ADRL.us sponsored by Flowmaster

September 30, 2008

Trophy Travel Trouble

Take a good look at the National Guard Minuteman trophy Ray Matos won for beating Andy Jensen in the Pro Nitrous final at Dragstock V--'cause it don't look like that now!

ADRL prez Kenny Nowling received an e-mail last week from Raymond Matos Sr., explaining TSA agents wouldn't allow his team to hand carry the prize through an airport security checkpoint on their way home to Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

"We had to put it in one of our suitcases," Matos Sr. wrote. "We did wrap it up good but looks like they took it out of the suitcase and when they put it back in after inspecting they just left it on top without no protection and when we got back home and opened it was totally broken in many parts beyond repair."

Not to worry. Nowling told your Agent a replacement trophy has already been commissioned and will be sent via overnight express the moment it's ready. "And you can be sure the insurance box will be checked off," he added.

(ADRL/Richards photo)

September 30, 2008

Sorry Ladies ... He’s Taken

One of the most eligible bachelors in Texas was taken off the market Sep. 27, when Jeff Wood, eldest son of ADRL co-founder and Team Rage owner Dave Wood and stepson of Dave's wife, Gidget, tied the knot with the newly-named Geana Wood at the swank Ashton Depot in Fort Worth.

ADRL President Kenny Nowling made the trip down for the nuptuals (Your Agent's invite must've got lost in the mail), and called the ceremony and reception that followed, “magical.”

Your Agent joins Nowling and the entire ADRL family in wishing Jeff and Geana all the happiness in the world.

(Photo courtesy of Lynn Michelle Photograpy)

September 30, 2008

More Memphis Test Results

Your Agent would be remiss in not mentioning 2007 ADRL Pro Extreme champ Jason Scruggs (top), 2008 Pro Nitrous points leader Billy Harper and Harper's teammate Dennis Radford (bottom) were also in Memphis yesterday, running test laps in preparation for the '08 championship-deciding Battle for the Belts that will open the 4th annual LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals Oct. 24, at the Texas Motorplex, near Dallas.

In speaking with Garret Livingston, builder of Scruggs' 2007 Dodge Stratus, he learned Scruggs rolled straight out of the trailer to a car's-best 3.76 pass at 202.47 mph that opened with a very impressive .953 60-foot time and 2.53 march to half-track. Scruggs--still the only door car pilot ever to exceed 200 mph in the eighth mile--followed up with a 3.79 again at 202, then headed for home after the blower belt snapped on his third try.

Another call to Harper/Radford crewman Jim "Dog" Raynor netted your Agent a 3.93/189 mph report on Harper's best lap in his record-setting '01 Viper that was recently repaired after being damaged in a final-round wall slapper at Norwalk, OH, back in August. Raynor wasn't quite so forthcoming with info on Radford's Memphis numbers, saying only that the Andy McCoy-built '70 Duster is "coming along nicely" and "showed favorable results."

(ADRL/Bunsold photos)

September 30, 2008

Stanton Steps Up

Your Agent received word late last night that after coming oh-so-close on his way to the win at Dragstock V earlier this month, Pro Extreme star Bubba Stanton finally broke into the 3.70s with a 3.79 in testing yesterday. Hearty congrats all around to Stanton, team owner Roger Henson, crew chief Donnie Sykes, and everyone else involved with the Widowmaker team. 

Unfortunately, his operative's cellphone connection was spotty at best, so your Agent doesn't have the full scoop--yet--so stay tuned for details.

UPDATE: Your Agent went straight to the source, with Stanton revealing a .973 60-foot time, followed by 2.544 to half-track and tripping the eighth-mile beam in 3.794 seconds at 197.86 mph. Stanton said he made only three attempts at Memphis Motorsports Park, breaking the blower belt early in his first run, laying down the big time his second time out, and calling it a day with transmission trouble in his last attempt.

Fresh off the win at Dragstock V and following up with some great test numbers, it looks like Stanton and team are hitting their peak at the right time. Your Agent has to consider them among the favorites to become the first repeat ADRL world champions come Oct. 24, when they go head-to-head against seven other top PX teams in the 2008 Battle for the Belts at the 4th annual LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals at the Texas Motorplex, near Dallas. 

(ADRL/Tocher file photo)

September 30, 2008

First Look: Viscardi’s New ‘Stang

Take a look at these fly-on-the-wall peeks of Alex "Boom Boom" Viscardi's new, twin-turbocharged '67 Mustang GT-500KR at Jerry Haas Race Cars in Fenton, MO.

As your Agent previously reported in this space, Viscardi, currently campaigning his family-owned, twin-turboed '66 Mustang in Extreme 10.5 action, will eventually steer this new ride in the ADRL's Pro Extreme division. With little time available for testing beforehand, however, an Oct. 24-25 competition debut in the 4th annual LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals at Ennis, TX, appears unlikely.

Regardless, once Tony Baudier gets finished with the wild, custom wrap planned for Boom Boom's new steed, your Agent predicts it's going to be the most popular pony car on the ADRL trail.

September 29, 2008

BTG: David Reher

Reher-Morrison Racing Engines is making big inroads into the Pro Nitrous class with R-M powered machines winning at two of the last three ADRL national events.

Check out what David Reher, the main man at R-M, had to say when ADRL.us went Beyond the Guardwall with him at Dragstock V.

September 27, 2008

Happy Birthday!

Two of your Agent's closest friends and allies at the track share a birthday today, so he joins the rest of the ADRL family in wishing Drag Illustrated publisher/editor/copy writer/photographer/ad guy and David Janes' crew man Wes Buck (left), along with ProModifieds.us anchor, ADRL same-day reporter and all-around stats man Brian Cupp (right) a very happy birthday.  

Your Agent immensely enjoys the company of both of these guys and is just happy to see them each put another year in the bank.

Here's to many, many more!

September 23, 2008

‘Hell Hoss’ on the Loose

Your Agent stopped in his Web-surfin' tracks when he came across images of the brand-new LenMar Motorsports twin-turboed '67 Mustang over at www.ProModZone.com.

The "Hell Hoss" is destined for action at the hands of Texas outlaw Grant McCrary in the 4th annual LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals at the Texas Motorplex next month.

Check out more photos of the incredible-looking pony car here.

(Photo courtesy of ProModZone.com)

September 23, 2008

Charitable Charger For Sale

Your Agent got a message from friend and former Flowmaster man J.C. Flugger saying he's got his 2006 Charger Daytona R/T for sale on eBay.

Now, normally your Agent wouldn't be promoting a private sale like this, but Flugger said he plans to donate at least $1,500 and up to $10,000 from the car's selling price to the Susan B. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research in honor of Colonel John Grey and Flugger's own mother, who passed away on Saturday.

Your Agent sends his condolences and his hope that the biggest donation possible is realized.

September 22, 2008

Viscardi Visiting Vegas

Your Agent recently received notice from Alex "Boom Boom" Viscardi, one of the ADRL's most popular young guns, that Turbonetics Turbochargers has asked to have his Extreme 10.5 '66 Mustang on display in its booth at the SEMA show in Las Vegas this November.

The annual Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) show is the world's largest automotive specialty products trade event. Last year's show apparently drew more than 60,000 domestic and international buyers through two million square feet of exhibits, so your Agent can't help but feel it's a real coup for Viscardi and the ADRL to have a presence there.

(ADRL photo by Greg Bunsold)

September 22, 2008

ADRL Only for Team Rage in ‘09

September 19, 2008

BTG: Charles Carpenter

Your Agent thought this was a pretty interesting behind-the-scenes glimpse into just one incident at an ADRL national event.

With more than a hundred race teams at recent ADRL events and each one having their own story about how they got there, what happened at the race and what their outcome was, your Agent knows he can't be privy to them all--but he'll keep trying!

Go Beyond the Guardwall with Charles Carpenter and you'll see what he means.

September 19, 2008

PXM Points Correction

Your Agent was notified of a couple of discrepancies in the Pro Extreme Motorcycle points standings heading into next month's Battle for the Belts, so he put one of his most trusted and reliable operatives on the case.

Turns out three riders: Billy Vose, Scott Gray (above) and Monte Campbell, the only PXM competitors eligible for the 50-point bonus attached to making an on-track attempt at all eight ADRL national events leading up to the Battle for the Belts, were mistakenly shortchanged by 25 points each in the calculating process. For Vose and Campbell, the change was purely mathematical as they remained third and ninth, respectively, but for Gray those extra 25 markers proved crucial.

Gray bumped ahead of T.T. Jones by just one point to place him seventh and Jones eighth heading into the opening round of the Battle for the Belts on Friday night of the 4th annual LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals Oct. 24-25, at the Texas Motorplex, near Dallas. So, first-round pairings will be: 1. Ron Procopio vs 8. T.T. Jones; 2. Matt Prophit vs 7. Scott Gray; 3. Billy Vose vs 6. Jack Young; 4. Nikie Corley vs 5. Charlie Pophit.

Any one of those match-ups would make a great PXM final round, so your Agent is looking forward to the ADRL's two-wheeled warriors putting on a whale of a show in Dallas next month.

See the updated points list here.

(ADRL photo by Greg Bunsold)

September 18, 2008

Jensen ‘Okay’ with Pro Extreme Move

Well, your Agent finally tracked down Andy Jensen to get his reaction to being switched over to Pro Extreme from Pro Nitrous after running a record-setting 3.87-seconds E.T. twice in eliminations at Rockingham, NC, this past weekend and he said his only disappointment comes from not winning in Pro Nitrous before the inevitable occurred.

"I wanted to become the first to win in all three car classes at the ADRL, but I guess I had my chance," Jensen said, referring to his tire-shaking, final-round loss at Dragstock V to Raymond Matos. "But really, I'm okay with the decision because I knew it would come and I know we have more than enough in the car to go even faster. We knew we were going to be competitive, even dominant in Pro Nitrous, and I think we'll be the same in Pro Extreme. We're not going to just show up and be an also-ran, we're going to a force or we're not going to go. It may not happen overnight, of course, but we're going to find a way to do it that we can afford and that works for us."

Jensen also said if he does manage to score a win in Pro Extreme, "don't be surprised if we show up at the next race with 10-inch tires on the car. I still want to get an Extreme 10.5 win, even if Pro Nitrous is no longer an option."

Jensen told your Agent that he hopes to make it to Dallas next month for the season-ending LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals, but couldn't commit at this time. 

"We're just a small team and we have to make every dollar count, but when it comes to racing we leave nothing--and I mean nothing--on the table."

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

September 18, 2008

Change in the Wind?

Usually, your Agent keeps an eye and ear on the ADRL Marketing department between races, since those guys (and gals!) seem to generate the most headlines, but he couldn't help but notice an awful lot of commotion and consulting over in the Competition department lately.

With his ear up to a drinking glass pressed to the office wall this afternoon, your Agent was able to confirm what so many had wondered about--that Andy Jensen's monster blasts at Dragstock V with his turbocharged, small-block-Chevy-powered '68 Camaro that earned him the Pro Nitrous elapsed time record (3.873 seconds!) sounded the death knell for non-nitrous power adders in Pro Nitrous.

Your Agent clearly heard ADRL VP of Competition Bubba Corzine state, "In all honesty, we probably should never have allowed them in Pro Nitrous, but as they say, hindsight is 20:20. But we always said we'd move them when the time came. Well, Andy's proven beyond any doubt that a turbo car can run Pro Extreme numbers, so that's where they'll have to go now."

Regarding the record and contrary to what some Internet gossip mongerers were suggesting, your Agent also heard ADRL prez Kenny Nowling emphatically state the record will not be removed along with Jensen's car from the Pro Nitrous ranks. "He did it within the rules as they stood at the time," Nowling said. "He did nothing wrong and the record will stand. Those boys just have something to shoot for now."

Your Agent expects an official ADRL press release will be forthcoming, but can't help wondering what Jensen's reaction might be. Stay tuned for more ...

September 17, 2008

ADRL Adds LenMar as World Finals Sponsor

Your Agent mentioned a few days ago that he saw ADRL prez Kenny Nowling suddenly jetting off to Texas and now he can reveal the reason.

Mansfield, TX-based LenMar Motorsports has been named the new title rights sponsor for the season-ending 4th annual LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals at the Texas Motorplex, just outside Dallas.

Your Agent welcomes the LenMar team to the ADRL.

For more information, visit the ADRL.us news section.

September 17, 2008

Dragstock V Photographic Evidence

Your Agent always enjoys looking over the images that emerge after each ADRL national event and Hushpower Dragstock V produced some real stunners.

Check out the lens work of the ADRL's Ian Tocher and talented freelancer Greg Bunsold here. Your Agent hears ADRL official photog Roger Richards has finally finished encoding his micro-film and the capsule will arrive shortly at ADRL headquarters, so he'll be well represented in the next couple of days, too.

Your Agent also suggests visiting the Dragstock V galleries by Gary Rowe of Raceworks.com.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

September 16, 2008

Battle for the Belts Fields Set

Here are the Battle for the Belts contenders for the 2008 ADRL world championships (official points in parentheses):

PRO EXTREME

1. Joshua Hernandez (3016); 2. Bubba Stanton (2534); 3. Jason Scruggs (1998); 4. Travis Swearingen (1889); 5. Frankie Taylor (1733); 6. Bil Clanton (1637); 7. Brian Daniels (1292); 8. Wes Johnston (1084)

PRO NITROUS

1. Billy Harper (2428); 2. Dennis Radford (2187); 3. Randy Weatherford (2044); 4. Shannon Jenkins (1813); 5. Jim Halsey (1715); 6. Stan Allen (1652); 7. Rickie Smith (1377); 8. Burton Auxier (1270)

EXTREME 10.5

1. Billy Glidden (2281); 2. Mike Hill (2055); 3. Todd Moyer (1877); 4. Gary White (1842); 5. Steve Kirk Jr. (1787); 6. David Janes (1749); 7. Michelle Wilson (1485); 8. Steve Gorman (1383)

PRO EXTREME MOTORCYCLE

1. Ron Procopio (2252); 2. Matt Prophit (2209); 3. Billy Vose (2016); 4. Nikie Corley (1896); 5. Charlie Prophit (1834); 6. Jack Young (1628); 7. Scott Gray (1609); 8. T.T. Jones (1608)  

September 15, 2008

ADRL Statement on Steve Engel

"Any time we lose a member of the drag racing community it's very difficult; however, this is especially tough since Steve was not only a member of and competitor with the ADRL, but also someone I had known for several years and considered a personal friend," American Drag Racing League (ADRL) President Kenny Nowling said of the death Sep. 14, of driver Steve Engel, 49 (left), from injuries sustained in a high-speed, top-end crash Aug. 30, while competing in an NHRA Pro Modified race at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Clermont, Indiana.

"My heart goes out to Steve's wife, Tonya, and his young sons, Stevie and Michael, at this obviously difficult time," said Nowling, who plans to attend Engel's memorial service in Ohio with a special ADRL tribute. The ADRL also is planning a tribute to Engel at its next national event at Dallas, Texas, in October, where each competitor's car will carry a memorial decal currently being designed for approval by Engel's family.

"Steve will be greatly missed. I feel very, very fortunate to have got to know him these last few years," Nowling continued. "I will carry many special, wonderful memories of him for as long as I live." 

September 14, 2008

Dragstock V Online

Shortly after returning from a most-memorable Dragstock V this weekend, your Agent got a little Web surfing in and found a couple of ADRL-related items of note.

Corey Davis of the Richmond County Daily Journal wrote a nice piece about Pro Extreme points leader Joshua Hernandez and noted Charlotte Observer motorsports editor David Poole included Dragstock V's winners in his online column at ThatsRacin.com (scroll to bottom).

There also was a brief preview of the race posted last Friday at the Fayetteville Observer site.

It's just good to see that slowly, but surely, the ADRL contnues to make inroads with local and national media outlets. 

September 14, 2008

Sweetheart Deal - Today Only!

Overheard at Dragstock V after a certain orange car won in Pro Nitrous: some guy code-named "Dog" telling ADRL VP of Competition Bubba Corzine that he knew where to find a good-looking Duster "real cheap."

But it was only a one-day offer, so that window of opportunity has already slammed shut on your Agent.

September 14, 2008

We Have Winners!

Your Agent congratulates each of the winners at this year's ADRL Hushpower Dragstock V (top to bottom): Kenny Nowling Jr., who adds Dragstock champion to his growing list of Pro Jr. Dragster achievements, Bubba Stanton in Pro Extreme, Raymond Matos in Pro Nitrous, Billy Glidden in Extreme 10.5, Ron Procopio in Pro Extreme Motorcycle, and Cary Goforth in Extreme Pro Stock.

Great jobs all around, gentlemen!

(ADRL/Tocher photos) 

September 12, 2008

JDM Jumps On Board with Glidden

JDM Engineering, front and center on Billy Glidden's small-block-Ford-powered Extreme 10.5 entry, has re-upped as an associate sponsor for the remainder of this year. JDM (www.teamjdm.com) is a Freehold, NJ-based Ford parts and tuning specialist and Glidden said he's hopeful they can work out an even bigger deal for the 2009 ADRL season.

Glidden's car also is sporting signage this weekend at Dragstock V from OTG Racing and Kenny Perry's Country Creek, a golf course just off I-65 in Franklin, KY.

In his first test pass at Rockingham, Glidden rewarded all his sponsors faith in him with a very impressive 4.18 at 170.71 mph, coming after a .985 to 60 feet and 2.74 to the 330 mark.

(ADRL/Tocher file photo)

September 12, 2008

Titan Runs 4.15 on 10.5Ws

The first monster run of Dragstock V belongs to the Titan Motorsports crew after driver Gary White steered their turbocharged 183 c.i. '07 Scion to the first "teen" on 10.5W tires--ever--anywhere. Straight off the trailer and just the fourth car down the Rockingham eighth mile, White ran 4.158 at 172.67 mph with a .996 60-foot time and 2.735 to half-track.

(ADRL/Richards photo)

September 11, 2008

Nowling Speaks at Drag Racing Online

Check out the in-depth interview with ADRL President Kenny Nowling at www.DragRacingOnline.com.

Even your Agent learned a few tidbits and gained some insight into where the ADRL came from and where its heading in the near future.

It's a good read and your Agent is already looking forward to Part II since that must be where Nowling talks about him.

September 11, 2008

Thank You

Obviously, the ADRL and its racers have a lot to thank the National Guard for, but on this date when all Americans--and people all over the world, for that matter--recall the cowardly terrorist attacks of seven years ago in New York City, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., we owe a little more gratitude to all our men and women in uniform. Thank you, National Guard, for all you do.

September 11, 2008

Local Media Pumps Up Dragstock V

Your Agent was thrilled to see local media attention is already being focused on this weekend's ADRL Hushpower Dragstock V at Rockingham Dragway.

No byline on the article, so your Agent doesn't know who to thank, but the Richmond County Daily Journal has this event preview in its Sep. 11, 2008 edition.

Ignore the schedule in the article, however. For the correct ADRL Dragstock V schedule, visit here and scroll to the bottom of the page.

September 10, 2008

New Sponsor Has ADRL Prez Sky High

Your Agent just happened to be wandering the tarmac at the airport in St. Louis yesterday (don't ask), when who should he see but ADRL head honcho Kenny Nowling being escorted to a waiting private jet with the engines spooled up and the pilots ready to go.

Hmmmm, your Agent thought, it might be part of some witness protection plan, but he quickly discounted that theory given Nowling's high-profile ADRL lifestyle.

Still curious, though, your Agent hid behind a conveniently parked baggage cart and was able to discern the jet belonged to a Texas company that Nowling was on his way to visit. Better yet, it seems a major sponsorship regarding the ADRL World Finals at Dallas, TX, in October may be in the works.

As soon as your Agent is able to clear up a few TSA misunderstandings, you can be sure he'll expose all the latest news.

September 10, 2008

Adrenaline: The Series Update

Just a reminder that Adrenaline: The Series, the ADRL's online video show featuring the inaugural 1-800-GO-GUARD.com U.S. Drags from Budds Creek, MD, will be posted this Friday, Sep. 12, at 12 p.m. Eastern. This was one of the most competitive and compelling ADRL national events in history, plus featured the debut of Extreme Pro Stock racing, so your Agent anxiously awaits the opportunity to experience every earth-shaking pass all over again. 

Your Agent's friends over at www.DragRacingOnline.com host the ground-breaking shows, so head over there at noon (EST) on Friday for your latest shot of online ADRL Adrenaline!

The 2nd annual ADRL Shelor Motor Mile Independence Drags from Radford, VA, and previous ADRL national events can be watched or downloaded for later viewing here.

September 10, 2008

Viscardi Loads Brand-New Bullet

After damaging the engine in their '66 Mustang Extreme 10.5 car at Norwalk, OH, last month, the Viscardi Boyz have raided the cookie jar, so to speak.

One of your Agent's operatives sneaked this snap at the Pressurized Solutions shop in Hayleyville, AL, this morning, where turbo guru Jon Bennett is putting the finishing touches on installing a brand-new 598 cubic incher he originally built for the '67 Shelby that Jerry Haas recently completed for the New Iberia, LA-based Viscardi team.

Without divulging his operative's identity, your Agent contacted Keith "Papi" Viscardi, who confirmed the new motor, fitted with a pair of Turbonetics Y2K 91 mm turbos, has never been fired--let alone tested--so he's anxious to see how it performs this weekend at the ADRL's Hushpower Dragstock V.

"I sure hope it works because it's been a lot of work just getting this engine to fit in the car," he said. "Everything is different, the manifold height, the fuel rail length, we've had to modify and fit everything new, but there's no way we were going to miss Dragstock!"

September 10, 2008

‘Iceman’ Ready for ‘The Rock’

Fresh off a dominating performance that netted him the Pro Nitrous win at Norwalk, OH, last month, Shannon "Iceman" Jenkins and his "Black Ice" 1968 Camaro leads the Awesome Al-Anabi team into the fray at this weekend's ADRL Hushpower Dragstock V at Rockingham (NC) Dragway.

Jenkins will be joined by Pro Nitrous teammates "Tricky Rickie" Smith, Mike Castellana, Burton Auxier and Extreme 10.5 winner from Norwalk, David Janes. The team also injects a little international flair into the Pro Nitrous mix with the return of Qatar's Khalid Al Belooshi, who made his ADRL debut in July at Budds Creek, MD. 

"We couldn't be more pleased right now with the performance of our race team," Jenkins said. "The Reher-Morrison engine program we have helped build the last two seasons, along with our Speedtech Nitrous systems, has put us at the top of the Pro Nitrous field." 

Your Agent wonders if Dragstock V fans are going to see that so-far-elusive first PN pass in the 3.80s this weekend. If the weather favors the nitrous-huffing crowd, he's got to consider the Iceman or one of his Awesome Al-Anabi compatriots among the favorites to get the job done.

(ADRL/Richards file photo)

September 10, 2008

Happy Birthday

Your Agent wants to be among the very first to wish ADRL VP of Communications Ian Tocher a Happy Birthday!

Tocher said he's hoping for a case of Shreddies cereal from back in his homeland Canada, but he'd settle for a few Eat-More bars, too.

Your Agent tried, but couldn't get the self-described pixel-stained wretch to divulge his all-important number. There are some things best left to the imagination and Georgia DMV. 

September 9, 2008

Lucas Likes Titan

Your Agent congratulates '08 Battle for the Belts contenders Titan Motorsports on picking up Lucas Oil as a new associate sponsor on their Extreme 10.5 Scion.

"We will be using the Lucas products in our engines, transmissions, differentials, as well as the Lucas Slick Mist for keeping the cars looking their best," team co-owner Nero Deliwala said.

Deliwala said the Titan/Lucas deal was just recently finalized for the end of the 2008 season and the new Lucas decals will be on the car in time for this weekend's Hushpower Dragstock V at Rockingham Dragway.

(ADRL/Tocher file photo)

September 8, 2008

OTG Gets On Board with Glidden

Extreme 10.5 star Billy Glidden called your Agent this morning to say he's picked up a little sponsorship help from OTG Racing for this weekend's Hushpower Dragstock V at Rockingham Dragway.

OTG campaigns a Pat Bennett-built '41 Willys, but it's been put on a diet in order to make it more competitive for Pro Nitrous and until it's ready, Glidden said they've decided to keep the OTG name out there through his XTF championship run.

Glidden also let slip he'll "probably" have the same 404 c.i., small-block Ford in his '06 GTO that he raced with in Norwalk last month, but also recently completed a new 496 Hemi engine for the car. The Hemi won't see race action until thoroughly tested, he insisted.

Regardless, your Agent isn't about to bet against the man from Indiana.

(ADRL/Tocher file photo)

September 8, 2008

Lil Red Corvette Gets Screwed

Screw blower, that is. Your Agent was speaking with one of his all-time favorite racers, 2005 ADRL Pro Extreme world champion John Lynam, who said he and his ride are almost ready to return to competition after nearly a year away from the track.

Unfortunately, it won't quite be ready for this weekend's Hushpower Dragstock V at Rockingham (NC) Dragway, but Lynam and car owner Johnny McGrady hope to have it out testing soon with their aim on re-entering the ADRL fray, at least on a limited basis, next season.

"Every time I look at the car with that new blower on it I can't help but smile," Lynam admitted to your Agent. "I can't wait to drop the clutch on that thing."

Your Agent is with you on that one, John. Hurry back. 

September 6, 2008

ADRL Coverage at DragCoverage.com

Your Agent really enjoyed the article written by John Mason over at www.DragCoverage.com about the recent ADRL Gatorz Ohio Drags.

Mason obviously "gets" the ADRL experience and does a great job of relating it to his readers in an insightful, but always entertaining manner.

Your Agent appreciates the hard work of all media members as he used to be a card-carrying member of the press, too, before devoting himself to all things ADRL--and watching Deadliest Catch marathons on the tube.

September 6, 2008

Good Fortune on the Field

Not exactly drag-racing related, but certainly part of the extended ADRL family, soccer player Gable Fortune (right), son of ADRL VP Jeff Fortune, has been named Athlete of the Week at Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL.

According to the school's Web site, "Fortune, a true freshman midfielder from St. Louis, MO, scored his first collegiate goal in a 2-1 loss to Lyon College in Memphis on Sunday (Aug. 31) afternoon."

Your Agent offers kudos and congrats to both Gabe and his understandably proud papa. 

(Photo courtesy shcbadgers.com)

September 3, 2008

National Guard Goes Hollywood

Well, the National Guard turns to Hollywood at least, to help reach that all-important 17- to 24-year-old audience with a nationwide theater advertising campaign.

During September and October, a new National Guard video featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr. and popular recording artist Kid Rock is expected to be seen by more than 124 million movie goers when shown on 27,709 screens in more than 3,117 theaters. NASCAR's Earnhardt is sponsored by the National Guard, which also is the presenting sponsor of the American Drag Racing League, and Rock was selected based on his popularity with the targeted age range and long-standing support of the U.S. military.

The video, which includes the song, "Warrior," written specifically for the National Guard by Rock, can be viewed at a new National Guard Web site (www.nationalguardwarrior.com), that also features MP3 downloads of the song, behind-the-scenes videos and photos, and computer wallpaper. 

In addition to the theater showings, running before every movie except those PG- and G-rated, print advertisements for the campaign will appear in Blender and Spin magazines.

September 3, 2008

Sweden Bound

Virginia's Ellis Vial called your Agent to report his blown '68 Camaro (shown in XTF trim at Budds Creek) has been sold to Swedish Pro Stock racer Adam Flamholc, making way for a new Pro Extreme entry he's currently having built by Fast Lane Race Cars. "Honestly? Me running that car in the ADRL is what made it sell," Vial stated. He also told your Agent to watch for a big announcement from him at Dragstock V in Rockingham in a couple of weeks.

Vial also said he has two new Randy Anderson engines and two new transmissions in his shop and with Lonnie Houde (tuner for '06 PX champ Bubba Stanton) providing the tune-up, your Agent suggests watching this team next year.

(Chris Simmons Photography)

September 1, 2008

PXM Girl Interviews Billy Vose

Check out PXM Girl's latest Q&A session, this time with reigning Pro Extreme Motorcycle world champion Billy Vose, who became the first repeat winner in the class when he defeated rookie Matt Prophit with a holeshot at the 2nd annual ADRL Gatorz Ohio Drags late last month at Norwalk, OH.

Your Agent just loves these little Beyond the Guardwall insights into what makes the ADRL's two-wheeled warriors tick.

(ADRL/Richards photo)