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December 28, 2009

HRP ‘Tower Club’ to Welcome National Guard ADRL Guests

BAYTOWN, TEXAS (Dec. 28, 2009)—Houston Raceway Park (HRP), the National Guard ADRL’s 2009 Track of the Year, is continuing a multi-year effort to offer its guests a first-class experience and will soon christen a 12,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art “Tower Club” that will instantly become the premier starting-line facility in drag racing.

Already nearing completion, the deluxe permanent structure on the west side of the conventional tower suites will transform a regular day at the drag races into a VIP experience for National Guard ADRL fans, with numerous amenities never before offered at the track.

“We’re shooting for the stars with this building and we think fans are really going to respond favorably to what we’re doing,” HRP General Manager Seth Angel said. “In the past, we had a huge tent for our Darrell Russell Top Eliminator Club and it was very successful, but there were things our guests suggested to us in order to make it better and we listened. Ultimately, our customers need to be happy and we think the Tower Club will exceed all of their wishes.

“The building itself is beautiful and it has everything we need to pull off any kind of event possible. We’ve built a full-service kitchen and bar, permanent restrooms, state-of-the-art audio-visual and video conferencing technology, and high-speed WiFi Internet access. There are 12 giant high-definition, flat-screen televisions and an indoor/outdoor patio that will be perfect for watching the races. There is no other facility in the country that will get fans closer to the action. It will be phenomenal.”

The Official Grand Opening of the Tower Club is slated for 4-7 p.m., Thursday, March 4, with members of the Baytown Chamber of Commerce scheduled to assist in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. with a reception following. The event is open to the public.

Angel expects the Tower Club to operate year-round. Aside from major drag racing events including the Mar. 12-13, ADRL Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza VI held at the facility, HRP sales staff already has booked in numerous wedding receptions, corporate events, high school and college socials, graduation parties, awards ceremonies, and auctions. The Tower Club can be booked for private events by calling Don Neal at (281) 383-7223.

In the past 30 months, Houston Raceway Park has aggressively sought to improve its facility. In working with the Texas Department of Transportation, the track was able to secure direct access to Interstate 10 via the new Grand Parkway, drastically reducing fans ingress and egress to the parking lots. The pits also were resurfaced and extended, Musco lighting was installed, and the track surface itself was ground and smoothed for optimum performance.

Up next, track owners plan to remove the light standards between the grandstands and the racetrack and replace them with taller structures featuring Musco lights that will be erected behind the grandstands, offering fans unobstructed views of the action. The project will be completed in early March.

(Photos courtesy HoustonRaceway.com)

December 22, 2009

Hamstra Hopes RoY Award Spurs Sponsor Search

DEMOTTE, IN (Dec. 22, 2009) – With quiet determination and a cool demeanor, Jason Hamstra (left) became the youngest recipient yet to win the National Guard ADRL Rookie of the Year award.

“You know a lot of people don’t believe us when we tell them he was nicknamed ‘Racin’ Jason’ on the day he was born, but its true!” his mother, Karen, exclaims with sweet sincerity.  

At just 22 years-old, Hamstra has already shown drag racing fans he is accustomed to setting records.

In September this year, his 3.71 at more than 205 mph at the Rockingham, North Carolina, ADRL event was the second-quickest in Pro Extreme history. That pass made Hamstra the number-one qualifier in the largest and fastest qualifying field in Pro Extreme history, led him to the win that race, and qualified him for the Speedtech Battle for the Belts.

But Hamstra’s first record was no less impressive. As his mother proudly recalls, Hamstra was approached in 1994 to drive a family friend’s Junior Dragster (JD) with the goal of achieving the fastest Junior Dragster time in history.

A skinny eight-year-old farm boy at the time—though his parents were no strangers to the racing industry; his father raced for many years—Hamstra was all for the idea. Sitting behind the wheel for the first time, propped up by three poly-filled pillows, he stomped his foot on a wooden block attached to the gas pedal and drove the car to the first-ever, eight-second JD pass. Fifteen years later, an eight-second pass is still personal-best territory for many Junior drivers despite marked increases in technology.

Over the years, “Racin’ Jason” solidified his name with a long list of accomplishments. At age 12, he won his first of several championships in the JD division at U.S. 141 Dragway. Two years later, he won the Junior Dragster Championship at Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP), followed up by a second-place finish in 2002 at IRP.

The following year at age 16, Hamstra made the switch to full-size dragsters and 2004 brought Hamstra six wins in 10 races, securing the Pro Top Outlaw Championship along the way. In 2005, he moved up to the Pro Modified class, won the UBDRA, and ran the Jeffers Pro Mod series at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois. Continuing to advance his Pro Mod career, Hamstra first entered an ADRL event at Valdosta, Georgia, in 2007, but raced primarily with the IHRA for two years, winning the 2007 event in Martin, Michigan, and qualifying for the IHRA Shootout in 2008. 

Earning National Guard ADRL wins at Valdosta and Rockingham, North Carolina, gave Hamstra an impressive 2009 campaign, representing his first full season in the National Guard ADRL’s 10-event series. He finished third in the Speedtech Battle for the Belts in October 2009 with a pass that resulted in what veteran announcer and ADRL personality Al Tucci dubbed “the worst wreck he has ever seen.”

Hamstra was airlifted from the track but amazed everyone by walking out of the hospital the following morning.

“The car was totaled. He’s tapped the wall before, but nothing like that wreck. But he is anxious to get back behind the wheel and race again,” father and crew chief Kevin Hamstra said. “When he is at the track, you can see he has found his niche. He especially loves interacting with the fans.”

Karen answers, “Not really,” when asked whether her son ever gets riled up. She describes him as very calm, very intelligent, very humble and says he is always thinking ahead, always planning.

Hamstra is very family oriented, and describes the car and his racing career as a family effort. He still spends weekends helping out on the family’s farm in DeMotte, Indiana, and works at Praxair during the week.

Hamstra is set to return to the race track next March at the ADRL year-opener at Baytown, Texas, in a brand-new Garret Race Cars-built 1969 Camaro  Though the color of the car is yet to be determined and Hamstra is actively seeking sponsorship for the 2010 season, if 2009 has anything to teach us about what to expect from this young man, then 2010 is definitely the year to put someone’s logo next to the name “Racin’ Jason.”

(ADRL/Tocher/Richards file photos)

December 21, 2009

Gahm Responds to Friend in Need

When severe winter storms dumped up to two feet of snow on the home of Extreme Pro Stock racer Doug Kirk (left) late last week, fellow competitor and National Guard ADRL Driver of the Year Brian Gahm wasted no time in coming to his best friend’s aid. 

Learning that Kirk and his Lenore, West Virginia neighbors had lost all power and were possibly facing a Christmas without heat or electricity, Gahm and longtime companion Cathy Strickland (below right) quickly rounded up about 50 fuel jugs, 50 kerosene heaters, 25 propane heaters and 10 generators and sent them on in a Kirk race car hauler while Gahm continued to search for more. 

But Strickland emphasized the real impetus to help came from Kirk and his family. 

“What we are doing is nothing compared to what they have done and continue to do. Carl, Doug, Justin and Ronnie (Doug’s brother-in-law) have been working around the clock figuring out how to help get through this state of emergency,” she said.  “They called us to see if we could help them gather these things so they could help all the people in their community, especially the elderly, who can’t get out to help themselves. They have spent the last two days gathering and organizing this effort; we were just a small part of that.” 

Unfortunately, in the midst of an already crisis situation, Kirk and his family were dealt a personally devastating blow as his sister’s house, located next to his own, burned in a fire suspected of being caused by a faulty generator.

“They are really having a tough time,” Strickland said. “I wish there was more we could do. They are just really good people. They are always so willing to help anyone in need.”

(ADRL/Tocher file photos)

December 14, 2009

National Guard ADRL Celebrates 2009 World Champions

O’FALLON, MO (Dec. 14, 2009)—Racers and officials of the National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) gathered one last time in 2009 for the ADRL Racers Appreciation and Awards Gala II at the Wyndham Orlando (FL) Resort Dec. 12, to honor the series’ five world champions and bestow several special awards on participants.

Master of Ceremonies Bret Kepner (left) provided the first “highlight” of the evening when he tripped on stage and suffered a scary pratfall immediately after being introduced by National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling.

“I think I broke my hip,” Kepner deadpanned when he returned to the microphone, but fortunately, the popular TV personality and drag racing historian injured no more than pride in the fall and was able to laugh it off along with about 350 relieved banquet goers.

Nowling accepted the first award of the night on behalf of Seth Angel and his crew at Houston Raceway Park, which received Track of the Year accolades.

Next up was Matt Hartford, winner of the inaugural Extreme Pro Stock world championship after nipping Brian Gahm in the final round of the Speedtech Battle for the Belts in October at the Texas Motorplex. It was the only final round Hartford reached all season, compared to the four that Gahm won in visits to seven of nine event finals, but it came at the right time, he reminded the crowd.

“I told my guys when the year started that there was only one race that I really wanted to win and that was the Battle for the Belts, and then we get there and managed to pull it off,” the Phoenix, Arizona-based driver said. “I can’t thank my car owner, Billy Dingman, and my crew enough for everything they did to put me up here. I owe it all to them.”

After posting a perfect record of two wins in two finals this year, Pro Extreme driver Jason Hamstra (right, with ADRL Executive VP of Operations Jessica Alcoke) of Demotte, Indiana, was a popular choice for 2009 Rookie of the Year honors. Hamstra’s second win at Rockingham, NC, also vaulted him into last-minute contention for the eight-car Speedtech Battle for the Belts field.

“There were a lot of good drivers in the running (for Rookie of the Year) and I had no idea I’d gotten it until they called my name, so I was quite surprised,” Hamstra said. “I just want to thank everyone at the ADRL for giving us a good place to race and for giving me this award. It really means a lot to me.”

Scott Gray was next to take the stage as the National Guard ADRL’s new Pro Extreme Motorcycle world champion after scoring two wins during his 2009 campaign and leading the points race for most of the season. In addition to thanking his wife, Amber, and other family members for their unwavering support, the Ocala, Florida rider singled out Mickey Thompson Racing Tires for providing him with race-winning rubber.

“They came to me with a brand-new tire right before the final race and I know conventional wisdom says you don’t change things in drag racing if you want to stay consistent, but I went ahead and took a chance. Well, needless to say, if Mickey Thompson wants me to try something, from now on I’m going to listen,” Gray said, showing off his new championship ring.

Extreme Pro Stock’s Gahm (left) next received the prestigious National Guard ADRL Driver of the Year award, but was quick to deflect any praise and emphasized it really should be recognized as a team award.

“This represents many years of racing and learning and preparation to get the job done,” Gahm said. “This isn’t just about me or even just about this season; it all about my team and all the hard work it’s taken to get here. That said, this is an honor that I’ll always cherish and remember.”

In introducing new Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 World Champion Spiro Pappas, Kepner briefly outlined a story of survival and resiliency in racing that brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience. When his wife passed away several years back, Pappas quit racing to concentrate on raising his two young daughters, but returned to the track just two years ago and joined the National Guard ADRL full-time in 2009, when he won one event and eventually beat out Chuck Ulsch for the title in the Speedtech Battle for the Belts final.

In an emotional acceptance speech, a remarkably composed Pappas focused on his family, then asked each member of his crew to stand and individually receive a round of applause for their accomplishments.

“These guys have seen me on fire, put the car back together again and done everything I’ve ever asked of them,” Pappas said. “I can’t say enough about them.”

Next, Jim Oddy, crew chief on Joshua Hernandez’s National Guard-backed Pro Extreme entry, stepped on stage with Kepner to help present an award given in his name to the ADRL racer who best demonstrated sportsmanship in conjunction with competitive drive throughout the 2009 season. This year’s winner of the Jim Oddy Award was Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 driver Kenny Doak; however, after Doak missed his flight to Orlando, Pro Extreme driver Ellis Vial (right) accepted in his place.

New Pro Nitrous World Champion Khalid Al-Balooshi of Qatar then gave a brief speech in English, in which he thanked team owner Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Thani, along with Al-Anabi teammates Shannon Jenkins, Mike Castellana, Burton Auxier and all his crewmembers.

Father-and-son National Guard ADRL employees Dave “Bones” Koch and Dave “Boo” Koch Jr. were next honored as co-Employees of the Year and received a standing ovation from racers and their peers within the organization.

“Thank you all very much for this award,” Koch Jr. said “I know my dad is very proud of this, too.”

The last world champ to be called upon was Pro Extreme’s Todd Tutterow, who earned one event win in ’09 on his way to defeating Hernandez in the Speedtech Battle for the Belts final. Like others, Tutterow emphasized the role his wife, Denise, played in his success.

“Tomorrow we’ll have been married 23 years and she’s been right beside me every step of the way,” Tutterow announced to a hearty round of applause.

“This is a really special championship to win just because of the level of competition we have here in the ADRL,” the North Carolina native continued later. “This is the very best doorslammer racing in the world and it was really neat to hear people all day calling me, ‘Champ’ and just offering their congratulations. I’m thrilled.”

The last award of the evening went to National Guard ADRL cofounder Tommy Lipar (left), who received the 8th annual Walter W. Henry Memorial Award. The most prestigious award in doorslammer drag racing, it is presented to the person or group of individuals who has made an important and significant impact on the sport over an extended period of time.“I had no idea this was coming,” Lipar said. “I never would have imagined it would lead to this when I bought my first Pro Mod team, but it’s a great honor.”

The 2010 National Guard ADRL Tour begins Mar. 12-13, 2010, at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas.

National Guard ADRL World Champions (l-r) Matt Hartford (XPS), Scott Gray (PXM), Khalid Al-Balooshi (PN, Todd Tutterow (PX) and Spiro Pappas (XTF) show off their personalized 2009 championship rings following the National Guard ADRL Racers Appreciation and Awards Gala II in Orlando, Florida.

(ADRL/Tocher photos)

December 13, 2009

National Guard ADRL Extends Official Fuel Status of VP Racing Fuels

O’FALLON, MO (Dec. 12, 2009)—The National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is pleased to announce a multi-year extension of its partnership with VP Racing Fuels that makes VP the official fuel through 2014 for the eighth-mile drag racing series.

“We’re thrilled to extend the agreement and the benefits that accompany our relationship with the ADRL,” VP Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Steve Scheidker said. “With ADRL racers constrained by relatively few rules they’re constantly motivated to push the limits of their combinations, which in turn provides an excellent proving ground for VP’s leading-edge fuels.”

Additionally, the massive crowds at National Guard ADRL events offer an ideal opportunity for VP to build awareness for its newest fuels which appeal to a broader consumer base, Scheidker added.

“For example, SEF94 is a specially blended fuel for use in small engines that will appeal to  anyone with a chainsaw, lawnmower, generator or any other portable gas-powered equipment, while VP100 is a street-legal, 100-octane unleaded gasoline that will boost the performance of any high-performance vehicle from muscle cars and street rods to sports cars and exotics.”

National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling said he’s especially happy to extend an agreement with such a key partner as VP Racing Fuels. 

“We couldn’t be happer about VP Racing Fuels remaining as our official fuel provider,” Nowling stated. “Steve and everyone at VP does a great job and have contributed greatly to the tremendous performances we’ve seen from our racers on the track.”

VP Racing Fuels Executive Director-Marketing & Communications Steve Scheidker (center) and Midwestern Regional Sales Manager Jason Reuckert (right) join National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling, during the 22nd annual Performance Racing Industry trade show as they jointly announce a multi-year extension of their marketing partnership.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

December 12, 2009

National Guard ADRL Adds Hedman Husler Hedders to ‘Official’ List

O’FALLON, MO (Dec. 12, 2009)—The National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) has named Hedman Husler Hedders as the series’ official header.

“Hedman Husler Hedders is the oldest, most-respected header company in racing,” National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling stated. “And Hedman’s willingness and ability to work one-on-one with chassis and engine builders is unparalleled in the marketplace, making it an ideal partner for the National Guard ADRL.”

Chris Vandergriff, general manager and director of racing for Hedman Husler Hedders, said the Georgia-based company has been impressed by the National Guard ADRL’s recent success.

“We’ve been watching the progress of the ADRL the last couple of years and feel there is tremendous potential for growth in our own company by being partnered with the ADRL,” Vandergriff said. “The doorslammer racing market has just exploded due to the ADRL and we want our line to be at the forefront of choices when door-car racers make their header-buying decisions.”

Toward that end, Vandergriff said Hedman Husler Hedders will be working closely with chassis builder Andy McCoy and Pro Nitrous racer Thomas “Tom Slick” Myers as Andy McCoy Race Cars continues to build a new, state-of-the-art ’70 Cuda for Myers to drive on the 2010 National Guard ADRL Tour. 

“Working with Andy and Thomas is our first step toward creating an entirely new product line for the doorslammer market,” Vandergriff explained. “Andy will tell us what he needs and Hedman Husler will develop a product that other doorslammer racers will be able to buy pre-made and ready to race.”

Chris Vandergriff (left), general manager and director of racing for Hedman Husler Hedders, is joined by (l-r) Andy McCoy of Andy McCoy Race Cars,Pro Nitrous driver Thomas Myers, Myers’ wife, Rebecca, National Guard ADRL Executive Vice President of Operations Jessica Alcoke and National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling in announcing a new partnership for Hedman with the National Guard ADRL.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

December 12, 2009

National Guard ADRL Getting Dressed with Champion System

O’FALLON, MO (Dec. 12, 2009)—National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) officials will be sporting a new look in 2010 after President and CEO Kenny Nowling signed a multi-year agreement making Brooklyn, New York-based Champion System the official uniform provider for the growing eighth-mile drag racing series.

“Just like our professional race team members, it’s important for National Guard ADRL staff and officials to always look their best at our national events,” Nowling declared. “After carefully weighing our options, it was clear Champion System could best create and deliver the look we were after for next year’s National Guard ADRL Tour.”

Champion System co-owner and COO Morry Edelstein said he is looking forward to showcasing his company’s products to National Guard ADRL teams through dressing the sanctioning body’s staff.

“We welcome the opportunity to show that every race team can look like the top professionals at an affordable level,” Edelstein said. “And we offer a complete service that can take someone from design to delivery in very short order.”

In addition to motorsports uniforms, Champion System creates custom technical apparel for several other high-action sports such as running, cycling, Nordic skiing, rugby and soccer.

With only a 10-piece minimum, unlimited colors and combinations and quick turnaround, “we make it easy to order a custom look,” Edelstein said.

National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling (center) was already wearing Champion System apparel when he announced a multi-year marketing agreement at the 22nd annual Performance Racing Industry trade show with Champion System President Morry Edelstein (right) and Motorsports Division Director Eric Cody.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

December 12, 2009

National Guard ADRL Sets Sail with Racensur.com Cruise for the Qualifiers

O’FALLON, MO (Dec. 12, 2009)—Simply qualifying for at least one National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) event in 2010 will send one lucky racer on a trans-Atlantic cruise for two to the Mediterranean with potential ports of call in Bermuda, Portugal, Italy, Greece or Spain, among others.

The Racensur.com Cruise for the Qualifiers will be open to every qualifier in all five National Guard ADRL professional classes—Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Flowmaster Extreme 10.5, Pro extreme Motorcycle and Extreme Pro Stock—at each of 10 events scheduled on the 2010 National Guard ADRL Tour.

So, if each event features a full field of 16 qualifiers in each class, 800 names will be entered in a random drawing for the cruise, giving someone who qualifies for all 10 events a one in 80 chance of winning the prize, while someone who qualifies only once will have a one in 800 chance of winning. Only official qualifiers will earn a Racensur.com Cruise for the Qualifiers ballot; alternates will not be considered eligible for the drawing.

“Racensur.com has been a partner with the National Guard ADRL from the very beginning at Dragstock I back in 2004,” National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling said. “As a racer himself, Mel understands what it takes to service his customers and the Racensur.com Cruise for the Qualifiers is just one more example of what’s made him so successful in business.”  

All National Guard ADRL event qualifiers next year will be required to carry Racensur.com Cruise for the Qualifiers decals on their cars or motorcycles, plus, if the winner also is insured by Racensur.com for the entire 2010 National Guard ADRL season, he or she will receive a $1,000 cash bonus.

“This should be a fun program for ADRL drivers,” said Mel Eaves of Racensur.com. “It will provide someone with a nice, relaxing end to their season.”

National Guard ADRL racers interested in insuring their race vehicles and/or tow rigs should contact Eaves through visiting www.Racensur.com or by calling toll-free to (800) 940-5010.