Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5 Driver Alan Pittman Couldn’t Be Happier Heading To Dragstock

Alan Pittman wouldn’t have admitted it, but he might have been due a lucky break.

A month ago in St. Louis, Pittman had a remarkable weekend, running the second-quickest time ever in the Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5 class, just missing out on a world record.

But when he got to the finals, the engine in his Mustang would not start, leaving him at the edge of the staging lanes while Todd Moyer ended up with a solo run in the finals.

Fast-forward two events and Pittman had his own luck in the finals of the Summer Drags VIII at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich.

After an up-and-down weekend, Pittman put things together to qualify No. 3 and advance to the finals with a 3.936.

But he gladly took a lucky break in Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5 finals, denying Billy Glidden’s chance at history in the process.

Glidden went 3.917 – a weekend-best in the class – but had an .001 red light, a massive rarity for him, handing the win to Pittman and his 4.042 at 195.28 mph. It’s the third win in 2012 for the XTF points leader, and Pittman also kept Glidden from picking up an ADRL-record 14^th career win.

Afterwards, Pittman thanked team owner – and Pro Extreme competitor – Terry Leggett for his support and also admitted why he benefitted from a stroke of fortune against Glidden.

“I won already when Terry Leggett made it to the finals. I mean, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him and his wife,” Pittman said. “I felt real good and then I pulled up to the

starting line and I had it in low gear but the car wouldn’t move forward.

“So I had to stick it in high gear and leave in high gear, so he definitely would have had me beat if he hadn’t turned it red.”

In all reality, it’s been that kind of dream year for Pittman, who finds himself on the verge of a Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5 world championship heading into next week’s Dragstock IX at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte.

Not only is it a race at an unbelievable facility, it’s close to home for Pittman and it’s the chance to separate himself further from the competition in the class.

After his third win in 2012, Pittman now leads by more than 802 points with four races remaining.

It’s all still overwhelming for Pittman, who is enjoying the best run of success in his standout drag racing career.

He picked up his first ADRL win in Houston to start the year and then had his first back-to-back winning performance in his career after winning in Bristol.

Again, Pittman credits Leggett, who advanced to his first ADRL final in Martin as well.

“We’ve had a lot of firsts this year, and I’ve had more than I’ve had in my life. It gives you cold chills,” Pittman said. “It was so cool to be able to se him run in the finals, and the feeling I had up there in the finals was just unbelievable.”

Pittman has been outstanding in the XTF car, going as quick as 3.80, which was the run he put together in St. Louis.

Nothing, though, topped the emotions Pittman had in Martin after winning the event and darting back to the starting line to watch his close friend run in the PX finals.

“Terry deserves a win and it’s coming, but that was the best feeling I ever had in drag racing,” Pittman said. “To have both those cars up there for the finals, it just doesn’t get any better than this right now.”

(Photos by ADRL/Richards)