The American Drag Racing League’s (ADRL) debut at zMAX Dragway will include a supersized field and purse in the Pro Junior Dragster (PJD) class.
The world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league announced on Thursday that it will feature a 32-car Pro Junior Dragster Shootout at its prestigious Dragstock event, which will take place Aug. 3-4 at the state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway in Charlotte.
Dragstock IX is the seventh stop on the 10-race 2012 ADRL Tour, and along with the 32-car Pro Junior Dragster Shootout, the ADRL will award a total payout of $5,750 to 16 competitors, including $1,750 to the winner.
“We’ve had overwhelmingly positive interest in the ADRL’s Pro Junior Dragster program in 2012 and having this 32-car Pro Junior Dragster Shootout is another exciting step to 
showcase the future professional racers of our sport,†ADRL Pro Junior Dragster Director of Competition Trevor Wilson said.
“I’m thrilled to be able to conduct this shootout at an event as prestigious as Dragstock and an incredible facility like zMAX Dragway.â€
The 32 drivers will compete for the biggest purse in PJD history and the shootout will also mark one of the few times that a PJD competitor will have to win five rounds of racing to be crowned champion.
In addition to the winner’s purse, the runner-up will earn $1,000. Semifinalists will win $500, with $200 going to quarterfinalists. Round one winners will earn $150.
Now in its fifth full season in the ADRL, the Pro Junior Dragster class has become an integral part of each ADRL event. Pro Junior Dragsters are scaled-down, rear-engine race cars driven by competitors ages 13 to 18 in the ADRL’s standard eighth-mile race.
The PJD class has been home to some of the best and most talented young drivers in the sport, delivering quality side-by-side action and tremendous excitement. With its new 7.90 heads-up index on a .500 pro tree, which was introduced in 2012, the racing has been tighter than ever.
Six different event winners have been crowned at the first six ADRL events in 2012, with the 16-car qualifying field often separated by less than one-tenth of a second.
“I am extremely excited with how our new 7.90 heads-up format on a pro tree has gone this year. The competition and action has truly been better than ever,†Wilson said. “Having 32 cars competing in this shootout will only add to the excitement and I’m thrilled that the ADRL is having this as part of Dragstock. There is no other drag racing organization that allows these young drivers to compete on such a large stage and present themselves as young professional drivers.â€
There are a limited number of spots still available for the 32-car Pro Junior Dragster Shootout for Dragstock IX at zMAX Dragway.
Competitors must be between 13-18 years of age.
If interested in competing, contact ADRL Pro Junior Dragster Director of Competition Trevor Wilson at (269) 719-0041.
(Photos by ADRL/Richards)
