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December 12, 2009

PXM’s Grothus Going Homebuilt in 2010

Pro Extreme Motorcycle (PXM) rider Brunson Grothus made it to a pair of semi-finals in ‘09, but the bike he raced most of the year with is now in Saudi Arabia.

He showed up at the season ender in Ennis, TX, with a new, all-black machine, but it’s now in Australia.

Grothus quickly purchased yet another chassis and body from PXM tuner Jeff Walker, and it’s now up for sale, too.

So, is the promising young star ready to hang up his leathers? Not by a long shot!

“Yeah, there’s been a lot of wheeling and dealing going on,” Grothus said at the PRI show in Orlando, “but my dad (Ed) decided he wanted to build a bike himself, so that’s why he’s not here. The tubing arrived on Tuesday and he’s back home in Davenport, Iowa, working on that now.”

Also of note, when the Grothus-built bike makes its debut at the 2010 National Guard ADRL season opener at Baytown, TX, in March, he’ll have Walker calling the tune-up for him.

“Everyone knows what Jeff has done for Lance (Hines), so now we’ll both have the benefit of two bikes making runs on the track,” Grothus said.

(ADRL/Tocher photo) 

December 12, 2009

Winters Stepping Up PX Program

After making a career-best pass of 3.94 at 189 mph with his Roots-blown combo during Dragstock VI at Rockingham, NC, in September, part-time Pro Extreme competitor Doug Winters said he is “seriously contemplating” adding a screw blower to the nitro-burning (30%-40%) BAE 526 Hemi in his ‘57 Chevy.

Winters (with wife, Erin), also said he plans to enter up to six National Guard ADRL events in 2010, which easily would be his biggest participation yet.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

December 12, 2009

Simpson Signs On with National Guard ADRL

O’FALLON, MO (Dec. 12, 2009)—The National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is pleased to announce Simpson Performance Products will join its manufacturer’s midway at all 10 events on the 2010 National Guard ADRL Tour.

“We’re looking forward to supporting the entire ADRL family next year with head-to-toe safety products, including helmets, head and neck restraints, driving suits, gloves and racing shoes. We’ll also have seat belts and other car-related safety products on hand, too,” Simpson Vice President of Marketing Debbie Bishop said.

“Our number-one priority at every race is keeping our racers safe and having an industry leader like Simpson on site is going to be a great bonus to them,” National Guard ADRL VP of Sales and Marketing Brian Evans added. “Simpson has a lot of neat products for fans, too, such as backpacks, tote bags and even a custom baby seat for the back seat.”

Bishop said she is “especially excited” about Simpson’s new relationship with the National Guard ADRL considering the tremendous growth the all-eighth-mile drag racing series has seen in just five years.

“The ADRL is obviously made up of a smart group of folks who realize the connection between the racers and the fans,” she said. “I’m looking forward to attending my first ADRL event and experiencing that for myself.”

Simpson Performance Products will begin displaying at National Guard ADRL events at Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza VI, next March at Houston Raceway Park.

National Guard ADRL Vice President of Sales and Marketing Brian Evans (left) and Simpson Performance Products VP of Marketing Debbie Bishop jointly announced Simpson’s partnership with the eighth-mile drag racing series at the 22nd annual Performance Racing Industry trade show in Orlando, Florida.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

December 11, 2009

Billet Specialties Named ‘Official’ National Guard ADRL Wheel

O’FALLON, MO (Dec. 11, 2009)—Billet Specialties of La Grange, Illinois, has been named the official wheel of the National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) and will offer a contingency sponsorship program for all four car classes in the 2010 National Guard ADRL Tour.

“What we really like about the ADRL is its aggressiveness,” Billet Specialties Director of Sales and Marketing Keith Kern says. “Just in the few years the ADRL has been around it’s already become very obvious that it takes high performance and racing very seriously and that’s an attitude we share at Billet Specialties.”

In addition to literally hundreds of engine accessories, dress-up items and wheels for custom street applications, Billet Specialties also offers a complete line of high-performance racing wheels in its Comp 5 series. Beginning next season it will be paying contingencies of $300 to the winner and $200 to the runner-up in Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 and Extreme Pro Stock at each National Guard ADRL event if those cars have Billet Specialties Comp 5 wheels mounted on all four corners.

“We’re looking forward to giving a little extra to those racers who support Billet Specialties with their wheel choice,” Kern says. “And not being affiliated with any tire companies, the contingency is in place regardless of the tire brand.”

The Billet Specialties partnership with the National Guard ADRL officially begins Mar. 12-13, 2010, at the Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza VI at Houston Raceway Park.

National Guard ADRL Vice President of Sales and Marketing Brian Evans (center, left) and series president and CEO Kenny Nowling pose with the Billet Specialties team at the 22nd annual Performance Racing Industry trade show in Orlando, Florida.

(ADRL/Richards photo)

December 11, 2009

New Cars Coming After Crashes

Pro Extreme driver Jason Hamstra (left) and Pro Nitrous pilot John Bartunek both confirmed they have new cars on the way for the 2010 National guard ADRL Tour after both went through spectacular, late-season accidents that left them uninjured, but their cars severely damaged.

Hamstra, who escaped injury in one of the National Guard ADRL’s most devastating crashes ever at Ennis, Texas, this October, said he has a new 1969 (not ‘68!) Camaro on the way from Garrett Race Cars, builder of Jason Scruggs’ record-holding ‘68 Camaro PX entry. He’s hoping to have the new ride ready for the ‘10 season opener, but delays in getting just the second ‘69 body built by Cynergy Composites may hinder his return to action.

Meanwhile, Bartunek said he has a new ‘68 Camaro coming from chassis man Jerry Haas that will end up looking “exactly” like the one he went airborne with in a violent top-end accident at Englishtown, NJ, late this year. “If you didn’t know it was replaced, you’d think it was the same car,” Bartunek promised, adding that his original Camaro also is quite repairable.

Bartunek also hopes to debut his PN replacement car at the National Guard ADRL’s first race of 2010 at Houston Raceway Park next March, but if it’s not ready he has an Extreme Pro Stock entry waiting in the wings.

“Either way, I’ll be racing in Houston,” he declared.

(ADRL/Tocher photos) 

December 11, 2009

National Guard ADRL Announces McCoy Qualifying Bonus

O’FALLON, MO (Dec. 11, 2009)—After joining the National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) in 2009 as a display partner in the series’ manufacturer’s midway, Andy McCoy Race Cars (AMRC) will begin paying a major new bonus to top qualifiers in the Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous classes next year.

“We’re staying busy and a lot of it I attribute to the ADRL because they put on such a good promotional deal,” McCoy says. “That’s why next year we’re looking to step it up and we’re going to provide $1,000 at each race to the guy that qualifies number one in Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous.”

Unlike a contingency program that rewards racers for using specific manufacturer parts, McCoy stresses the qualifying bonuses will be paid out at all 10 events scheduled on the 2010 National Guard ADRL Tour, regardless of the winner’s chassis affiliation.

“It doesn’t matter what they’re driving, doesn’t matter who’s chassis it is, it’s just something we’d like to give back to the racers,” he says. “We feel like there’s enough work out there for everybody and that’s one of the best ways to help the racer community out. Whether they have one of our cars or not, we feel like if they qualify number one, they deserve it.

In addition to building race cars, AMRC operates a thriving parts and service business from its Washington, Missouri, shop and McCoy occasionally campaigns his own supercharged ’57 Chevy in the National Guard ADRL Pro Extreme class.

“We just had so much on our plates this past year that we just didn’t have a lot of time for racing ourselves,” McCoy says. “But I think we had a good year and I’m looking forward to next year and getting out there to run a few of these events and show these guys that we can play, too.”

The 2010 National Guard ADRL Tour will get underway Mar. 12-13, with the Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza VI at Houston Raceway Park and will visit tracks in eight more states before concluding Oct. 22-23, with the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas.

Andy McCoy Race Cars is stepping up its involvement with the National Guard ADRL by paying a $1,000 bonus to the top qualifier in Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous at each of the series 10 national events in 2010.

(ADRL/Tocher file photo)

December 11, 2009

Aeromotive ‘Thunder Zone’ Announced

O’FALLON, MO (Dec. 10, 2009)—Little compares to the sensory overload that standing between a pair of fire-breathing National Guard ADRL entries on the starting line delivers, but beginning in 2010, the Aeromotive Fuel Systems Thunder Zone will make that experience a reality for dozens of Aeromotive distributors, customers and fans.

“We want to use the Aeromotive Thunder Zone as a promotional reward for our regional distributors and customers,” Aeromotive Director of Marketing Jesse Powell explains. “It’ll be part of the royal treatment for a day at the track to get them excited about Aeromotive and ADRL drag racing.”

Additionally, Aeromotive has been named the official fuel system for the National Guard ADRL and company founder and president Steve Matusek is busy readying a new car to periodically compete in the series.

“For us, it’s about being involved in kind of a grassroots movement,” Powell says. “We love the true heads-up racing that the ADRL promotes and how it is attracting new racers and fans to the series. We see the ADRL creating new drag racing enthusiasts, which is something other forms of racing seem to have forgotten about.”

The Aeromotive Thunder Zone will debut Mar. 12-13, at the Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza VI in Baytown, Texas, and will be prominently featured at each of the 10 scheduled events for the 2010 National Guard ADRL Tour.

(ADRL/Richards file photo)

December 10, 2009

Mickey Thompson Touted as ‘Official’ National Guard ADRL Tire

O’FALLON, MO (Dec. 10, 2009)—The National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is proud to announce the naming of Mickey Thompson as the official tire for the eighth-mile drag racing series. In addition, Mickey Thompson will continue offering its extensive contingency sponsorship program to all five professional classes in the 2010 National Guard ADRL Tour.

“What this means is that it gives us a bigger venue and level of exposure for the brand,” Mickey Thompson Motorsports Manager Carl Robinson (right center, with ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling, left, and VP of Sales and Marketing Brian Evans) says of the new official tire status. “It’s all about getting the Mickey Thompson name out there, building relationships and increasing our market share on the race track and on the highways.”

Robinson says National Guard ADRL race teams and fans also can look forward to additional tire and wheel support programs next year.

“It’s an expansion of what we call the Team M/T initiative,” he explains. “Basically, we have four areas of focus: Street, Strip, Truck and Off-Road, and although this initiative is part of our drag racing offering we want to tie it in to the other areas, too.

“It’s our goal to become the tire of choice for everyone who attends an ADRL event, from the racers to the fan who arrives in his light truck or SUV to someone looking to put some high-performance tires on their street car. It’s all part of an overall marketing plan.

”Working with the National Guard ADRL makes implementing the plan that much easier, too, Robinson adds.“It’s great to have a sanctioning body that understands what we’re trying to do and is willing to work with us at a high level to achieve our goals,” he says. “It’s all about cross promotion and partnership and the people at the ADRL get that.”

Newly appointed National Guard ADRL Vice President of Sales and Marketing Brian Evans says he appreciates the confidence Mickey Thompson and Robinson is demonstrating in the series.

“We are thrilled to have another industry leader like Mickey Thompson increase its support of the ADRL and believe it’s a testament to the hard work of everyone on both sides of the partnership,” Evans says. “Most importantly, though, I think Mickey Thompson’s increased involvement will greatly benefit our race teams, which always remains our first priority.”

December 10, 2009

National Guard ADRL PRI Show Preview

When the National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) arrives at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, Dec. 10-12, it will be with a full contingent of its top executives and key staff members available for consultation at Booth 609 of the 22nd annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show.

Of course, National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling will lead the effort, along with Executive Vice President of Operations Jessica Alcoke and Executive VP Jeff Fortune, with several high-level meetings already lined up over the three-day event for the league-guiding trio.

Current and potential National Guard ADRL team owners, drivers and crew chiefs are invited to seek counsel or rules clarification from Executive VP of Competition Bert “Bubba” Corzine or Director of Race Operations Quick Vandiver, and VP of Sales and Marketing Brian Evans with help from Director of Contingency Services Tom Grooms will be ready to tackle all sponsorship or advertising needs and concerns.

Additionally, for advice with press-related concerns, National Guard ADRL race teams are encouraged to contact VP of Publications Ian Tocher or Director of Media and Communications Amanda LaPlante at the show.  

The National Guard ADRL also is looking forward to its Racer’s Appreciation and Awards Gala II, beginning at 7 p.m. Dec. 12, at the luxurious Wyndham Orlando Resort, not far from the convention center. A limited number of tickets remain available to the Gala for $50 each, payable by credit card, check or money order, and must be paid for in advance, as tickets will not be available at the door.

All current National Guard ADRL drivers and riders are entitled to one free ticket and each official series sponsor is offered two complimentary passes, but they must RSVP in order to reserve their seats. To RSVP and/or buy whatever tickets remain, send an email to Aimee Visney at aimee@adrl.us or call the National Guard ADRL office at (636) 272-2375.

The 10-event 2010 National Guard ADRL Tour will get underway Mar. 12-13, with the Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza VI at Houston Raceway Park and will visit tracks in eight more states before concluding Oct. 22-23, with the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas.

National Guard ADRL Executives including (l-r) CEO and President Kenny Nowling, Director of Race Operations Quick Vandiver, Executive Vice President of Competition Bert “Bubba” Corzine and Director of Timing and Scoring Letha Corzine will be among the key staff members representing the O’Fallon, Missouri-based drag racing series this weekend at the 22nd annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show at Orlando, Florida.

(ADRL/Tocher file photo)

October 25, 2009

Hossler Lights Up Texas Motorplex with World Finals Win

ENNIS, TX (Oct. 24, 2009) — Alex Hossler (left) won his career-first National Guard ADRL Pro Extreme event in memorable fashion, crossing the eighth-mile finish line at the Texas Motorplex with his 1970 Camaro on fire after posting a 3.73-seconds pass at 202.48 miles per hour to beat Quain Stott in the final round of the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V.

Also earning National Guard Minuteman trophies at the final event of the National Guard ADRL’s year, but the first points-paying opportunity of the 2010 season were new class champion Khalid Al-Balooshi in Pro Nitrous, Extreme 10.5 racer Chuck Ulsch, Scott Gray, who also won his first Pro Extreme Motorcycle championship earlier in the day, and Cary Goforth with his first official Extreme Pro Stock win. Morgan Benfield of Virginia Beach, Virginia also won her first Junior Minuteman in the exhibition Pro Jr. Dragster class.

“How’s that for a spectacular finish?” Hossler asked upon climbing from his car after stopping on the track where safety crews sprayed the engine with a fire extinguisher. “It banged the blower right when we crossed the line, but it lasted just long enough to get the job done.”

Hossler and Stott left almost simultaneously, but when a 3.75 at 205.57-mph pass flashed across Stott’s scoreboard, it translated to a .021 margin of victory for Hossler, who hails from Canton, Illinois.

The Pro Nitrous final was close, too, but only because Al-Balooshi (right) had an off-the-pace .191 reaction time attached to a record-setting pass of 3.81 seconds at 196.42 mph that easily eclipsed the 3.98/184.88 combination assembled by veteran Charles Carpenter.

It marked Al-Balooshi’s career-first National Guard ADRL event title, though earlier in the day, he also won the National Guard ADRL’s championship-deciding Speedtech Battle for the Belts when Al-Anabi Racing teammate Burton Auxier was disqualified from the final for leaving .004 before the green light flashed.

“It is good for the Al-Anabi team,” said Al-Balooshi, who calls Doha, Qatar, home. “Very exciting to win.”

The World Finals V Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 final offered a measure of payback for Ulsch (left), who faced off against Spiro Pappas for the second time in one day after Pappas stepped up to win the Speedtech Battle for the Belts final. The Clarksville, Maryland-based driver didn’t miss the opportunity, either, taking a holeshot win in his supercharged ’68 Camaro over Pappas’ turbocharged 2009 Pontiac GXP entry.

Leaving with a .021 reaction to a .115 in the opposite lane, Ulsch put together a 3.94 lap at 201.46 mph that beat out the 3.92 at 193.27 that delivered Pappas a new elapsed time record, but a runner-up finish.

“That feels good! I’m glad I was able to do my job and help my teammates get the win,” Ulsch declared. “I owed him that one!”

Like Balooshi, Pro Extreme Motorcycle winner Gray (right), from Ocala, Florida, doubled up from his earlier Speedtech Battle for the Belts triumph, running 4.21 at 170.67 mph aboard his ’08 Suzuki to down Lance Hines in the World Finals V final.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in that it’s happened,” Gray said of his two-timing win. “After winning the Belt I kind of relaxed because we had accomplished what we came here to do, which was win the championship, but maybe that’s what helped me win tonight, too. I wasn’t too uptight about what was happening.”

The Extreme Pro Stock final came down to a classic Ford versus Chevy match, with Goforth’s 2008 Cobalt coming out on top over the ’09 Mustang of Scott Hintz in his National Guard ADRL debut. Goforth (left), from Holdenville, Oklahoma, ran low ET of the meet for the class with a 4.06 win at 177.23 mph over 4.151 at 173.65 by Hintz.

“This feels so good,” Goforth said, hoisting the National Guard Minuteman trophy high after his first official Extreme Pro Stock win, though he did win last year at Rockingham, North Carolina, when the class was in its introductory exhibition stage. “This is for my team, for the guys on my team, who worked so hard to put me here today.”

Televised coverage of the Speedtech Battle for the Belts will air Sunday, Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. Eastern on the Versus network, with coverage of the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V to follow two weeks later on Sunday, Nov. 22, also at 3 p.m. Eastern on the Versus television network.

(ADRL/Tocher photos)

October 25, 2009

LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V Final Rounds

Pro Extreme -- Alex Hossler (near lane), Chevy Camaro, 3.735, 202.48 def. Quain Stott, Chevy Corvette, 3.754/205.57. 

Pro Nitrous -- Khalid Al-Balooshi (near lane), Chevy Camaro, 3.815, 196.42 def. Charles Carpenter, Chevy BelAir, 3.985/184.88. 
 
Extreme 10.5 -- Chuck Ulsch (far lane), Chevy Camaro, 3.949, 201.46 def. Spiro Pappas, Pontiac GXP, 3.920/193.27. 
Pro Extreme Motorcycle -- Scott Gray (near lane), Suzuki, 4.215, 170.67 def. Lance Hines, Suzuki, 5.782/93.21.
Extreme Pro Stock -- Cary Goforth, Chevy Cobalt, 4.063, 177.23 def. Scott Hintz, Ford Mustang, 4.151/173.65. 
Pro Junior Dragster -- Morgan Benfield (far lane), Motivation, 8.008, 80.79 def. Timmy Clifton Jr., Strike Force, foul (early start).
(ADRL/Richards photos)
 

October 25, 2009

2009 Speedtech Battle for the Belts Settled

ENNIS, TX (Oct. 24, 2009) — Todd Tutterow (left) turned on the win light three times over two days at the Texas Motorplex to secure his first National Guard American Drag Racing League’s (ADRL) Pro Extreme world championship.

The Yadkinville, North Carolina-based driver entered the championship-deciding Speedtech Battle for the Belts—a unique eight-car playoff for the top points earners in the class—in fifth place and raced through Mike Janis, two-time defending series champ Jason Scruggs and Joshua Hernandez to take the Belt. 

“This is awesome,” the new reigning champ declared as he hoisted the Belt high. “Where else can you race for $50,000 against the very best door cars and drivers in the world? What the ADRL has created here is something really special and something I feel truly honored to win.”

Joining Tutterow as new National Guard ADRL World Champions are (below, clockwise from upper left) Khalid Al-Balooshi, who made 28-hour, round-trip flights from Qatar in the Middle East to compete in each of 10 Pro Nitrous events; Chicago racer Spiro Pappas who prevailed from an eighth-place start in Flowmaster Extreme 10.5; Ocala, Florida’s Scott Gray with a championship run in Pro Extreme Motorcycle from the number-one position; and Matt Hartford from Phoenix, Arizona, who scored the Extreme Pro Stock title in his final appearance in the class. 

Al-Balooshi beat his Al-Anabi Racing teammate, Burton Auxier of Dixie, West Virginia, in the final round when Auxier left four-thousandths of a second too soon. He previously beat Stan Allen in the opening round and another Al-Anabi teammate, Mike Castellana, whose car would not start with a faulty battery in the semi-finals. 

As the eighth-place starter, Pappas actually had to win four times for his Speedtech Battle for the Belts triumph, since numbers seven and eight initially raced to earn a berth against the second-place qualifier while number one in each class received a first-round bye.    

So, Pappas opened with a win over Jake Carlton to reach Gary White, then got past Jeff Naiser before leading stripe-to-stripe over Chuck Ulsch, the quickest and fastest record holder for the class.

“It’s been a long, tough road to get here, but my guys never gave up and it was all worth it,” Pappas said. “This took a real team effort.”

As the top points earner in Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Gray had the free pass from round one to the semis where he edged Travis Davis thanks to taking a starting-line advantage. Gray won the final with another holeshot performance, leaving .022 ahead of Ashley Owens and finishing just eight thousandths ahead.

“Wow, that was a close one, but we’ll take it. Without a doubt, this is a huge, huge win for us,” Gray said.

Hartford, who is leaving the Billy Dingman crew for other racing opportunities next year, started third and took out Dean Goforth in round one before he and Doug Kirk both ran exactly the same times in the semis, but Kirk left a single thousandth too soon to turn on the red light off the start. Hartford narrowly outran number-one Belts qualifier Brian Gahm in the final round.

“What a way to go out,” Hartford said. “I want to thank Billy Dingman and all my crew for giving me a great car all year and hope they get to repeat again next season.”

(ADRL/Richards/Tocher photos)

October 24, 2009

Speedtech Battle for the Belts Finals Rescheduled

ENNIS, TX (Oct. 24, 2009) — Qualifying for the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V was cut short Friday evening at the Texas Motorplex following a violent single-car accident involving young Pro Extreme star Jason Hamstra.

While racing Joshua Hernandez in the semi-finals of the 2009 championship-determining Speedtech Battle for the Belts, Hamstra, 22, lost control of his 1968 Camaro near the eighth-mile finish line and crashed heavily from the right lane into the left guardwall after posting a 3.78-seconds pass at 203.46 mph over the eighth-mile course. Though Hamstra (left) passed closely in front of Hernandez, who already had his ’57 Chevy’s parachutes out after going 3.74 at 204.08 to take the win, no contact was made between the cars.

The Hamstra-Hernandez pairing was the last race scheduled before qualifying resumed for the Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme classes, but faced with a lengthy clean-up after the accident, National Guard ADRL officials cut Friday’s program short, announcing one final round of qualifying for all classes on Saturday. The Speedtech Battle for the Belts finals will follow, with all runs also counting as qualifying passes.

Joining Hernandez in the Pro Extreme Belts final will be Todd Tutterow, with Al-Anabi Racing teammates Burton Auxier and Khalid Al-Balooshi facing off for the Pro Nitrous title. In Flowmaster Extreme 10.5, Chuck Ulsch and Spiro Pappas will battle for Belts supremacy, while Scott Gray and Ashley Owens will decide the Pro Extreme Motorcycle title. The inaugural Extreme Pro Stock Speedtech Battle for the Belts will go to either Brian Gahm or Matt Hartford.

Current number-one qualifiers include Quain Stott (Pro Extreme), Jim Halsey (Pro Nitrous), Ulsch (Flowmaster Extreme 10.5), Eric McKinney (Pro Extreme Motorcycle) and Cary Goforth (Extreme Pro Stock).

Qualifying will resume at noon Saturday, followed by all five Belts finals, then elimination rounds for the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V, with all points earned counting toward the 2010 Speedtech Battle for the Belts points chase.

Maryland’s Chuck Ulsch is currently the top qualifier in the Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 class for the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V and also a finalist for the championship-deciding Speedtech Battle for the Belts.

(ADRL/Richards photos)

October 24, 2009

Provisional Top Qualifiers in Texas

The Extreme 10.5, Pro Extreme Motorcycle and Extreme Pro Stock classes completed two rounds of qualifying on Friday at the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V, but the Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme guys were able to fit in only one round before a lengthy clean up for Jason Hamstra’s crash in the last pair of Speedtech Battle for the Belts semis put an end to qualifying for the day.

Qualifying will resume at noon on Saturday, with XTF, PXM and XPS to complete a third round before their fields are set, but the PN and PX teams will lose Friday night’s session completely and will be seeded based only on the results of two qualifying passes.

All finals for the Speedtech Battle for the Belts will be completed at the close of Pro Extreme qualifying, though the runs for all Belts finalists will count toward their final qualifying position. In other words, no one still in championship contention will get a pass on the track prior to their final Speedtech Battle for the Belts elimination round.

Extreme Pro Stock: Cary Goforth, 4.067/177.23

Pro Extreme Motorcycle: Eric McKinney, 4.204/176.01

Extreme 10.5: Chuck Ulsch, 3.953/202.85

Pro Nitrous: Jim Halsey, 3.859/195.48

Pro Extreme: Quain Stott, 3.762/204.20

(ADRL/Richards photos)

October 24, 2009

Hamstra Suffers Semi-Finals Belts Crash

National Guard ADRL Pro Extreme driver Jason Hamstra (right) of Demotte, IN, suffered a high-speed crash Friday night at the conclusion of a race against Joshua Hernandez in the semi-finals for the 2009 championship-deciding Speedtech Battle for the Belts at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, TX.

At the conclusion of a 3.78-seconds pass at 203.46 mph over the eighth-mile course, Hamstra’s supercharged 1968 Camaro made a sudden left turn from the right lane and passed in front of the ‘57 Chevy driven by Hernandez before striking the left wall nearly head on and sliding to a stop in the shutdown area.

Hamstra was extricated from the wreck and transported by helicopter to Parkland Hospital in nearby Dallas, but was alert and speaking with his rescuers before leaving the track.

“I looked straight in Jason’s eyes and could see he was shaken up, but he knew where he was, who I was and what happened,” National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling said. “I told him I loved him, he said the same to me and then he was off.

“I can’t say enough about the response teams that attended to Jason,” Nowling continued. “The EMS people, the fire fighters, the Motorplex track crew, our ADRL personnel, everyone performed exactly as I hoped and expected in an incident like this. I also want to specifically commend Jason’s mother, who was with him while he was extricated and was tremendous in her composure and patience.”

Following a lengthy clean up for the accident, National Guard ADRL officials announced the final rounds for all five Speedtech Battle for the Belts classes would be run Saturday afternoon after a last round of qualifying to set the fields for the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V.

UPDATE (10/24/09 3:20 a.m.): Nowling and National Guard ADRL Executive Vice President Jessica Alcoke visited Hamstra and his family at the hospital and reported tests showed he had no concussion, no broken bones and only some bruising after going through one of the most violent accidents in series’ history.

“All the safety equipment did its job and protected Jason from any serious harm,” Nowling said. “They’re keeping him in a private room overnight for observation, but we left him in good spirits and other than an elevated heart rate, he appeared almost back to normal, which is good news for everyone.”   

(ADRL/Richards photo)

October 24, 2009

Scruggs Scrapes Wall After Miraculous Save

The National Guard ADRL’s own human highlight reel was at it again Friday night in the semi-finals of the Speedtech Battle for the Belts.

Jason Scruggs was racing in the left lane, side-by-side against Todd Tutterow, when his ‘68 Camaro made a sharp left turn that got it up on two wheels far enough to look like it was about to start barrel-rolling down the track, or at least impact the wall hard shortly past half-track.

Instead, the Saltillo, MS-based Scruggs wrestled it back to the track, dropped the laundry and made several wild swings back and forth before finally scuffing the car’s left rear corner against the left wall.

So, Scruggs’ two-year championship reign comes to an end, but with minimal cosmetic damage to the car he’ll be back in action on Saturday attempting to qualify for the LenMar Motorsports World Finals V, since his first attempt netted only an early shut-off 4.54 pass that has him currently placed 30th of nearly 50 Pro Extreme entrants.

(David Bailey photo)  

October 24, 2009

Halsey Exits Belts in Blaze of (In)Glory

Jim Halsey was looking strong heading into his Speedtech Battle for the Belts semi-final match with Burton Auxier, having run low E.T. each of three times he took to the Texas Motorplex track, but his luck ran out with this nitrous explosion near half-track caught by freelance photographer David Bailey. A broken rocker arm was later found to be the source of the explosion.

October 23, 2009

Speedtech Battle for the Belts Ladders

Don’t miss keeping up with the Speedtech Battle for the Belts as they happen here.

October 23, 2009

Halsey On Record Pace in Q1

As round one of Pro Nitrous qualifying came to a close, points leader Jim Halsey threw down an outstanding pass to seize the provisional number-one position with a 3.85 at 195.48 that also could set both ends of the official class records.

Khalid Al-Balooshi holds the current E.T. record of 3.867, while Halsey already has the speed mark at 195.42 mph.

UPDATE (7:20 p.m.): Halsey made another excellent run in his first-round bye for the Speedtech Battle for the Belts, going 3.846 at 195.39 mph to officially reset both records with back-ups within the required one percent.

(ADRL/Tocher photos)

October 23, 2009

Painful Pit Fall for ‘Tricky Rickie’

Sometimes even a legend must fall.

At least that was the case today for Pro Nitrous hero “Tricky Rickie” Smith, who looked like he’d gone a few rounds with the champ.

But the bandage over Smith’s left eye and serious road rash above his cheek came as a result of a painful meeting with the pavement after wiping out on his pit scooter this morning on his way to the National Guard ADRL’s mandatory driver meeting.

And you thought driving race cars was dangerous!

(ADRL/Richards photo)

October 23, 2009

LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V Under Way

At 12:15 p.m., the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V officially got under way as Steven Boone (left) and Elijah Morton were the first pair down the Texas Motorplex strip to open Extreme Pro Stock qualifying, though neither made a representative pass.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

October 23, 2009

Speedtech Battle for the Belts Highlights Friday at Texas Motorplex

O’FALLON, MO (Oct. 21, 2009) — This Friday at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas, the National Guard ADRL’s unique Speedtech Battle for the Belts will pit the top eight points earners for each of the eighth-mile series’ five professional classes—Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Flowmaster Extreme 10.5, Pro Extreme Motorcycle and Extreme Pro Stock—against each other to determine world champions, while all points earned through qualifying and elimination rounds the next day in the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V will count toward the 2010 points chase.

It helped if your name was Billy. Last year’s Speedtech Battle for the Belts world champions included (l-r): Billy Glidden in Flowmaster Extreme 10.5, Jason Scruggs in Pro Extreme, Billy Harper in Pro Nitrous and Billy Vose in Pro Extreme Motorcycle. Only Glidden and Scruggs have an opportunity to repeat in 2009, however.

New for this year, though, is an initial bye run granted to each points leader, which also requires the seventh- and eighth-place Belts qualifiers in each class to race each other first, with the winner taking on the number-two contender in the Belts quarter-finals. Meanwhile, number three will take on number six and four will race five, just as in a traditional eight-car eliminations ladder.

“That first-round bye is big; ever since (the ADRL) announced that’s what they were doing, we focused on being number one,” defending back-to-back Pro Extreme champ Jason Scruggs stated. “It gives you an extra free shot at the track, which is a pretty big deal, but you still have to capitalize on it. You’re still going for lane choice (in the semis), so you want to make sure and make a good pass.”

National Guard ADRL Executive Vice President of Competition Bert Corzine explained that World Finals V qualifying for all classes will begin at noon on Friday and all Belts contenders will make that first qualifying run without facing elimination. Speedtech Battle for the Belts racing will commence at the beginning of second-round qualifying with the numbers seven and eight starters from all five classes opening the session.

After round two of qualifying, a brief pre-race ceremony about 6:30 p.m. will introduce the quarter-finals of the Speedtech Battle for the Belts, including the first-round byes for each points leader, and each pass by all entries in the Belts pairings will also count as third qualifying attempts.

“We’ll allow about 75 to 90 minutes for everyone still in the hunt for the semis to get ready,” Corzine said. “Then we’ll interrupt qualifying about halfway through round three and run them just like we’ve done the last few years.”

Once all World Finals V qualifying is in the books, and again after allowing a reasonable time for preparations, the Speedtech Battle for the Belts finals will determine all five 2009 National Guard ADRL world champions. The evening will be capped off by a much-anticipated showdown between the Bigfoot and Snakebite monster trucks, a thrilling, flame-throwing jet-car pass and finally, massive victory lane celebrations that fans will be invited to join in order to honor the new champions.

“We’re guaranteed at least three of five new world champions this year,” National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling (above right) pointed out, as Extreme Pro Stock is in its maiden year, defending Pro Nitrous champ Billy Harper opted out of racing in ’09 and two-time defending Pro Extreme Motorcycle champion Billy Vose failed to make the eight-rider cut to defend his title.

“It’s really impossible to predict what’s going to happen,” Nowling said. “For an organization that’s supposedly dominated by money and all these other things, the parity is almost uncomfortable. This has all the makings of a truly epic race and all eyes in the drag racing universe will be on Ennis, Texas, this Friday night.”

Complimentary tickets to the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V are available at many service stations, restaurants and retail outlets in Ennis and the surrounding area and are available for purchase through the Texas Motorplex box office. Spectator gates open at 9 a.m. both days of the event.

National Guard ADRL fans packed the Texas Motorplex stands last October for the series’ championship-deciding Speedtech Battle for the Belts and an even bigger crowd is expected this year for day one of the Oct. 23-24, LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V in Ennis, Texas.

(ADRL/Tocher/Richards/Lorenzini file photos)

October 23, 2009

National Guard ADRL Adds Monster Trucks to World Finals V

O’FALLON, MO (Oct. 12, 2009) — Halloween will still be a week away, but monsters will be set loose at the Texas Motorplex Oct. 23-24, when “BIGFOOT,” the biggest name in monster truck history, takes on the equally intimidating “Snake-Bite” in a special, eighth-mile drag racing grudge match during the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V, the championship-deciding season ender for the National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL).

The special race-within-a-race is being added to the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V courtesy of Summit Racing Equipment, primary sponsor of Team BIGFOOT and title sponsor of the Summit Racing Equipment ADRL Ohio Drags at National Trail Raceway, near Columbus, Ohio.

“When we started discussing how Summit Racing Equipment could become a part of the ADRL World Finals it just seemed like a perfect time to bring these two powerful marketing partners together,” Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports and Events Manager Jim Greenleaf said. “Bob Chandler and the guys with BIGFOOT always put on a great show and that’s what makes this such a perfect fit with the great drag racing event than Kenny Nowling and his ADRL crew put together. So you know this is going to be a big hit with the fans.” 

Weighing in at 10,000 pounds apiece, each truck will fight to put more than 1,500 horsepower to the pavement daily at the Ennis, Texas, drag strip.

“Just like all of our pro racing classes, this will be no gimmicks, heads-up, first-one-to-the-finish-line-wins racing,” National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling stated. “I can’t wait to stand between these monsters when they light them up. The fans at the Motorplex are in for a real treat.”

“We are extremely excited to bring monster truck drag racing to the ADRL,” BIGFOOT 4X4 Inc. Vice President Bob Trent added.

Both monster trucks will be on display all weekend during the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V, with BIGFOOT driver Dan Runte and Snake-Bite’s Larry Swim also available to sign autographs. They will race following the conclusion of the National Guard ADRL’s championship-deciding Speedtech Battle for the Belts finals on Friday night, just before Mike “Hojo” Hojnacki closes out the day with a flame-throwing, jet-car blast and again on Saturday night following the Pro Extreme final for the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V.

(Photos courtesy Team BIGFOOT)

October 23, 2009

National Guard ADRL Heads to Texas

O’FALLON, MO (Oct. 5, 2009) — In 2005, the inaugural year for the National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL), series president and CEO Kenny Nowling knew he would have a tough time convincing racers based mostly in the Southeast and with no mathematical chance at a championship to make the long tow west to Kennedale, Texas, for the fledgling outfit’s season ender. So, he came up with the Speedtech Battle for the Belts, a unique playoff concept set this year for Oct. 23, opening day for the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas, just south of Dallas.

“Initially, it was created to ensure that everyone in the top eight, all the top players, came to that last race in Dallas at the end of the year. But I needed something to convince the rest to come, too, so we made the following season’s points actually start on the same weekend so that everybody would want to be there to get a head start on the next season’s points chase,” Nowling (left) explained.

Essentially the same format is in place this year as the top eight points earners for each of the National Guard ADRL’s five professional classes in 2009 —Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Flowmaster Extreme 10.5, Pro Extreme Motorcycle and Extreme Pro Stock—will determine world champions on Friday, while all points earned through qualifying and elimination rounds on Saturday will count toward the 2010 points chase.

New for this year, however, is a first-round bye granted to each points leader, which also means the seventh- and eighth-place Belts qualifiers in each class will race against each other first, with the winner taking on the number-two contender in the quarter-finals round. Meanwhile, number three will take on number six and four will race five, just as in a traditional eight-car eliminations ladder.

So, to win a 2009 National Guard ADRL World Championship, a points leader would have to win only two rounds of head-to-head racing, the numbers two through six qualifiers would need to win three times, while number-seven and number-eight starters will face four rounds of potential elimination.

Additionally, each 2009 season points leader will receive a monetary reward and plaque recognizing their pre-Battle supremacy, with the Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous leaders each earning $5,000; the Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 and Extreme Pro Stock leaders each receiving $2,500; and the Pro Extreme Motorcycle leader getting a $1,000 bonus.

The purses have increased, too, with 2009 Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous world champions to receive $50,000 each, $25,000 going to each of the Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 and Extreme Pro Stock champions, and $10,000 payable to the Pro Extreme Motorcycle season winner. All told, the Speedtech Battle for the Belts purse exceeds $313,000 this time around.

Always a fan first, National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling (right) can often be found in the middle of the action, this time watching Pro Extreme Battle for the Belts contender Joshua Hernandez launch his ’57 Chevy at Heartland Park Topeka.

Nowling pointed out fans in Texas will see at least three new National Guard ADRL world champions crowned this year since Extreme Pro Stock is in its first season as an official class, 2008 Pro Nitrous champ Billy Harper sat out the ’09 campaign and two-time defending Pro Extreme Motorcycle World Champion Billy Vose failed to make the cut to defend his title. He also said he’s particularly excited about this round of the Speedtech Battle for the Belts because there are so many new names among the contenders and he’s anxious to see who steps up to deliver a knock-out performance.

“I’ve quoted my high-school football coach, Steve Stahl, many times on this: ‘A true champion is defined when everything is on the line.’ Every possible thing that you worked for is right in front of you and within your grasp and it’s when the Michael Jordans and Wayne Gretzkys of this world excel; they want the ball in their hands, the puck on their stick,” he said.That’s why the Speedtech Battle for the Belts brings out the best in National Guard ADRL competitors, Nowling contends.

“Most of these guys would do almost anything to get into the Battle and now that we have the fields set, we’re about to see what they can do,” he said. “According to the math, we would have already decided four of our five champions heading into the World Finals, so how exciting would Friday night be? I mean, it would be good, our normal Friday-night show, but what a race those fans at Ennis are going to see now as a result of this format. Personally, I can’t wait.”

(ADRL/Richards/Tocher file photos)

September 13, 2009

Flowmaster Dragstock VI Delivers the Thrills

The National Guard American Drag Racing League’s (ADRL’s) Flowmaster Dragstock VI lived up to its promise of a great event Sep. 12, delivering record-setting fields, outstanding individual efforts, massive crowds and exciting on-track action.

Before a standing-room-only crowd that packed historic Rockingham Dragway to capacity, Jason Hamstra won his second Pro Extreme race of the year, Pro Nitrous veteran Mike Castellana scored his second win of the last three events, Chuck Ulsch doubled his Extreme 10.5 win total in record-setting fashion, Extreme Pro Stock racer Doug Kirk won his second of the year and Pro Extreme Motorcycle rider Eric McKinney became the lone first-time winner.

Hamstra (below, near lane), the number-one qualifier in the quickest 16-car field the National Guard ADRL has ever seen, opened with wins over Travis Swearingen, Gaylen Smith and Joshua Hernandez before defeating Pro Extreme newcomer Ken Walsh with a 3.76-seconds pass at 204.73 mph over the Rockingham eighth mile in the final round.

“Our car was driving really smooth all weekend, it didn’t spin the tires even once,” the 21-year-old from Demotte, Indiana, said of his supercharged 1968 Camaro. “Everything just went perfect for us here.”

Flowmaster Dragstock VI also represented the final points-paying opportunity toward securing a qualifying position for the National Guard ADRL’s unique Speedtech Battle for the Belts, which pits the top eight finishers in each of the series’ five pro classes against each other in winner-take-all, championship-deciding playoffs at the 2009 season ender this October in Dallas, Texas. With his win, Hamstra cemented a seventh-place points finish and a chance at a National Guard ADRL championship.

“That was our first priority when we arrived here,” Hamstra said. “Once we won our second round and knew we’d be in the Battle for the Belts we were able to relax a little and just go racing.”

Westbury, NY’s Castellana (below, near lane) knew going into the race he’d be part of the post-season Belts race and will start as the third seed in Dallas. Like Hamstra, he also qualified for the quickest Pro Nitrous field ever in first place at Rockingham before taking out Fredy Scriba, Charles Carpenter, and his own Al Anabi Racing teammates Shannon Jenkins and Burton Auxier in the semis and final round, respectively.

With team owner His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani looking on, Auxier got the jump off the start in the final, but Castellana’s 1970 Camaro quickly reeled him in and posted its third 3.90 pass in a row and won with a 193.16-mph blast.

“I saw Burton get out on me and didn’t think I was going to catch him, but then his car went into tire shake and that’s all it took,” Castellana said. “I’m just glad we could win another one for the Sheik. It was great to get three (of four) cars into the semis and racing my teammates, I was more relaxed than usual because I knew he team was going to get the win, no matter what. Now we just have to turn our attention to the Battle for the Belts and bring home the championship.”

Riding on relatively narrow 10.5-inch-wide rear slicks presents its own set of challenges, but since his debut of a new supercharged, Hemi-powered ’68 Camaro three races prior to Dragstock VI, Ulsch (below, far lane) has mastered the Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 class.

After starting from the number-two slot with a 4.02 at an incredible 204.01 mph, the Clarksville, Maryland-based driver downed fellow Belts contenders Todd Moyer, Spiro Pappas and Jeff Paulk before facing off against top qualifier Gary White and his turbocharged, six cylinder 2007 Scion.

Ulsch left with a .045 holeshot and never looked back, running another 4.02 and increasing his speed to a whopping 206.39 mph. His qualifying speed becomes the official class record, however, since it’s not within the required one percent to back up the higher speed.

“This Vanishing Point car just continues to impress me. It’s working so perfectly and to see the kind of numbers we’re running now is really kind of unbelievable,” Ulsch said. “I’ve been at this a long time, but it doesn’t seem so long ago when we were running fives (seconds) at 140 miles an hour and to be running over 200 like this is just awesome.”

Following a seventh-place qualifying effort, Kirk, from Lenore, West Virginia, raced through Jason Collins, number-one starter Dean Goforth, and Elijah Morton before reaching his close friend, Brian Gahm, in the final round.

Prior to racing, Kirk and Gahm arranged with National Guard ADRL and Rockingham Dragway officials to stage a unique show for the thousands of fans on hand, swapping lanes (below) while backing up from their burnouts.

“It’s something we’ve talked about doing for at least 10 years, but either no one would let us do it or it just wasn’t the right time to ask. We felt with the ADRL’s willingness to do things a little differently and the atmosphere and reputation of Dragstock as a unique race that this was the perfect opportunity. I hope the fans liked the show because we sure did. I especially liked the ending,” Kirk said after making his best pass of the weekend, a 4.09 at 176.12 mph, in the final round.

Starting from the number-three spot on the Pro Extreme Motorcycle qualifying list, McKinney (below, far lane) ran through Coodee Thomas, Ashley Owens and Monte Campbell to reach the final against Travis Davis. Mckinney’s race with Owens produced the first side-by-side passes in the 4-teens for the class, with McKinney taking a holeshot win with a 4.19 that beat Owens’ then-record 4.18 pass.

In the very next pair, Davis stepped up with a 4.16 to beat Lance Hines, then ran another 4.16 in the semis against Speedtech Battle for the Belts points leader Scott Gray to officially set the elapsed-time record.In the final, Davis left first, but his bike’s engine expired before reaching the finish line and McKinney rode his ’09 Suzuki to a 4.21 win at 170.60 mph.

“Oh man, it feels so great to get the win,” McKinney said. “This crowd is just amazing to race in front of. But this a team sport and I have to thanks so many people, but especially my dad and mom and my girlfriend; without them I couldn’t be out here.”

In the National Guard ADRL’s only non-heads-up and non-professional class, Manchester, Kentucky’s Tyler Allen (below, near lane) earned his first Pro Jr. Dragster victory, running a final-round 8.33 at 75.84 mph against an 8.30 dial.

The Speedtech Battle for the Belts will take place Oct. 23, on the first day of the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas. The televised broadcast of Flowmaster Dragstock VI will be on Sep. 27, at 3 p.m. on the Versus network.

September 12, 2009

New PXM Record for Davis

In the next pair after Ashley Owens lowered his own Pro Extreme Motorcycle (PXM) elapsed time record to 4.180 seconds, Travis Davis stepped forward and ran an incredible 4.168 seconds at 171.23 mph in a second-round win over number-one qualifier Lance Hines.

Owens and Eric McKinney had staged the quickest side-by-side PXM pass ever with McKinney posting a 4.191 to take a holeshot win before Davis defeated the 4.201 of Hines.

Incrementals for Davis: RT = .022; 60’ = 1.050; 330’ = 2.749; 660’ = 4.168/171.23 

Davis’ first-round win at 4.192/170.15 over Mimmo Marciano serves as the official back-up to the record run.  

September 12, 2009

Record-Setting Pro Extreme Field

After being bumped from the quickest Pro Extreme field in history, Joshua Hernandez and his National Guard-backed ‘57 Chevy were cheered on for his final qualifying pass by 73 soldiers, of which 29 are in the Army National Guard. The troops are based at Fort Jackson, SC, and are going through Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and attended Flowmaster Dragstock VI on a one-day pass with their First Sargent. 

Hernandez responded to the encouragement with a 3.80 lap at 203.31 mph that put him 13th in the 16-car field.

Jason Hamstra’s 3.71 at 205.10 from last night’s session held up to retain the number-one spot, but the big news was at the other end of the list where Travis Swearingen’s 3.82 obliterated the previous 3.90 quickest bump spot from Memphis earlier this year.

An incredible 25 of 35 entries ran in the threes at Flowmaster Dragstock VI, which saw heavy hitters and series regulars like Von Smith, Dwayne Watkins, Mike Bell and 2006 class champion Bubba Stanton excluded from eliminations.

Neal Wantye provided a little adrenaline both inside and outside the cockpit when he sideswiped the right wall with his ‘08 Mustang in his final qualifying attempt, but fortunately, the Louisville, KY-based racer escaped injury in the accident.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

September 12, 2009

First All-3-Second Pro Nitrous Field

Here they are, the qualifiers for the quickest and fastest National Guard ADRL Pro Nitrous field ever and the first to feature all-three-second passes.

Also note top speed setter Jim Halsey also secured a new official record with his final qualifying run, backed up by the 194.21 he ran in the second session last night.

September 12, 2009

Full House!

There was already a great crowd in place when the first pair of Extreme Pro Stockers went down the track to start the third and final qualifying session for Flowmaster Dragstock VI at noon today, but by mid-afternoon the Rockingham Dragway stands are absolutely packed.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

September 12, 2009

LenMar Top End Zone Revealed

In a brief pre-qualifying ceremony, the new National Guard ADRL LenMar Motorsports Top End Zone was revealed at the end of the shutdown area of Rockingham Dragway.

LenMar Pro Extreme driver Gaylen Smith (center, no hat) and his brand-new, Tim McAmis-built ‘57 Chevy were the first to grace the LenMar Top End Zone’s mat that will host all Flowmaster Dragstock VI winners tonight and at all future National Guard ADRL events.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

September 12, 2009

‘Champagne Kenny’ Flying High

When National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling first approached Rockingham Dragway owner Steve Earwood in 2006 with the idea of moving Dragstock III to his historic North Carolina strip, Nowling pitched the idea of issuing free tickets and making money from nominal charges for parking and concessions.

As a longtime drag racing promoter, Earwood said he’d heard these kinds of plans before and immediately dubbed Nowling “Champagne Kenny” for his lofty predictions, but after Dragstock III became the biggest success in the track’s 40-plus years history, the nickname has become an affectionate joke between the two promoters.

To celebrate another standing-room-only crowd at Flowmaster Dragstock VI, Earwood hired a banner-towing plane to send the message to Nowling and the rest of the National Guard ADRL that “Champagne Kenny” is still flyin’ high!

(ADRL/Tocher photo)    

September 12, 2009

McDonald Checks Starting-Line Clearance

After having his first qualifying pass disqualified based on a suspect .870 60-foot time, Pro Extreme racer Bennie McDonald Jr. rolled his ‘53 Corvette to the Rockingham Dragway starting line this morning so he and National Guard ADRL officials could check for any clearance issues that could be affecting the starting-line beams.

No issues were immediately identified, but both McDonald and the officials will continue to monitor the situation.

(ADRL/Tocher/Anderson photos)

September 12, 2009

Early Arrivals at ‘The Rock’

North Carolina loves its National Guard ADRL racing.

This was the scene outside Rockingham Dragway’s main spectator gate when official series shutterbug Roger Richards arrived at 8:30 this morning—half an hour before the gate opened—for raceday at Flowmaster Dragstock VI.   

September 12, 2009

Record-Setting Fields Reinforce Rockingham Reputation

ROCKINGHAM, NC (Sep.11, 2009) — Rockingham Dragway has a well-deserved reputation as a fast track and racers at the National Guard ADRL’s Flowmaster Dragstock VI reinforced that reputation Friday night with some of the quickest and fastest fields in series history.

Pro Extreme qualifying climaxed with a stellar 3.71-seconds pass at 205.10 miles per hour over the Rockingham eighth mile by Jason Hamstra (left) in his supercharged ’68 Camaro, representing the quickest and fastest pass ever by a torque converter-equipped car. It marks the first time Hamstra has ever officially led a National Guard ADRL qualifying round.

“We stepped it up a little bit at night, but it was far from a perfect pass,” the 21-year-old driver from Demotte, Indiana, said. “It moved around quite a bit out there. Our computer shows it pulled 2Gs lateral movement at one point. My teammates pointed out I missed my shift point a little and I told them that was because I was kind of busy driving!”

Dwayne Watkins currently holds the 16th and final qualifying position with a 3.91 at 193.63 lap, just nine-thousandths of a second off making it the quickest Pro Extreme field ever, and a record nine cars of the 35 entries have already topped the 200-mph mark. With one more qualifying session left for Saturday and several highly ranked drivers and cars still seeking inclusion, both records seem likely to change.

Pro Extreme qualifying also was interrupted by two significant engine explosions and fires, but fortunately, Frankie Taylor and Tommy D’Aprile escaped unharmed in both cases.

Mike Castellana (right) of Westbury, NY, leads a similar situation with his 1970 Camaro in Pro Nitrous, which already has set a record as quickest field in National Guard ADRL history, bookended by Castellana’s record-setting 3.86 at 185.23 and Ted Smith’s 4.01 at 182.72 mph in the 16th position.

“The car drove toward the wall, out of the groove about 500 feet out. I felt the car drift and knew I was taking a chance being that close to the wall, but luckily we didn’t crash,” Castellana said.

Only two cars separate Pro Nitrous from featuring its first all-three-second field, and again, several non-qualified contenders from the 38 entries may well step up and help create history in Saturday’s lone qualifying session.

Qualifying for the Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 class is presently led by New Market, Alabama’s Gary White (left) with a 4.00-seconds pass at 181.45 mph in the turbocharged, six-cylinder Titan Motorsports ’07 Scion. Close behind White at 4.02 seconds is Chuck Ulsch, who went an incredible 204.01 mph on the relatively narrow 10.5-inch-wide rear rubber on his supercharged ’68 Camaro.

Like Pro Nitrous, just two cars separate the Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 class from producing its quickest field ever, with R.B. Smith currently on the bump spot with a 4.62 time.

Thirty-nine riders entered Pro Extreme Motorcycle at Rockingham and after two qualifying rounds Ronald Procopio (right) from Wake Forest, North Carolina, is on top with a 4.22 at 169.13 mph aboard his ’07 Suzuki. After the opening session, the National Guard ADRL’s two-wheeled warriors had already established the fifth-quickest field in series history, but after two shots at the track they made up the quickest field ever, locked in with a 4.33 by Derrick Holloway.

Holdenville, Oklahoma’s Dean Goforth came through with a 4.08 at 176.77 mph on Friday night to become the provisional Extreme Pro Stock pole sitter. Goforth’s elapsed time is less than three hundredths off the official class record and his speed falls short of the official mark by less than one mile per hour.

As the National Guard ADRL’s only non-heads-up class, the Pro Jr. Dragster division for drivers aged 8-17 qualifies based on quickest reaction times and Taylor Weatherford currently holds the lead over the 16-car field with a .007 light after two hits at the tree.

Flowmaster Dragstock VI resumes Saturday, Sep. 12, with a third and final round of qualifying for all classes beginning at noon, with elimination rounds to follow.

September 11, 2009

Ulsch Goes 204 MPH!

Maryland’s Chuck Ulsch continued his heroics in the Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 class, running over 204 mph in his second qualifying pass on Friday night. Incrementals on the run were: RT = .065; 60’ = 1.023; 330’ = 2.756; 660’ = 4.027/204.01.  

His 4.02 E.T. wasn’t quite enough to seize the number-one spot, however, as Gary White steered the turbocharged, six-cylinder Team Titan Scion to a 4.009 lap at 181.45 mph. In comparison, White’s incrementals were: RT = .050; 60’ = .980; 330’ = 2.646; 660’ = 4.009/181.45.

(ADRL/Tocher photos)

September 11, 2009

PXM Testing Traction Control

At least two Pro Extreme Motorcycles, including those of current class champ Billy Vose and Rob Hunnicutt (above) are experimenting with traction control devices from Davis Technologies at Flowmaster Dragstock VI.

UPDATE: It may be working, because after two rounds of qualifying we already have the quickest PXM field in series history.

(ADRL/Bunsold photo) 

September 11, 2009

Bennett Goes Boom!

Pro Nitrous racer Pat Bennett, back in action after contact with the wall banged up the nose of his ‘63 Corvette three weeks ago in the previous National Guard ADRL event in Hebron, OH, suffered this brief nitrous backfire in his first qualifying attempt for Flowmaster Dragstock VI at Rockingham Dragway.

(ADRL/Bunsold photo)

September 11, 2009

Flowmaster Dragstock VI is Underway!

It’s 12:05 and round one of Extreme Pro Stock qualifying has opened Flowmaster Dragstock VI, with Matt Hartford (left lane) and Jason Collins being the first pair out.

Already the top few rows in the stands are filling up and we’re expecting another standing-room-only crowd as the day progresses. Stay tuned for more!

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

September 11, 2009

National Guard Team Red Ready for ‘The Rock’

The National Guard Team Red, led by crew chief Jim Oddy and driver Joshua Hernandez, are feeling confident on entering the Sep. 11-12, National Guard ADRL’s Flowmaster Dragstock VI at Rockingham Dragway.

“The combo looks good and it couldn’t come at a better time or place than here at Rockingham. I have been racing here for decades; Rockingham almost feels like my home boy. The track surface is always perfectly prepared and I love the atmosphere and the people.”—Jim Oddy

“‘The Rock’ a few years ago, is where I set the record for being the first Pro Mod in the fives, which at the time was uncharted territory. To me personally, Rockingham will always be special; sort like a first kiss or date.”—Joshua Hernandez

(ADRL/Tocher file photo)

September 10, 2009

Myers Orders Extra Minuteman for McCoy

Thomas Myers (left) and his wife, Rebecca, Pro Nitrous winners of the Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III at National Trail Raceway last month, ordered an extra National Guard Minuteman trophy for chassis builder Andy McCoy and presented it to him Thursday afternoon before Flowmaster Dragstock VI got underway.

“I was blown away,” McCoy said. “They didn’t have to do that, but it really makes you feel good to know you’re racing with people like Thomas and Rebecca.”

McCoy is currently building a 1970 Duster for Myers that will make its National Guard ADRL debut next March at the 2010 opener in Houston. 

September 9, 2009

National Guard ADRL Racers Pumped Up for Flowmaster Dragstock VI

O’FALLON, MO (Sep. 9, 2009) — It takes time for any sporting event to develop historic and sentimental importance for competitors and fans, but the National Guard American Drag Racing League’s (ADRL’s) annual Flowmaster Dragstock is well on its way to achieving legendary status. This year’s Flowmaster Dragstock VI takes over Rockingham (NC) Dragway Sep. 11-12, and with record-setting car counts and spectator attendance expected, it promises to expand the event’s reputation and prestige.

As the literal jumping off point for the National Guard ADRL in 2004, Dragstock has played a pivotal role in shaping the series and already has become the one race every racer wants to see his or her name written beside in the win column.

“Winning any ADRL race is like hitting a home run, but if I could win at Dragstock, that would be my grand slam,” 36-year Pro Nitrous veteran Charles Carpenter said. “Rockingham is my home track and we expect literally hundreds of our fans, friends and customers to show up, so it would just be such a huge accomplishment for us to win there.”

As the final points-earning opportunity toward the championship-deciding Speedtech Battle for the Belts, Dragstock also can play a huge role in a team’s assessment of its year. With only the top eight in points in each of the National Guard ADRL’s five professional classes getting to race each other for the 2009 world championships this October in Ennis, Texas, each point gained or missed at Dragstock carries added meaning for certain drivers and teams.  

For instance, with 100 points granted for each round win and bonuses offered for qualifying well and setting records, Pro Extreme racer Jason Hamstra enters Flowmaster Dragstock VI just over one round behind Frankie Taylor in eighth place, while in Pro Nitrous, Pat Stoken is in a similar position behind Steve Vick.

The eight-car Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 Speedtech Battle for the Belts field is already set, though plenty of room remains for contenders to shuffle their starting positions for the Battle in Texas. Pro Extreme Motorcycle remains wide open, however, again with the opportunity for current Belts contenders to improve their position and with no less than five non-qualifiers well within striking distance to break into the field.

And just four points behind Dragstock V winner Cary Goforth in the final Extreme Pro Stock Belts position is Robert Patrick Jr., with Jeff Dobbins also less than two rounds from inclusion.

“It’s always a tough race,” said Bubba Stanton, winner of Flowmaster Dragstock V’s Pro Extreme event and currently seventh in points. “It’s a big race and I’d love to defend our title, but I’m going in there this year just trying to be consistent and making sure we stay in the top eight.”

Flowmaster Dragstock at Rockingham Dragway also is known for offering record-setting conditions and was the site of the National Guard ADRL’s first 200-mile-per-hour pass over the eighth mile when reigning two-time Pro Extreme champ Jason Scruggs turned the trick during qualifying in 2007 before eventually leaving with both official elapsed time and speed records.              

Last year’s Flowmaster Dragstock V also produced memorable on-track results, highlighted by Billy Glidden running a then-record 4.14 in the Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 final and Andy Jensen upsetting the Pro Nitrous world by seizing the E.T. record in what turned out to be the swan song appearance for turbocharged entries in the class.

Additionally, the debut of Puerto Rico’s Raymond Matos and Qatar’s Khalid Al-Balooshi in the Pro Nitrous ranks gave the 2008 event an international flair, with Matos even scoring the surprise win to write himself a storybook ending.

The fans, too, arrived in force for Flowmaster Dragstock V, with some 31,000 passing through the Rockingham Dragway gates on Saturday alone.

It all added up to an exciting, over-the-top event that prompted Extreme Pro Stock’s Patrick to tell National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling, “I’ve raced a long time and I’ve been in a lot of important races, but I don’t get ‘goosebumps’ much anymore. At this event I get them every time I come to the line.”

Packed grandstands and tight racing are now the hallmarks of all National Guard ADRL events, but it all started with Flowmaster Dragstock, the O’Fallon, Missouri-based series’ oldest and most prestigious race, scheduled this year for Sep. 11-12, at North Carolina’s Rockingham Dragway (shown). 

(ADRL/Tocher file photos)

September 9, 2009

Flowmaster Dragstock VI Fact Sheet

WHAT: The National Guard ADRL’s Flowmaster Dragstock VI, the ninth of 10 national events this year for the National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL). Includes five, eighth-mile, all-professional drag racing classes: Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme Pro Stock, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme, the quickest and fastest full-bodied, doorslammer class in the world. Pro Jr. Dragster appears as an exhibition class at each National Guard ADRL event.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday, September 11-12, 2009

WHERE: Rockingham Dragway, 2153 US Hwy 1 North, Rockingham, NC 28379

SCHEDULE (Subject to change)

THURSDAY, SEP. 10: Pit gates open 12 p.m.; event parking for all ADRL Pro categories and vendors from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEP. 11: Pit gates open 8 a.m.; event parking, tech inspection and registration for all ADRL Pro categories from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Spectator gates open 9 a.m. Mandatory Drivers / Riders meeting for all classes 11 a.m. (National Guard tent). Qualifying Round 1 at 12 p.m. (Run order: XPS, PXM, XTF, PN, PX, PJD). Qualifying Round 2 at 3 p.m. (Same run order). Pre-Qualifying Ceremonies at 6 p.m. Qualifying Round 3 at 6:30 p.m. (Same run order). Jet Car runs at 9:30 p.m. Secure track at 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEP. 12: Pit gates open 8 a.m.; event parking, final tech inspection and registration for all ADRL Pro categories from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Spectator gates open 9 a.m. ADRL Top End Ministries chapel service at 10 a.m. (National Guard tent). Qualifying Round 4 at 12 p.m. (Run order: XPS, PXM, XTF, PN, PX, PJD). Pre-Race Ceremonies at 3 p.m. Eliminations Round 1 at 3:30 p.m. (Same run order). Jet Car runs at 8:15 p.m. Winner’s Circle Party from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Secure Event at 10 p.m.

TICKETS: Complimentary in-advance general admission both days. Tickets on sale both days at track. General parking $10/vehicle daily; Pitside parking $20/vehicle daily; VIP parking $30/vehicle daily. Motorhomes $150/vehicle weekend. All tickets include pit passes.

CONTACT: Rockingham Dragway (910) 582-3400. Media requests contact Ian Tocher with National Guard ADRL Communications (404) 375-4895.

August 23, 2009

First-Timers Finish First in Ohio

HEBRON, OH (Aug. 23, 2009) — In a remarkable turn of events, all professional class winners at the Aug. 21-22, ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III had never before visited a National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) victory lane. Even more remarkable, four of the five were up against their class wins leader in the final round at National Trail Raceway, near Columbus, Ohio, with the fifth also facing a former race victor.

Young Cody Barklage (left) defeated Joshua Hernandez, the Pro Extreme wins leader at six, while Thomas “Tom Slick” Myers took down Shannon “Iceman” Jenkins, who leads the Pro Nitrous division with seven prior event titles. In Flowmaster Extreme 10.5, Spiro Pappas broke through over eight-time race winner and defending series champion Billy Glidden; Paul Gast got past Scott Gray, who leads all Pro Extreme Motorcycle riders with three victories; and Dean Goforth downed Doug Kirk, winner of the season opener at Houston this year in the National Guard ADRL’s new Extreme Pro Stock class.

“That was awesome,” the Lake Ozark, Missouri-based Barklage declared after pedaling his supercharged Lucas Oil 1967 Firebird to a 3.91-seconds win over the eighth mile at 190.48 miles per hour. “I can’t really put into words how I’m feeling right now because our team really needed this. I’m sure it’ll hit us by tomorrow, but it just seems so unreal right now.” 

After laying down a string of solid mid- to high-3.70 passes to reach the final, Hernandez had been heavily favored, but his National Guard-backed ’57 Chevy drifted left toward the center line, taking out the halfway marker on the track before the veteran got it reined back under control.

“That surprised me; it really did,” Hernandez said. “The car had been working great all day, going very straight and easy to drive. But we’re running these things right on the ragged edge every time. We’re balancing like a ballet out there and today I guess we just stubbed our toe.”

Myers (right), an auto mechanic from Granbury, Texas, won from the 16th and final qualifying position. He went 4.02 seconds at 183.89 mph with his ’63 split-window Corvette in the final, while Jenkins suffered traction problems early in his run and slowed to a 4.28 at 156.03 mph. Jenkins later admitted he simply misread changing track conditions and his ’68 Camaro started shaking its tires before reaching half-track, allowing Myers to overcome a holeshot and pass him by. 

An emotional Myers dedicated the race win to his grandfather, who passed away just a few days before the event. He and his wife, Rebecca, have been racing with the National Guard ADRL since its inception five years ago.

“I can’t believe we finally made it, especially against the level of teams we’re racing against out here,” Myers said after defeating Pat Stoken, Stan Allen and Burton Auxier in the preliminary rounds, each a member of a multi-car team, as is Jenkins. “But the ADRL has put together a great series where the little guy can shine. It’s an honor for me just to line up against someone like Shannon Jenkins, but to actually beat him in a final? Wow, I can’t even say what that means to me.” 

A red-light start by Glidden handed the Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 win to Pappas (left), who posted an off-the-pace 4.18 pass at 148.31 mph in the final due to the turbocharger on his 2009 Pontiac GXP malfunctioning. In the semi-finals against Chuck Ulsch, however, he went 3.99 seconds at 190.11 to advance while joining Ulsch as the second member of the exclusive Mickey Thompson 3-Second Club for Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 drivers.“That was a big deal for us, to get that three-second run over with. I wish we could’ve been first, but it still feels good to know we did it,” the popular Chicago racer said. “I also wish we could’ve had a good race in the final, but it doesn’t make the win over Billy any less enjoyable. This is what we came here for.”

Glidden later explained he suffered a clutch controller failure on the line, causing him to go red.

“After the burnouts I looked over and could see he was smoking pretty bad out the left side of his car, so I knew he was hurt. So I wasn’t pushing the tree or anything. I was just going to do my regular deal when this happened,” Glidden said, referring to the faulty controller. “It makes me sick, if you want to know the truth.”

Gast (left), from Grand Island, NY, also was the beneficiary of a red-light start, as Gray left three-thousandths too soon, tossing away a 4.30 pass against Gast’s 4.31 at 160.69 mph.

“The bike ran really well all day, although it slowed down a little and made its worst run of eliminations there in the final,” the 60-year-old said in victory lane. “I knew I had a good light (.016, his best of the day), but I didn’t know he’d (Gray) gone red, so I wasn’t sure I’d won until it was over.”

After setting low E.T. of the meet for the Extreme Pro Stock class with a 4.10 in the semis that sent him to his second-straight final-round appearance, Goforth (below, right) ran 4.13 at 173.25 with his ’09 GXP against a redlighting Kirk, who left four-thousandths-of-a-second ahead of the go signal. 

“I had no idea he’d gone red until we were well on down there when I saw the win light in my lane,” said Goforth, who opened the day with a win over his son, Cary, then beat Pete Berner and points leader Brian Gahm to reach the final. “Every round is so tough out here. This is the best racing there is; I’m having a lot of fun doing this.”

The National Guard ADRL’s Pro Jr. Dragster class for kids 8-17 years old also crowned a first-time race champion in Minford, Ohio’s R.J. Thacker (left), who beat Caleb Ellison in the final round. 

With just one race left to gain points toward qualifying for the 2009 championship-deciding Speedtech Battle for the Belts this October at Ennis, Texas, all National Guard ADRL teams will be turning their attention to the series oldest and most prestigious event, Flowmaster Dragstock VI, to be held Sept. 11-12, at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina.

August 22, 2009

Ulsch Breaks 200-MPH Barrier!

Two weeks ago at the National Guard ADRL event in Madison, IL, Chuck Ulsch became the inaugural member of the Mickey Thompson 3-Second Club for Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 racers with a 3.98 run at 197.88 mph.

Proving it was no fluke, he did it again in the opening round of eliminations at the ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III, going four thousandths quicker with a 3.982 win at nearly 197 mph.

Then, in round two against Joel Bayless, Ulsch dropped the hammer with a 3.99 at an unreal 201.28 mph, officially backing up his first run for a new E.T. record and becoming the first man on Earth to exceed 200 miles per hour on 10.5W tires over an eight mile. Incredible!

Incrementals on the pass: 60’ - 1.046; 330’ - 2.742; 660’ - 3.997/201.28 

(ADRL/Tocher photos)

August 22, 2009

Summit Ohio Drags III Top Qualifiers (Final)

Clockwise from bottom left:

Extreme Pro Stock: Robert Patrick Jr., 4.134/173.70

Extreme 10.5: Chuck Ulsch, 4.032/195.53

Pro Extreme: Frankie Taylor, 3.749/202.52

Pro Nitrous: Pat Stoken, 3.903/191.16

Pro Extreme Motorcycle: Lance Hines, 4.221/169.30

ADRL/Bunsold/Tocher photos)

August 22, 2009

Scruggs Ousted from Final Qualifying List

Reigning two-time Pro Extreme World Champion Jason Scruggs put a new clutch in his ‘68 Camaro for the ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III after tracing his recent problems with engine breakage to the previous clutch not releasing at the conclusion of his runs down the track.

Although it was the same type, Scruggs struggled with finding a good set-up for the new clutch and entered Saturday’s final qualifying session in 15th place after pedaling three times to a 3.98 at 179.04 mph in Friday’s second round.

He got dropped to the bump spot when Tommy D’Aprile put his new ‘70.5 Camaro into the show in eighth place, then watched and waited as several potential spoilers tried and failed to make the cut.

Until Neal Wantye, that is. The Louisville, KY-based Wantye was 20th when the last qualifying round began, but powered his ‘08 Mustang to a 3.97 at 189.98 mph to squeze into 16th and oust the champ from contention in Ohio.

As first alternate, Scruggs held out some hope of still getting to race, but after everyone else reported back in good shape, he learned his weekend is over.

Perhaps more importantly, this could have significant Speedtech Battle for the Belts implications if number-nine starter Quain Stott can go deep in eliminations and cut into the now-425-point deficit he faces to current leader Scruggs.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

August 22, 2009

Schmoozing in the Pits

National Guard ADRL prez and CEO wanted it known this is why Steve Vick is his favorite racer to visit in the Pro Nitrous pits!

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

August 22, 2009

Hance Crashes Hard in XTF Q4

David Hance of Inwood, NY, was ninth and looking to move into the top half of the Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 (XTF) field with his fourth and final qualifying attempt, but instead wound taking a hard hit against the left wall near the eighth-mile mark.

Hance appeared to drift left out of the groove, then got over toward the center line before taking a hard left into the concrete.

It took a few minutes to extricate him from the car with its driver’s door wedged tight against the wall, but fortunately, Hance eventually climbed free, unhurt in the accident.

(ADRL/Greg Bunsold photos)

August 22, 2009

Swearingen Done for Weekend

It’s no secret that Pro Extreme star Travis Swearingen has been struggling lately in the National Guard-backed ‘41 Willys, failing to qualify at the last three National Guard ADRL events, but his father and crew chief, Alan Swearingen said they’ve finally found the problem.

“The entire rear end of the chassis is cracked and broken,” Swearingen said. “The powder coating was hiding the cracks, but we went over the whole thing with a pocket knife last night and found cracks in the frame and all through the mounting tabs for the four-link.

“We think it may have started back in Martin, Michigan (June), when we had a real bad case of shaking that damaged the body there,” he continued. “Ever since then it’s made 17 runs and almost every time, .3 into the run it would break free.”

Swearingen said the team considered effecting repairs at the track, but after consulting with on-site chassis builders, decided instead to withdraw from this weekend’s competition.

“They said if we didn’t catch it all, we could make the situation worse by overstressing something and having the chassis break while he’s (Travis) making a pass. So, just to be safe, we’re going to take it home and get it fixed properly so we’ll be ready to get back to where we should be at Rockingham.”

(ADRL/Tocher photos)  

August 22, 2009

Local Paper Highlights Friday Action from Summit Ohio Drags III

Your Agent was pleased to meet Newark Advocate scribe Josh Hachat yesterday and even more so to read his take this morning on the opening day of the National Guard ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III.

Check out his story about first-day qualifying here; then click over to see Hachat’s take on track conditions at National Trail Raceway as described by National Guard ADRL racers.

Your Agent looks forward to more from this young man today.

August 22, 2009

‘Geezer’ Goes for a PX Ride

Pro Extreme (PX) racer Cathy Belcher took official National Guard photog Roger “Geezer” Richards for a ride during her third qualifying attempt on Friday night.

Well, she took his image for a ride at least.

Belcher and her husband, “Doc” (right) affixed a photo of Richards to the back window of her 1990 Camaro that managed to stay on through a four-second pass at more than 180 mph.

Richards said he liked it so much he hopes she’ll take him again tommorrow.

(ADRL/Tocher photo) 

August 21, 2009

Stanton, Gahm Attract Local Press

Pro Extreme driver Bubba Stanton (left) and Extreme Pro Stock points leader Brian Gahm were interviewed by newspaper reporter Josh Hachat for articles scheduled to appear in the Saturday, Aug. 22 edition of the Newark (OH) Advocate.

Hachat also spoke with Pro Extreme top qualifier Frankie Taylor and National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling about the series’ first visit to National Trail Raceway.

(ADRL/Tocher photos) 

August 21, 2009

‘Big Don’ Battling Bad Weather

Man, for the second race in a row, “Big Don” Ellison ran into trouble that has delayed his arrival in Hebron, OH, for the National Guard ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III.

Apparently, he had to turn around well into his trip to Ohio after violent, rainy storms damaged his Texas home. Faithful ADRL.us readers will recall Ellison was sidetracked by a busted windshield on his way to the previous event at St. Louis two weeks earlier. 

Unfortunately, Ellison’s absence has put a crimp in the ADRL’s planned live audio broadcast of the public address system, but your Agent is told he’s on his way while others have been recruited to get it happening in the meantime.

(ADRL/Richards file photo)

August 21, 2009

ADRL Summit Ohio Drags III Under Way

It’s 12:08 p.m. on Friday and Round 1 of Extreme Pro Stock qualifying officially begins the National Guard ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III, with Ned Katuran (near lane) and Chris Holbrook the first pair to make a pass. Katuran, from North Wales, PA, shut down early with a 5.22 at 107 mph, while Holbrook’s 4.229 at 168.53 eventually left him seventh of 15 entries in the first session.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

August 21, 2009

NTR Track Prep

The National Guard ADRL track prep crew, led by Executive Vice President of Competition Bubba Corzine and Chief Starter Alex Etheridge, are working hard alongside National Trail Raceway track workers to ensure a strong, raceable surface for the ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

August 21, 2009

Spotted in the Pits: Stanley Gaining Traction

Shannon Davis (left) of Davis Technologies was in the Stanley & Weiss pit Thursday evening, setting a up a trick, new traction control system on the ‘68 Camaro that John Stanley wheels in Pro Extreme action.

Team co-owner Camp Stanley said the McAmis-built car has carried the Davis system since its inception earlier this year, but this weekend’s ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III will represent the first time it’s been applied.

(ADRL/Richards photo)

August 21, 2009

Straight to Work for DeFlorian

Pro Nitrous racer John DeFlorian Jr. (far right) and crew went straight to work installing a new Reher-Morrison engine Thursday afternoon at National Trail Raceway in preparation for this weekend’s ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III.

(ADRL/Richards photo)

August 20, 2009

D’Aprile Struggling with Sight Lines

Well, we’ve had our first on-track action at the National Guard ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III, as Tommy D’Aprile and crew rolled out their brand-spankin’-new, Danny Page-built Pro Extreme 70.5 Camaro out to the starting line at National Trail Raceway to check D’Aprile’s sight lines to the starting tree.

That’s teammate Mike Janis (Eaton shirt), the most recent Pro Extreme winner on the 2009 National Guard ADRL Tour, looking on as D’Aprile strains to see past the giant screw blower and injector hat atop his JanCen powerplant.

Crew chief Kevin Peters takes a turn in the driver’s seat with D’Aprile beside him explaining exactly what’s blocking his vision of the tree. The problem appears to lie in the throttle cable assembly, which intrudes just a little too much in the driver’s line of sight from the left lane.

Here’s what it looks like from D’Aprile’s point of view. That’s the top of the tree—that National Guard ADRL Executive VP of Competition Bubba Corzine had raised and moved a little closer—circled in red. It’s easy to see the problem. (Thanks to D’Aprile for taking the pic!)

After discovering a similar obstruction to D’Aprile’s sight from the right lane by the door fastener and a side window tab, the Mel Bush-owned team headed back to the pits to make adjustments.

(ADRL/Tocher photos)

August 20, 2009

National Guard ADRL Summit Ohio Drags III Fact Sheet

WHAT: The Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III, the eighth of 10 national events this year for the National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL). Includes five, eighth-mile, all-professional drag racing classes: Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme Pro Stock, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme, the quickest and fastest full-bodied, doorslammer class in the world. Pro Jr. Dragster also appears as an exhibition class at each National Guard ADRL event.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday, August 21-22, 2009

WHERE: National Trail Raceway, 2650 National Road SW, Hebron, OH 43025

SCHEDULE (Subject to change)

THURSDAY, AUG. 20: Pit gates open 12 p.m.; event parking for all ADRL Pro categories and vendors from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUG. 21: Pit gates open 8 a.m.; event parking, tech inspection and registration for all ADRL Pro categories from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Spectator gates open 9 a.m. Mandatory Drivers / Riders meeting for all classes 11 a.m. (National Guard tent). Qualifying Round 1 at 12 p.m. (Run order: XPS, PXM, XTF, PN, PX, PJD). Qualifying Round 2 at 3 p.m. (Same run order). Pre-Qualifying Ceremonies at 6 p.m. Qualifying Round 3 at 6:30 p.m. (Same run order). Jet Car runs at 9:30 p.m. Secure track at 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, AUG. 22: Pit gates open 8 a.m.; event parking, final tech inspection and registration for all ADRL Pro categories from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Spectator gates open 9 a.m. ADRL Top End Ministries chapel service at 10 a.m. (National Guard tent). Qualifying Round 4 at 12 p.m. (Run order: XPS, PXM, XTF, PN, PX, PJD). Pre- Race Ceremonies at 3 p.m. Eliminations Round 1 at 3:30 p.m. (Same run order). Jet Car runs at 8:15 p.m. Winner’s Circle Party from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Secure Event at 10 p.m.  

TICKETS: Complimentary in-advance general admission both days. Tickets on sale both days at track. General parking $10/vehicle; VIP parking $20/vehicle; RV parking $150/weekend. All tickets include pit access.

CONTACTS: General information contact National Trail Raceway (740) 928-5706. Media requests contact Ian Tocher with National Guard ADRL Communications (404) 375-4895.

August 20, 2009

Summit Racing Equipment is Title Sponsor for National Guard ADRL Event in Ohio

O’FALLON, MO (July 22, 2009) – The National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is pleased to announce Summit Racing Equipment as the title rights sponsor of its Aug. 21-22, Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III at National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio.

“Summit Racing Equipment is already a valued marketing partner of the National Guard ADRL, but adding them as an event title sponsor is a real honor for us and I can’t thank Summit enough for their commitment to our future together,” National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling said.

Summit Racing Equipment is an industry leader in the distribution of motorsports and high-performance parts and equipment through mail-order and Internet-based sales. Summit currently sponsors the National Guard ADRL’s trackside Membership Zone and the popular DragRaceCentral.com Web site that provides live, round-by-round reporting from each National Guard ADRL event.

“Our relationship with the National Guard ADRL has grown tremendously this year and we recognized that supporting the series, its racers and fans through an event sponsorship was our next logical step,” Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports and Events Manager Jim Greenleaf stated.

The Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III will be the eighth of 10 scheduled eighth-mile drag racing events this year for the National Guard ADRL, which typically averages 60,000 fans per weekend.

“Everyone at Summit Racing Equipment is really excited about bringing this National Guard ADRL event to drag racing fans here in our home state of Ohio,” Greenleaf added. “Summit Racing Equipment is confident the partnership with the ADRL will be very well received by our customers, who often are racers themselves or at least are very familiar with high-performance machines like they’ll see with the ADRL at National Trail Raceway next month.”

ABOUT SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT
Established in 1968, Summit Racing Equipment is the leading high performance parts and accessories company. Summit Racing offers the largest selection, lowest prices, and best customer service in the high performance industry via catalogs, Internet, and Retail Super Stores. The company is headquartered in Tallmadge, Ohio with retail stores in Tallmadge, Ohio; Sparks, Nevada; and McDonough, Georgia. For more information on Summit Racing Equipment, visit www.SummitRacing.com.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL GUARD
The National Guard is the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States and one of the nation’s longest enduring institutions. The National Guard operates in all 50 states, three territories (Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands) and the District of Columbia. For more information on the National Guard, visit www.NationalGuard.com.

ABOUT THE ADRL
Based in O’Fallon, Missouri, the American Drag Racing League is the nation’s premier sanctioning body for the sport of eighth-mile drag racing. The professional categories featured in the ADRL are Extreme Pro Stock, Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous, and Pro Extreme, the quickest doorslammer class in all of drag racing. The 2009 National Guard ADRL series consists of 10 national events run throughout the United States. For more information on the ADRL, visit www.ADRL.us. 

August 10, 2009

Repeat Winners Dominate at St. Louis

MADISON, IL (Aug. 8, 2009) — Only Pro Extreme Motorcycle rider Travis Davis had never previously visited a National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) winner’s circle, but that didn’t make victories in the ADRL Hardee’s Gateway Drags any less thrilling for Mike Janis (Pro Extreme), Mike Castellana (Pro Nitrous), Billy Glidden (Extreme 10.5) or Brian Gahm (Extreme Pro Stock).

Janis, from Lancaster, NY, steered his supercharged 1968 Firebird past Brian Daniels in the opening round, then made a remarkable string of unopposed passes to secure his second win in the last three ADRL national events. Both Wes Johnston and finalist Jason Scruggs damaged their car’s engines beyond repair in previous passes, while Cody Barklage suffered the heartbreak of a $20 fuel fitting breaking on the starting line following his burnout for the semis.

“We did run into some unfortunate opponents and I feel bad for those guys, I really do, but I think we also ran well enough to show we would’ve had something for them anyhow,” Janis (left) said after covering the eighth mile at Gateway International Raceway in  3.86 seconds at 195.59 miles per hour in the final round.

Teammates Castellana (below) and Khalid Al-Balooshi faced off in the first-ever, all Al-Anabi Racing final, with the veteran taking out the rookie with team owner Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar looking on. Pro Nitrous legend Shannon Jenkins and Burton Auxier also drive Al-Anabi cars and “Tricky Rickie” Smith serves as crew chief for Balooshi, who qualified in the number-one position.

“It was great to have the Sheikh here this weekend and especially to see all of his cars do so well,” Castellana said after defeating Terry Murphy, Lee Adkins, Johnny Pilcher and Balooshi for his third ADRL event title. “This team is on a roll now and it feels great to get a win and be part of it.”

Reigning Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 World Champ Glidden (below, right) started from the third qualifying spot, then ran his Ford-powered ’06 GTO past Todd Kitchen, Jeff Paulk and Gary White to reach polesitter Chuck Ulsch in the final round. Ulsch was coming off a semi-final appearance that set the drag racing world on fire with its first-ever three-second pass (3.98/197.88) on the relatively narrow 10.5W rear tires, a feat widely considered unattainable just a couple of years ago.

Ulsch’s supercharged ’68 Camaro lost traction in the final, however, allowing Glidden’s nitrous-assisted ride to blast through for the win in 4.07 seconds at 176.74 mph. Afterward, the man from Whiteland, Indiana, expressed surprise at earning his fifth National Guard Minuteman trophy after seven ADRL races this year.

“It’s nothing I did,” Glidden insisted. “If they hadn’t had trouble over there, there’s no way I can run with the kind of horsepower they’re making. So yeah, I’m kind of surprised to win here.”

Despite qualifying number two, then taking out current class champ Billy Vose, Keith Dennis and Monte Campbell, Davis also admitted to a little surprise at prevailing with a holeshot over Ron Procopio in the final round. Both riders carded 4.26 elapsed times, but a .052 advantage off the starting line made the difference for Davis.

“I knew Ronnie was a good leaver and I had to be on top of it, but I think he had his worst light of the day and that helped me, too,” Davis (below, left) said. “But my bike has been running real good lately and I’m feeling good on it, so hopefully this is just the first of many (wins) for us.”

First-round Extreme Pro Stock action was marred by a scary, top-end rollover accident involving Matt Hartford. Fortunately, the third-place qualifier emerged uninjured, but his 2007 Cobalt sustained serious damage.

“It just started to haze the tires, then took a sudden, hard right into the wall. I probably stayed in it longer than I should have,” Hartford admitted after the first wreck of his career. “But when you’re trying to win these races you have to go for it.”

Meanwhile, points leader Gahm continued his dominance of the naturally aspirated class, racing through Brad Waddle, Steven Boone and John Montecalvo before ending the hopes of Dean Goforth with his fourth event title this year. Gahm set low E.T. of the meet with a 4.13-seconds blast in the final, while Goforth suffered a flat, left front tire halfway into his run that threw his ’09 Pontiac GXP across the center line, where it hit the finish line markers.

“I hate to see that. We already lost one (car) today and don’t need our guys tearing their stuff up out here,” Gahm said. “That was a good run for us and it’s great to keep the momentum going toward the championship.”

The National Guard ADRL returns to racing in two weeks, Aug. 21-22, with the ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III at National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio.

August 9, 2009

National Guard ADRL Gateway Drags II Final Rounds

Pro Extreme—Mike Janis, Pontiac Firebird, 3.863, 195.59  def. Jason Scruggs, Chevy Camaro, broke.

Pro Nitrous—Mike Castellana (near lane), Chevy Camaro, 4.579, 118.45  def. Khalid Al-Balooshi, Camaro, LBT (left before tree).

Extreme 10.5—Billy Glidden (far lane), Pontiac GTO, 4.076, 176.74  def. Chuck Ulsch, Chevy Camaro, 4.336, 187.47.

Pro Extreme Motorcycle—Travis Davis (far lane), Suzuki, 4.268, 168.98  def. Ronald Procopio, Suzuki, 4.265, 168.45.

Extreme Pro Stock—Brian Gahm (near lane), Ford Mustang, 4.137, 174.17  def. Dean Goforth, Pontiac GXP, DQ.

Pro Junior Dragster—Ty Tutterow (near lane), Halfscale, 7.942, 81.91  def. Trevor Haisma, Spitzer, 8.005, 81.36.

(ADRL/Richards photos)

August 8, 2009

Hartford Unhurt in First Round Crash

(Photos courtesy www.DragStory.com)

August 8, 2009

Oddy: ‘We’re not as dumb as we look!’

National Guard Team Red crew chief Jim Oddy was somewhat relieved to discover a broken main frame rail in the Pro Extreme ‘57 Chevy driven by Joshua Hernandez.

It explained a lot after the National Guard team suffered a rare DNQ a couple of weeks ago at Petersburg, VA, and Hernandez nearly swapped ends off the start of his first qualifying attempt last night for the ADRL Hardee’s Gateway Drags II.

“We’re not as dumb we look,” the legendary crew chief said. “I couldn’t understand why it wasn’t doing what it was supposed to do. Now I do.”

The car went back to the guys at Tim McAmis Race Cars, who affected repairs at their trackside rig.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)   

August 8, 2009

Record Crowd for National Guard ADRL at Gateway International Raceway

MADISON, IL (Aug. 7, 2009) — With news helicopters buzzing overhead, traffic backed up for miles on two Interstates and the largest-ever, Friday-night crowd in Gateway International Raceway’s history, the National Guard ADRL put on a spectacular show Aug. 7, with the opening round of qualifying for its ADRL Hardee’s Gateway Drags II.

“This is unbelievable,” declared National Guard ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling as he gazed at thousands upon thousands of enthusiastic National Guard ADRL fans. “I’ve been coming here since I was just a little kid and to see this track like this makes me feel good on so many levels.”

After track officials closed the gates to any more spectators shortly after 8 p.m., fans already inside were treated to seeing two-time reigning Pro Extreme World Champion Jason Scruggs of, seize the provisional top spot over 31 entries. Scruggs, from Saltillo, Mississippi, scorch the Gateway eighth mile with a 3.76-seconds pass at 203.06 miles per hour in his supercharged ’68 Camaro. The run was costly, however, with crew chief Mitchell Scruggs deep into replacing rod bearings in the wee hours of the morning.

On the other hand, things were quiet in the Al-Anabi/Awesome Motorsports camp after three of four of their drivers qualified in Pro Nitrous, with rookie Khalid Al-Balooshi (below) leading the field after making a stout 3.90 pass at 191.24 mph in his Rickie Smith-tuned ’68 Camaro. Al-Anabi teammates Shannon Jenkins placed second, followed by Mike Castellana in sixth and only Burton Auxier outside the top 16 after the opening session.

 First-round, top-qualifier honors in Extreme 10.5 went to New Market, Alabama’s Gary White in his turbocharged, inline-six-powered ’07 Scion. The Titan Motorsports driver drove past the finish line in 4.063 seconds at 176.28 mph, edging out new E.T. and speed record holder Chuck Ulsch by just two-thousandths of a second. Following Ulsch one-hundredth later was current class champ Billy Glidden.

Hamersville, Ohio’s Eric McKinney, one of the hottest young riders on the Pro Extreme Motorcycle trail, put his ’09 Suzuki up front at Gateway with a 4.22 pass at 171.38 mph after 20 bikes made qualifying attempts. Close behind McKinney are Travis Davis, Lance Hines and James Helton.

In a dramatic conclusion to Extreme Pro Stock qualifying, point leader Brian Gahm laid down a nice 4.14 pass at 172.14 that put him out front after first-round qualifying.

ADRL Hardee’s Gateway Drags action resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday morning and will include two more rounds of qualifying followed by elimination rounds for 16-car/bike fields in each National Guard ADRL professional class.

(ADRL/Tocher photos)

August 7, 2009

GIR Gates are Closed!

With traffic backed up on two nearby Interstates, Gateway International Raceway officials reached the decision shortly after 8 p.m. to close its gates to additional spectators for the National Guard ADRL Hardee’s Gateway Drags II. Stay tuned for what tommorow will bring.

(ADRL/Tocher photo) 

August 7, 2009

‘The Don’ Visits the National Guard ADRL

Spotted on the Gateway starting line: NHRA kingpin Don Schumacher checking out the National Guard ADRL action with series president and CEO Kenny Nowling (right) and Brian Evans, national director of business development. “The Don” seemed particularly interested in Don Wootton’s wild, nitro-fueled Pro Extreme ‘68 Camaro. Hmmmmmm ...

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

August 7, 2009

Paulk Punts Gateway Wall in Testing

Extreme 10.5 racer Jeff Paulk got loose in his Sheppard Race Cars Camaro by half-track in his first test pass for the ADRL Hardee’s Gateway Drags II and ended up against the right wall at Gateway International Raceway. Paulk, from Social Circle, GA, was unhurt in the incident and said his car suffered only a little cracked carbon fiber and the impact broke one bar in the “tree” that holds up the front body clip. He said he’ll be back in action for tonight’s opening round of qualifying after the guys at Tim McAmis Race Cars perform some trackside welding repairs in the manufacturer’s midway.

(ADRL/Richards photos)

August 7, 2009

National Guard ADRL Hardee’s Gateway Drags II Fact Sheet

WHAT: The Hardee’s Gateway Drags II, the seventh of 10 national events this year for the National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL). Includes five, eighth-mile, all-professional drag racing classes: Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme Pro Stock, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme, the quickest and fastest full-bodied, doorslammer class in the world. Pro Junior Dragster also appears as an exhibition class at each National Guard ADRL event. 

WHEN: Friday and Saturday, August 7-8, 2009 

WHERE: Gateway International Raceway, 700 Raceway Blvd, Madison, Illinois 62060 

SCHEDULE (Subject to change)

THURSDAY, AUG. 6: Pit gates open 2 p.m.; event parking for all ADRL Pro categories and vendors from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

FRIDAY, AUG. 7: Pit gates open 8 a.m.; event parking, tech inspection and registration for all ADRL Pro categories from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Spectator gates open 9 a.m. Pro practice from noon to 6 p.m. Mandatory driver’s meeting (all classes) 6:15 p.m. Pre-Qualifying Ceremonies 6:45 p.m. Pro Qualifying Round 1 at 7 p.m. Jet Car runs 10:15 p.m. Secure Event 10:30 p.m. 

SATURDAY, AUG. 8: Pit gates open 8 a.m.; event parking, final tech inspection and registration for all ADRL Pro categories from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Spectator gates open 9 a.m. Pro Qualifying Round 2 at 10 a.m. Pro Qualifying Round 3 at 1 p.m. Pro Eliminations Round 1 at 4 p.m. Pre-Race Ceremonies 6:45 p.m. Pro Eliminations continue 7 p.m. Jet Car runs 10:15 p.m.; fireworks to follow. Winner’s Circle Party 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Secure Event 11:45 p.m.

TICKETS: Complimentary in-advance general admission both days. Tickets on sale both days at track. General parking $10/vehicle; VIP parking $20/vehicle; RV parking $150/weekend. All tickets include pit access.

CONTACTS: General information contact Gateway International Raceway (618) 482-2400 or 866-35-SPEED (866-357-7333). Media requests contact Ian Tocher with National Guard ADRL Communications (404) 375-4895.

July 26, 2009

Stanton, Halsey. Ulsch, Hines and Gahm Win in Virginia

Virginia is for lovers of National Guard ADRL racing. At least that’s what it looked like July 25, as a record-setting crowd witnessed Bubba Stanton, Jim Halsey, Chuck Ulsch, Lance Hines and Brian Gahm each collect a new Minuteman trophy from the ADRL NATIONALGUARD.com U.S. Drags II at Virginia Motorsports Park (VMP).

The 600-acre facility south of Richmond issued a news release Saturday evening, stating attendance “overwhelmed everyone involved with the event.” The release further said that since opening in 1994, VMP has hosted 14 other major-league drag racing events, “but the National Guard ADRL this weekend far surpassed crowds in the past,” according to track general manager Bryan Pierce. In fact, Pierce pointed out for the first time in VMP’s 15-year history, track and state officials agreed to close the entrance gates in order to reroute excessive traffic that was creating a more-than-four-mile traffic jam extending to the nearest Interstate.

Meanwhile, Stanton, from Potts Camp, Mississippi, steered his ’63 Corvette to a 3.80-seconds win at 196.70 miles per hour over the eighth-mile course against Yadkinville, North Carolina’s Todd Tutterow in the Pro Extreme final. The win was the fourth of Stanton’s National Guard ADRL career, and his first since last August.

“We left pretty close together, but then I never saw Todd again,” said Stanton, the 2006 Pro Extreme world champion. “I just concentrated on getting to the other end. It sure feels good to be standing here (in victory lane) again.”

For Pro Nitrous points leader Halsey, it marked his third National Guard ADRL win this year and came over Khalid Al-Balooshi from the Mid-East country of Qatar.

“The car worked great all afternoon,” Halsey said of his ’68 Camaro. “We made solid passes every time except for one in the semis, but we got away with that one. In the final, Balooshi made a good pass, but he was a little late on the tree and that’s what cost him.”

In the competition debut of a new, supercharged 1968 Camaro, Clarksville, Maryland’s Ulsch officially reset the Extreme 10.5 elapsed time and top speed records to 4.01 seconds and 197.19 mph, then defeated Gary white and his turbocharged, six-cylinder Scion with a 4.03/196.07 combination in the final.

“What can I say about the car?” Ulsch said after scoring his first National Guard ADRL race title. “It’s awesome and working perfectly; I wouldn’t change a thing about it.”

The Pro Extreme Motorcycle final turned out to be the quickest side-by-side race in the history of the class, with Dublin, Georgia’s Hines going 4.22 at 168.43 to win his first Minuteman by defeating Eric MKinney’s 4.23 at 169.13 in a pairing of 2009 Suzukis.

Finally, the Extreme Pro Stock win went to points leader Gahm of Lucasville, Ohio, who ran 4.14 at 173.99 mph in his ’07 Mustang over Cary Goforth in an ’08 Cobalt.

The next race on the 2009 National Guard ADRL Tour is the Hardee’s Gateway Drags II, scheduled for Aug. 7-8, at Gateway International Raceway, near St. Louis, Missouri.

After struggling some early this year, Bubba Stanton (far lane) and his “Widow Maker” team rebounded with a winning performance July 25, in the Pro Extreme final against Todd Tutterow in the ADRL NATIONALGUARD.com U.S. Drags II at Virginia Motorsports Park.

Jim Halsey (far lane) strapped a holeshot on Khalid Al-Balooshi and never looked back on his way to the Pro Nitrous title in the ADRL NATIONALGUARD.com U.S. Drags II.

Chuck Ulsch,driving Gil Mobley’s brand-new, Vanishing Point-built ’68 Camaro (near lane), reset both ends of the Extreme 10.5 records along the way to his first National Guard ADRL win after beating Gary White in the final round at Virginia Motorsports Park.

Aboard a bike that was just a new frame a few days earlier, Lance Hines (near lane) beat Eric McKinney for the ADRL NATIONALGUARD.com U.S. Drags II win in the quickest side-by-side pairing in class history.

Brian Gahm (far lane) won his third of four Extreme Pro Stock finals he’s reached this year, beating Cary Goforth by just six thousandths in the ADRL NATIONALGUARD.com U.S. Drags II at Virginia Motorsports Park.

(ADRL/Richards photos)

July 25, 2009

King Crash - View from the Tower

(Tom Whitmore photos courtesy of www.CompetitionPlus.com)

July 25, 2009

King Crashes Hard, But Emerges Unhurt

Chip King went for a wild ride in his ‘69 Daytona during his second Pro Extreme qualifying pass, while Mike Janis stole away the number-one spot in the opposite lane.

Fortunately, King was able to walk away uninjured from the violent crash.

He later said the car shifted left, then suddenly snapped right without warning, where it slammed head on into the wall. At that point he had no steering, King said, so he had to just watch and ride as it crossed the track to bounce off the left guardwall, too.

Though he suffered a bruised left arm, King said his biggest pain was inhis back pocket, right where he keeps his wallet.

“But that’s racing. Isn’t that what they say?” King asked.

(ADRL/Tocher photos)

July 25, 2009

Scruggs Returns With 3-Second Vengeance

How’s that for a comeback? After hastily summoning his previous year’s championship ride and transplanting the motor from his crashed Camaro when it arrived, Jason Scruggs laid down what then was the number-one qualifying pass in Pro Extreme, only to have Mike Janis jump up a couple of pairs later to steal away the top spot by a couple of thousandths.

(ADRL/Tocher photos)

July 25, 2009

Potential Record Setters

No less than six drivers are in record-setting territory after last night’s qualifying session, including provisional Pro Nitrous polesitter Mike Castellana (above), who actually has a shot at both E.T. and speed records (3.86 and 194.13) after his 3.87 at 194.32 blast.

Also within reach of both records based on his number-two qualifying pass is Castellana’s Awesome/Al-Anabi teammate Shannon Jenkins and third teammate Khalid Al-Balooshi could back up his third-place pass for an E.T. record.

Of course, Extreme 10.5 top qualifier Chuck Ulsch could set both records after going 4.01 at 195.73 mph in the quickest and fastest pass ever in the class, and both Gary White and Jeff Naiser are within reach of resetting the current 4.07 record held by Naiser. Todd Moyer holds the current XTF speed record of 193.88 mph.

(ADRL/Richards photo)

July 25, 2009

Third Round of Qualifying Canceled

Due to a strict 11 p.m. curfew at Virginia Motorsports Park, National Guard ADRL Executive VP of Competition Bert Corzine reached the decision this morning to forego the third and final qualifying session for all five professional classes at the ADRL NATIONALGUARD.com U.S. Drags II.

So the pressure is on, especially for those competitors not yet qualified in the top 16, including reigning two time Pro Extreme World Champ Jason Scruggs, who will attempt to put his ‘08 championship-winning Dodge Stratus (above) in the field after it arrived here about 4:30 this morning as a replacement to his ‘68 Camaro that crashed off the launch of a test pass yesterday.

(ADRL/Tocher file photo)

July 24, 2009

Another Nice Friday-Night National Guard ADRL Crowd

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

July 24, 2009

Ulsch Goes 4.01/195.73 in XTF Qualifying

Oh so close! Chuck Ulsch in the competition debut of his Gil Mobley-owned, Vanishing Point-built ‘68 Camaro made the quickest pass in Extreme 10.5 history in Friday night’s lone qualifying session.

Ulsch later said he was swinging for the fences with that pass, going after the first 3-second run for the class, but once eliminations begin he’ll go into “race mode.”

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

July 24, 2009

Stott Makes First 200-MPH Run of Race

In testament to an outstanding clean-up job by National Guard ADRL and Virginia Motorsports Park track crews after Jason Scruggs’ oil-spewing crash, Quain Stott went out as the first car down the same lane and made the first 200-mph run of the weekend at the NATIONALGUARD.com U.S. Drags II.

(ADRL/Tocher photo)

July 24, 2009

Scruggs Crashes in First Test Pass

Reigning Pro Extreme World Champion Jason Scruggs suffered an unfortunate accident in his first hit of the weekend when an oil line blew off as he came up on the revs to launch.

His frantic crew saw the problem and attempted to wave him off just as the tree came down and Scruggs hit the loud pedal.

His ‘68 Camaro took an immediate left and impacted the left wall almost head on just past the 60-foot marker, doing significant damage to the body and front clip, though the car remained able to roll on its own back to the Scruggs pit.

After a quick review of the situation, Scruggs and his chassis builder, Garret Livingston, determined it wouldn’t be prudent to attempt trackside repairs, so a quick call to Saltillo, MS, dispatched a crew to deliver Scruggs’ Garret-built Dodge Stratus to Virginia Motorsports Park. They’re expected to arrive in the wee hours of the morning, in time for Scruggs to make the second round of qualifying.

Scruggs drove the Stratus to the 2008 National Guard ADRL Pro Extreme championship and raced it at Houston in the first ADRL race of 2009, so it’s a more-than-capable ride. 

(ADRL/Richards photos)

July 24, 2009

NATIONALGUARD.com U.S. Drags Under Way

Joshua Hernandez made the first pass of the NATIONALGUARD.com U.S. Drags II shortly after noon at Virginia Motorsports Park and ran a very solid 3.84 at nearly 198 mph straight off the trailer with his National Guard-backed ‘57 Chevy.

July 24, 2009

Bits From The Pro Extreme Pits

* Pro Extreme champ and current points leader Jason Scruggs has two brand-new engines on hand for the NATIONALGUARD.com U.S. Drags II this weekend

* Defending U.S. Drags champ “Tombstone Tommy” Gray is making his first Pro Extreme appearance this year. He’s in his late-model GTO, which last hit the track about 14 weeks ago with a pair of mid-3.80s test passes at Virginia Motorsports Park

* Chassis builder Garret Livingston performed repairs on Brian Daniels’ 1963 Corvette after it broke during severe tire shake in the National Guard ADRL race at Topeka, Kansas, early this month

July 23, 2009

ADRL NationalGuard.com U.S. Drags II Fact Sheet

WHAT: The ADRL NationalGuard.com U.S. Drags II, the sixth of 10 national events this year for the National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL). Includes five, eighth-mile, all-professional drag racing classes: Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme Pro Stock, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme, the quickest and fastest full-bodied, doorslammer class in the world.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday, July 24-25, 2009

WHERE: Virginia Motorsports Park, 8018 Boydton Plank Road, Petersburg, VA 23803

SCHEDULE (Subject to change)

THURSDAY, JULY 23: Pit gates open 2 p.m.; event parking for all ADRL Pro categories and vendors from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

FRIDAY, JULY 24: Pit gates open 8 a.m.; event parking, tech inspection and registration for all ADRL Pro categories from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Spectator gates open 9 a.m. Pro practice from noon to 6 p.m. Mandatory driver’s meeting (all classes) at 6:15 p.m. Pre-Qualifying Ceremonies at 6:45 p.m. Pro Qualifying Round 1 at 7 p.m. Jet Car runs at 10:15 p.m. Secure Event at 10:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 25: Pit gates open 8 a.m.; event parking, final tech inspection and registration for all ADRL Pro categories from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Spectator gates open 9 a.m. Pro Qualifying Round 2 at 10 a.m. Pro Qualifying Round 3 at 1 p.m. Pro Eliminations Round 1 at 4 p.m. Pre-Race Ceremonies at 6:45 p.m. Pro Eliminations continue at 7 p.m. Jet Car runs at 10:15 p.m. Winner’s Circle Party from 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Secure Event at 11:45 p.m.

TICKETS: Complimentary in-advance general admission both days. Tickets on sale both days at track. General parking $10/vehicle; VIP parking $20/vehicle; RV parking $125/weekend. All tickets include pit access.

CONTACTS: General information contact Virginia Motorsports Park (804) 862-3174. Media requests contact Ian Tocher with National Guard ADRL Communications (404) 375-4895.

July 5, 2009

Veterans Tops in Topeka for National Guard ADRL

Veteran racers dominated victory lane for the National Guard ADRL July 4, as Mike Janis earned his first Pro Extreme title, Shannon Jenkins scored his second Pro Nitrous trophy in as many days, Billy Glidden returned to winning in Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 after just one day’s absence, Scott Gray picked up his third career Pro Extreme Motorcycle win and Elijah Morton joined Janis as a first-time winner in Extreme Pro Stock at the Hardee’s Independence Drags III at Heartland Park Topeka.

Though a National Guard ADRL rookie this year, Janis (right) is a former world champion with another sanctioning body and has been working on adapting his supercharged 1968 Firebird’s tune-up to running the ADRL’s eighth-mile race distance. After qualifying sixth in Topeka, he outran Wes Johnston in the opening round, received a free pass in round two when Neal Wantye’s car broke during its burnout, ran a career-best 3.74 at 200.71 mph in the semis against Joshua Hernandez and defeated Cody Barklage with a strong 3.85-seconds pass at 197.65 in the Pro Extreme final.

“After going without a win all of last year in another series I was starting to wonder if we’d ever get one again, but we’ve really been working hard at getting better at this kind of racing,” Janis said. “Hopefully it won’t take that long to get another one.”

Jenkins (left) didn’t have to wait long at all to follow-up his previous event National Guard ADRL win, as he was victorious July 3, also at Topeka, in the rain-postponed Ford Drive One Summer Drags V event from three weeks earlier when the series visited Martin, Michigan.

“It doesn’t get any better than that,” declared the man they call “The Iceman” after winning a record seventh National Guard ADRL event on Saturday night.

Number-one qualifier Jenkins drove his ’68 Camaro to convincing wins over Thomas Myers, a redlighting Charles Carpenter and Stan Allen before coming up lucky in the final round when he suffered a loss of traction and ran an off-the-pace 5.17, but opponent Pat Stoken’s car failed to start.

“I hate that happened to Pat; you always like to race for these things, but sometimes it’s even better to be lucky,” Jenkins said. “This was just one of those times.”

Heading into Topeka and the make-up race from Michigan, Glidden (left, center), the reigning Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 world champion, had won the last five National Guard ADRL events in a row. That streak ended Friday night when he lost in the postponed Summer Drags quarter-finals, but only 24 hours later he was back to familiar ways.

After taking out Jason Wilson and making a solo pass when Todd Moyer had car trouble, Glidden said he “burned up” the nitrous-boosted, small-block Ford engine in his ’06 GTO at the conclusion of a 4.09 semi-final win over Gary White. After swapping in a new motor for the final, Glidden admitted to a little apprehension as he approached the line, wondering if every wire, fitting and hose were in place and tuned to perfection.

They must have been, as Glidden exactly matched the 4.090 posted by Jeff Paulk in the opposite lane, but won courtesy of taking a .015 advantage off the start. It was Paulk’s second appearance in a final round for the weekend after coming up just six thousandths short of his first National Guard ADRL win on Friday night. 

“I lost two races by a combined total of 21-thousandths,” Paulk pointed out later. “So that’s not a bad weekend; just a bad result. We had fun, didn’t tear anything up and are getting better at every race. I’ll take that.”

Also appearing in both the delayed Michigan final and the Topeka decider was Gray (right), who reversed his fortunes with a stripe-to-stripe win over Matt Prophit. Gray rode his ’08 Suzuki to a fourth-place start, then took wins over Ronald Procopio, T.T. Jones and Ashley Owens, who he’d fallen to the previous day, before taking on Prophit.

Gray left with a .021 holeshot, and then made his best pass of the event at 4.25 and 167.49 to edge out Prophit and become the winningest rider in the class with three race titles to his name.

“I just race my own lane so I didn’t even know how close Matt was, but most definitely it felt good to see that win light come on,” Gray said. “Last night I had to race probably the hottest rider in the class right now (Owens) and then tonight I had the points leader (Prophit), so to beat them both today feels really good.”

After qualifying 11th, Morton (left) said he felt like his 824 c.i.-equipped 2007 Mustang was getting better in each round of eliminations, though it was a holeshot that got him past round two against Doug Kirk after he took down Dean Goforth. In the semis, Morton took care of top qualifier Brian Gahm with a solid 4.14 pass, then repeated the number in the final while Jeff Dobbins coasted down the opposite lane after losing traction immediately off the start.

“We weren’t even planning on coming out here,” said Morton, who hails from Jacksonville, NC. “We usually just hang out and take it easy to celebrate the Fourth of July, but my guys told me they’d come if I would, so here we are. I’m glad we came.”

With 27 entrants in the all-run Pro Jr. Dragster field, only Trevor Wilson had to survive five rounds of racing to earn his first National Guard Junior Minuteman trophy. Wilson, of Battle Creek, Michigan, ran the Topeka eighth mile in 7.80 seconds at 80.91 mph against a 7.73 dial to win in the final over Zana Hines. 

“This is great to be racing with the ADRL, great to be out here racing with the big boys,” Wilson said.

(ADRL/Tocher photos)

July 4, 2009

Hardee’s Independence Drags III Top Qualifiers

PRO EXTREME: Jason Scruggs; Saltillo, MS; 1968 Camaro; 3.749/198.41

PRO NITROUS: Shannon Jenkins; Tuscaloosa, AL; 1968 Camaro; 3.926/190.03

EXTREME 10.5: Jeff Naiser; Houston, TX; 2002 Grand Am; 4.113/177.02

PRO EXTREME MOTORCYCLE: Ashley Owens; Harvest, AL; 2005 Suzuki; 4.243/173.23

EXTREME PRO STOCK: Brian Gahm; Lucasville, OH; 2007 Mustang; 4.135/173.43

(ADRL/Richards photos)

July 4, 2009

Ford Drive One Summer Drags Completed

With bad weather once more approaching, the National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) was in hurry-up mode this evening at Heartland Park Topeka with final-round eliminations for the Ford Drive One Summer Drags V, already postponed by rain three weeks ago at Martin, Michigan.

With little time to spare, Joshua Hernandez secured a National Guard ADRL-leading sixth Pro Extreme win, while Shannon Jenkins matched that total in Pro Nitrous and Ashley Owens won his second Pro Extreme Motorcycle race in a row. The Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 class and Extreme Pro Stock both delivered first-time event winners, however, in Jeff Naiser and John Montecalvo, respectively.

Hernandez ran 3.90 seconds at 191.84 miles per hour over the National Guard ADRL’s eighth-mile course in the final round, with opponent Bubba Stanton left stranded on the starting line with a broken supercharger on his 1963 Corvette.

“It’s been almost a year since I won one of these, but what a great way to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend and honor our National Guard soldiers,” said Hernandez, driver of the National Guard-backed ’57 Chevy. “It must be true that absence makes the heart grow fonder because I sure am fond of this!”

The Pro Nitrous final featured a battle of Alabama-based veterans, with Jenkins and his Speedtech ’68 Camaro coming out on top with a 3.92/190.03 lap against Johnny Pilcher, who had to shut off early with tire shake.

“The car worked perfect all day, but especially those last two rounds where it ran almost identical (times),” Jenkins said, adding the win gives him extra confidence for tomorrow’s qualifying and eliminations for the Hardee’s Independence Drags III. “We’re in good shape; now we’ll see if we can do this again.”

Doing it again came naturally for Owens, who won his career-first race under similar conditions in a rain-postponed final from Memphis at the Michigan event. In Topeka, he overcame a starting-line advantage by Scott Gray by posting a 4.26-seconds pass at 169.81 mph astride the 2005 Suzuki owned by fellow rider T.T. Jones.

Naiser said his Extreme 10.5 win was welcome relief after coming up short in the previous event in the final round against reigning class champ Billy Glidden, who bowed out in round two, breaking a five race winning streak that dated back to last fall.

“That’s what we’re here to do, is win,” Naiser said after going 4.11 at 177.02 to edge out Jeff Paulk by just six-thousandths of a second. “It doesn’t matter who’s in the other lane, all I want to do is beat them to the finish and today it finally all worked out.”

Montecalvo was equally thrilled with his first National Guard ADRL Extreme Pro Stock win after leading Jason Collins stripe-to-stripe with a 4.19 at 164.87-mph trip down the Topeka strip.

“I’ve been in a couple of these finals before and I would always hear the winners say, ‘That was a damn good drag race,’ and I would always think it was pretty good, but not damn good. Well, today it’s damn good!”

Saturday’s on-track action at Heartland Park Topeka will begin at 10 a.m. with the remainder of the opening round of Pro Extreme qualifying for the Hardee’s Independence Drags III, cut short by rain with several pairs of cars waiting in the staging lanes, followed by two scheduled rounds of qualifying for all five professional National Guard ADRL classes and eliminations to determine champions for the Independence Drags.

A major July 4th fireworks show will cap off the weekend, which marks the halfway point of the 2009 National Guard ADRL tour.     

National Guard Team Red driver Joshua Hernandez (far lane) ran unopposed in the rain-postponed Pro Extreme final from the Ford Drive One Summer Drags V Friday night, after Bubba Stanton’s car broke on the starting line at Heartland Park Topeka, in Kansas.

Johnny Pilcher (near lane) left with a slight starting-line advantage in the Pro Nitrous final fom Michigan, but Shannon “The Iceman” Jenkins quickly erased the lead and went on to win his sixth career National Guard ADRL event.

Georgia’s Jeff Paulk (far lane) and Texas racer Jeff Naiser staged the closest final-round match of the night, with Naiser’s 4.11 at 177.02 combo earning him a career-first Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 title by just six thousandths ahead of the 4.12 at 177.30 assembled by Paulk.

Scott Gray (far lane) strapped a .022 holeshot on Ashley Owens in the Pro Extreme Motorcycle final of the rain-delayed Ford Drive One Summer Drags V, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Owens, who streaked to his second-straight race win.

New Yorker John Montecalvo took a sizable .086 lead off the start in the Extreme Pro Stock final Friday night at Heartland Park Topeka and never looked back in his defeat of Jason Collins.

In the first all-girl National Guard ADRL Pro Jr. Dragster final, Samantha Coe (near lane) won her first Junior Minuteman trophy after Raven Dupriest left .007 too soon.

(ADRL/Richards photos)

July 3, 2009

Michigan Finalists Called to Lanes

With inclement weather threatening in Topeka, the call has been made for all finalists in the rain-postponed Ford Drive One Summer Drags to come to the lanes.

The original plan called for the last pair in first-round qualifying for each class to represent the Michigan race finals, but the race has been moved forward in order to create a clean slate for tomorrow’s Hardee’s Independence Drags III.

July 3, 2009

Ford Drive One Summer Drags Quarter-Finals Completed

The big news coming out of the second round of the Ford Drive One Summer Drags V, postponed by rain from the previous National Guard ADRL event at Martin, MI, isn’t necessarily who won and advanced to the semis, but one particular driver who’s done for the day. 

In his launch against Jeff Paulk, reigning Extreme 10.5 World Champion Billy Glidden (right) headed straight for the right wall at Heartland Park Topeka, sending him back to the trailer early for the first time since last fall at Rockingham, NC. Meanwhile, Paulk put together a nice 4.16 lap at 177.09 mph to earn a date with Todd Moyer in the semis. Jeff Naiser ran low E.T. for the round with a free pass 4.10 at 177.11 after Jake Carlton was unable to make the trip to Topeka due to prior family obligations and will face Spiro Pappas in the other XTF semi-final.

After a string of three-straight uncharacteristic DNQs, Bubba Stanton (above) continued his rebound in Pro Extreme with a 3.97 win over a redlighting Wes Johnston. He’ll meet Tommy D’Aprile in semis, after D’Aprile overcame a holeshot by Todd Tutterow and ran 3.81 at 196.33 to advance. Also reaching the semis were Quain Stott, who beat a pedaling Brian Daniels with a 3.87/196.10 pass, and Joshua Hernandez in the National Guard entry after going 3.96/188.83 to defeat Cody Barklage. 

Johnny Pilcher opened the Pro Nitrous portion of the postponed Summer Drags with a holeshot win over Stan Allen, leaving with a .034 reaction to Allen’s .080, then going 4.03 at 179.71 to earn a .016 margin of victory. Next, Shannon Jenkins overcame a big .070 advantage off the start by Ed Burnley, running low E.T. with a 3.97 at 187.81 mph that gave him lane choice over Jim Halsey’s 4.07 solo pass after John DeCerbo didn’t make the trip to Topeka.

The last PN quarter-final round had to be decided with a TV replay after Pat Stoken and Khalid Al-Balooshi left with nearly identical reaction times, but a timing malfunction left both with inaccurate times and the replay proved Stoken deserved to advance to the semis against Pilcher.

Number-one qualifier Ashley Owens (right) advanced to the Pro Extreme Motorcycle semis with a come-from-behind win over Mantez Thompson and will face off with Eric McKinney, who beat Owens’ team owner T.T. Jones. In the second PXM semi, former two-time event winner Scott Gray will go up against Brunson Grothus in his first semi-final appearance.

The Extreme Pro Stock semis for the Michigan event will feature a repeat of the final round of the previous race as Memphis winner Brian Gahm holds lane choice over John Montecalvo. Canadian John Konigshofer actually advanced over Doug Kirk at Martin in the very last pair that ran before the rains came, but didn’t make it to Topeka, so Jason Collins has a free pass through the semis after taking out Jeff Dobbins, who redlighted at Topeka in the quarters.

(ADRL/Tocher photos)

July 3, 2009

Patrick Predicts Tuning Will Be Key to XPS Success

Extreme Pro Stock (XPS) icon Robert Patrick categorizes “hot” as two types. There’s hot and then there’s Topeka hot.

This weekend’s National Guard ADRL Independence Drags III in Topeka, KS, promises to deliver some of the warmest conditions XPS racers have seen in 2009. Previous Heartland Park Topeka events have pushed the thermometer mercury to beyond 100 and while Friday’s high temperature is forecast for only 90 degrees, it might as well be 140 degrees.

As Patrick puts it, the track will be 140 degrees—minimum.

“When you’re tuning a naturally aspirated car and it gets to this part in the schedule, you essentially throw running the quick times out the window,” Patrick explained. “It becomes a matter of survival of the fittest and you just do your best to adapt to a hot track and crappy air.”

Patrick last competed at Heartland Park Topeka in 2001 when he campaigned a 500 cubic-inch Pro Stocker. He now drives the Purvis Ford 2007 Mustang in National Guard ADRL competition.

“Running at the front of the pack isn’t the one who has the most power,” he said. “It’s the one who makes the best adjustments.”

(Words by Bobby Bennett, CompetitionPlus.com)

July 3, 2009

‘Bad Bird’ Bashes Belcher in Testing Crash

Texas racer Ken Thomas ran into trouble with his “Bad Bird” Firebird when it crossed the center line at the end of his first test lap of the weekend, sideswiping the 1990 Camaro of Cathy Belcher in the process.

Belcher did a great job of stopping her car with minimal damage, but Thomas spun around and hit the left wall with significant impact. Fortunately, both drivers emerged unscathed from their race cars.

(ADRL/Richards photos)

July 3, 2009

First Look: New National Guard Colors

We’re underway with testing for the Hardee’s Independence Drags III at Heartland Park Topeka and among the first to tackle the track were Pro Extreme drivers Joshua Hernandez (top) and Travis Swearingen in their brand-new National Guard colors. Hernandez made an on-and-off-the-throttle 3.98 pass at just 170.71, while Swearingen shu down early.

The weather is looking great here right now with clear, blue skies and temperatures already well into the 80s.

(ADRL/Tocher photos)

June 7, 2009

Ford Drive One Summer Drags Postponed

Unfortunately, light rain has returned to Martin, Michigan and with forecasts calling for continuing wet weather tonight and on Sunday, National Guard ADRL officials made the call about 11 p.m. to postpone the remainder of the Ford Drive One Summer Drags V to July 3, for completion at the Hardee’s Independence Drags III at Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kansas.

“We want to thank you, the tens of thousands of Western Michigan fans who came out to watch the National Guard ADRL,” series president and CEO Kenny Nowling said in announcing the postponement over the track’s public address system. “We were prepared to wait it out and get back to racing, but I’m afraid Mother Nature has other plans.”

The same fate befell the event last year at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, forcing the final rounds to be completed elsewhere when much more violent storms ripped through the region. This time, first-round eliminations for all five National Guard ADRL professional classes were in the books, leaving three elimination rounds for each class to be wrapped up in Topeka. 

“You’ve proven you love National Guard ADRL racing,” Nowling told the standing-room-only crowd. “And we love coming here. We’ll be back next year and I hope you’ll all come back to finally get to experience a complete event.”

(ADRL/Richards photo)   

June 6, 2009

Scruggs’ Weekend Ends with a Bang!

The opening round of eliminations ended with a bang as Jason Scruggs exploded off the line—quite literally.

With a flash of fire and the starter access panel from his hood sent flying, Scruggs made it only a foot or so before the burst panel came out and he lifted the blower off the motor.

His father and crew chief, Mitchell, later found a tiny sliver of plastic about the size of a clipped fingernail stuck in the injector for the number-five cylinder. He said their on-board computer showed the #5 and #7 cylinders showed about 1,000 degrees and the rest only 200 degrees, so it was obvious they were being starved. Not a good combination.

(Photo courtesy www.StreetLegalTV.com)

June 6, 2009

PX Eliminations R1

This round ends with a bang as Jason Scruggs explodes off the line—quite literally.

With a flash of fire and the starter access panel from his hood sent flying, Scruggs made it only a foot or so before the burst panel came out and he lifted the blower off the motor.

His father and crew chief, Mitchell, later found a tiny sliver of plastic about the size of a clipped fingernail stuck in the injector for the number-five cylinder. He said their on-board computer showed the #5 and #7 cylinders showed about 1,000 degrees and the rest only 200 degrees, so it was obvious they were being starved. Not a good combination.

(Photo courtesy www.StreetLegalTV.com)

June 6, 2009

Weather Delay

We’re in a (hopefully) brief delay for the wet stuff. So far not even enough to warrant taking cover, but just enough to stop the action.

We’ll get back to Pro Extreme shortly.

June 6, 2009

PN Eliminations R1

June 6, 2009

Best Appearing Award

The gorgeous Pro Nitrous ‘68 Camaro of Canfield, OH’s John DeCerbo received the Illusions Custom Paint and Body Best Appearing Paint Award at the Ford Drive One Summer Drags V and Todd Moyer’s Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 team was named the Stateline Motorsports Apparel Best Appearing Crew.

(ADRL/Tocher photo) 

June 6, 2009

XTF Eliminations R1

June 6, 2009

PXM Eliminations R1

June 6, 2009

XPS Eliminations R1

June 6, 2009

PJD Eliminations R1