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2004 COMMERCE, GEORGIA - F.A.S.T. RACE
Once again we returned to the Year One sponsored October races. This time Year One had moved the event closer to their home offices near Atlanta in Commerce, Georgia. This event had been previously known as the "Bristol Bash" and was held at Bristol Raceway in Bristol, TN., and is what really got the F.A.S.T. ball rolling in the right direction. We always look forward to this event during the entire season. Racer participation was up at this event. New and upcoming competitors filled the field.. Due to a poor weather outlook, the normal three day event was compressed into only two days-Friday/Saturday October 8 and 9, 2004. Naturally, the weather forecasters got it all wrong and there was no rain on Sunday. At least everyone got a dry drive home!
The weather wasn't the only thing that held storm clouds for the F.A.S.T. racers this weekend. We had our first disqualified racer in the history of F.A.S.T.. Just a bit of "bumpy weather" as everyone will respect that we have rules to follow to keep it honest. The F.A.S.T. community is over it and moving forward.
On a related note, our new Technical Director Bobby "Streetwize" McDowall had his job cut out for him, and he came thru with flying colors. He kept EVERYONE on the "straight and narrow"! Several of the cars were sporting roll bars in their cars and it was a good thing because again, ET records were set as the cars get closer and closer to the 10's. The Magic 10 Second Barrier still stands despite the efforts of this year's entrants. But, boy, were they getting close!! Remember, YearOne has a $1000 reward for the first F.A.S.T. racer to break into the 10's during a F.A.S.T. sanctioned event. The final round was between Greg Gessler's Stage 1 Buick which ran a prior 11.17 verses Dave Dudek's Hemi Challenger which ran a prior 11.18, this was to be a good race! Unfortunately, the final round was a bit of a disappointment for racers and fans alike. The Challenger accidentally rolled thru the staging beams just a second before the Christmas tree lights flashed on, starting the race. The red light came on and no ET or MPH was recorded in Dave's lane, giving the automatic win to Greg Gessler.
Congradulations Greg!
Four years in a row, Greg Has won the Year One Bristol Bash/ Fall Automotive Nationals.
F.A.S.T. Qualifying Order
| Qualifying # / Name | State | Car | Transmission | ET | MPH |
| 1- Greg Gessler | New Jersey | 1972 Buick GS, 455 Stage 1 | Automatic | 11.32 | 123.5 |
| 2- Dave Dudek Jr. | Michigan | 1970 Dodge Challenger, 426 Hemi | Manual | 11.34 | 127.59 |
| 3- Dave Dudek Sr. | Michigan | 1969 Plymouth GTX, 426 Hemi | Automatic | 11.66 | 120.5 |
| 4- Wayne Nelson | Minnesota | 1969 Chevrolet Corvette, L88 427 | Automatic | 11.73 | 119.1 |
| 5- Tom Cannon | Pennsylvania | 1970 Dodge Challenger TA, 340-6 | Manual | 11.83 | 120.42 |
| 6- Pat Wendling | Ohio | 1970 Pontiac Firebird, 400 RAIV | Automatic | 11.83 | 118.1 |
| 7- Joel Nystrom | Minnesota | 1967 Plymouth GTX, 426 Hemi | Manual | 12.07 | 93.4 |
| 8- Jim Johnson | Canada | 1969 Chevrolet Corvette, L88 427 | Manual | 12.21 | 117.52 |
| 9- Jim Goode | Michigan | 1963 Plymouth Max Wedge, 426 | Automatic | 12.21 | 113.2 |
| 10- Steve Hodges | Kansas | 1970 Dodge Challenger, 426 Hemi | Manual | 12.72 | 112.2 |
| 11- Rob Clarey | Misouri | 1970 Chevrolet Camaro, Yenko 427 | | 12.92 | 112.41 |
| 12- Chris Teed | Florida | 1968 Chevrolet Nova SS, 396 | Automatic | 13.91 | 97.59 |
| 13- Andy Caldwell | Florida | 1970 Dodge Superbee, 383 | Automatic | 14.15 | 97.08 |
| 14- Dave Heilala | Michigan | 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 350 W31 | Manual | 14.32 | 98.73 |
F.A.S.T. Racing Results
| Winner: | Greg Gessler | 1972 Buick GS, 455 Stage1 | 11.54 @ 122.47 MPH |
| Runner Up: | Dave Dudek | 1970 Dodge Challenger, 426 Hemi | ( No time recorded) |
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| #1 Qualifier: | Greg Gessler | 1972 Buick GS, 455 Stage1 | 11.32 @ 123.50 MPH |
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| Low ET of event: | Greg Gessler | 1972 Buick GS, 455 Stage1 | 11.17 |
| Top MPH of event: | Dave Dudek | 1970 Dodge Challenger, 426 Hemi | 127.88 |
For detailed 2004 Commerce Challenge F.A.S.T. qualifying and elimination results and photo's click here.
For more Year One Fall Automotive Nationals information and pictures click here.
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The Magic 10 Second Barrier still stands despite the efforts of this year's entrants. But, boy, were they getting close!! Remember, YearOne has a $1000 reward for the first F.A.S.T. racer to break into the 10's during a F.A.S.T. sanctioned event!!!! Their still gunning for it!! Here's a sample of the times and mph from Friday practice: ( FactoryStock racers noted with "F/S" )
- Greg Gessler's- 1972 Buick GS455: 11.17 @ 124mph!
- Dave Dudek's- 1970 Dodge Hemi426 Challenger: 11.18 @ 127.8
- Joel Nystrom's- 1967 Plymouth Hemi426 GTX: 11.30 @ 127.22
- Dave Dudek Sr.'s- 1969 Plymouth Hemi426GTX: 11.60 @ 120
- Wayne Nelson's- 1969 L-88 Corvette: 11.68
- Pat Wendling's- 1969 Firebird 400: 11.70's
- Jimmy Johnston's- "F/S" 1969 L-88 Corvette: 11.71 @ 121
- Tom Cannon's- 340-6 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A: 11.83 @ 121.17
- Steve Hodge's- 1970 Hemi426 Dodge Challenger: 12.07 @ 121
- Jim Goode's 1963- Plymouth Fury 426 Max Wedge: 12.09
- Rob Clary's- "F/S" 1969 427 Yenko Camaro: 12.32 @ 113
- Dave Heilala's- "F/S" 1968 Oldsmobile RamRod350: 13.74 @ 99.7
- Andy Caldwell's- "F/S" 1970 Dodge SuperBee: 14.03 @ 97.08
- Chris Teed's- 1968 Nova SS396: 13.91 @ 97.59
Now for the Elimination Ladders and Results!!!!
Elimination Ladder
**NOTE: The F/S/ cars were mixed in with the F.A.S.T. group so that they may run together in the event!**
1st Round:
Dave Dudek Sr 11.72 120.51 W
Chris Teed 14.03 97.13
Jim Goode 12.14 113.42
Joel Nystrom 11.77 102 W
Wayne Nelson 11.87 119.81 W
Rob Clary 12.75 111.56
Jim Johnson 12.19 115.43
Pat Wendling 11.94 117.21 W
Andy Caldwell 14.23 96.28
Dave Dudek Jr 13.76 94.32 W
Tom Cannon 11.85 120.14 W
bye run
Greg Gessler 11.34 123.09 W
Dave H. (starter DQ'd Dave for wearing shorts)
"Anybody see my long pants??"
2nd Round:
Joel Nystrom 11.3 126.66 W
Tom Cannon 11.88 120.5
Dave Dudek Jr 11.34 126.84 W
Dave Dudek Sr 11.78 120.98
Wayne Nelson 11.82 119.64 W
Pat Wendling 11.98 116.9
Greg Gessler 17's? W
Bye run
3rd Round:
Greg Gessler 11.36 123.17 W
Joel Nystrom 11.67 126.46
Dave Dudek Jr 11.65 123.56 W
Wayne Nelson 11.92 120.04
Final Round:
Greg Gessler 11.54 122.47 W
Dave Dudek Jr (red light, no time recorded)
WOW! This makes it FOUR YEAR'S IN A ROW for Greg Gessler and his Buick GS455 taking top honors in the Year One F.A.S.T. Shoot-out!!! Nice running Greg!!
Another interesting activity that Year One had at the track was a portable chassis dyno session for those willing and brave enough to show the world their "real world" horsepower!! Four of the F.A.S.T. group backed up onto the big wheel to give it a spin. The BIG numbers came from Joel Nystrom's Hemi GTX. The Green Machine planted a 555 Rear Wheel HP number on the dyno's computer printout!!!! Wayne Nelson posted a 403 HP with 375 TQ number off his L-88 stock displacement Corvette. Tom Cannon ran up some impressive numbers with his 340 stroker! 440HP and 461 TQ ! Not bad coming from only 416 cid!!! Jim Johnston also backed up his STOCK L-88 ( remember that JJ's Corvette is "Certified Stock" in the Pure Stock world )and we're just waiting for the results of that dyno session!
Now, how about some pictures from Commerce compliments of Andy Caldwell, Joel Nystrom, and Mike Kamm!!!
Also, a sad event transpired after the races as F.A.S.T. racer Chris Teed's father passed away suddenly on their trip home from Georgia. Chris owns the nice 1968 Nova SS396 that was at the track. We are all truly shocked and saddened by this and we hold Chris's family in our thoughts and prayers.
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