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XTF Champ Millen To Run In Pro Extreme In 2012

Josh — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:17:41 +0000

The allure of an unprecedented ADRL triple crown was certainly there for standout Dan Millen. Instead, Millen and the Dearborn Heights-based Z-Matrix Solutions Livernois Motorsports race team are focused on an entirely new challenge.

Fresh off a magical 2011 season that will go down as one of the best in ADRL Extreme 10.5 history and ended with his second straight world championship, Millen is ready for the next chapter in his ADRL racing career.

That chapter will begin in 2012 – and in a new class – as Millen and his talented team will move into the Pro Extreme class for the 2012 ADRL Tour, which begins March 30-31 with CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston.

With the blessing of sponsors Bob and Lauri Zdravkovski from Z-Matrix and Carl Robinson from Mickey Thompson tires, the decision turned into a no-brainer for Millen, whose dominant 2011 season included an Extreme 10.5 championship, the “Battle For The Belts” title and four event wins.

Millen

“Some people might wonder why we would leave the Extreme 10.5 class when the car was so dominant, but the answer was easy for us. Like any professional sport, if you go out on top you will always be remembered for what you did and having the E.T. record (3.82) and winning back-to-back championships, we are ready for the next challenge,” Millen said.

“We are very much looking forward to the 2012 ADRL season.”

The huge announcement comes with a number of exciting bits of information.
Millen will debut a new 2012 Pro Extreme Mustang built by Jerry Bickel Race Cars, a stunning car that has been built under the radar since January.

The car will utilize some exciting new technology and Millen will continue to use the Brad 8 HEME with a PSI Screwcharger that helped bring him two straight championships, four event wins and numerous other accolades racing in Extreme 10.5.

Millen has also been working with Carl Robinson and Jason Musson from Mickey Thompson on testing the new Mickey Thompson 3190w tire. Unlike other PX cars, Millen will elect to race on the new 34.5×13.5x16w tire.

It may be a risky move to run the small tire compared to others that are available, but Millen and his team started racing Mickey Thompson tires and feels obligated to at the least to run their tires.

“Mickey Thompson has treated us so well over the years and we look forward to running this new tire,” Millen said. “Before the PRI show in December, we tested the new Mickey Thompson tire and after only a few hits the car went faster to the 60 and 330-foot than ever before.

“The most convincing point was the car was not set up correctly to achieve the times. At that point, we knew we would be running this tire for the 2012 ADRL season.”

Millen and his team would also like to thank the following sponsors for their continued support: VP Racing Fuel, Cleveite Bearings, MSD Ignition, M/T Tires, Pac Springs, PSI Superchargers, NGK Spark Plugs, Ford Racing, Ross Pistons, Neal Chance Converters and Race Pak Systems.

ADRL SuperCar Showdown Rules Herald A New Era In Drag Racing

Josh — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:56:28 +0000

Amid tremendous anticipation from the initial announcement of its new SuperCar Showdown series, the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) today presented the complete rules and regulations for a category unique in the world of straight-line motorsports competition.

After generating astonishing response from throughout the industry with the creation of the first truly global contest among the world’s most powerful production automobiles, the ADRL has now released a comprehensive set of rules devised to permit virtually any vehicle to compete in an equitable format.

“The SuperCar Showdown will be a drag racing series unlike any other,” said ADRL President Tim McAmis, “and the rules for the class are the result of exhaustive research and analysis of dozens of production car platform, engine and transmission combinations from more than seventy manufacturers. Our goal was to embrace not only current technology but the equipment now being designed which will change all of motorsports in the coming years.”

Longtime ADRL broadcast personality Bret Kepner admitted many exotic vehicles, both domestic and global, were not previously permitted to compete in any production drag racing class.

“In fact,” said Kepner, “many of the rules for the new SuperCar Showdown have never been included in any drag racing rulebook for production vehicles. Even the terminology in the regulations, with the ADRL’s inclusion of Variable Valve Actuation systems, Variable Geometry Turbines and semi-automatic transmissions, indicates a progressive approach to production vehicles previously unknown in drag racing.”

One of the most revolutionary aspects of the SuperCar Showdown will be the total acceptance of computer control systems available from each vehicle manufacturer.

“Within these regulations, we can restrict the hardware to the original equipment available on the car,” said Kepner, “but we have no plans to inhibit the electronic manipulation of the software within the production systems. In that aspect alone, the rules are far beyond any of those previously associated with the sport.”

Chris Bell, the ADRL‘s Director of Technical Services, noted the new SuperCar Showdown guidelines meet and often exceed current SFI Foundation specifications for production drag racing machines.

“Of course, safety was our priority in the creation of the rules,” stated Bell, “but understanding the use of composite materials and the unique construction features in many of these cars was imperative to the success of those rules. After exploring all the equipment options available from the manufacturers of these cars, we came up with regulations which, quite frankly, are radically different from what production car drag racers have seen in the past.”

SuperCar Showdown consultant and competitor liaison Jeff Teuton has been shocked by the number of racers attempting to become among the first in what will be a limited field at the ADRL’s season-opening event, CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII, at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas, on March 30-31.

“We’ve had a lot of response from Ford Cobra Jet Mustang and Dodge Challenger DragPak racers,” said Teuton, “but now we’re getting interest from racers with the supercharged ZR1 Corvettes and the supercharged ZL1 Camaros from Chevrolet. There are already a few teams preparing cars from Nissan and a few of the European manufacturers, too.”

The complete rules and regulations for the ADRL SuperCar Showdown can be viewed at http://www.ADRL.us/competition/rules. Competitors requesting information for any of the 2012 ADRL National Events can contact ADRL Director of Technical Services Chris Bell at chris@ADRL.us.
The ADRL has also launched a FaceBook page dealing specifically with news, information and discussion of the SuperCar Showdown Series at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1641667859&ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/ADRL-SuperCar-Showdown-Series/329368400438045?sk=wall

Rickie Jones’ New 2012 Camaro!

Josh — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:53:54 +0000

Your agent is on another Camaro kick on Monday and, once again, it’s for good reason.
We’ve already seen Pete Berner’s new Camaro today and, as expected, it’s a stunner. It came from RJ Race Cars, which has been a Camaro factory this off-season.

Jones

The latest doesn’t have far to go, as it goes to Rickie Jones, a super-talented young driver who made his ADRL Pro Nitrous debut in 2011.

As you can see, this car is spot on and will certainly turn a lot of heads on the track, starting with CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII on March 30-31 at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston.

It’s been a big off-season for Jones, who previously announced that Summit Racing Equipment will be his major sponsor for the 2012 ADRL season.

That was major news in its own right, and Jones is certainly thrilled to be representing Summit Racing Equipment in a huge way on his sharp new Camaro.

“I’m very excited for our new 2012 Camaro. There has been a lot of talk about this body and we’re expecting good things,” Jones said. “I’m anxious to get it finished and see what it can do in testing. After finishing 8th in the Pro Nitrous points last year, and breaking into the 3.70s, and running incredible.920s 60ft times, we have high expectations for the 2012 season, and are really looking forward to being at the track again, having fun, winning races, and representing Summit Racing Equipment.”

The front end shot below is as good as it gets and your agent can’t wait to see this Camaro in action on March 30-31.

Innovations Aplenty On Berner’s New 2012 Camaro

Josh — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:34:30 +0000

Pete Berner’s sharp new Summit Racing Equipment ZL1 Camaro might have you thinking he’s ready for a ‘comeback’ tour, which isn’t far from the truth. The flashy RJ Race Cars built ride, featuring paint by SD Enterprises, is reminiscent of Berner’s familiar look from earlier in his Pro Stock career when he captured his first World Championship (2006). And not that Berner has ever been out of the picture in top Pro Stock competition, but this year he’s hoping to not just be a contender but to set the bar.

“I couldn’t be more excited about this car,” Berner said. “GOS Motorsports Graphics did a fantastic job on the design, mixing my nostalgic colors with the familiar Summit red and blue. Rick, Rickie and the crew at RJ Race Cars did a phenomenal job, as did Steve Dekkenga and his group at SD Enterprises. The detail is awesome. I think the car truly speaks for itself. I know our Summit fans are going to love this ride.

“Last season we weren’t running like I expect of myself. I’m a very goal-oriented individual and this season my goals are to fix our issues from last year. In some ways, we were the pursuer last year. We’re ready to return to being the one that everyone else is trying to run down.”

The piece of nostalgia featured in the Camaro’s color scheme might be the only heritage part of the car. Much of the new Extreme Pro Stock machine is equipped with chassis and engine innovations that Berner hopes will pave the way for the next generation of XPS racing.

“Rick worked very closely with us on some new innovations in the building of this chassis. As teammates this upcoming season, we’re going to continue to work closely in testing these items and others,” Berner said.

“Pete’s car was our first Pro Stock 2012 Camaro,” added Rick Jones of RJ Race Cars. “I think it’s so cool to see the Chevy Camaro come back to Pro Stock. We put a lot of effort in this car; we are trying a few new things we have found lately. We are excited to see how it runs. My expectations are very high!”

Further changes for Team Summit include a new engine shop:

“Jerry’s [Janota] and Mike’s [Slaviero] new engine shop is up and running and we plan on burning our dyno up in the next few weeks,” Berner said. “Those guys have put a tremendous amount of effort into this. It’s like a surgical suite in there, which is fitting for

Berner

Jerry and Mike. They are truly doctors of engine dynamics. The new shop is quite the work of art and makes for a fantastic workplace. It’s a reflection of how this Summit team operates- always shooting for perfection.

“It’s going to be wide open from here on out as we begin testing and jump into the season. I’m really looking forward to seeing what this awesome machine does on the track.

“I’m very grateful for the team behind this new Camaro. Not only has RJ worked hard on the new design, but all of our sponsors have really been behind this from Summit to RAM Clutches to Hoosier Tires. All these guys are just as excited as I am and, like Cheryl and I, are always pushing to be quicker, better, faster than the competition. I can’t wait to get to the track and see this hard work pay off.”

Berner will test the new 2012 Camaro before the ADRL season starts on March 30-31 with CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII from Royal Purple Raceway in Houston.

CarSafe Introduces “Elite Hero Challenge,” $10,000 Prize For ADRL Drivers For 2012

Josh — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:38:55 +0000

The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) has prided itself on interaction between its fans and standout competitors.

In 2012, CarSafe and CarSafe Motorsports will help take that interaction to the next level.

CarSafe and CarSafe Motorsports are proud to announce the introduction of the “CarSafe Elite Hero Challenge,” which will give one lucky driver the opportunity to win a grand prize of $10,000. Fans will be able to vote all season for their favorite driver at www.CarSafeEliteHeroes.com, and the driver who earns the most votes over the course of the highly-anticipated 2012 ADRL Tour will win the first CarSafe Elite Hero Challenge Trophy and the $10,000 prize.

CarSafe, which is the Official Extended Vehicle Service Contract Provider of the ADRL and an ADRL sponsor for the third year, is excited about the interest the challenge will create.

“The fans who attend ADRL races are some of the best of any sport,” CarSafe Owner Mark Eckman said. “CarSafe is always looking for fun new ways to interact and we want to contribute to the growing popularity of the ADRL and its drivers.”

Drivers won’t be the only participants with an opportunity to take home a variety of incredible prizes.

Just by voting, fans will be automatically entered to win an Apple iPad, a 50” Samsung Plasma TV or a Vacation Package for four.

Fans will be encouraged to vote for their favorite driver at www.CarSafeEliteHeroes.com spanning the 2012 ADRL season, which runs from the season-opening CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII in Houston on March 30-31 through the World Finals VIII in Dallas on Oct. 19-20.

The driver with the most votes will then win the trophy and $10,000 check.

Drivers who participate in the “CarSafe Elite Hero Challenge” will be given hero cards provided by CarSafe and all drivers are required to sign autographs in the CarSafe Elite Hero Booth for 30-45 minutes during each race weekend on the 2012 ADRL Tour, which spans 10 events at many of the nation’s most prestigious tracks.

All participants must also display CarSafe decals on their race vehicle.

“This is an amazing program that CarSafe has put together and it will really give all ADRL fans a choice to let their voice be heard and win some great prizes in the process,” ADRL Executive Vice President Jeff Fortune said.

“This is a remarkable sign of support for the ADRL and its drivers and we applaud CarSafe for this ‘Elite Hero Challenge.’”

Drivers who want to enter the “CarSafe Elite Hero Challenge” should e-mail Sam@MarketingforMotorsports.com or call (626) SJN-GLBL for more details.

Teams requesting CarSafe-provided Hero Cards should send two photos and any info to be included along with the e-mail.

For more information on CarSafe or to request a free quote, visit www.CarSafe.com.

(Photos by ADRL/Richards)

McAmis, Kepner To Appear On Hot Rod Magazine Live On Saturday!

Josh — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:23:59 +0000

ADRL President Tim McAmis, left

Your agent is happy to pass this on and it’s is something you want to make sure you’re listening to this weekend.
ADRL President Tim McAmis and ADRL TV Personality Bret Kepner will both be on the nationally-syndicated Hot Rod Magazine Live, which airs nationwide on Saturday afternoons online and across hundreds of radio stations.

They will be on from 4:12 PM EST to 4:43 PM EST to talk about the new ADRL SuperCar Showdown. Both helped create and bring the revolutionary new class into the ADRL and it’s drawn tons of rave reviews since the news was revealed.
McAmis and Kepner will both be on to discuss the new SuperCar Showdown and it’s going to be a must-listen with a huge listening audience from across the country.

Here’s what Hot Rod Magazine had to say about this week’s show:

This weekends broadcast of Hot Rod Magazine Live will be filled with some great interview with the stars of the automotive community and most importantly calls from you…the fans, readers and listeners of the show.

Starting off the show HRML will be joined by Tim McAmis and Bret Kepner from the ADRL American Drag Racing League to talk about their upcoming season kick off and the excitement surrounding the announcement of the ADRL’s new SuperCar Showdown class.

Now, here’s the important part – how to listen.

Download a station list – HERE

Listen Live via the stream HERE

Download previous shows HERE or iTunes users HERE

And call in at 1.800.510.8255

So, there you go, a ton of options to tune in live or listen later this weekend. Your agent can’t wait.
Remember – McAmis and Kepner will be appearing from 4:12 p.m. EST to 4:43 p.m. EST.
You don’t want to miss this!

Bret Kepner, left

(Photos by ADRL/Richards)

Kirk Adds Team Member, New XPS Car Nearing Completion

Josh — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:12:01 +0000

Your agent has been talking regularly with the racing team of Extreme Pro Stock driver Doug Kirk, and it’s been a busy winter for the talented group.

As you can see above and below, Kirk will be debuting a new car for the 2012 ADRL Tour, which begins March 30-31 with CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston.

Being built by Jerry Haas Race Cars, the new car for Kirk, who advanced to a final in 2011, will be ready in time for the 2012 season-opener and it will certainly be stout. Currently, it is at R&R Autobody, which is owned by Joe and Dave Roemer, who races in the Pro Mod class.

But that’s not the only big news for the Kirk Racing team. They have added Butch Peterson to the team to “help call the shots,” a move that has them more than ready for the 2012 season to begin.

“We are very excited to have Butch with us this year and hopefully in the coming years. Butch is very intelligent, and we are going after this championship as hard as we can,” Kirk Racing said.

Some pretty cool news there, and your agent will be sure to pass along the first looks at the finished product on Kirk’s new XPS car.

Summit Racing Equipment To Sponsor ADRL’s Top Sportsman Class In 2012

Josh — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:56:52 +0000

The Top Sportsman class in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) will continue to have impressive backing for the 2012 season.

On Friday, the ADRL officially announced that Summit Racing Equipment will return as the sponsor for the Top Sportsman class during the 2012 ADRL Tour.

The class, which will continue to be called the Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman class, debuted in the world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league last year and will continue to have the backing of Summit Racing Equipment going into its first full season.

“We really felt the Top Sportsman racers were going to be a natural fit when the ADRL announced the addition of the class to the race line up in 2011. This proved to be a successful move and we were proud to support the racers with the class sponsorship,” Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports and Events Manager Jim Greenleaf said.

“The response from the Top Sportsman racers has been extremely positive and we are pleased to announce our continued support for these racers and the ADRL in 2012.

“Now that the class is open to all Top Sportsman racers, we are expecting some impressive car counts as local racers will be able to compete with those racers running the series for the 2012 ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman Championship.”

The ADRL officially added the Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman class last July after two exhibition races, and the response has been impressive.

The popular class for full-bodied cars generated remarkable interest over the final five events of 2011 thanks to strong turnout and incredible side-by-side interest. Now, with further support from Summit Racing, there is considerable anticipation for the 2012 Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman class.

The 2012 ADRL Tour begins on March 30-31 with CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston.

“We are thrilled to have Summit Racing Equipment return as the sponsor for the Top Sportsman. The interest from Top Sportsman racers was incredible in 2011, and with its first full season coming in the ADRL in 2012, it is really going to be an unbelievable year for everyone involved with the Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman class,” ADRL President Tim McAmis said.

Summit Racing will provide a Top Sportsman class decal for all participants to display on the front fender of the cars to show their support of the ARDL and the class.

Like it does for every ADRL class, Summit Racing will also offer contingency payouts for event wins or runner-up finishes.

To be eligible, Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman drivers must use the Summit Racing rear tire covers and display the official contingency decal. These items are available at the ADRL Registration Trailer at each event.

As previously announced, Summit Racing Equipment, the world’s leading supplier of high performance automotive parts, will continue as the official high-performance source of the ADRL and a major contingency sponsor during the 2012 ADRL Tour.

The company’s involvement with the ADRL also includes the sponsorship of the Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags VI, which takes place Sept. 28-29 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Extreme Pro Stock driver Pete Berner, Pro Nitrous driver Rickie Jones, Pro Modified’s Kenny Lang and Top Sportsman racer Marco Abruzzi.

Summit Racing Equipment and the ADRL will also release a major announcement regarding a special event for the Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman class next week.

(Photos by ADRL/Richards)

Montecalvo Excited About 2012 Camaro, New Headquarters

Josh — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:00:38 +0000

As a die-hard bowtie racer, there’s probably few as excited about the return of the Chevrolet Camaro to Pro Stock as John Montecalvo. With a stunning Eddie Hollon design, Montecalvo is sure to do the Camaro’s return justice.

“The Camaro is iconic and I’m excited to see it back at the track in Extreme Pro Stock competition,” Montecalvo said. “There’s been a lot of talk surrounding the Camaro body, so 2012 should be another exciting year for XPS.”

Montecalvo’s 2012 Camaro, built by RJ Race Cars, features his defining red, white and blue color scheme, but with a striking new design currently being perfected in paint by Steve from S&D Enterprises. Returning with the red, white and blue will be long-time engine builder, Sonny Leonard, as well as RAM Clutches, Braswell Carburetors and MSD Ignition – all names synonymous with Montecalvo’s racing career.

Although continuing much of the traditions and relationships that have helped the New Yorker become a 2-time World Champion (including in the ADRL in 2010), Montecalvo has also been busy with major changes in the off season. New to the lineup of associate sponsors is Extreme Batteries. And, not only is a new car on order, but also a new trailer by Pegasus. But perhaps the biggest move for the JM Racing Team is a quite literal one.

Montecalvo

The team’s new headquarters is now in Georgia.

“Moving our operation to Georgia just makes more sense,” Montecalvo said. “Georgia is much more centrally located to testing facilities and to the ADRL tour tracks. We have a great shop setup there and I think this will work out better all around.

“I’m looking forward to getting this 2012 season underway,” he continued. “With all the changes, getting back in the driver’s seat will actually be a break!”

Montecalvo plans to get behind the wheel of his new Camaro for the annual Eastern Spring Test Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park March 5th-8th.

“Wade [Rich, SGMP Facility Operations] always does an excellent job of prepping his track. The surface should be on kill, so we should be able to get a good feel for the Camaro there before ADRL kicks back up at Houston.”

With all the changes, 2012 will no doubt be a big year for Montecalvo, who is continuing with preparations and working on another big announcement. The JM Racing Team still has something up their sleeves, so be on the watch for more big news to come!

(Photo by ADRL/Richards)

Davis Hoping To Claim Title In ADRL’s Top Sportsman Class

Josh — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:31:29 +0000

Your agent has been impressed with the buzz surrounding the Top Sportsman class as we get ready to start the 2012 ADRL season.
One of the contenders for the championship will certainly be class standout Ronnie Davis.

Davis will pull out a ’63 Vette powered by an 822 c.i. nitrous-boosted Roush Yates motor for the ADRL’s first eighth-mile Top Sportsman race of the year Mar. 30-31, near Houston, Texas. That event is CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII at Royal Purple Raceway and Davis is already thinking big.

“One of my big goals for 2012 is to win the ADRL championship,” Davis declares. “I’d love to be the first to win Top Sportsman championships in NHRA, IHRA (5 times) and ADRL, and with this being the first year ADRL will name a Top Sportsman champion, that would make it extra special, too.”

And though Davis heads into this season with the same tried-and-true cars he raced last year, he did make a major change to his team, adding John Collins as a second crew member to longtime assistant Pete March.

“John is a diesel tech who just got out after spending four years in the U.S. Army, so he should bring some good discipline with him and I feel like it’s an honor to have him on my team,” Davis said.

It’s awesome to see that excitement and your agent is predicting plenty more when the ADRL releases some more big information regarding the Top Sportsman class on Friday.

(Photo by ADRL/Richards)