Thursday, August 13, 2009

National Guard ADRL Revises Race Weekend Schedule

O’FALLON, MO (Aug. 13, 2009) — National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Executive Vice President of Competition Bert Corzine today announced changes to the series’ national-event weekend schedule, beginning Aug. 21-22, at the ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III in Hebron, Ohio, near Columbus.

Most significant to National Guard ADRL race teams and fans is the addition of a fourth official qualifying session for all five professional classes. The long-standing open test session has been eliminated from the ADRL national-event program in favor of three official qualifying opportunities on Friday, with a single, last-chance qualifying session starting at noon on Saturday, followed by a brief pre-race ceremony and elimination rounds.

“We feel providing three scheduled shots at the track on Friday will allow our race teams to adjust and dial in to the conditions, while ensuring any great passes straight out of the trailer will still count toward their weekend’s success,” Corzine said. “Additionally, with only one qualifying round to be completed on Saturday, it takes a little pressure off getting everything completed in time and we should be able to even wrap it up an hour or so earlier than everyone is used to right now.”

The run order for all official National Guard ADRL qualifying and elimination rounds remains unchanged, opening with Extreme Pro Stock and followed by Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme, the quickest and fastest full-bodied race cars in the world.

National Guard ADRL drivers also need to take notice that the mandatory pre-race drivers meeting will now be held prior to any on-track action at 11 a.m. on Friday in the main tent of the National Guard ADRL Fan Zone.

Also of note to National Guard ADRL racers and vendors is the extension of Thursday’s pit assignment and parking schedule by four hours. The start time to enter the grounds on race weekends has been moved forward two hours to noon and rigs will now be allowed in until 10 p.m. for parking.

“Again, we’re responding to the requests of our teams and this is just something to make it a little easier on them, some of whom travel more than a thousand miles to several races,” Corzine said. “We recognize they are the show, so anything we can reasonably do to make it easier for them to compete is a good thing for everyone involved, but especially for the fans.”

Corzine expects both National Guard ADRL racers and fans will respond positively to these changes, but reserves the right to further alter the schedule as needs dictate.

No comments: