ADRL.us sponsored by Flowmaster

May 1, 2008

ADRL Rewards MasterCard Available

The application window opened a week ago, and with charges still haunting him from a particularly ugly RC Cola and Moonpie-fueled, Beanie Baby buying spree in the late-'90s (I was SO SURE that was gonna' pay off!), your Agent has already taken time to transfer all those high-interest accounts over to a new, no-annual-fee ADRL Rewards MasterCard. Beyond the credit relief, the new ADRL MasterCard allows your Agent to show off his enthusiasm for the thrilling sport of ADRL drag racing every time he makes a purchase. Plus, he earns valuable ADRL Rewards points good for discounts on ADRL gear or events, or he can choose savings on general travel or merchandise, or even cash back--all as a result of his now frugal everyday spending. What's not to love?

Just click on the ADRL MasterCard logo to receive an introductory 2.99% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for Balance Transfers through your first six monthly billing cycles, along with no annual fee, total fraud protection, 24/7 customer service and 24/7 account access online.

April 30, 2008

ADRL Introduces www.GuardingOurYouth.com

The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is pleased to be hosting the Guarding Our Youth Experience for area high school students at each of its nine national events this year and today unveiled a new Web site (www.GuardingOurYouth.com) to inform educators and students about the program. Each half-day or full-day event will introduce students to a multitude of career opportunities in the automotive field, driver safety programs, technical and continuing education information, as well as nationally recognized speakers. National Guard-sponsored ADRL drivers Joshua Hernandez and Harold Martin will address each Guarding Our Youth class, along with Patrick Rummerfield, the world's most active paraplegic who overcame tremendous odds to set over 40 "firsts" including running the Iron Man Triathlon, setting several land speed records, and running in several marathons worldwide.

April 30, 2008

ADRL Exclusive: Charles Carpenter’s New ‘55 Chevy

Your Agent was excitedly tearing into his Topiary and Dwarf Trees 2008 Annual when these photos of Pro Nitrous legend Charles Carpenter's latest '55 Chevy fell out and wafted gently to the floor. That's when he noticed an attached note that said Carpenter finally picked up the car this past weekend from Terry Murphy Race Cars in Blue Springs, MO, and will start initial testing this weekend. The two-time ADRL winner last year probably won't make it to the 4th annual Hardee's Georgia Drags May 9-10, at South Georgia Motorsports Park, though, so his '08 ADRL debut is still to come. The paint scheme is classic Carpenter with a few minor alterations, but the body features several unique tweaks and the car sits much lower than his previous ride. And weighing in at right around 2,300 pounds, this one should be quite the Tri-Five terror once it hits the track.

April 29, 2008

Pizza Hut Delivers ADRL Sponsorship

Hot and fast! That's how your Agent likes his drag racing and his pizza and now courtesy of the good folks at Pizza Hut he can have it all at once. Pizza Hut has signed on as title rights sponsor for the 4th annual ADRL Pizza Hut Summer Drags and will be providing complimentary tickets to the June 6-7 event  at Knoll Gas Motorsports Park at U.S. 131 in Martin, Michigan. For the full story visit the "News" section of www.ADRL.us.

April 22, 2008

iCool Offers Cool Contingency

Intelligent Cooling Solutions, better known as iCool, is the latest company to get on board as an official ADRL contingency sponsor. According to its Web site (www.icoolair.com), iCool was founded on the principle of providing specific cooling solutions for specific markets. Believing a design should match the intent of use, the iCool design team takes a practical look at the cooling requirements, application and restrictions, then provides a well-thought-out design solution to meet the task at hand. With this in mind, iCool provides the industry's only self-contained portable air conditioner designed specifically for automotive shops, technicians, race teams and crew members. Your Agent can't help himself; this may well be the ADRL's coolest sponsor yet.

April 22, 2008

‘Black Ice’ Spotted on Darlington Strip

Shannon "The Iceman" Jenkins was out at Darlington (SC) Dragway last Wednesday and Thursday laying down some test passes and your Agent finally received visual proof from an operative who apparently had a little trouble figuring out how to download pics from his camera. Regardless, with car builder David Janes on hand, too, the Iceman made several short hops in his new ADRL-specific "Black Ice" Camaro, posting 60-foot times of .967, .971 and .970, but never going the full eighth-mile distance. Watch for "Black Ice" to make its ADRL debut May 9-10, in the 4th annual Hardee's Georgia Drags at South Georgia Motorsports Park--the same venue where Jenkins became the first to put a Pro Nitrous car into the three-second zone. Jenkins also had the '69 Firebird of teammate Mike Castellana that he drove last month in the ADRL national event at Houston and made a nice 4.03-seconds test hit in that car. Seems like the Awesome Motorsports team is living up to its name.

April 21, 2008

Son, Can I Borrow the Car?

James Hancock III, father of ADRL Pro Nitrous world champion Jamie Hancock, got back behind the wheel of their family owned '04 Corvette in a test session at Phenix City, AL, on Sunday. He explained that high-school student Jamie was at home studying for some upcoming exams, so he was out testing changes they'd made to the car's launch controls following a rare DNQ at the ADRL season opener in Houston last month. Hancock III, who drove the car before handing over the reins last year to Jamie, hadn't made a hit in nearly a year, but proved he hasn't lost any driving chops by posting an excellent 4.08-seconds pass straight off the trailer. He was unable to improve, however, after rattling the tires in his second attempt and wrapping up with an on-and-off-the-gas 4.33 at 166 mph. (Ian Tocher photo)

April 18, 2008

ADRL Postpones Tulsa Event to June

Your Agent regrets to inform that the Flowmaster American Drag Racing League (ADRL) presented by the National Guard announced today that its 2nd annual Shelor.com Spring Drags have been postponed from Apr. 25-26 to June 20-21. As this photo of the spectator parking lot taken today shows, the ground is very wet with large areas of standing water.

“Unfortunately, the entire Tulsa region has been inundated with heavy rain over the past several weeks which has left the spectator parking and overflow pit parking areas oversaturated with water and unusable,” ADRL President Kenny Nowling said. “If it were to stop raining right now and not rain again through next weekend we would still not be able to utilize a large majority of the spectator parking areas."

Although new tickets reflecting the June 20-21 dates will be printed and distributed, all tickets bearing the original April dates will be honored. For additional information vist the ADRL News section http://www.adrl.us/index.php/main/insidepage/news. 

April 17, 2008

Drag Illustrated Debuts New Web Site

Though your Agent obviously has a deep affinity for www.ADRL.us, he does recognize there are a few other good sources for ADRL news and photos. For the last few years Drag Illustrated has ranked among the very best in the print ranks with many ADRL racer and event features and even including an ADRL-specific news page. And now the award-winning publication has a Web presence worthy of its reputation after relaunching www.dragillustrated.com early this month with new features, improved navigability and a staff blog section.

"Content is king when it comes to the Internet," Drag Illustrated editor and publisher (and good friend of your Agent) Wes Buck said. "The new homepage lets us showcase the content of our magazine, give readers an insight into the upcoming issue of Drag Illustrated and enjoy an inside look at the daily happenings of the DI crew." Your Agent has already updated his bookmark list. 

April 17, 2008

ADRL Welcomes Master Formula

Your Agent joins everyone at ADRL in welcoming Master Formula to our ever-growing family of ADRL series sponsors. Master Formula is the manufacturer and distributor of Metal Gloss, a nonabrasive polish that's safe for all metals: aluminum, chrome, stainless steel, gold, brass, silver, etc., and Sealer Gloss, a high-tech sealant designed to protect bare metal or even finely painted surfaces. Check out the company Web site and store at www.xtremegloss.com.

Drag racing star Erica Enders (right), who joined 41,742 ADRL fans at the recent season opener at Houston, has signed on as company spokesperson and your Agent will personally make sure she receives a big welcome at all future ADRL national events, too. Word has it we may even see the lovely Ms Enders as soon as next week's 2nd annual Shelor.com Spring Drags at Tulsa Raceway Park (fingers crossed!). And though your Agent hasn't yet had a chance to try out the Master Formula products, he has operatives in the field who swear by their effectiveness. Hmmmmmm, maybe there's hope for that set of Cragar SS rims your Agent has been saving since 1976, after all.

April 16, 2008

Another Tasty Sponsor On the Way?

Just as your Agent predicted a couple of weeks ago before Hardee's was confirmed as the title rights sponsor for the ADRL's 4th annual Hardee's Georgia Drags next month at South Georgia Motorsports Park, another major event sponsorship announcement appears to be in the works regarding the 4th annual Summer Drags at Martin, MI, in June. Your Agent will take his sponsorship with onions, green peppers, extra cheese and pepperoni, please.

April 15, 2008

Tulsa Daily Touts ADRL Visit

Your Agent was tipped off to another local report about the ADRL coming to town, this time in The Journal Record, a business-oriented daily newspaper based in Tulsa, OK. Check out Drag racers to burn rubber in Tulsa, about the 2nd annual Shelor.com Spring Drags Apr. 25-26, at Tulsa Raceway Park. The ADRL word is spreading.

April 15, 2008

‘Superman’ Gets Tired

ADRL Pro Extreme Motorcycle fans should be happy to hear that Rob "Superman" Hunnicutt will be handing out these posters featuring his new '07 Suzuki, while his PXM rivals will be happy to learn that DTM Performance/Hunnicutt Motorsports is now the official Mickey Thompson tire dealer for Fast by Gast and will have the latest M/T 11-inch PXM tire on site and on sale at all future ADRL national events.

April 14, 2008

New Look for Moyer’s XTF Turbo ‘Bird

As your Agent poured a heaping bowl of Sugar Pops this morning, out fell these photos of Todd Moyer's sharp-looking 2000 Firebird Extreme 10.5 entry. A note scribbled on the back said the car is sporting a new paint job laid down by Kelly Green at GRC and ran a best of 4.33 at 169.36 mph after going 1.09 to the 60-foot cone and 2.87 to the 330 mark in testing this past weekend at Houston Motorsports Park. Whoever managed to invade the sanctity of your Agent's cereal box also wrote that crew chief Chad Rogers said the Pasadena-TX-based team is working to get the slippage on the convertor down from 30 percent and improving the 60-foot times to see some 4.20s out of the car at the ADRL's 2nd annual Shelor.com Spring Drags Apr. 25-26, at Tulsa Raceway Park.

April 12, 2008

Swearingen Tests at Tulsa

Your Agent received a call late last night from ADRL Pro Extreme pilot Travis Swearingen, who said he had his Junkyard Willys out at Tulsa Raceway Park on Friday getting a little test time in before the track hosts the 2nd annual ADRL Shelor.com Spring Drags in a couple of weeks. After shaking the tires on the first hit, Swearingen said he made four straight clean passes, including a trio of 3.86s that were capped off by a 3.87-second run. "That's what we were looking for, to get that consistency," Swearingen said. "I think we're in pretty good shape right now." (ADRL/Tocher file photo)

April 10, 2008

Hardee’s Serves Up ADRL Sponsorship

Your Agent can now confirm that Hardee's, one of the world's largest fast-food chains, has signed on as the title rights sponsor of the 4th annual Hardee's Georgia Drags May 9-10, at South Georgia Motorsports Park. For additional details see the ADRL press release in the "News" section of ADRL.us at  http://www.adrl.us/index.php/main/insidepage/news.

April 10, 2008

Local Press Pumps Up ADRL in Martin

Another early morning Web-surfing session by your Agent turned up this story about the ADRL's upcoming visit June 6-7, to Knoll Gas Motorsports Park at US 131 in Martin, MI:  They're grandstanding at Martin drag strip. Good to see the anticipation already building.

April 9, 2008

Adrenaline: The Series is On the Way

Your Agent settled in tonight to watch his newly arrived "Sanford and Son" DVD collection ("I'm comin' Elizabeth!" That cracks your Agent up every time.), but obviously one of his operatives got there first because embedded within the episode where Lamont and Fred buy a load of stolen copper was a brief promo clip for Adrenaline: The Series, the new ADRL TV offering. Intrigued, your Agent went to great lengths to track down ADRL prez Kenny Nowling, who confirmed the first episode is already in the can, as those TV types are prone to say, and features qualifying highlights and coverage of all four rounds of all four ADRL pro classes at the recently completed Houston season opener. With top-end interviews, pit reporting and behind-the-scenes features, the hour-long show is exclusively dedicated to ADRL coverage, Nowling added.

"I'm not at liberty to disclose the network yet, but I can say that whether you have cable, Dish Network or DirecTV, you'll be able to tune in for all the latest ADRL action," the ADRL head honcho said, "I hate that there's been a delay in getting the show on the air, but I'm absolutely confident that our loyal fans, racers and sponsors will be thrilled when they finally see the end result."

Your Agent convinced the ADRL Internet elves to post the promo clip above and highly recommends its viewing. Aunt Esther would understand.

April 9, 2008

BAMM Brings it at Bristol

Jeff Miles, co-owner and promoter of Carolina Dragway, was at the Bristol test session last Sunday behind the wheel of the BAMM Motorsports '63 Corvette in Extreme 10.5 trim. Miles recorded a stout 4.34-seconds pass and followed it up with a 4.33 before calling it a day. Look for the BAMM guys to make their ADRL debut at Valdosta in May. (Photo courtesy of BAMM Motorsports) 

April 8, 2008

Hockey Night in Atlanta

Not PX, PN, XTF or PXM-related, but your Agent wanted to pass along that the ADRL's own Ian Tocher (yep, that's him behind the mask) backstopped his HockeyTime team to a 3-0 win in the Atlanta Amateur Hockey League's AA Over-35 championship game last night. Your Agent questions the wisdom of voluntarily stepping in front of flying rubber, but supposes it's not really so different than the starting line at an ADRL race. Regardless, congrats to HockeyTime on the win.

April 7, 2008

ADRL PX Cars Sporting New Looks in Bristol Test Session

Defending ADRL Pro Extreme World Champ Jason Scruggs (top) had his new Garret Race Cars-built Dodge Stratus out at Bristol (TN) Dragway on Sunday, doing a little testing in preparation for the 2nd annual Shelor.com Spring Drags later this month at Tulsa Raceway Park. The car was sporting a new, but familiar all-red paint job and despite two tire-shaking attempts at going down the strip, crew chief Mitchell Scruggs said he was satisfied with what they learned. Your Agent suspects he also was just happy to be taking the Stratus home with all four corners intact after suffering accidents of one sort or another during its initial three test sessions. Red Bay, AL's Hugh Scott (center) also debuted a new wrap covering the skin of his Pro Extreme '63 Corvette at Bristol, while Bennie McDonald's Pro Extreme '53 Vette (bottom) not only had new paint, but it set the track's unofficial 1/8-mile E.T. record with a 3.94-seconds blast at just over 190 mph. (Brian Cupp photos)

April 7, 2008

ADRL Stars Test at Bristol

Among the several ADRL cars and stars testing at Bristol Dragway over the past weekend were (clockwise from top left): Pro Extreme pilot Bob Mandell going a best of 4.17 at 177.30 in Toney Russell's rebuilt and repainted, retro-look "LowMad;" Pro Extreme star Joey Martin in the Culver Brothers' "Bodacious" Ford hemi-powered T-Bird; Extreme 10.5 driver Bill Jewett with his new '08 Saleen Mustang; and Stan Allen going 4.04/188.32 in the Bankston Boyz Pro Nitrous Camaro. (Brian Cupp photos)

April 7, 2008

Hometown Recognition for Hancock

Your Agent was doing a little Web surfing this morning and came across this nice write up on the Opelika Auburn News site about reigning ADRL Pro Nitrous world champion Jamie Hancock: Ahead of the curve. Good to see a local publication getting behind one of their own.

April 3, 2008

I’ll Have a Cheeseburger, Fries, Soda and Some Sponsorship, Please

Your Agent was visiting ADRL worldwide headquarters today and couldn't help but notice a super-secret, hush-hush meeting going on in the series' opulent marketing office. Not wanting to be left out, he pressed his ear to a drinking glass against the adjacent wall and managed to pick up bits and pieces about a deal that's apparently been in the works for several weeks. The company's name was muffled, but your Agent can confirm the ADRL will soon be announcing a major sponsorship from one of the world's largest fast-food chains--perhaps as early as this weekend. Your Agent also learned this is just one of several major marketing and sponsorship coups on the ADRL horizon, making him wonder, don't these people ever sleep?!