ADRL.us - Agent 660 Notes

January 31, 2009

News Flash - Summertime is Hot!

Your Agent was alerted to some people apparently feeling like the sky is falling because the ADRL moved its planned national event at Gateway International Raceway, near St. Louis, from the original June 19-20 weekend to August 7-8.

Complaints center on the perception that it will be unbearably hot in August at Gateway, much more so than in June, but unlike the doomsayers, your Agent actually did a little research and discovered something very interesting -- there is very little difference in actual weather conditions between June and August in St. Louis -- it's summer and it's hot!

Here are a few facts to chew on, taken directly from Weather.com, showing (l-r) date, sunrise, sunset, avg. high, avg. low, mean temp., record high and record low recorded at nearby Lambert-St. Louis International Airport for the dates in question.

June

August

Your Agent is no meteorologist, but he suspects a two- or three-degree difference isn't going to make much of a difference to anyone, one way or the other. Now, if we get into challenging those record highs, all bets are off and it'll be every man, woman and child for themselves!

Until that happens, though, your Agent remains unwilling to join the Chicken Little Brigade.

He will, however, make sure to have a cold adult beverage within arm's reach at all times -- but that's a given.

January 31, 2009

Gateway Worth Waiting For

It's gonna' be worth the wait.

That's the message your Agent received from ADRL Executive VP of Operations Jessica Alcoke in explaining the shift from June 19-20 to Aug. 7-8, for the Gateway Drags II at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, IL.

The ADRL Marketing Dept. has seemingly been working round-the-clock lately, and your Agent was informed an announcement from Executive VP of Sales and Marketing Jeff Fortune's office will soon reveal a major event sponsor for the Gateway Drags, but that sponsor requested the delayed date in order to implement an extensive promotional blitz about the race.

Your Agent can't wait--but he hears it'll be worth it!

January 30, 2009

Gender Barrier to Break in PXM?

That's what your Agent hears.

Details are sketchy right now, but your Agent was told an official announcement regarding a female rider in Pro Extreme Motorcycle could come as soon as the season opener Mar. 6-7, during Dragpalooza V at Houston Raceway Park.

You'll know more as soon as your Agent knows more.

January 28, 2009

New PN Entry for Valdosta

Your Agent found this image of Brian Shaw's '41 Willys in the proverbial plain, brown envelope slipped into his mailbox sometime in the dead of night.

Apparently, Shaw and his OTG Racing team put the Willys on a major diet over the winter and the Chesterfield, VA-based owner now feels ready to enter the Pro Nitrous ranks with Randall Haynes as his wheelman.

The Pat Bennett-built car is a Fulton-powered piece with Speedtech Nitrous flowing through its intake. Shaw's attached note said that after some testing he hopes to make it out to the recently confirmed ADRL event Apr. 10-11, at Valdosta, GA.

(Photo courtesy of OTG Racing)

January 28, 2009

Halsey Latest to Confirm Houston

Here's the latest big gun to say he's headed to Houston for the Mar. 6-7 ADRL event.

Pro Nitrous star Jim Halsey will be part of the mix at Dragpalooza V with a brand-new, Tim McAmis-built '68 Camaro, and of course with Fulton power under the hood.

A highly placed operative in the field told your Agent a press release with confirmation from the two-time ADRL national-event winner will be coming soon.

(ADRL/Richards file photo)

January 28, 2009

Horsepower and Heels Entering XTF Mustang

Your Agent is more than thrilled to hear Erica Ortiz and her Horsepower and Heels Racing Team is getting set to enter the Extreme 10.5 fray with an all-new 2007 Mustang.

Ortiz already has one ADRL event on her racing resume, having competed in Pro Nitrous at Valdosta, GA, in 2006, but the Grant, AL-based racer is ready to tackle the XTF challenge.

Inaugural Pro Nitrous World Champion Dan Parker (2005) recently upgraded the chassis, which previously carried T-Bird bodywork, and David Johnston of Johnston Body Works and Bikes in Phenix City, AL, is about to spray the paint job. The car carries an Al Moody-built motor with twin turbos backed up by a Bruno transmission.

Ortiz told your Agent she hopes to have the car ready for testing by late March and will enter an Extreme 10.5 race with it as soon as possible.

(Photo courtesy of Horsepower and Heels) 

January 28, 2009

Al Anabi Awesome Motorsports Heading to Houston

Your Agent has it on very good authority that a press release will be forthcoming shortly, announcing the five-car Al Anabi Awesome Motorsports Pro Nitrous team will be racing Mar. 6-7, in Dragpalooza V at Houston Raceway Park.

The team's drivers include: Mike Castellana (top left), winner of the most recent ADRL national event last fall at Dallas, TX; Shannon Jenkins (top right), the winningest driver in the class; and past event winners Rickie Smith (lower left) and Burton Auxier (lower right), along with 2009 Rookie of the Year contender Khalid Al Balooshi (left). 

Between them, these drivers have racked up nine Pro Nitrous victories in 13 final-round appearances and all will be looking to add to that total in just a few weeks at Houston.

Of course, these are all shots of the Al Anabi Awesome Motorsports rides from last season. Your Agent understands most, if not all, will be sporting new cars or new looks for 2009 and he's been promised early peeks at the results, so stay tuned for more!

(ADRL/Richards file photos)

January 28, 2009

Love to be Found in Houston

Your Agent heard through the increasingly active Extreme Pro Stock grapevine that Enoch Love Racing, with driver Bert Jackson, has committed to entering Dragpalooza V Mar. 6-7, at Houston Raceway Park. A formal announcement is expected soon.

Those who have been paying attention will recall that Jackson was the XPS polesitter at Hushpower Dragstock V last September at Rockingham Dragway, so add another hitter to the list for the ADRL season opener.

(ADRL/Tocher file photo)