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AHDRA'S ATLANTA SHOW DAMPENED BY HOLIDAY RAINS

Winston-Salem, N.C., June 2, 2005 - Memorial Day weekend rains halted the AHDRA's Stone Mountain Harley-Davidson Southern Nationals just before the semifinals in pro classes at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia. Intermittent sprinkles caused delays throughout the program on Sunday, as the AHDRA sanction put in a valiant effort to complete the event.

Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley rider Mike Romine was one racer who sure hated to see the rains come. The tall rider from Sturgis, Michigan, led the Top Fuel field from the start, qualifying #1 with a 6.534 on his Salt Lake City H-D bike. But it was Jay Turner, riding for the newly retired Johnny Mancuso, who had low ET of round 2 of eliminations (the last round run), with a 6.563 at 209.25 mph. Mark Cox and Doug Vancil rounded out the tightly packed semifinal field, as Romine actually ran his slowest lap of the weekend in two after a brief starter snafu in the water box.

Turner may actually have been doubly disappointed to see racing halted, as the JIMS Pro Fuel #1 qualifier also had low ET of round 2 (6.749) in that class and had a good chance at scoring a rare nitro double. With challenger Mike Lehman out in round 1, the rains cost points leader Chris Streeter a chance to extend his lead a couple of rounds further. To do so, though, he would have had to race past Armon Furr, who ran a personal best 6.837 in round 2. Steve Simmons was the other remaining semifinalist.

The Kresto Pro Dragster field of semifinalists was just as tight as the other nitro classes. Pro Drag rookie Willie Herschberger qualified #1 with a 7.505, but was only the third quickest of the round 1 winners. Pro Rookie rider of the year John Breckenridge had low ET with a 7.436, as Phil Schmidt and Chuck Jones rounded out the competitive semifinal field.

It was the first time for S&S Pro Stock champ Rick Maney to race in Atlanta since starting his new job with Star Racing/G-Squared in nearby Americus. Having George Bryce looking over his shoulder pushed Maney to #1 qualifier and low ET of round 1 with matching 7.471 ETs. Very close behind was Dale Raudenbush, fresh off two straight wins. Also still in the hunt was Dave "Fuzzy" Feazell on Jon Miller's Thiel's Wheels bike and four-time class champ Tom Bradford.

Bradford also has an S&S Pro Gas championship on his resume, and after round 1 in that class, #1 qualifier Bradford was way ahead of the field with a 7.484 low ET in round 1. James Kelly's distant 8.202 was the next quickest in the field, followed by Lee Hitz and defending champion Brook McCabe.

Junior Pippin didn't win his fourth straight Samson Pro Modified race of 2005, but he didn't lose it, either. Champion Pippin would have faced Bruce Beltramini in the semi, with Shaun Reno and Eddie Lee still alive on the other side.

Four-time G-Squared Street Pro champ Travis Lummus qualified #1 with a 9.040 in Atlanta, but low ET honors of round 1 went to defending champion Joey Sternotti, who ran the meet's first 8 with an 8.963. Zach Johnson was the other surviving semifinalist.

Sternotti was also leading a very tight field in the S&S 124 Challenge class. #1 qualifier Sternotti's first-round 9.655 ET was just ahead of Michael Ray, who was in turn just ahead of Tripp Nobles.

Two-time Screamin' Eagle V-Rod champion Nobles was also still alive in that class, though not at the top of the heap where he's accustomed to residing. Eagle H-D rider Larry Edmondson qualified #1 and scored low ET of the first round. Nobles was just behind Edmondson, and ahead of Terry Vaughan and Jamie McNaughton.

Dragmasters Hot Street champ John Burdynski started the race weekend by getting disqualified for pit lane high jinks prior to Friday's test and tune. Rival Mike Roberts rose to the occasion, qualifying #1 and leading round 1 of eliminations. Bruce Cronenberger and Dan Norlin also advanced into the semis.

Dave Ostrowske, Blake Holliday, and Bob Drapp were all still in the hunt for their first Rucker Performance Super Gas win of '05, but #1 qualifier Frank Genzale went out in round 2.

Hot Street semifinalist Cronenberger also qualified #1 and was still in the hunt in S&S Supersport, along with Blake Holliday's wife Julia and Bakersfield SE winner Charlie Walker.

Cleve McConnell beat his brother Robert to lead the large Performance Corner Super Eliminator field into the quarterfinals before the rains came.

Bill Draffin was shooting for a double win, having lived through three rounds of the Screamin' Eagle Performance Parts class and Syn3 ET. J.P. Hendrzak planned to ruin Draffin's double-vision dream in the SEP semi, while Iowa H-D dealer Clay Wilwert and James Van Fleet would have battled it out on the other side of the ladder.

In Syn3 ET, champion Dan DeGood was looking to turn his year around and was still hanging in there after the fourth (and final) round. But Donnie Huffman, Bill Draffin (also still in SEP), Tom Ocasio, and Ron Rogan all had their eyes set on ET glory as well.

The AHDRA hopes for a drier weekend when everyone returns to the track for the Roeder H-D/Buell Buckeye Nationals, June 11-12, at fabulous Norwalk Raceway in Norwalk, Ohio. For more information, please contact 336-924-2095 or visit www.ahdra.com.