MMP'S HANGOVER NATIONALS
The cars came, and day one of the 7th Annual Hangover Nationals went off without a delay on Saturday (12/30). The rains did come on New Year's Eve, shortening the planned two-day bash.
Only a promoter like Montgomery (AL) Motorsports Park's George Howard could draw
a field of almost 200 bracket and heads-up cars to a race in December where
weather forecasters were predicting 90 and 100 percent chances of rain.
The cars came, and day one of the 7th Annual Hangover Nationals went off
without a delay on Saturday (12/30). The rains did come on New Year's Eve,
shortening the planned two-day bash.
The race was a typical George Howard
style race with bracket and heads-up cars in the same event. Heads -up winners
Saturday included Jeremy Ellis of Phenix City, AL in the 5.30 class. He
defeated Jonathan Dixon of Montgomery in the finals, using a hole shot to
overcome Dixon's quicker but losing 5.345 at 130.32 miles per hour. Derek
Anthony of Bankston, AL was the lone 5.30 semi-finalist.
In the 6.0
heads - up class, Montgomery racer Buddy Baggett continued his domination with a
win over Selma racer Mike Young. Tim Jones of Anniston, AL was the
semi-finalist.
The 7.0 winner was Matt Mitchell of Roanoke, AL, as he
edged Larry Miller of Troy, AL in the finals. Ricky Tyler of Ariton, AL was the
semi-finalist.
Dennis Sellers of Andalusia, AL was the Footbrake winner,
edging Gardendale, AL racer Brad Ford. In the Pro class, Doug Harper of
Albertville, AL took the win over a red-lighting Waylon Dykes of Marianna, FL.
Jason McClure and David Seay were the semi-finalists.
George Howard has
announced that Montgomery Motorsports Park will be closed during the month of
January for a major track grooming effort. Coming up in February, the
Flowmaster American Drag Racing league makes its first appearance at MMP with a
Test and Tune Session February 3-4 in advance of the ADRL 2007 season opener,
the SpeedTech Winter Drags February 16-18.
The Flowmaster ADRL event
will bring the world's hottest Pro Modified and Outlaw 10.5 inch racers to
Montgomery.
As for the rest of the 2007 season, George Howard is
promising a mix of heads-up and bracket events along with special events such as
the ADRL race in February. One highlight will be a heads-up series alternating
between Montgomery Motprsports Park and its sister track, Huntsville Dragway.
The complete schedule will be released shortly.