gripped their wheels and strapped for a night of high-speed stakes and an early lead in the championship standings.
One of the 17 drivers to rise into the top spot in his racing division was Howard Wolf of Marietta, who edged out Jonesboro's Richard Riggi in the evening's final race of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Division. Wolf, who pilots a 1999 Chevrolet Corvette, has been racing on the pit lane drag strip since the series' inception 10 years ago and said he enjoys the easy-going, laidback atmosphere just as much as the racing.
"I've been coming out here since Day 1, actually," he said. "It's a relaxed atmosphere. It's not like other tracks."
As far as maintaining his lead atop the standings as the season progresses, Wolf offered a candid if not humble answer.
"It might be the only time this year," he said with a chuckle.
Wolf will attempt to remain atop the standings in Week 2 among a crowded Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Division with a lineup of more than 30 current entries.
In the Harbin's Mechanical Services Super Pro Division, Robert Chaney made it four straight wins to open the season, beating out challenger Tony Byrd, while Dewayne Bethune, Damon Waldrop and Jamar Copes each posted their second consecutive wins in the Diesel Truck Division, Sport Compact Division and U.S. Marines Division respectively.
Other notable winners who captured early leads in the points standings include McDonough's David Clevenger in the Active Pest Control Pro Division, Mike Capazzoli of Williamson in the Harding Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Domestic Division and Kelly Morgan of Jonesboro in the HeadsUpGeorgia.com Street Modified Division.
Below is a complete list of the June 3 race winners:
Harbin's Mechanical Services Super Pro Division
Robert Chaney (Stockbridge); 2012 American Dragster
Active Pest Control Pro Division
David Clevenger (McDonough); 1969 Chevrolet Nova
Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Division
Howard Wolf (Marietta); 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
Harding Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Domestic Division
Mike Capazzoli (Williamson); 1968 Ford Mustang
HeadsUpGeorgia.com Street Modified Division
Kelly Morgan (Jonesboro); 1968 Ford Mustang
Peach Pass Factory Street Division
Keith Shockey (Fayetteville); 2015 Dodge Challenger
MetroPCS Tuner Division
Amanda Ledbetter (Peachtree City); 2012 Ford Mustang
Domestic Advanced Division
Jon Stovall; 2006 Dodge Viper
Truck Advanced Division
James Hames (McDonough); 1978 Ford Bronco
Diesel Truck Division
Dewayne Bethune (Covington); 2006 Dodge Ram 2500
Truck Division
Shelton Maynard (Hampton); 1972 Chevrolet C-10
Sport Compact Division
Damon Waldrop (McDonough); 1993 Honda Civic
Super Bike Division
Tony Freeman (Stockbridge); 2012 Suzuki
Sport Bike Division
Bryan Berube (Forest Park); 2006 Suzuki
U.S. Marines Motorcycle Division
Jamar Copes (Locust Grove); 2007 Suzuki
Cruiser Division
Brandon Hatfield (Forsythe); 2007 Honda ST1300
ATV/Dirt Bike Division
Wayne Cline (Griffin); Yamaha
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 3 winners:
Classic Custom (Through 1972)
First Place: Larry Young (Woolsey); 1967 Chevrolet Camaro
Modern Custom (1973 through 1999)
First Place: Andrew Karlin (Griffin); 1995 Ford Mustang GT
Second Place: Tyler Hatchett (Griffin); 1995 Stage 3 Roush Mustang
Third Place: Josh Day (Westfield, IN); 1995 Ford Mustang GT
Current Custom (2000 through current)
First Place: Steve Kochik (Stockbridge); 2008 Ford Mustang
Second Place: Chris Johnson (McDonough); 2012 Ford F-150
Third Place: Tina Harrison (Jonesboro); 2014 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ
Showroom Classic (Through 1972)
First Place: Ken Thaxton (Fayetteville); 1967 Corvette Coupe
Second Place: Melissa and Thomas Gilbert (McDonough); 1976 Camaro
Showroom Modern (1973 through 1999)
First Place: Wayne Muchow (Fayetteville); 1981 Chevrolet Corvette
Second Place: Tony Taylor (Stockbridge); 1971 Chevelle
Third Place: Chris Gallagher (Fayetteville); 1998 Trans-am
Showroom Current (2000 through current)
First Place: Brad Turner (Hampton); 2012 Camaro ZLI
Second Place: Kathy Hollis (Macon); 2014 Ford Mustang
Third Place: Julia Thompson (Canton); 2014 Ford Mustang
Tuner
First Place: Adam Henderson (Inman, SC); Volkswagen Beetle
Second Place: Adam Henderson (McDonough); 2007 Mini Cooper
Third Place: Chad Benedict (Griffin); 2011 Honda Accord
Truck
First Place: Steven Smith (Covington); 2010 F-250 King Ranch
Second Place: Chris Cheeves (Griffin); 2015 Ram RT
Third Place: Jason Zaletanski (McDonough); 2016 Nissan Titan XD
Open
First Place: David Downey (Jonesboro); 1929 Dodge Davictoria
Second Place: Amanda Moore (Griffin); 1936 Ford Cabriolet
Atlanta Motor Speedway's O'Reilly Auto Parts Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine continues with Week 6 on Friday, June 10. Grandstand gates open at 6:30 p.m., and nightly drag race eliminations start after 9 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 $8, 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.
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