In the penultimate week of the 2017 O'Reilly Auto Parts Friday Night Drags and Show-N-Shine season, it was crunch time in 18 different racing divisions, as drivers grasped at every last point they could capture leading into next week's championship finale.
In the New Edge Division, like it sometimes does, the final race came down to Newnan's Steve Shaffer and Cleveland, Tennessee's Jeff Nance, both of whom drive late-model Chevrolet Corvettes.
Both drivers are familiar to the fans in the grandstands for in their fast, bright-colored V-8 machines and to each other as two of the top drivers in the division - though there always seems to be a last-minute issue that keeps the pair from actually competing head-t-head on the drag strip.
On Friday night, though, it came down to Shaffer and Nance in the New Edge Division final, and it was Nance, who makes the four-hour journey from his Southeast Tennessee hometown every week, ending up getting the better of Shaffer. But there's a mutual respect between the two that makes the weekly competition something Nance looks forward to each of the other six nights out of the week.
"It's entertaining," Nance said. "He's always got a colorful expression every now and then and plenty of energy. I finally got to race him; all season long, there's been something keeping us from racing each other. We really enjoyed it. I thought he was going to beat me for a second."
For Nance, a seasoned racer who wheels his Corvette at tracks all throughout the South and is competing for the first time at Atlanta Motor Speedway this year, drag racing is a lifelong passion he's more than willing to make the drive for.
"I've been doing it a long time," he said. "I went to the drag strip as a child, and I just loved it, so I started doing it as soon as I got my first car.
"But the reason I come down here and make the four-hour drive every week is because of the rules. No other track has the kind of rules where a car that can be driven daily can also come out and be competitive. So, I want to support the fact that they're willing to make a set of rules that includes everyone. I certainly enjoy it."
With Nance's Friday-night victory, he adds a fifth to his 2017 resume and moves comfortably ahead in the points in his racing class with next week's Friday Night Drags finale - and a likely championship trophy - less than a week away.
In the Harding Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Domestic Division, Hampton's Chris Morgan secured his second victory of the season by beating out last week's winner, Donnie Henderson of. Meanwhile, Alan Kidd scored his first win in the Super Pro Division after getting the better of Robert Cheney and his American dragster in the final race of the evening.
David Clevenger of Hampton continued with his winning ways in the Pro Division after edging Jimmy Jones of Jonesboro with his 1986 Chevrolet Corvette. Clevenger extends his lead to five points over Oxford's Dale Rodgers, all but wrapping up the 2017 Pro Division title.
Other notable winners Friday night include William Hunter of McDonough in the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Division, Tyler Hatch of Griffin in the Harbin's Mechanical Sport Compact Division and Lamar Chambers of Griffin in the MetroPCS Tuner Division.
Below is a complete list of the Aug. 11 winners:
Super Pro
Alan Kidd; 1981 Chevrolet Pickup
Pro
David Clevenger (Hampton); 1986 Chevrolet Corvette
Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman
William Hunter (McDonough); 1989 Ford Mustang
Harding Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Domestic
Chris Morgan (Hampton); 1966 Ford Mustang
Harbin's Mechanical Sport Compact
Tyler Hatchett (Griffin); 1999 Honda CRX
MetroPCS Tuner
Lamar Chambers (Griffin); Volkswagen Beetle
Street Modified
David Waksman (Sharpsburg); 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
Factory Street
Keith Shockey (Fayetteville); 2015 Dodge Challenger
Street Outlaw
Rodney Bunn (Griffin); 1973 Volkswagen Beetle
New Edge
Jeff Nance (Cleveland, TN); 2015 Chevrolet Corvette
Street Performer
Jody Scott (Griffin); 1995 Chevrolet Corvette
Diesel Truck
Brian Sparrow (Flovilla); 2005 Ford F-250
Truck
Ed Blanford (McDonough); 1968 Ford F-100
Super Bike
Toney Freeman (Stockbridge); 2007 Suzuki Hyabusa
Sport Bike
Toney Freeman (Stockbridge); 2006 Suzuki Hayabusa
Motorcycle
Justin Goodman (Griffin); 2007 CRB 600
Cruiser
Daniel Leath (Fayetteville); 2014 Yamaha Bolt
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 Aug. 11 winners:
Classic Custom (Through 1972)
First Place: Andy Sarratt (Social Circle), 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air
Second Place: Jason Watts (Senoia); 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
Third Place: Jonathan Hall (Fayetteville); 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
Modern Custom (1973 through 1999)
First Place: Terry Ison (Zebulon), Chevrolet Camaro
Second Place: Ralph Aviles (Griffin); 1980 Chevrolet Camaro
Third Place: Elijah Waits (Senoia); 1990 BMW Harsco
Showroom Classic (Through 1972)
First Place: Rod Harris (Stockbridge); 1970 Chevrolet Camaro
Second Place: Ashton Smith (Haralson); Chevrolet Impala
Showroom Current (2000 through current)
First Place: Andrew Baer (Marietta), 2014 Chevrolet Camaro
Second Place: Zachary Hill (Hampton); 2006 Pontiac GTO
Tuner
First Place: Josh Katona (Atlanta); 2015 Honda Accord
Second Place: Cody Smith (Miami, FL); Mitsubishi Lancer
Third Place: Ashley Mussingill (Lamar), 2014 Honda
Truck
First Place: Nicky Levering; 1999 Ford Ranger
Second Place: Matthew Chaffin (Newnan), 2010 GMC Sierra
Third Place: Carter Lewis (Griffin), 2001 Ford F-150
Open
First Place: Lefty (Griffin), 1986 Astro Van
Second Place: Vinnie Alfieri (McDonough); Deuceiva Half
Third Place: Elijah Waits (Senoia); 1990 BMW Harsco
Atlanta Motor Speedway's O'Reilly Auto Parts Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine wraps up the 2017 season with the 16th and final week next Friday, Aug. 18. Grandstand gates open at 6:30 p.m., and nightly drag race eliminations start just 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.
