Anatomy Of A Championship: Hamstra And Pro Extreme

Jason Hamstra didn’t do anything fancy in 2011, but a workmanlike, consistent effort was more than enough to leave him with a dream season and his first Pro Extreme World Championship.

Let’s investigate how he earned that championship.

The former ADRL Rookie of the Year started the year with a win, knocking off former world champion Todd Tutterow in the Dragpalooza VII finals in Houston.

Hamstra was in the 3.60s right off the bat and was ready to compete with everyone in Pro Extreme. In fact, that put him in the points lead and he never relinquished it the rest of the season.

Hamstra went to the finals in Palm Beach and Topeka (April and June, respectively) and then found the winner’s circle again in July, further solidifying his points lead.

In Martin, Mich., Hamstra was brilliant in front of friends and family, once again knocking off Todd Tutterow in the finals of another consistent performance.

Hamstra finished the season with four straight semifinal berths, doing nothing fancy but doing nearly everything well.

He consistently ran in the 3.60s and his Duster showed considerable power. All of that led to consistent performances, as Hamstra advanced to the semifinals or further in every race but one during the 2011 ADRL season.

Hamstra’s biggest key to success in 2011 was winning the critical matchups. He knocked off Tutterow twice in the finals and also bested 2010 ADRL Rookie of the Year Mick Snyder on a number of occasions to keep him at bay.

Like his personality, Hamstra was calm, cool and collected behind the wheel and that helped lead him to a championship that was well-deserved.

 

 

(Photos by ADRL/Richards/McCole)