ADRL.us - Agent 660 Notes

August 31, 2008

First-Timers Find ADRL Appealing

Canadian Gary Irving (top), New Yorker Mike Stawicki and Michigan's Todd Robertson (bottom), all made their ADRL debuts Aug. 22-23, at Norwalk, OH, and all qualified in a very tough Pro Extreme field that featured 28 entries. After starting 15th, Robertson and his '07 Cobalt fell to eventual finalist Bubba Stanton in the opening round, while number-seven qualifier Irving and 10th-place starter Stawicki met in round one with Stawicki advancing, only to also fall victim to Stanton in round two.

Regardless, all three drivers and their crews enjoyed their first ADRL experience and all vowed to return for more.

"This is a fun deal over here at the ADRL. The amount of track time you get to spend in a two-day period is great," said Stawicki, who debuted a new roots-style M5 blower and updated clutch set-up on his DMPE-backed, G-Force '67 Camaro. "The (ADRL) staff was glad to have us and made us feel welcome and we ran well. All in all, it was a good experience."

Al Hinds, owner and tuner of Irving's Q Power/Jiffy Lube '04 Corvette, also enjoyed the ADRL's welcoming vibe and organization. "We would have liked to race a little more, but we had fun," he said. "I doubt we'll be able to make it to Rockingham, but we'll definitely be back. (The ADRL) made it easy to race and have a good time."

"Coming into this weekend I was a little nervous and had tons of questions," said Rocco Wilson, crew chief on Robertson's Eaton-sponsored machine. "The officials from the ADRL were great. The way the events are run and how everything--I mean everything--is addressed during the drivers meeting just puts you at ease and lets you concentrate on the car and not worry about anything else. It was one of the most pleasant experiences I've had racing and I'm looking forward to returning."

(ADRL/Tocher photos)

August 31, 2008

ADRL.us Updated

Your Agent has been remiss in not mentioning the latest points and stats following the 2nd annual ADRL Gatorz Ohio Drags have been posted here at www.ADRL.us.

There's also an extensive photo gallery of shots from Norwalk taken by ADRL team members Roger Richards and Ian Tocher, as well as talented freelancer Greg Bunsold, and check out an additional gallery by Gary Rowe's Raceworks here.

August 30, 2008

BTG: The ADRL Experience

Your Agent was pleased to see veteran photojournalist Dave Bishop enjoyed his recent trip to Budds Creek, MD, to take in the inaugural 1-800-GO-GUARD.com U.S. Drags.

"I have not enjoyed a race like this for many years," Bishop wrote in his column for the August 2008 issue of East Coast Drag News, which also featured ADRL Pro Nitrous star Charles Carpenter on the cover and included race reports from the ADRL national events in Radford, VA, and Budds Creek, along with a two-page, color photo collage from the Maryland event.

When contacted, Bishop graciously agreed to let the ADRL reprint his complimentary words in its Web site's Beyond the Guardwall section. Your Agent hopes Bishop will be back for a repeat experience real soon.

August 29, 2008

‘Adrenaline: The Series’ Back Aug. 30

Your Agent knows he wasn't alone in wondering when he'd get his next online shot of Adrenaline: The Series, the exciting video show that covers all ADRL national events. Well, he's happy to report a new show will be available for download at 2 p.m. EST tomorrow (Aug. 30), hosted by our friends over at www.DragRacingOnline.com. (NOTE: The video will be posted in two parts with Part I going live at 2 p.m. and the rest of the show becoming available later in the afternoon.) Apparently, the gap in scheduling came as a result of post-production problems following the ADRL event in June at Martin, MI, that was plagued by severe electrical storms that actually damaged the track's timing and scoring equipment and cut the event short with heavy wind and rain.

Regardless, tomorrow's Adrenaline: The Series will feature the 2nd annual Shelor Motor Mile Independence Drags from July 4-6, at Radford, VA, including the unique Arm-Drop Drags finals from the rained-out Michigan race that your Agent was assured will be shown at a later date. Meantime, the inaugural 1-800-GO-GUARD.com U.S. Drags from Budds Creek, MD--featuring the debut of the Sonny's Extreme Pro Stock Challenge presented by Purvis Ford--will be available for viewing and downloads at noon EST on Friday, Sept. 12, which certainly is welcome news, too.

Your Agent thought the Budds Creek event was one of the ADRL's all-time best, so he's really looking forward to reliving that one.

August 27, 2008

Hancock Plans Return at ‘The Rock’

After missing the previous two events (Radford, VA and Budds Creek, MD), your Agent had been hoping to see reigning Pro Nitrous champ Jamie Hancock return to action at the Gatorz Ohio Drags this past weekend, but it was just not meant to be.

Instead, the Opelika, AL, teen was at home waiting on the final assembly of a brand-new '68 Firebird being built by Precision Racecraft in Douglasville, GA. One of your Agent's operatives snapped a few cellphone shots of the new 'Bird nearing completion and it apparently will be out testing shortly in preparation for its debut Sep. 12-13, at the ADRL's Hushpower Dragstock V at Rockingham (NC) Dragway.

At 417 points back of the eighth-place cutoff, Hancock has been all but eliminated from making it into this year's Pro Nitrous Battle for the Belts to defend his '07 series title, but your Agent is certain he'll be out to prove he's still a major contender in the class.

August 26, 2008

Radford’s New Ride Revealed

Your Agent's friends over at www.ProModZone.com have posted the first pictures of Dennis Radford's new 1970 Duster, built by Andy McCoy Race Cars in High Ridge, MO, with a Buck Racing Engines 854 cubic incher under the hood.

Radford told your Agent at this past weekend's ADRL national event in Norwalk, OH, that he wanted to get the Duster sorted out in time for the ADRL's Hushpower Dragstock V next month at Rockingham (NC) Dragway and especially to make sure it was ready for the season-ending ADRL Battle for the Belts at Dallas, TX, in October.

Your Agent is sorry to see Radford's current Cuda go to a buyer in Puerto Rico, but is equally looking forward to seeing the new Plymouth rock. 

(Photos courtesy of ProModZone.com)

August 25, 2008

Free ADRL Ticket with Every Vote?

Wow! Even your Agent did not see this one coming!

Back room campaigning is going on right now to get your Agent on the ballot as a running mate.

August 25, 2008

Tocher Talks with Gatorz Winners

It took your Agent somewhat by surprise when he found ADRL VP of Communications Ian Tocher doing interviews over at www.1320tv.com with each of the winners of the 2nd annual ADRL Gatorz Ohio Drags.

Check out the interviews here. Your Agent likes what he sees and thinks with a little polishing Tocher and the ADRL might actually have something here.