Atlanta Dragway played host to the inaugural NHRA Unleashed event, a televised four-event series for 2010 featuring 10 classes of racing for all makes of automobiles this past weekend.
It was an all Jackson County showdown in the 13.00 Index class, as Jacob Rutledge of Hoschton faced off against Jeff Wagner of Braselton.
Rutledge came away the victor, turning in a pass at 13.03 seconds, 96.13 mph in his 1966 Chevelle. Wagner’s 1971 Dodge Duster rumbled down the strip in 13.02 seconds, 97.91 mph.
Robert Mathis, of Baker, FL, out-dueled Dothan, AL, native Keith Baker in the Dixie Pro Mod category, during in a 4.13-second run at 179.92 mph to Baker’s 4.15, 176.53 mph.
Woodstock’s Tim Lynch came out on top of the 10.5 Outlaw division finals with a run in 4.60, 168.53 mph. He defeated Conway, SC, racer Dave Cox, who turned in a run in 4.89 seconds, 156.83 mph.
Keith Szabo, of Gainesville, topped all competitors in the Limited Street class. His pass in 4.89 seconds, 161.54 mph, bested runner up Eric Dillard of Dothan, AL.
Flovilla native Jimmy Martin took top honors in the Easy Street class, with a pass at 5.31 seconds, 137.30 mph to best Wes Whittle, of Mt. Pleasant, SC, who suffered mechanical woes in the finals.
Douglasville’s Jody Voyles won the Modified Street division with a run at 5.35 seconds, 135.40 mph, besting Charles Hawkins of Pinson, AL.
Dan Bytnar, Cumming, bested Brian Farrar of Oak Ridge, TN, with a run at 8.55 seconds, 157.59 mph in the 8.50 Index category.
In the 10.00 Index class, it was Stan Sinack of Lilburn picking up the win in his 1969 Dodge Dart. Sinack ran the quarter mile in 10.05 seconds, 124.38 mph, to best David Lee, Suwanee, who was piloting a 1970 Chevy Nova.
Kennesaw’s Mark Young put his Mustang in victory lane in the 11.00 Index class, making a pass at 11.02 seconds, 117.87 mph. He defeated the ’64 Chevelle of Ricky Pennington of Calera, AL.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Commerce News or The Banks County News.
