FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Five Georgia racers take wins

REYNOLDS, Ga. - Guy Kelly grabbed his fourth win of the year and Mark Billington picked up his second at this weekend's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Silver Dollar Raceway.

Kelly took out Arthur Allen in the final round extending his points lead for the Top Alcohol Dragster Southeast Division Championship. Kelly out ran Allen with a 5.529 second run at 256.80 mph to Allen's 5.686 at 234.49 mph.

Billington of Norcross, Ga., took out Jay Payne in the final of Top Alcohol Funny Car with a run of 6.155 seconds at 239.74 mph. This is Billington's second win of the season picking up a win back in June at South Georgia Motorsports Park.

"Somedays it's better to be lucky than good. We're real happy with the win but it shook the tires right off the start which it shouldn't be doing. We'll take it any way we can get it."

Payne's car broke at half track slowing him to an 8.121 second run although he maintains the points lead for the Southeast Division NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Championship.

Don Eberly of Brunswick, Ga., beat No. 1 qualifier Glen Treadwall in Comp Eliminator with a pass of 8.210 seconds at 160.52 mph and Jeff Wilkerson out ran Gilmer Hinshaw in Top Sportsman running 7.434 seconds at 177.84 mph.

Other Georgia racers picking up wins were Jonathan Anderson of Griffin, Ga., in Super Street, Jeff Brown of Forest Park, Ga., in Super Gas, and David Tatum of Palmetto, Ga., in Super Comp.

David Rampy won in Stock Eliminator over Trevor Weiss of Cuthbert, Ga., and Stan Perry won in Super Stock over Mike Crutchfield.

In Friday night's Top Sportsman shootout, Ronnie Davis of Suwanee, Ga., knocked off Jeff Pittman for the win with a run of 6.934 seconds at 201.64 mph.

The Southeast Division racers head to Darlington International Dragway for its next and last stop on the NHRA Southeast Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, October 8-10.

The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Silver Dollar Raceway:

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Round one
4) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.214, 218.41 def. 
3) Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., 6.134, 204.76

2) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.801, 231.40 def. 
5) Cherissa Smallwood, Gainesville, Fla., 6.789, 208.62

1) Guy Kelly, Wadley, Ala., 5.548, 254.62 def. 
6) Dan Lucas, Cumming, Ga., 6.697, 168.14

Semifinals
Allen, 5.674, 244.65 def. Fiorelli, broke
Kelly, 5.491, 257.19 was unopposed

Final
Kelly, 5.529, 256.80 def. Allen, 5.686, 234.49

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
Final
2) Mark Billington, Norcross, Ga., '01 Avenger, 6.155, 239.74 def.
1) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 8.121, 108.21


COMP ELIMINATOR
Don Eberly, Brunswick, Ga., '03 Cavalier, F/AA, 8.210, 160.52  def. 
Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., dragster, E/ED, 8.574, 132.82

SUPER STOCK
Stan Perry, Nashville, Tenn., '69 Camaro, SS/DA, 9.900, 135.05  def. 
Mike Crutchfield, Montgomery, Ala., '90 Camaro, SS/BS, 9.201, 142.00

STOCK ELIMINATOR
David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '67 Camaro, E/SA, 11.270, 113.92  def. 
Trevor Weiss, Cuthbert, Ga., '67 Camaro, B/S, 10.953, 122.76

SUPER COMP
David Tatum III, Palmetto, Ga., dragster, 8.896, 165.99  def. 
Shannon Brinkley, Highlands, Texas, dragster, 8.891, 165.17

SUPER GAS
Jeff Brown, Forest Park, Ga., '95 Cutlass, 9.900, 137.43  def. 
Tom Ratliff, Eustis, Fla., '27 roadster, 9.877, 148.09

SUPER STREET
Jonathan Anderson, Griffin, Ga., '77 Vega, 10.915, 130.57  def. 
Tony Fuller, Oviedo, Fla., '69 Firebird, 10.872, 138.96

TOP SPORTSMAN
Jeff Wilkerson, Athens, Ala., '02 Firebird, 7.434, 177.84  def. 
Gilmer Hinshaw, Burlington, N.C., '99 Monte Carlo, 7.174, 183.47

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHRA Lucas Oil racing action underway

REYNOLDS, Ga. - Guy Kelly and Jay Payne grabbed the No. 1 qualifying spots for this weekend's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Silver Dollar Raceway in Reynolds, Ga.

Kelly from Wadley, Ala., covered the quarter mile in 5.602 seconds at 254.90 mph in his Top Alcohol Dragster. Kelly, who has three Southeast Division wins this season, is followed by Arthur Allen of Jacksonville, Fla., with a 5.642 second run at 246.03 mph. Cummings, Ga., resident Dan Lucas landed in the sixth spot going into tomorrow's eliminations.

Payne, who has bettered Kelly with four divisional wins this year, ran 5.817 seconds at 246.48 mph for the No. 1 spot in Top Alcohol Funny Car. Payne is followed by Norcross, Ga., racer Mark Billington with a 6.122 second pass at 239.61 mph.

Glen Treadwell held off Mike Saye for the top spot in Comp Eliminator with a lap of 8.440 seconds, 0.630 under the index. Saye, who has won this event the last three years in a row, clocked in at 8.944 seconds, 0.516 seconds under the index.

Bobby Dennis of Shorter, Ala., put his '95 Achieva on top in Super Stock with a pass of 10.531 seconds 1.219 seconds under the index. Dennis is followed by Stephen McCreary of Cana, Va., at 10.194 seconds, 1.156 under.

Leading the Stock class is John Livingston with a lap of 11.759 seconds, 1.191 under the index. Allen Lambert of Johns Island, S.C., follows in the No. 2 spot and Baca Raton, Fla., racer Doug Patrick is third. Local racer Woodro Josey of Byron, Ga., is in the No. 7 spot and Jeff Harrington of Perry, Ga., is thirteenth.

Ronnie Davis leads Hunter Youmans in Top Sportsman with a run of 6.905 seconds at 201.97 mph to Youmans 7.067, 192.44 mph run.

Racing continues Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. Tickets are $20. For more information, call Silver Dollar Raceway, (478) 847-4414.

TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER

1) Guy Kelly, Wadley, Ala., 5.602 seconds, 254.90 mph
2) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.642, 246.03
3) Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., 5.821, 232.15
4) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.483, 217.46
5) Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 9.981, 86.21
6) Dan Lucas, Cumming, Ga., 11.501, 71.83

First-round TAD pairings
1) Guy Kelly, Wadley, Ala., 5.602 seconds, 254.90 mph vs. 
6) Dan Lucas, Cumming, Ga., 11.501, 71.83

2) Artie Allen, Jacksonville, Fla., 5.642, 246.03 vs. 
5) Cherissa Griffis, Gainesville, Fla., 9.981, 86.21

3) Robin Samsel, Marion, Ind., 5.821, 232.15 vs. 
4) Don Fiorelli, Palm Bay, Fla., 6.483, 217.46

TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR
1) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.817 seconds, 246.48 mph
2) Mark Billington, Norcross, Ga., '01 Avenger, 6.122, 239.61

First-round TAFC pairings
1) Jay Payne, Claremont, Calif., '02 Camaro, 5.817 seconds, 246.48 mph vs.
2) Mark Billington, Norcross, Ga., '01 Avenger, 6.122, 239.61

COMP
1) Glen Treadwell, Sorrento, Fla., dragster, E/ED, 8.440 seconds, -0.630 (under index)
2) Mike Saye, Johnston, S.C., '92 Cutlass, H/A, 8.944, -0.516
3) Dick Maris, Valrico, Fla., dragster, C/D, 7.106, -0.504
4) David Rampy, Piedmont, Ala., '32 Bantam, A/EA, 7.514, -0.466
5) Van Puckett, Monroe, Ga., '04 Cavalier, F/AA, 8.316, -0.464
6) Jim Kimbrough, Pace, Fla., dragster, C/ED, 7.691, -0.249
7) Martin Phillips, N Augusta, S.C., dragster, C/ED, 8.119, 0.179
8) David Hornady, W Columbia, S.C., '68 Opel, C/A, 8.282, 0.282
9) Larry Pritchett, Clarkrange, Tenn., '04 Sunfire, B/SM, 10.267, 1.497

SUPER STOCK
1) Bobby Dennis, Shorter, Ala., '95 Achieva, GT/KA, 10.531 seconds, -1.219 (under index)
2) Stephen McCreary, Cana, Va., '88 Camaro, SS/DS, 10.194, -1.156
3) Tim Cole, Collierville, Tenn., '96 Corvette, SS/AX, 8.801, -1.049
4) Matt Hensley, Knoxville, Tenn., '68 Barracuda, SS/A, 8.936, -1.014
5) Everett Hill, Fayetteville, Ga., '64 Mustang, SS/L, 10.627, -0.923
6) Mike Crutchfield, Montgomery, Ala., '90 Camaro, SS/BS, 9.188, -0.862
7) David Swimm, Conway, S.C., '87 Camaro, GT/HA, 10.515, -0.835
8) Joe LoCicero, Snellville, Ga., '88 Camaro, GT/CA, 9.867, -0.833
9) Larry Stewart Jr, Clinton, Miss., '67 Nova, SS/HA, 10.086, -0.814
10) James Caro, Houma, La., '00 Avenger, GT/CA, 9.905, -0.795

STOCK
1) John Livingston, Murfreesboro, Tenn., '91 Camaro, F/FIA, 11.759 seconds, -1.191 (under index)
2) Allen Lambert, Johns Island, S.C., '79 Omni, DF/S, 16.679, -1.071
3) Doug Patrick, Boca Raton, Fla., '72 Cutlass, L/SA, 11.964, -1.036
4) Greg Rowe, Bridgeton, N.C., '73 Nova, J/SA, 11.714, -1.036
5) Robbie Shaw, Douglasville, Ga., '87 Formula, G/FIA, 12.122, -1.028
6) W.B. Hutto, Gainesville, Fla., '91 Camaro, G/FIA, 12.133, -1.017
7) Woodro Josey, Byron, Ga., '98 Firebird, B/FIA, 10.721, -0.979
8) Dean Oliver, Stuttgart, Ark., '79 Malibu, K/SA, 11.978, -0.972
9) Butch Payne, Rome, Ga., '97 Firebird, C/FIA, 11.028, -0.972
10) Garry Glazener, Jackson, S.C., '72 Mustang, F/SA, 11.234, -0.916

TOP SPORTSMAN
1) Ronnie Davis, Sewanee, Ga., '63 Corvette, 6.906 seconds, 201.97 mph
2) Hunter Youmans, Allendale, S.C., '57 Chevy, 7.067, 192.44
3) Jeffery Pittman, Conover, N.C., '68 Chevelle, 7.157, 198.99
4) Billy Vaughn, Knoxville, Tenn., '92 Camaro, 7.279, 191.08
5) Larry Hutcheson, Christmas, Fla., '02 Cavalier, 7.292, 188.36
6) Jerry Barker, Byron, Ga., '02 Camaro, 7.298, 189.10
7) Sandy Wilkins, Fuquay Varina, N.C., '02 Cavalier, 7.405, 184.19
8) Greg Hinds, Arab, Ala., '63 Corvette, 7.412, 186.98
9) Billy Bridges, Tallapoosa, Ga., '03 Mustang, 7.424, 183.79
10) Jeff Wilkerson, Athens, Ala., '02 Firebird, 7.438, 185.21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NHRA Lucas Oil Series continues at Silver Dollar Raceway

REYNOLDS, Ga. - Silver Dollar Raceway will host the Southeast division NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Friday and Saturday Sept 10-11. The event is the sixth of seven on the Southeast Division schedule. Drivers in eight categories, including 260-mph Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) and Top Alcohol Funny Car (TAFC), are vying for points leading to divisional and national titles and a share of the $561,000 point fund.

The Trackstar Systems Satellites Top Sportsman (TS) class will also run in conjunction with the event. Participants will run qualifying and eliminations throughout the weekend.

Jay Payne, the current national and divisional Lucas Oil points leader will be trying to improve on his runner-up finish last year in Top Alcohol Funny Car competition. He, along with more than 400 of the Southeast Division's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors, hopes to be in the winner's circle on Saturday night.

Payne, the owner of a trucking company who lives in Claremont, Calif., has found comfortable footing in the Southeast Division in the past several seasons, claiming a pair of division titles in 2000 and 2001 and runner-up finishes in 2002 and 2003. In 2003, the 250-mph Alcohol Funny Car category was contested at six events in the Southeast Division, with Payne managing a win only at Bristol, Tenn., and settling for runner-up status at Gainesville, Fla., Reynolds, Atlanta, and Darlington, S.C. Caledonia, N.Y.'s Jim Sickles, meanwhile, won three events and ultimately claimed the NHRA Southeast Division title.

The 2004 season has been a return to form for Payne as he has won three of the four events contested in the class, taking home trophies at Gainesville, Montgomery, Ala., and Bristol. He was also runner-up to Norcross, Ga., racer Mark Billington at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil, Ga. Billington, currently No. 2 in the division, will be on hand to try to thwart Payne's plans once again.

Also among the eight Lucas Oil Series categories being contested at Silver Dollar is Top Alcohol Dragster. Guy Kelly, of Wadley, Ala., has won the last three events in the division and leads in points coming in to Reynolds. Defending Division Champion, Jason Cannon, of Middleburg, Fla., won the first event of the year in Gainesville, Fla., but hasn't made it back to the final since. The win in Gainesville is enough to leave him second in points. Michael Gunderson, also of Middleburg, Fla., finished runner-up at two events. Cannon and Gunderson, naturally, hope to improve on their status. It could be tough, however, as Kelly has not only won the past three events but was the No. 1 qualifier and ultimately the quickest driver all three times. His best of 5.372 seconds at 262.46 mph came at Montgomery in April.

Larry Pritchett, of Clarkrange, Tenn., hopes to widen his points lead in Comp Eliminator. He has two wins and two runner-up finishes for the year. Other points leaders coming into the event are Mike Crutchfield, Montgomery, Ala., in Super Stock; Greg Rowe, Bridgeton, Fla., in Stock; Lindsey Wood, McAlpin, Fla., in Super Comp; David Scott, North Port, Fla., in Super Gas; and Michael Ruff, Orlando, Fla., in Super Street.

Gilmer Hinshaw, of Burlington, N.C., currently leads the points in the TracStar Systems Satellites Top Sportsman Series. The popular category, featuring high-horsepower full-bodied cars, is run in conjunction with the NHRA Lucas Oil Series at all Southeast Division events.

Gates at Silver Dollar Raceway open at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday. General admission tickets are $20 Friday, $20 Saturday. A two-day ticket is $35. Children 12 and under are admitted free. A $10 discount is available to all military personnel with proper ID.

Qualifying and time trials get under way Friday at noon. TS qualifying is scheduled at 5 and 8 p.m., and TAD and TAFC will have qualifying sessions at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday.

A special concert event featuring music by Snakes in the Woodpile will be featured on Thursday, Sept 9, from 8-11 p.m.

Saturday, qualifying and time trials continue at 9:30 a.m. The final TS and Comp eliminator qualifying is scheduled at noon. TAD and TAFC will run all rounds of eliminations on Saturday starting at 3 p.m.

All other classes will run first round of eliminations Saturday starting at 1 p.m.

Silver Dollar Raceway is located on State Highway 96 West, just west of US Highway 341. For more information call the track, (478) 847-4414 or visit the web site, www.SilverDollarRaceway.com.

The next stop for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series on the Southeast Division schedule is the season finale, Oct. 8-10 at Darlington Int'l Dragway in South Carolina.

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES: Fact Sheet

WHAT: NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, where drivers earn points leading to divisional and national championships. Categories include Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp Eliminator, Super Stock, Stock Eliminator, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The event is the sixth of seven in Southeast Division competition. The division's TracStar Systems Satellites Top Sportsman Series will also be run in conjunction with the event. WHERE: Silver Dollar Raceway, Reynolds, Ga. Track is located on state Highway 96 West, just west of US Highway 341. WHEN: Friday through Saturday Sept. 10-11, 2004 SCHEDULE: Time trials and qualifying schedule for the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series: FRIDAY, Sept. 10 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Qualifying and time trials begin at noon. Top Sportsman qualifying is scheduled at 5 and 8 p.m. Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car qualifying scheduled at 6 and 9 p.m. SATURDAY, Sept. 11 -- Gates open at 8 a.m. Time trials and qualifying 9:30 a.m. Comp and Top Sportsman qualifying at noon. Eliminations begin at 1 p.m.. Eliminations for Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car will be at 3, 6 and 9 p.m. TICKETS: GENERAL ADMISSION/PIT PASS -- $20 Friday, $20 Saturday. Two-day pass $35. Children 12 & under are free. A $10 discount is available to all active duty military personnel with current ID. For more information please call Silver Dollar Raceway at (478) 847-4414 or visit www.silverdollarraceway.com. PURSE: The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competitors will vie for cash and contingency awards of $150,010, part of the 46-race, $6.5 million series. 2003 EVENT WINNERS: Doug Foley, Top Alcohol Dragster; Jim Sickles, Top Alcohol Funny Car; Mike Saye, Comp Eliminator; Peter Biondo, Super Stock; Kevin Helms, Stock Eliminator; Steve Cohen, Super Comp; Bryan Robinson, Super Gas; James Barbera, Super Street BONUS PROGRAMS:
NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS FUND -- a $561,000 point fund from Lucas Oil, which will be shared by 2004 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional champions and national champions. Divisional awards include $8,500 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions; $3,000 to the champions in both Competition and Super Stock; $2,000 each to the champions in Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street. The seven national champions will share a bonus of $135,000. SEALED POWER LOW QUALIFIER BONUS -- a $109,000 overall bonus fund from Federal-Mogul's Sealed Power brand to the low qualifiers at the 46 Lucas Oil events: $1,000 each in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car; $200 each in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock; and $100 in Stock. (TAD and TAFC compete at 43 of 46 divisional events.) JEG'S ALLSTARS: The best of the best from each of NHRA's seven divisions will compete for a share of the $100,000 point fund from Jeg's High Performance. The 2004 Jeg's Allstars event will culminate a year-long points battle between drivers in each of NHRA's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series' eight classes. The top points earner in each category will qualify to represent his/her division at the 2004 Jeg's Allstars. Points are based on in-division races only. The winning division's team will share $20,000 and individual awards include $7,000 each to the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car champions, $6,000 to champions in Comp Eliminator and Super Stock, and $4,500 to the Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, and Super Street champions. Runners-up in all categories will earn $2,000 apiece. Each Allstars competitor will also receive a share of a $20,000 towing fund to get to the event. This year, event sponsor, Jeg's High Performance, has offered a "double up" bonus to Allstars competitors. Winners in each individual class who go on to win the national event will have their Allstars prize money doubled. TRACSTAR SYSTEMS SATELLITES TOP SPORTSMAN SERIES: Run in conjunction with the Lucas Oil Series, competitors in the Top Sportsman class are vying for division championships and a share in the $3,500 purse. Top Sportsman racers may run the seven Southeast Division Lucas Oil events as well as three Lucas Oil Series races in either the North Central or South Central Divisions. FEATURES: More than 400 drivers in the eight racing categories. Eight-car fields in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car, featuring five-second, 260 mph side-by-side racing.