DOHA, QATAR (February 16, 2011) – It's not a stretch to call Friday's Arabian Drag Racing League's "Battle For The Belts" the most lucrative doorslammer race in drag racing history.
With the American Drag Racing League's (ADRL) sister league awarding $100,000 to the winner in both Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous, and $50,000 to winners in Extreme 10.5 and Pro Extreme Motorcycle, there will be a great deal on the line during Friday's Round Eight eliminations at Qatar Racing Club (QRC).
"It is going to be big," said Pro Extreme driver Frankie Taylor, who won the 2010 ADRL World Championship. "I hope we can do well."
Like the ADRL, the Arabian series uses the same innovative eight-spot elimination tournament to determine a world champion in each class. The points leader earns a bye into the semifinals, while the No. 7 and No. 8 finishers in points will race on Friday to earn a spot into the field.
The points winner after seven races also earns $50,000 in PX and PN, and $25,000 in XTF and PXM, in addition to earning an automatic spot in the semis.
That ensures J.R. Todd (Pro Extreme) and Khalid Al-Balooshi (Pro Nitrous) of at least $75,000 this weekend, as $25,000 is guaranteed to semifinal losers. Dan Millen (Extreme 10.5) and Terry Schweigert (Pro Extreme Motorcycle) are guaranteed $37,500, as $12,500 is paid out to semifinal losers in those classes.
In addition, there will also be a Shootout on Thursday in each class, which offers incentive for the three scheduled timed runs.
The top two quickest runs from the first two timed runs will square off in run three.
The winner of that race gets $5,000 in PX and PN, and the purse is $2,500 in PXM and XTF.
Each of the points winners has high hopes and Todd and Al-Balooshi could make as much as $175,000 this weekend should they win the Shootout, the World Championship and set – or keep – both the E.T. and speed records. Schweigert and Millen could earn up to $82,500.
Competitors who leave with record performances earn $10,000 for each record set in PX and PN, while $2,500 goes to competitors in XTF and PXM.
"The competitiveness in me is coming out and it's time to finish the deal," Todd said. "Hopefully we can come out on top."
Currently, Al-Balooshi (3.781 and 199.76 miles per hour) and Millen (3.796, 204.20 mph) hold both ends of the record in their respective classes, while Schweigert (4.105) holds the E.T. record in PXM. Matt Smith currently has the records in PX (3.593, 211.76 mph).
The financial incentive, as well as the opportunity to win his first world title has motivated Schweigert all season.
"I'm really, really looking forward to this," Schweigert said. "I think what I have to do is relax, stay focused, and concentrate. I have to be confident with what I'm doing and let it all happen."
Millen and Taylor each have the opportunity to win titles in both ADRL series. Millen won his in XTF in October, and could meet Taylor on Friday in the finals of the class at QRC.
"I think it's anybody's race. It's two competitive cars and Frankie knows what he's doing," Millen said. "I'm looking forward to it."
Taylor and Matt Smith both could earn the most of anyone in Qatar, as they are racing in two classes. In addition to possibly winning two World Championships – they would come in PX and XTF for Taylor; Smiths' win would come in PX and PXM – one could earn as much as $182,500 should they win in both classes, take the Shootout and set both records.
Smith has come on strong in the two divisions and is relishing the chance to win twice.
"The bike's good, so all in all, we're ready," Smith said. "We're going to try as hard as we can to double up."
Pro Nitrous will provide plenty of exciting action as well, as Al-Balooshi, who has four event win this year, and Shannon Jenkins traded records last week during Round Seven.
Both are ready for an intense two-day stretch in Qatar.
"We will definitely give it all we have to win the championship next week," Jenkins said. "You can bet we're going after the record, but that's not all. We're going after that championship. It's going to be a good fight, that's for sure."
Al-Balooshi's tuner, Brandon Switzer said: "The competition is getting tight and everybody is running good numbers, so it's going to make for some really good racing."
Thursday's timed runs for the Shootout begin at 2 p.m. local time at QRC, while action on Friday starts at the same time with the No. 7/No. 8 matchups in each class.
