The 2012 CarSafe Elite Hero Challenge is off and running, and two-time Pro Extreme Motorcycle champion Billy Vose is still leading.

With competition from across North America and fans from around the world voting for their favorite ADRL stars, the 2012 Elite Hero Challenge has drawn an impressive amount of votes through the ADRL’s first three races. Of course, the ADRL star who garners the most votes gets the prestigious CarSafe Elite Hero Trophy and the $10,000.00  Grand Prize!

PXM’s Vose has maintained the lead all season after enlisting the help of his Facebook fans, friends and family, but it continues to tighten as Extreme Pro Stock standout John Pluchino, who won his first ADRL event in March, has moved into second place.

Vose and Pluchino, along with every competitor involved in the Elite Hero Challenge, spend time interacting with fans and signing autographs at every event making it an outstanding interactive event for both drivers and ADRL fans.

“The CarSafe Elite Hero Challenge gives the race fans a real opportunity to meet their heroes, pose for pictures and ask questions,” CarSafe Owner Mark Eckman said. “One of the best parts of this league is the connection between the fans and the drivers. We just want to make that easier.”

The CarSafe Elite Hero challenge is a FREE to vote, one-of-a-kind program that allows ADRL fans to register online and vote for their favorite ADRL Drag Racer. The driver who earns the most votes will win the 2012 Elite Hero Trophy and a $10,000 grand prize provided by CarSafe and CarSafe Motorsports.

The contest began with the first event of the 2012 ADRL season, CarSafe Dragpalooza in Houston, and will conclude with the presentation of the Elite Hero Trophy at the season-finale, World Finals VIII presented by CarSafe in Dallas.  Fans can vote 24 hours a day, seven days a week by going to www.CarSafeEliteHeroes.com.

Every time a fan votes at www.CarSafeEliteHeroes.com it also increases their chances to win one of three great prizes:

1.    An Apple iPad.

2.    A 50” High-Definition, Flat-Panel Television

3.    An Aruba Vacation valued at more $7,000!

• Two lucky ADRL fans will enjoy roundtrip airfare, 7 nights in an all-inclusive, 5-star hotel, 5 days free rental car, 2 complimentary dinners at Aruba’s finest restaurants, a sunset sailing trip, submarine coral reef experience and a snorkeling expedition all provided by the ADRL’s own Team Aruba!

Proving why ADRL drivers earn the title “hero,” Pro Extreme driver Tommy D’Aprile has committed any winnings to charity or a family in need.

“We’ve been blessed so if we win the competition, we hope to be able to pay that forward and help someone else out,” D’Aprile said.

CarSafe, an Oklahoma City, OK based company, offers extended service agreements on vehicles after original factory warranties expire. CarSafe utilizes motorsports as another way to connect with its customers and has grown to be “The Official Vehicle Breakdown Protection” of the American Drag Racing League (ADRL). Fans can request a Free Quote from a Policy Advisor by visiting www.CarSafe.com or by calling 866-466-5239.

New ADRL Challengers have just two weeks to get signed up for the Elite Hero Program to compete for the trophy and Grand Prize of $10,000 to be given away during the World Finals in Dallas.
Any competitor wanting to enroll in the challenge should e-mail Sam Neal at [email protected] or call 626-756-4525 for more information.  Please send two high quality photos of your race vehicle, a photo of the driver and any information to be included in the biography section.

The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) makes its long-awaited return to Gateway Motorsports Park (GMP) with the ADRL Gateway Drags IV presented by CarSafe on June 1-2. It is the fourth of 10 races on the 2012 ADRL Tour.

With new classes, a World Championship format and expanded family fun midway, there is considerable excitement and anticipation surrounding the world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league as it returns to its home track, Gateway Motorsports Park. The ADRL last raced at the track in 2010 and the upcoming Gateway Drags serves as the grand re-opening for Gateway Motorsports Park.

“We’ve had a tremendous amount of inquiries about vendor space at this event. Local businesses find that they can make a connection with thousands of potential customers by exhibiting at an ADRL Event,” ADRL Account Executive Keith Goolsby said.  “Automobile and powersport dealerships, shooting ranges, powder coaters, insurance companies – any business who offers a product or service to the public can benefit from displaying at one of our events.  Our midway can accommodate anything from a pop-up tent to a semi.”

Along with the highly-anticipated and revolutionary new SuperCar Showdown class, all of the ADRL’s professional classes will make compete at GMP, including Pro Junior Dragster (PJD), Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman (TS), Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified (PM), Extreme Pro Stock (XPS), Pro Extreme Motorcycle (PXM), Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5 (XTF), Pro Nitrous (PN) and Pro Extreme (PX), the quickest and fastest full-bodied, doorslammer class in the world.

Racing for the first time anywhere in the world in 2012 is the highly-anticipated SuperCar Showdown. The ADRL SuperCar Showdown will showcase the latest factory-produced, dealership-available automobiles in all-out drag racing with no handicap starts or performance restrictions, adding even more excitement to the ADRL’s fast-paced show.

The ADRL last raced at Gateway Motorsports Park in 2010 and has drawn overflow crowds each year it has raced at its home track. The 2012 season marks the first time the Summit Racing Top Sportsman, Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified and the SuperCar Showdown have raced at GMP as part of the ADRL.

The gates open at 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, with the first round of qualifying on Friday set to begin at 12 p.m. On Saturday, the racing will begin at 12 p.m. with the final qualifying session. The first round of eliminations starts at 3:30 p.m., with special jet car passes and other exhibition runs concluding the evening on Friday and Saturday.

For more information on the ADRL Gateway Drags IV presented by CarSafe, go to http://www.adrl.us/adrl-gateway-drags-iv/.

Tickets are $15 for adults Friday or Saturday, $25 for a two-day, full-event pass, free for children 12-under and will be on sale soon. They will available at Gateway Motorsports Park at (618) 215-8888 or through www.adrl.us/schedule/tickets.

For more information on vendor space, contact ADRL Account Executive Keith Goolsby at (417) 224-2348 or [email protected].

WHAT: The ADRL Gateway Drags IV presented by CarSafe takes place June 1-2 at Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis. It is the fourth race of the 2012 season in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL), and the fourth of 10 races on the 2012 ADRL Tour.

Series includes seven all-professional, eighth-mile drag racing classes: Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman (TS), Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified (PM), Extreme Pro Stock (XPS), Pro Extreme Motorcycle (PXM), Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5 (XTF), Pro Nitrous (PN) and Pro Extreme (PX), the quickest and fastest full-bodied, doorslammer class in the world.
The ADRL’s revolutionary NEW SuperCar Showdown will also race at this event.

Pro Junior Dragsters (PJD) compete at each race and there will also be special exhibition jet car runs.

WHEN: Friday and Saturday, June 1-2, 2012

WHERE: Gateway Motorsports Park, 700 Raceway Blvd., Madison, IL 62060

SCHEDULE (Subject to change; all times local)

FRIDAY: Gates Open at 10 a.m. Qualifying Round 1 at 12 p.m.; Qualifying Round 2 at 3:30 p.m.; Qualifying Round 3 at 6:30 p.m.; Jet Car at 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Gates Open at 10 a.m.; Qualifying Round 4 at 12 p.m.; Eliminations Round 1 at 3:30 p.m.; Jet Car at 9 p.m. Final Eliminations at 9:30 p.m.

TICKETS: On sale soon at www.adrl.us/schedule/tickets or by calling Gateway Motorsports Park at (618) 215-8888.

Friday Adult $15; Saturday Adult $15; Full Event Pass Adult $25; All Kids 12-Under Free; General Parking $10/day. All tickets include ADRL VIP pit pass.

CONTACT: To contact the ADRL, call (855) 277-2375 or e-mail [email protected]. Contact Gateway Motorsports Park at www.gatewaymsp.com or (618) 215-8888.  For media requests, please contact Josh Hachat with ADRL Communications at (740) 627-1423 or [email protected]. For more information on vendor space, contact ADRL Account Executive Keith Goolsby at (417) 224-2348 or [email protected].

(Photo by ADRL/Richards)

As one of the top names in the nitrous world, Brandon Switzer has formed a strong relationship with the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) and its Pro Nitrous class over the past several years.

That has continued with Switzer’s new business venture, Switzer Dynamics.

The first-year company is a contingency sponsor for the 2012 ADRL Tour, an exciting step for Switzer and a business he created this past off-season.

“We have a lot of faith in the ADRL and we are excited to be working with them in 2012,” Switzer said. “We thought it was the right thing to do, especially for the people supporting us.”

Based in Denver, N.C., Switzer Dynamics manufactures and sells race products, specializing in nitrous and induction systems.

Switzer has nearly two decades of experience developing and designing products for many of the top names in drag racing, and his experienced staff includes Melissa Smith, Dan Carver and Warren O’Dell.

In a short time, Switzer Dynamics has also made a noticeable impact in the ADRL’s Pro Nitrous and Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified classes.

He’s gained customers in both classes at a rapid rate, offering input and expertise that has previously led to numerous wins, records and championships for nitrous cars in the ADRL.

Most recently, Pro Nitrous driver Robert Patrick Jr. used Switzer Dynamics products en route to a win at last weekend’s ADRL Northeast Drags II presented by Penske at Maple Grove Raceway.

“Business has taken off quite a bit faster than I could have anticipated. Everyone has come together and we’ve got a good group of people here,” Switzer said. “The plan is to provide 100 percent customer support that is equal to all the racers. I’m going from pit-to-pit keeping their information quiet and giving everyone equal help.

“We’re not out there playing favorites. Whatever driver wins, that doesn’t matter. I just want to try to make both cars go as fast as they can. If they have our decal, we’re supporting them and helping them as much as we can.”

Switzer Dynamic’s focus is on manufacturing parts and working with induction parts and teams on the nitrous end of racing.

At the company’s new facility, Switzer uses state-of-the-art technology and equipment, offering services ranging from custom nitrous installations, custom intake and manifold designs to manufacturing, flow testing, fabrication and more.

Switzer Dynamics also offers carbon fiber nitrous bottles, bottle blankets, shear plates and jet kits.

“We built this place to be very flexible as far as what we build,” Switzer said. “We are capable of changing with the times and demand of products very easily.  We can manufacture just about anything.
“We work on a lot of special projects, but nitrous is still my favorite thing to work on. My focus is still on that.”

In the near future, Switzer Dynamics also plans to have products available at each race for teams in the Pro Nitrous and Pro Modified classes.

“These nitrous cars are a real challenge, just to get them down the track and keep the engines together,” Switzer said. “It’s one of the hardest classes to be successful in, but I really enjoy those challenges.”

The fourth stop on the 10-race 2012 ADRL Tour takes place on June 1-2 at Gateway Motorsports Park with the Gateway Drags IV presented by CarSafe.

Over his standout drag racing career, Robert Patrick has proven his merits in a variety of classes.

After last weekend at Maple Grove Raceway, you can add Pro Nitrous to the long list.

In just his second Pro Nitrous race in the ADRL, Patrick went all the way to the winner’s circle, beating Burton Auxier with a 4.25 in the finals of the Northeast Drags II presented by Penske.

With a support team that includes some of the biggest names in the support and a sparkling new 2012 Mustang from Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Patrick has proven to be a quick learner in a class that is by no means simple.

“I had a lot of faith in my crew. They’ve been working their butt off and I couldn’t be any happier with this Jerry Bickel Race Car,” Patrick said. “Rickie Smith is calling all the shots on this car and I can’t give him enough credit, either. Rickie’s been really guiding me along on this deal and with him and Pat Musi and their tune-up it’s just going great. It really couldn’t be better and I couldn’t be happier.

Both Auxier and Patrick had their cars tuned and ready to run in the 3.70s during the final at Maple Grove Raceway, but Auxier got out of the groove quickly while Patrick, who is also working with Sonny’s Racing Engines and Switzer Dynamics, cruised to the win.

The win was the perfect capper to a thoroughly impressive day where Patrick provided

Patrick

After finding the 3.80s and advancing to the semifinals at the first race of the season in Bristol last month, Patrick turned it up a notch in Bristol.

He qualified in the No. 3 spot with a 3.88 and got quicker each round before the final.

Patrick went 3.848 and 3.841 to beat John Bartunek and Stan Allen, respectively, and then made his third straight career-best pass with one of the best races of the weekend against Jim Laurita in the semifinals.

Like Patrick, Laurita made tremendous strides at Maple Grove, beating Shannon Jenkins on a holeshot after Jenkins went 3.81. In the semifinals against Patrick, Laurita had a stout – and career-best – 3.83, but Patrick’s 3.811 at 197.13 miles per hour was one of the top runs of the weekend in any class.

It sent him to the finals and moments later he was in the winner’s circle, soaking up the incredible feelings of his first win in a new class.

It’s all come quickly for Patrick, but he is showing he can be a force in his first year in the class.

The win bumped him to third in the points standings and he’ll carry plenty of momentum into next month’s Gateway Drags IV presented by CarSafe, which takes place June 1-2 at Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis.

More importantly, he may have found his ideal class.

“I’m just so happy to be racing in the ADRL and to be part of this. This is my roots and this where I love racing,” Patrick said.

(Photos by ADRL/Richards)