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February 29, 2008

Tutterow Takes on Pro Nitrous

Todd Tutterow, a longtime mainstay in the ADRL Pro Extreme ranks, will be at the controls of Randy Weatherford's Pro Nitrous '06 Cavalier (above) at the ADRL's Drag Illustrated Dragpalooza IV next weekend at Houston Raceway Park. Weatherford also will compete in the class with his brand-new Jerry Bickel-built '68 Camaro, with both cars receiving backing from WS Construction and Mesco. (ADRL/Tocher file photo)

February 28, 2008

Headhunter Returns!

The natives were restless in Houston today as word of The Headhunter's return spread like a brush fire across a drought-stricken plain. Your Agent wasn't lucky enough to be there for the assault, but operatives in the vicinity sent along some quick snaps that indeed prove Thomas Patterson and his Headhunter Pro Extreme team are back in action. Driver Billy Gibson shook down the Patterson family's new Vanishing Point-built '70 Superbird and crew chief Bill "Doc" Barrett said he was pleased with how the car worked straight out of the box. Though the screw-blower-equipped Hemi would normally be turning 7,000 or so rpms at launch, Barrett said he had it leave today at just 5,500 rpm and recorded a 1.05 60-foot time followed by an early shutoff 2.85 at the 330-foot marker. "Hey, it went straight and that's about all I can ask for on its first run," Doc said. "It'll be bad fast come Dragpalooza out here next weekend."

Barney Squires applied the distinctive Headhunter livery that attracted as much attention as the car itself. "This car is immaculate, a true work of art and a great example of the level of cars we're seeing being built for ADRL competition right now," said ADRL President Kenny Nowling, who was on hand for the car's debut. "I can't tell you how excited I am to have the Pattersons back in the ADRL."

The Patterson team plans to campaign two cars in Pro Extreme this year, the 'Bird and a '53 Corvette, both done up in distinctive Headhunter trim and piloted by Patterson and Gibson. When asked what he thought his chances are contending for the ADRL Pro Extreme Battle for the Belts world championship this year, Patterson simply grinned from ear to ear--just like a Headhunter. (Photos courtesy of Seth Angel/Houston Raceway Park)

February 28, 2008

First Look - Reese Gets Wrapped

With its wild, new wrap finally in place, David Reese's '02 Mustang looks ready to take on the ADRL's best. The car is motivated by a Proline Race Engines 600 cubic incher fitted with the first twin-Procharger crankdrive ever built. Reese originally intended to go Extreme 10.5 racing with the Tommy Mauney-built 'Stang, but with plans to enter local outlaw Pro Mod and Quick 8 races this year, he's decided instead to enter the Pro Nitrous class since that will require working out only one combination for a "big tire" configuration. Your Agent wishes he could join Reese for testing tomorrow at Alabama International Dragway, where ADRL Extreme 10.5 star Mike Hill and Outlaw 10.5 racer Tim Lynch also are expected to lay down some numbers. 

February 28, 2008

Bailey Trucking Helps Smith Return to ADRL Action

When "Tricky Rickie" Smith opens his 2008 racing season at the Mar. 7-8 Drag Illustrated ADRL Dragpalooza IV at Houston Raceway Park, his Pro Nitrous '63 Corvette will be displaying new associate sponsorship from Bailey Trucking. "I'm definitely excited and] grateful to Bailey Trucking for coming aboard and helping me out," the veteran driver/tuner said. "I have been busy here lately, helping numerous different race teams all over the world, literally, so it feels good to know I'll be back behind the wheel for a while." Smith, from King, NC, has so far reached three ADRL final rounds, but has not yet secured that first victory in the Pro Nitrous ranks. "This Corvette is pretty hateful on the racetrack, so I can't wait to get out there and run in the ADRL again," he stated. "It should be quite interesting." (ADRL/Tocher file photo)

February 27, 2008

National Guard Takes to the Track

ADRL Pro Extreme star Joshua Hernandez finally got to make his first test laps with the Team Rage '57 Chevy in its new National Guard livery Feb. 25, at South Georgia Motorsports Park, near Valdosta, GA. The team apparently ran a best of 4.05 at 188 mph in shakedown trim, but tuner Troy Critchley was said to be "happy" with the results of the day. Team Rage crew chief Jim Oddy was unable to attend the test session due to the recent death of his mother. Your Agent joins everyone at the ADRL in offering sincere condolences to the entire Oddy family. (Photos by Marvin T. Smith) 

February 27, 2008

ADRL EXCLUSIVE - Beware of ‘Black Ice’

Your Agent pays attention when "The Iceman" cometh! These super-secret snaps arrived via late-night courier with specific instructions to let the ADRL Pro Nitrous world know that Shannon "Iceman" Jenkins is concentrating on one thing this year--getting his name back to the top of the qualifying lists and in the final round as often as possible. Chassis builder and ADRL Extreme 10.5 competitor David Janes recently took on the task of helping Jenkins achieve these goals by building this brand-new, super-lightweight,  titanium, carbon-fiber, aluminum and chrome-moly filled '68 Camaro at his Macon, MO, shop. Powered by a Reher-Morrison engine and boosted by Speedtech Innovative Nitrous, with Jenkins' wealth of knowledge they're expecting the combination to be as lethal on the 1/8th mile as black ice on the highway.

February 23, 2008

ADRL’s Halsey Wins DI ‘Drag the Vote’

ADRL Pro Nitrous star Jim Halsey won Drag Illustrated's unique "Drag the Vote" contest, in which DI readers and Internet visitors recently voted for the driver they most wanted to see profiled in a cover story. Halsey, the Pro Nitrous winner at Dragstock IV last September at Rockingham Dragway, is poised to be a serious contender for this year's Battle for the Belts world championship. "We're going to focus even more of our time and effort on the stars of the American Drag racing League in 2008," DI publisher and editor Wes Buck stated. "We've got features, company spotlights and a wealth of race coverage planned." For more information or to subscribe, visit Drag Illustrated online at www.dragillustrated.com.

February 21, 2008

Martin Adds Seats to Accommodate ADRL Fans

Your Agent hears Knoll Gas Motorsports Park in Martin, MI, is replacing the last of its wooden bleachers with aluminum high-rise grandstands just in time for the June 6-7, 4th annual AMS Staff Leasing ADRL Summer Drags. With the new grandstands reaching 30 rows high, seating capacity at the west-Michigan strip will increase by 3,200 to accommodate approximately 23,000 total spectators. Brings to your Agent's mind a variation on the old saying: "We'll build you the whole seat, but you'll only need the edge!" 

February 20, 2008

It’s (Almost) Miller Time!

Another new Extreme 10.5 car! And this time from one of your Agent's favorite racers. This is Craig Miller's new ADRL Extreme 10.5 entry. "Paint is the traditional Miller Lite can blue, which we always run--on and off the track," the former Outlaw 10.5 star says. The car is an ex-Mark Pawuk '03 Grand Am Pro Stocker built by Jerry Bickel and now carrying a Taylor Lastor-prepped 748 with a three-stage nitrous system put together by Brandon Switzer of Speedtech. "We couldn't get totally away from 10.5, so we will be showing up at the ADRL races on the East Coast. It's where my heart is," Miller says. Your Agent would love to see Miller and his dad, Bobby, make it out to Houston and Tulsa, but supposes he can wait until May at Valdosta to share a Miller Lite if that's what it takes.

February 19, 2008

‘Hit Man’ Strikes at Carolina Dragway

Mike "Hit Man" Hill, the Extreme 10.5 (XTF) winner of the 2007 ADRL season ender at Dallas, TX, continued his winning ways Feb. 16, at Carolina Dragway's TNT Pro Mod race. Hill, from Washington, GA, arrived at the tidy eighth-miler near Jackson, SC, intending only to test his XTF '63 Corvette, but decided at the last moment to enter the race. Going up against a field of "big tire" cars, Hill qualified with an outstanding 4.240 at 172.17 mph with 10.5Ws on the Vette. In the final round against Danny Baughns and his late-model "Predator" Camaro, Hill got away first and won with a 4.286 at 170.21 against Baughns' 4.369/158.13 combination. After a 1.04 60-foot time and going 2.80 to the 330-foot marker on the qualifying pass, Hill said he's happy with the car's early performance and he'll now concentrate on the back-half speed as he heads to the ADRL season opener Mar. 7-8 at Houston Raceway Park. Your Agent can't help but wonder, are teens all that far away for the XTF class? (ADRL/Tocher file photo)

See the qualifying pass here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f71BcdPPnM and the final round here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDB1APSM5Lk&feature=related

February 18, 2008

McAmis Commits Onsite Service to Every ADRL Event

Tim McAmis Race Cars, out of Hawk Point, MO, has confirmed its new display truck and trailer will attend all nine ADRL national events this year. It will be stocked with more than $100,000 worth of inventory for each race, including parts from McAmis, Stroud Safety, Strange Engineering, Aeromotive Fuel Systems and NW Radio, among others. Additionally, the trailer will be outfitted with personnel, welders and welding supplies, and all necessary fabrication equipment to perform significant chassis repairs at the track. (Photo courtesy of Tim McAmis Race Cars) 

February 17, 2008

Taylor Crashes Corvette at Houston

Your Agent recently spoke with ADRL Pro Extreme star Frankie "Madman" Taylor, who was uninjured in a late-afternoon testing crash at Houston Raceway Park today. Apparently, Taylor's Larry Jeffers-built '05 Corvette shook the tires about 60 feet out in the right lane and when he grabbed the handbrake his tires locked up, shooting the car across the track and hard into the left guardwall. It then traveled back across both lanes before striking the right wall and coming to rest after the 330-foot marker. A Taylor crew member said they recently switched to carbon-fiber brakes on the car. Taylor, from Dickinson, TX, said there is considerable body damage and the front clip of the chassis is "tore up" and he's already making plans to ship the car up to Jeffers Race Cars in Missouri. If it can't be repaired in time for the ADRL season opener at the same track just three weekends from now, he hopes to line up a replacement car and still enter the race. Taylor's determination is well known, so your Agent is confident he'll answer the call. (Photos courtesy of Paul Taylor Jr.)

February 14, 2008

New Car for Castellana

Just like a Valentine's Day gift, your Agent was fortunate enough to get this exclusive first look at Mike Castellana's new Pro Nitrous entry. Built by Jerry Haas and fitted with 800 cubic inches of Reher-Morrison power and a four-stage Speedtech nitrous system under the hood, the '68 Firebird-bodied beauty was recently completed at the Speedtech shop in Tuscaloosa, AL. Also contributing to the effort to get the car race-ready for the ADRL season opener Mar. 7-8, at Houston were Aeromotive, Western Beef, Spaghetti Menders Wiring Products, Moroso, PowerMaster Batteries, Braswell Carburetors and Taylor Racing Products. Castellana also made your Agent promise to thank all the guys at Speedtech for their hard work in putting the car together, expecially co-owners Brandon Switzer and Shannon Jenkins. Valentine's Day or not, this looks like one sweet ride.

February 11, 2008

Finally! Team Rage Confirms Martin as National Guard Teammate

Your Agent spilled the beans on this one a few weeks ago, but now it's official -- Harold Martin will race in Pro Nitrous as a National Guard-backed teammate to Team Rage Pro Extreme driver Joshua Hernandez this year. In a press conference today at the Chicago Auto Show, the largest consumer car show in North America, Martin's '06 Grand Am was unveiled in National Guard livery. “This is a great opportunity for me and my race team, as well as a true honor to represent the National Guard,” Martin stated.

“When we decided to go outside of Team Rage in search of a second driver, Harold Martin was on a very short list of names that we compiled,” Team Rage owner Dave Wood said. “I am thrilled about this new partnership with Harold Martin Racing and confident that both Josh and Harold will contend for the 2008 ADRL world championships in their respective classes.” 

Your Agent knows Martin as a meticulous and innovative racer. He is a former General Motors engineer whose efforts resulted in 10 world patents and led to the development of the first automotive computer control system. In 1996, he established Martin Technologies, an engineering services company that provides design, development, testing and assembly of engine programs, and Martin Motorsports, which designs and distributes leading-edge performance products and services to the motor racing industry. He also is highly sought after as a motivational speaker and has been profiled by several leading media outlets including CNN, ESPN, Speed TV, Ebony, On Wheels Magazine, GM News and USA Today, among others.

“We are excited about this partnership with Team Rage, Harold Martin Racing and the American Drag Racing League,” Sergeant Major Thomas Holley NGB (Recruiting & Retention) said. “These organizations bring the same hard work and team ethics to racing as do the 350,000 proud men and women of the Army National Guard.”

February 11, 2008

Reese’s New Look Looks Menacing

Your Agent just received this sneak peek of the planned paint job for David Reese's twin-Procharger-equipped Mustang destined for ADRL Extreme 10.5 competition. Evil, wicked, mean and nasty -- just the way we like 'em!

February 11, 2008

Pro Extreme Testing at Valdosta, GA

Pro Extreme drivers had a generally hard time getting hold of the Valdosta strip, but Travis Swearingen (top) did manage a best of 4.042 at 181.67 mph in his family-owned and operated '41 Willys on Friday afternoon, while Joe Baker never did approach the capability of his similar-bodied machine. Steve Engel's '63 Vette arrived on Saturday, but it was crew chief Brandon Pesz handling the driving with Engel scheduled to arrive Sunday and remain for testing through Tuesday at the south-Georgia track. Pesz went a best of 4.174 at 179.02, but it was in the team's NHRA/IHRA car. Pesz said they also have an ADRL-only '63 Vette in the shop fitted with a screw blower atop its BAE 526. He hopes to be ready with it for the Mar. 7-8 season opener at Houston Raceway Park, near his home at Woodlands, TX, but if not he expects to have it in Tulsa a month later. (Ian Tocher photos)

February 11, 2008

Jewett Debuts New XTF Mustang

After an aborted first attempt a week earlier at Hattiesburg, MS, Extreme 10.5 racer Bill Jewett showed up on Saturday at Valdosta to make his first laps with a brand-new 2008 Saleen Mustang. Jewett, from Gulf Shores, AL, made three hits with the car, built by Mike Johnson at Precision Racecraft in Douglasville, GA, improving each time to a best of 5.187 at 142.25 mph. They'll need to knock nearly a second off that time to be competitive in what's shaping up to be a very stout Extreme 10.5 field, but with a blown, Brad Anderson 526 Hemi up front, your Agent gets the idea that these guys are serious about going for it this year. (Ian Tocher photos)

February 11, 2008

Pro Nitrous Test Results from Valdosta, GA

Your Agent received updates on ADRL testing at South Georgia Motorsports Park from ADRL VP of Communications Ian Tocher, who said Jim Halsey (top) claimed the unofficial Pro Nitrous track record with this Saturday-night 3.982-seconds blast at 184.57 mph in his Maryland-based '68 Camaro. Engine builder Gene Fulton was spotted later in Halsey's pit and appeared quite pleased with the result. Alabama's Johnny Pilcher (center) and Keith Baker both carded best passes of 4.026 seconds, but Pilcher went slightly faster, 180.81 to Baker's 180.67. Pilcher said his new Sonny's 865-equipped Vette was pinning him back in the seat like he's never experienced before in this car, so he's confident there's a lot more to be had, while Baker, the 2006 Pro Extreme champion, had to overcome severe tire shaking problems before finally making his best pass on Saturday afternoon. (Ian Tocher photos)

February 11, 2008

Another One Bites the Dust

This time your agent turns to 70's supergroup Queen for musical inspiration to describe Hugh Scott's wall banger Feb. 9, during testing at South Georgia Motorsports Park. Scott's '63 Corvette got loose about 100 feet out and sideswiped the left guardwall before sliding to a halt shortly past half-track. The veteran Pro Extreme driver quickly exited the car on his own and watched calmly (red pants) as it was loaded on to a wrecker and carried back to his pit. Damage appeared to be mostly cosmetic and Scott uninjured, but it's certainly a rough way to start the season. (Ian Tocher photos) 

February 8, 2008

Oops, It Did It Again!

With apologies to Ms Spears, your Agent just got off the phone with 2007 ADRL Pro Extreme champ Jason Scruggs, whose testing was cut short late this afternoon when his brand-new '06 Stratus found the right wall about 100-150 feet out at South Georgia Motorsports Park, near Valdosta, GA. Scruggs said he'd made two tire-shaking attempts earlier in the day and actually thought he was starting to make a good pass when "it just took the tires off and when it caught it went crooked. I thought I'd caught it in time, but then it moved again and banged up the right front corner and scraped the side a bit." Scruggs said he and his crew chief/father, Mitchell, initially thought the damage was confined to cosmetic only, but on deeper examination they realized the right front suspension got tweaked by the impact.

Though this is the third time the car has suffered an on-track incident in its third outing ("Yeah, I'm getting a reputation for this. I guess I just can't drive in my old age." ) Scruggs stressed he has no intention of giving up on it. "You have to realize we're out here trying stuff to go faster," he explained. "We were trying something there, the track was pretty slick and it got loose. A bunch of cars wrecked out here today--they just didn't hit nothing. It's bent a little and has a few scars again, but that's what they make carbon fiber for. We'll fix it."

However, Scruggs said his ADRL championship-winning '63 Vette will probably be in his pit at the season opener Mar. 7-8, at Houston Raceway Park. Garret Race Cars, which built the Stratus, has several cars lined up to finish before the start of the racing season, so although "not that bad," his repairs will have to wait, he pointed out. The Corvette was in the trailer at Valdosta, but Scruggs is heading back to Saltillo, MS, because "I've been driving that car a long time; I know what it'll do. We need to test the Stratus because just like any new car, you have to work out the bugs." (Photos by Marvin T. Smith)

February 7, 2008

SOLD! Carpenter’s Car Heads Overseas

Your Agent has learned that the '55 Chevy driven by drag racing legend Charles Carpenter to a pair of ADRL Pro Nitrous wins last season (top photo)  has been sold to Henri Joosten (bottom right) of Holland. “It’s going to be tough to see her go, but I think she is going to a good new home. Henri has been racing a ’55 over in Europe for quite some time, and I feel certain he will be thrilled with the car," Carpenter said. “Henri actually called me about two years ago to ask if the car was for sale. The answer then was an emphatic ‘no’. Once he saw the car was actually for sale now, he began communicating with [my son] Mike and I, and arranged a visit to North Carolina. After seeing it in person, I think he was very impressed with it. It will be on a boat to Holland in a few short weeks.”

Meanwhile, work continues on Carpenter's new '55 (bottom left) being built for ADRL competition by Terry Murphy Race Cars in Blue Springs, MO. The Pro Nitrous pioneer hopes to accept delivery late this month in order to make it to the Mar. 7-8, ADRL season-opening Drag Illustrated Dragpalooza IV race in Houston. “The car is looking awesome," he said. "Derek Smith has done an incredible job with the welding, and Howard Pyle’s fit and finish work looks great. A lot of people are going to be surprised when they see the level of detail and craftsmanship on this car. I’m particular when it comes to a lot of things, and especially particular about my race cars. Murphy and his crew have surpassed my high expectations for this project." Carpenter is actively seeking primary sponsorship for 2008 and a copy of the team’s 2008 Marketing Partnership Guide is available at www.fastest55.com. (Top: ADRL/Tocher file photo; Bottom: Photos courtesy of Charles Carpenter Racing) 

February 6, 2008

2008 ADRL National Event Payouts

 The Flowmaster American Drag Racing League (ADRL) presented by the National Guard announced a restructuring of ADRL national event payouts Feb. 5, intended to increase the amounts paid to racers that qualify or reach the second round of eliminations. Though payouts for winners through semi-finalists have been slightly adjusted, the total purse for the nine-event 2008 ADRL season remains at more than $894,000 and when the 2008 contingency program is announced in the coming weeks, it will boost the winner and runner-up purses even higher.

Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous racers eliminated in round one will now receive $1,000 and those eliminated in round two will now receive $1,500.  Extreme 10.5 racers eliminated in round one will now receive $500 and those eliminated in round two will now receive $750 each. Pro Extreme Motorcycle racers eliminated in round one will now receive $125 and $250 apiece will go to those eliminated in round two. To see the entire purse structure click the "Rules" tab at the top of the www.ADRL.us homepage and scroll to the bottom.      

“Taking some money off the top helps more racers in the long run,” ADRL President Kenny Nowling explained. “Every decision that this company makes is made, first and foremost, with our racers in mind. Obviously we want to grow the purse, but with adding another full-time pro class and running one more national event than we had last year it just wasn’t in the budget for 2008. We do look forward, however, to making significant purse increases for the 2009 season in all four pro classes.”

Your Agent also heard talk around the office water cooler that a yet-to-be-determined bonus amount to further offset travel costs will go to qualifiers at select northern events this season. 

February 6, 2008

ADRL Racers Get ‘Testy’ at SGMP

The American Drag Racing League will be visiting South Georgia Motorsports Park, near Valdosta, GA, May 9-10, for the 4th annual Camp Motorsports Georgia Drags. This weekend (Feb. 8-9), however,  several ADRL racers, including Pro Extreme stars Travis Swearingen, Quain Stott and Joe Baker, plus Pro Nitrous racers Terry Murphy, Jim Halsey and 2006 champion Keith Baker are expected to travel the SGMP eighth mile in the first major test session of the year. Your Agent has it on very good authority that reigning Pro Extreme champ Jason Scruggs (shown) also will be there on both days, but in his new Garret Race Cars-built 2006 Dodge Stratus. It will be the first time Scruggs has made a pass in the car since it had to be repaired after a top-end blower explosion damaged its roof in testing at Dallas last year, the day after he won the ADRL championship and season-ending race in the Vette. (ADRL/Tocher file photo)  

February 5, 2008

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet?

Obviously snapped on the run, your Agent found these spy photos slipped between the pages of his morning newspaper. A cryptic note says they're shots of Rob "Superman" Hunicutt's new ADRL Pro Extreme Motorcycle entry, based on a Gary Clark chassis with DTM Performance power and Schnitz Racing electronics. Word is "Superman" will be testing at Rockingham Dragway's test session Feb. 22-24, with a goal set of running in the high-4.20s before he packs up his cape and tights for the trip to Houston a couple of weeks later for the ADRL season opener.

February 3, 2008

ADRL Bikers Test at Bradenton

Pro Extreme Motorcycle riders Nikie Corley (top left), Monte Campbell (top right) and Rick Perry attended a Feb. 1 test session at south-Florida's Bradenton Motorsports Park. Your Agent wasn't able to pry any performance figures out of the Sunshine State-based trio, but heard they were "respectable." Seems everyone is putting their game face on for the rapidly approaching start of the 2008 ADRL season.

February 1, 2008

Cajun Invasion Planned for Houston

Louisiana racers Shawn Davis and Bill Doucet contacted Agent 660 to let him know that after competing at several recent Super Chevy and local Quick 8 events, they're heading for the Pro Extreme arena at the ADRL season opener in Houston this March. Davis, from Lake Charles, has so far run a best of 4.10 seconds in testing with his Tim McAmis-built '57 Bowtie, while Doucet has dipped into the 3s with his Opelousas-based, BAE PSI-equipped '63 Vette. "We are looking forward to see how we can run on a well-prepped track," Davis said. "These are two of the quickest cars in the state and we hope to do well in Houston."

February 1, 2008

Carpenter’s New Car Nearing Completion