| Drag Racing: Nitro Jam returns to San Antonio Raceway San Marcos Daily Record Marion — It is one of the most popular and well known race machines in drag racing's storied past and it will once again power down the quarter-mile against a field of eight of the toughest Prostalgia Nitro Funny Cars in the land at the San Antonio ... See all stories on this topic » | ||
|
Monday, March 28, 2011
Today's Drag Racing News
Miss STP Paula Murphy on Racin & Rockin!
Racin' and Rockin': Miss STP Paula Murphy on Racin & Rockin! by Bill Pratt. Join us on Monday, March 28, as we welcome fuel funny car star Paula Murphy! In 1966, Paula Murphy, AKA “Miss STP,” became the first woman fuel funny car racer! Paula also drove NASCAR Grand National cars, Indy Cars, blown fuel funny cars, and even rocket cars! Paula's son Danny will join us, too! Plus Hit Records with John Bockelman and Danny White's Drag Racing List of the Week. AND... the Racin & Rockin After Party with two solid hours of hard driving rock music! BE THERE for a conversation with Miss STP!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
East coast cars dominate Arizona Nitro Jam finale
Gallen sets national record en route to Nitro Jam win in front of packed house
TUCSON, Ariz. (March 26, 2011) – What exactly is the definition of irony? Just ask Peter Gallen.
Traveling nearly 2,000 miles from his home in Pennsylvania to be in Arizona for the Arizona Nitro Jam, Gallen had high hopes that the weekend would be filled with hotly contested laps against some of the best west coast racers around.
Instead, Gallen found himself in Saturday’s final racing against a man who calls Ohio home as two of the best Prostalgia Nitro Funny cars from the east duked it out in Saturday’s Arizona Nitro Jam finale with Gallen coming away a winner and setting a new national record in the process to claim the Ironman trophy in front of a capacity crowd at Nitro Jam’s debut event at Southwestern International Raceway.
Peter Gallen set a new national record en route to winning Saturday’s Prostalgia final at the Arizona Nitro Jam
“I think we actually discovered the definition of irony this evening. We came out here obviously to support the IHRA, but we also came out here to see what these west coast guys that we have heard about for so many years are really all about,” Gallen said. “Instead we ended up racing Mike (McIntire) in the final. I guess it is what it is. It is a win and we will certainly take it.”
Along with picking up the win, Gallen also set a new elapsed time record for the Prostalgia class, besting McIntire in the final with a blistering 5.777 second lap.
“It is just a bad hotrod. We spent a lot of time getting this car ready for the weekend because we knew we would need a pretty stout lap to come away a winner,” Gallen said.
Gallen joined three additional pro winners from Saturday’s Arizona Nitro Jam finale as Bobby Lagana Jr. won for the second night in a row in Top Fuel, joining Chris Bennett who also swept in the Nostalgia Fuel Altered class. Saturday’s other pro winner was Steve Dorn who won Nitro Harley.
In Sportsman competition Southwestern International Raceway’s local racers put on an exciting show in front of a packed house on Saturday, with the biggest winner being Sheldon Gecker who won in Top Dragster, one of IHRA’s seven regular touring classes.
Tim Boychuk (above) battled Gallen in the opening round
But it was Gallen and the “Poverty Stricken” crew who proved Saturday’s biggest winners.
After falling a bit flat during round one on Friday, Gallen came out firing on all cylinders on Saturday with a blistering 5.811, 239.40 pass to take the second spot on the qualifying charts in the opening round. In that round Gallen, the fastest Prostalgia racer on the east coast, met his west coast equivalent in Edmonton, Alberta native Tim Boychuk and the “Troy Lee Designs” team.
The epic matchup between two of the quickest and fastest Funny Cars in the land certainly lived up to the billing as Gallen put up a 5.811 to Boychuk’s 5.968, 236.34 in one of the best side-by-side passes of the night. With the win Gallen moved on to face what looked liked Friday’s winner James Day until Mike McIntire in the “MacAttack” Camaro came out one round later and posted the best lap of the round, a very solid 5.807, 240.64 to set up the final between two very familiar foes.
In the all east coast final Gallen and McIntire produced an impressive side-by-side lap with Gallen just getting to the line ahead of McIntire, posting a 5.777, 250.97 to McIntire’s 5.808, 232.39. McIntire lost the burst panel on the run and came dangerously close to the centerline, but he never lifted in his chase of Gallen.
Gallen picked up his third of the season and his 10th career victory since joining the Nitro Jam tour last year.
Chris Bennett swept the Nostalgia Fuel Altered division
“Don’t kid yourself, coming out here truly is a measuring stick to see if we could run with these guys,” Gallen said. “Having Boychuk in the first round was great, those guys really are a class act, but I guess it was just meant to be that Mac and I would once again meet up in the final. It is not like we can be disappointed, those guys are running great right now and I knew it would be a heck of a race.”
In Saturday’s consolation pairings opening night winner Day and the “War Eagle” team continued to impress with their fourth round win in four tries over Mike Adams, while Boychuk picked up a win over Roger Garten and Mike Savage defeated Mark Sanders.
Top Fuel also made headlines on Saturday as Bobby Lagana Jr. posted a weekend sweep and ended the night with the best pass of the weekend, a very impressive 4.772, 311.70 in a victory over Bruce Litton. Lagana has now won five of six races against Litton this season, an impressive feat for the defending champions.
Another sweep was produced in the Nostalgia Fuel Altered class as fulltime Air Force pilot Chris Bennett crossed the finish line first in the “Pure Heaven” Altered against rival Jason Richey in the “Pure Hell” entry.
Bennett had four solid runs to pick up the pair of wins, saving the best for last with a 6.443, 214.28 in the final. Richey ran a 6.921, 217.63 in the runner-up effort, losing grip at halftrack before pushing frantically to try and play catch up.
Steve Dorn recorded his third victory of the year in a win over Mike Scott
“We had a great time this weekend. The fans were amazing and we just had a ball out here racing,” Bennett said. “These things are always on the edge of out-of-control which is what makes them so much fun for the fans and for the drivers. I am just glad we were able to put on a good show again tonight.”
Ironical, despite Bennett’s weekend sweep, it was actually Ron Maroney who had the best lap of the weekend in the class. After the car failed to fire in round one, Maroney returned in the consolation round and more than made up for his shortcoming as Maroney in the “Blind Faith” machine posted a very fast 6.248, 224.51 lap.
Wrapping up the evening was the Nitro Harley division as Steve Dorn got revenge on Friday winner Mike Scott with a win of his own, his third of the season. After posting the quickest lap in round one, Dorn was again on his game in the final as narrowly pulled out a win by just a few hundredths of a second over Scott. Dorn ran a 7.102, 207.59 in the final to Scott’s 7.161, 210.837.
Grave Digger brought the weekend to a close to the enjoyment of the capacity Arizona crowd
Other sportsman winners from the Arizona Nitro Jam were Jerry Duffy in Super Pro, Benny Gossett in Pro ET, Matt Hawk in Sportsman, Marle Patterson in Bikes, Dannielle Tramell in Junior Advanced and Cody Thomas in Junior Beginner.
After a hugely successful event in Arizona that saw two consecutive standing room only crowds and plenty of great racing, the Nitro Jam tour now heads east – although not by much – for a date with San Antonio Raceway April 1-2 at the San Antonio Nitro Jam in Texas.
Top Fuel Dragster Day Two -- Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.772 seconds, 311.70 mph def. Bruce Litton, 5.212 seconds, 206.42 mph.
Prostalgia Funny Car Day Two -- Peter Gallen, Chevy Vega, 5.777, 250.97 def. Mike McIntire, Chevy Camaro, 5.808, 232.39.
Fuel Altered Day Two -- Chris Bennett, Austin Bantam, 6.443, 214.28 def. Jason Richey, Bantam, 6.921, 217.63.
Nitro Harley Day Two -- Steve Dorn, 7.102, 207.59 def. Mike Scott, 7.161, 210.87.
Top Dragster -- Sheldon Gecker, Dragster, 7.661, 169.89 def. Chuck Hawk Jr., Dragster, 7.363, 176.70.
Super Pro -- Jerry Duffy Sr, Eddies, 7.607, 172.34 def. Ken Bolle, Dragster, 8.268, 156.30.
Pro ET -- Benny Gossett, '27-T Ford, 10.417, 86.83 def. James Sorenson Jr, Nova, foul.
Sportsman -- Matt Hawk, Mustang, 13.213, 95.80 def. Chris Stout, Nova, 12.083, 107.88.
Bikes -- Marle Patterson, Kawasaki, 10.487, 122.31 def. Tom Patterson, Kawasaki, 9.593, 134.36.
Jr Dragster Runoff -- Dannielle Tramell, Dragster, 8.045, 80.50 def. Cody Thomas, Dragster, 9.001, 71.40.
Jr. Dragster 13-17 -- Dannielle Tramell, 8.073, 80.35 def. Gabriel Brown, 7.998, 80.93.
Junior Dragster 8-12 -- Cody Thomas, 9.009, 71.16 def. Courtnee Boettcher, 9.492, 68.14.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Final round-by-round results from the IHRA Arizona Nitro Jam at Southwestern International Raceway, the third of 10 events in the 2011 Nitro Jam Series:
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER DAY TWO:
ROUND ONE -- Bruce Litton, 4.793, 300.73 def. Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.828, 286.32;
FINAL -- B. Lagana Jr., 4.772, 311.70 def. B. Litton, 5.212, 206.42.
PROSTALGIA FUNNY CAR DAY TWO:
ROUND ONE -- James Day, Pontiac Trans Am, 5.904, 235.27 def. Roger Garten, Ford Mustang, 6.171, 231.16; Mike Savage, Plymouth Barracuda, 5.930, 241.71 def. Mark Sanders, Chevy Nova, 6.955, 235.89; Peter Gallen, Chevy Vega, 5.811, 239.40 def. Tim Boychuk, Pontiac Firebird, 5.968, 236.34; Mike McIntire, Chevy Camaro, 5.807, 240.64 def. Mike Adams, Chevy Corvette, 8.502, 105.74;
CONSOLATION -- T. Boychuk, 5.837, 232.71 def. R. Garten, 5.998, 235.80; M. Savage, 5.867, 243.28 def. M. Sanders, 6.107, 238.38; J. Day, 5.895, 232.83 def. M. Adams, 6.314, 222.80;
FINAL -- P. Gallen, 5.777, 250.97 def. M. McIntire, 5.808, 232.39.
FUEL ALTERED DAY TWO:
ROUND ONE -- Jason Richey, Bantam, 6.866, 216.41 def. Ron Hope, Bantam, broke; Chris Bennett, Austin Bantam, 6.349, 214.28 def. Ron Maroney, broke;
CONSOLATION -- R. Maroney, 6.248, 224.51 was unopposed;
FINAL -- C. Bennett, 6.443, 214.28 def. J. Richey, 6.921, 217.63.
NITRO HARLEY DAY TWO:
ROUND ONE -- Mike Scott, 13.638, 67.63 def. Jay Turner, broke; Steve Dorn, 6.897, 201.73 def. Randal Andras, 10.475, 85.93;
CONSOLATION -- R. Andras, 6.819, 194.58 def. J. Turner, broke;
FINAL -- S. Dorn, 7.102, 207.59 def. M. Scott, 7.161, 210.87.
Hamstra One Of Six Winners At ADRL CarSafe Dragpalooza VII
BAYTOWN, TEXAS (March 25, 2011) – Jason Hamstra had enough misfortune in 2010 to last a racing lifetime.
His performance on Saturday at Royal Purple Raceway was a resounding indication things may be much different in 2011.
The 2009 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Rookie of the Year appeared to be back in top form as the ADRL kicked off its 2011 season, winning an incredibly competitive Pro Extreme class with a 3.68 in the finals of CarSafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar Motorsports.
"It's great to come out and do this at the first race. After a while, it's good to see all of your hard work pay off," Hamstra said. "After last year, we couldn't have had any more bad luck, so this feels good to start the season this way."
Hamstra provided just one of several highlights on a day where the RPR crowd was brought to its feet on several occasions.
Khalid Al-Balooshi had his share of show-stealing moments in his Speedtech Al-Anabi Racing Camaro, setting both ends of the Pro Nitrous records en route to a final-round 3.81 and a win against Pat Stoken.
Lamar Swindoll, who lives just two miles from the track, was the surprise winner in Extreme 10.5, as his 4.03 gave him a victory at his first ADRL race against class veteran Billy Glidden.
Ashley Owens' dominance in Pro Extreme Motorcycle continued into the new season, as he went 4.02 in the finals to beat 2010 World Champion Kim Morrell. The defending champion in Extreme Pro Stock also fell in the finals when Cary Goforth's holeshot on a 4.07 run was enough to top John Montecalvo.
The win was especially sweet for Hamstra, who wrecked in back-to-back races in 2010, which caused him to miss a number of races.
From that came his new Andy McCoy Race Cars '70 Duster, which went as quick as 3.67 on Saturday. That came in a semifinal win against 2010 ADRL Rookie of the Year Mick Snyder, and was a round after Snyder picked up a red-light win against KH Al-Thani.
That came as a shock to the crowd at Royal Purple, who had watched Al-Thani make back-to-back passes of 3.66 earlier in the day.
But the evening belonged to Hamstra, who went 209.82 miles per hour in the finals after Todd Tutterow had a red light.
"It was nice and smooth and it was just another great run," Hamstra said. "It was a great night and everything just went perfect. We're still learning this car, but it has a lot of potential."
Al-Balooshi's potential in Pro Nitrous has been realized and it is impressive.
A month after his dominant season in the Arabian Drag Racing League ended with a championship, Al-Balooshi was near his best again on Saturday, going 3.803 at 199.35 miles per hour in a semifinal win against No. 1 qualifier Jim Halsey to set both ends of the world record.
It was a good summation of his day, which ended with the 3.81 at 198 mph and showed that tuner Brandon Switzer has the magic touch stateside as well.
"My crew chief is doing a great job. He's just awesome, and so is the whole team," Al-Balooshi said. "(Brandon's) the man. I'm only the driver. He knows what's going on and this is just an awesome car."
Awesome was a fitting way to describe the racing in Pro Nitrous during the event, setting the stage for what could be an incredible year in the diverse class.
Swindoll's win in Extreme 10.5 wrapped up a wild day in a class where Dan Millen was expected to dominate.
But after going 3.83 in the fourth qualifying session, the 2010 World Champion had a major red light in the first round of eliminations, abruptly ending his day.
Glidden jumped at the opportunity, advancing to the finals, but he met his match in Swindoll, who drove teammate Todd Moyer's Cavalier to victory in front of a huge following of family and friends.
That made the win especially sweet for Swindoll, who was a model of consistency during eliminations.
He went 4.00 at 203 mph in a semifinal win against fellow Houston-area native Frankie Taylor, going 201.37 mph with the help of a new set of Mickey Thompson Tires to outlast Glidden in the finals.
"This is just awesome," Swindoll said. "I told myself I was going to win the race and I just kept telling myself that all day. How many people get to do this in their first race?
"If I was going to win any race, this is the one."
Owens was back to his incredible self, pulling off three straight runs of 4.02 in Pro Extreme Motorcycle eliminations.
His quarterfinal win also included a speed of 180.26 mph, enough to break his old mark by more than one mph.
"I just can't be happier with this new bike," Owens said. "My other one certainly didn't start out running 4.02s. This bike is just a handful."
Morrell went as quick as 4.10 in eliminations, but Owens and the Fast by Gast team were the runaway performers. It was especially sweet for Owens, who returned to racing after a lengthy rehabilitation over the winter following a crash during the off-season.
"I tried not to think about it," Owens said. "It was probably a little more nerve-wracking, but I'm just getting back in the swing. Something like this boosts my confidence. It feels good to be back."
Cary Goforth and his Sonny Leonard Racing Engine lurked in the shadows for most of the weekend in Extreme Pro Stock, but he pounced at the perfect time, going 4.10 in the semifinals before posting his best run of the day against Montecalvo.
All of it was needed, including his .048 reaction time, as Montecalvo nearly chased him down at the end.
"Pete (Berner) was running good and so was dad, but our car was running fast, too," Goforth said. "We just kept chipping away at it. But we needed that .07 to win."
Berner was the No. 1 qualifier, but fell in an excellent side-by-side semifinal race against Montecalvo, who went 4.077 to advance to the finals.
Henry Canales Jr. was the winner in Pro Junior Dragster, going 8.02 in the finals against Tia Tutterow.
The ADRL returns to action on April 15-16 with the ADRL Safety-Kleen Springs Drags II, which takes place at Palm Beach International Raceway in Jupiter, Fl.
Saturday's final results from the ADRL Carsafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar at Royal Purple Raceway. The race is the First of 9 in the American Drag Racing League:
Pro Extreme -- Jason Hamstra, Plymouth Duster, 3.687, 209.82 def. Todd Tutterow, Chevy Camaro, foul.
Pro Nitrous -- Khalid Al-Balooshi, Chevy Camaro, 3.816, 198.32 def. Pat Stoken, Camaro, 3.872, 194.44.
Extreme 10.5 -- Lamar Swindoll Jr., Chevy Cavalier, 4.030, 201.37 def. Billy Glidden, Ford Mustang, 4.081, 178.68.
Pro Extreme Motorcycle -- Ashley Owens, Suzuki, 4.025, 180.04 def. Kim Morrell, Suzuki, 5.098, 138.98.
Extreme Pro Stock -- Cary Goforth, Chevy Cobalt, 4.074, 177.30 def. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 4.065, 178.07.
Pro Junior Dragster -- Henry Canales Jr, Hardins, 8.029, 80.84 def. Tia Tutterow, Halfscale, 7.959, 80.90.
His performance on Saturday at Royal Purple Raceway was a resounding indication things may be much different in 2011.
The 2009 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Rookie of the Year appeared to be back in top form as the ADRL kicked off its 2011 season, winning an incredibly competitive Pro Extreme class with a 3.68 in the finals of CarSafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar Motorsports.
"It's great to come out and do this at the first race. After a while, it's good to see all of your hard work pay off," Hamstra said. "After last year, we couldn't have had any more bad luck, so this feels good to start the season this way."
Hamstra provided just one of several highlights on a day where the RPR crowd was brought to its feet on several occasions.
Khalid Al-Balooshi had his share of show-stealing moments in his Speedtech Al-Anabi Racing Camaro, setting both ends of the Pro Nitrous records en route to a final-round 3.81 and a win against Pat Stoken.
Lamar Swindoll, who lives just two miles from the track, was the surprise winner in Extreme 10.5, as his 4.03 gave him a victory at his first ADRL race against class veteran Billy Glidden.
Ashley Owens' dominance in Pro Extreme Motorcycle continued into the new season, as he went 4.02 in the finals to beat 2010 World Champion Kim Morrell. The defending champion in Extreme Pro Stock also fell in the finals when Cary Goforth's holeshot on a 4.07 run was enough to top John Montecalvo.
The win was especially sweet for Hamstra, who wrecked in back-to-back races in 2010, which caused him to miss a number of races.
From that came his new Andy McCoy Race Cars '70 Duster, which went as quick as 3.67 on Saturday. That came in a semifinal win against 2010 ADRL Rookie of the Year Mick Snyder, and was a round after Snyder picked up a red-light win against KH Al-Thani.
That came as a shock to the crowd at Royal Purple, who had watched Al-Thani make back-to-back passes of 3.66 earlier in the day.
But the evening belonged to Hamstra, who went 209.82 miles per hour in the finals after Todd Tutterow had a red light.
"It was nice and smooth and it was just another great run," Hamstra said. "It was a great night and everything just went perfect. We're still learning this car, but it has a lot of potential."
Al-Balooshi's potential in Pro Nitrous has been realized and it is impressive.
A month after his dominant season in the Arabian Drag Racing League ended with a championship, Al-Balooshi was near his best again on Saturday, going 3.803 at 199.35 miles per hour in a semifinal win against No. 1 qualifier Jim Halsey to set both ends of the world record.
It was a good summation of his day, which ended with the 3.81 at 198 mph and showed that tuner Brandon Switzer has the magic touch stateside as well.
"My crew chief is doing a great job. He's just awesome, and so is the whole team," Al-Balooshi said. "(Brandon's) the man. I'm only the driver. He knows what's going on and this is just an awesome car."
Awesome was a fitting way to describe the racing in Pro Nitrous during the event, setting the stage for what could be an incredible year in the diverse class.
Swindoll's win in Extreme 10.5 wrapped up a wild day in a class where Dan Millen was expected to dominate.
But after going 3.83 in the fourth qualifying session, the 2010 World Champion had a major red light in the first round of eliminations, abruptly ending his day.
Glidden jumped at the opportunity, advancing to the finals, but he met his match in Swindoll, who drove teammate Todd Moyer's Cavalier to victory in front of a huge following of family and friends.
That made the win especially sweet for Swindoll, who was a model of consistency during eliminations.
He went 4.00 at 203 mph in a semifinal win against fellow Houston-area native Frankie Taylor, going 201.37 mph with the help of a new set of Mickey Thompson Tires to outlast Glidden in the finals.
"This is just awesome," Swindoll said. "I told myself I was going to win the race and I just kept telling myself that all day. How many people get to do this in their first race?
"If I was going to win any race, this is the one."
Owens was back to his incredible self, pulling off three straight runs of 4.02 in Pro Extreme Motorcycle eliminations.
His quarterfinal win also included a speed of 180.26 mph, enough to break his old mark by more than one mph.
"I just can't be happier with this new bike," Owens said. "My other one certainly didn't start out running 4.02s. This bike is just a handful."
Morrell went as quick as 4.10 in eliminations, but Owens and the Fast by Gast team were the runaway performers. It was especially sweet for Owens, who returned to racing after a lengthy rehabilitation over the winter following a crash during the off-season.
"I tried not to think about it," Owens said. "It was probably a little more nerve-wracking, but I'm just getting back in the swing. Something like this boosts my confidence. It feels good to be back."
Cary Goforth and his Sonny Leonard Racing Engine lurked in the shadows for most of the weekend in Extreme Pro Stock, but he pounced at the perfect time, going 4.10 in the semifinals before posting his best run of the day against Montecalvo.
All of it was needed, including his .048 reaction time, as Montecalvo nearly chased him down at the end.
"Pete (Berner) was running good and so was dad, but our car was running fast, too," Goforth said. "We just kept chipping away at it. But we needed that .07 to win."
Berner was the No. 1 qualifier, but fell in an excellent side-by-side semifinal race against Montecalvo, who went 4.077 to advance to the finals.
Henry Canales Jr. was the winner in Pro Junior Dragster, going 8.02 in the finals against Tia Tutterow.
The ADRL returns to action on April 15-16 with the ADRL Safety-Kleen Springs Drags II, which takes place at Palm Beach International Raceway in Jupiter, Fl.
Saturday's final results from the ADRL Carsafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar at Royal Purple Raceway. The race is the First of 9 in the American Drag Racing League:
Pro Extreme -- Jason Hamstra, Plymouth Duster, 3.687, 209.82 def. Todd Tutterow, Chevy Camaro, foul.
Pro Nitrous -- Khalid Al-Balooshi, Chevy Camaro, 3.816, 198.32 def. Pat Stoken, Camaro, 3.872, 194.44.
Extreme 10.5 -- Lamar Swindoll Jr., Chevy Cavalier, 4.030, 201.37 def. Billy Glidden, Ford Mustang, 4.081, 178.68.
Pro Extreme Motorcycle -- Ashley Owens, Suzuki, 4.025, 180.04 def. Kim Morrell, Suzuki, 5.098, 138.98.
Extreme Pro Stock -- Cary Goforth, Chevy Cobalt, 4.074, 177.30 def. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 4.065, 178.07.
Pro Junior Dragster -- Henry Canales Jr, Hardins, 8.029, 80.84 def. Tia Tutterow, Halfscale, 7.959, 80.90.
Today's Drag Racing News
| Seven to join Nebraska Auto Racing hall Omaha World-Herald Fred Anderson, Omaha, started his drag racing career in 1952, and set many national records. He has 12 US Nationals class wins and raced in 53 straight US Nationals, beginning with the inaugural event in 1955 at Great Bend, Kan. ... See all stories on this topic » | ||
| Locals Dominate Pro Series Finals At Top Fuel Championships PaddockTalk While March has been busy for Queensland’s premier drag racing facility, the action continues with the all-new Shannons Queensland Auto Spectacular hitting the track on Sunday April 10, with more than 1000 display cars, utes and bikes, club displays ... See all stories on this topic » | ||
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Atlanta Dragway Saturday and Sunday events cancelled due to weather
(Commerce, GA – March 26) Inclement weather prevented Atlanta Dragway personnel from hosting the No Box Pro series and Jr Drag Racing League events scheduled for the weekend, along with the Import Series Face-Off scheduled for Sunday. Atlanta Dragway personnel posted the following on their website, "The No Box Pro Series and Jr. Drag Racing League races scheduled for this Saturday, March 25th have been cancelled due to the weather. Neither event will be rescheduled."
Nitro Jam’s Arizona debut plays to standing room only crowd
Day, ‘War Eagle’ team dominate day one
TUCSON, Ariz. (March 25, 2011) – It was glorious day at Southwestern International Raceway on Friday.
Not only were the stands packed full with fans eager to enjoy Nitro Jam’s brand of motorsports entertainment, but another day – James Day to be exact – stole the show with a big win in the Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car “Duel in the Desert” Friday in Tucson, a win he was proud to dedicate to ill car owner Dale Pulde.
“It is an honor just to be asked to drive this car for Dale, but to win in this thing is like a dream come true,” Day said, eagerly grasping his brand new Ironman trophy. “This is a legendary car and it drove like a legend tonight. All I have to say is this win is for Dale who is still recovering. Hopefully this trophy will help him feel a bit better.”
James Day
Day was one of four professional winners during the opening night of the Arizona Nitro Jam on Friday as Bobby Lagana Jr. (Top Fuel), Chris Bennett (Nostalgia Fuel Altered) and Mike Scott (Nitro Harley) all walked away winners on day one.
But it was Day, behind the wheel of the “War Eagle” Trans Am, who truly owned the night as he bested Nitro Jam newcomer Mike Savage in the “Candies and Hughes” Barracuda in the Prostalgia Nitro Funny Car final. Day, who qualified first on the charts in the opening round with a very quick 5.847 elapsed time at 239.91 miles per hour, backed up his big run with another similar pass that saw him jump out front early and never look back.
Day ran a 5.894, 236.92 in the final, besting Savage who clicked it off near the finish line as his car began to dance with the centerline. It was a huge win for the young driver who was tapped to fill in for Pulde who is still recovering from an illness.
“The car was really on tonight. Some of the other cars were hit and miss, but this thing fired off two very quick laps which put us in a prime position to get the win,” Day said. “Hopefully we can duplicate these results tomorrow night and take home another trophy for these great Arizona fans.”
Bobby Lagana Jr.
In the Prostalgia consolation rounds Peter Gallen found his grove once again after struggling in round one, posting the second best time of the night with a 5.865, 247.52 to defeat Mike Adams. Mike McIntire and Mark Sanders also nabbed consolation wins, defeating Roger Garten and Tim Boychuk respectively.
It was a tremendous start for the eight-car Prostalgia show as many of the best cars in the country are in Arizona for the two-day event. While Day will be looking for the sweep, any of the seven cars have the capability to steal a win on Saturday.
In another thrilling final Bobby Lagana Jr. claimed his fourth Top Fuel victory of the season over Bruce Litton. And to make the night even more satisfying for Lagana, who unveiled a new Lucas Oil sponsorship during the weekend to give Nitro Jam two Lucas-backed Top Fuel machines, was the fact that he was able to claim both rounds while also posting the best lap of the night, a solid 4.975, 296.89 in round one.
Litton’s best pass of the night was a 5.107, 269.29.
“It wasn’t our best performance, but we will take it,” Lagana said. “We will just have to go back to the drawing board tomorrow and make a few changes. Hopefully we will be able to hit 300 on Saturday and take home yet another Ironman.”
Chris Bennett
Perhaps the most exciting action of the night was produced in the Nostalgia Fuel Altered ranks as one car slapped the wall and the rest continued to improve on their numbers and produce an exciting show. Still, despite the increase in parody in the class, multi-event winner Chris Bennett in the “Pure Heaven” machine was able to once again take home the win.
Bennett had the best pass of round one and then backed that up with another solid pass in the final to defeat Ron Hope in the legendary “Rat Trap” machine to claim his third win of the season. Bennett ran a 6.406. 194.02 in the final, a tad quicker than his top qualifying run of 6.626, 166.93.
While Bennett netted the win, Ron Maroney won the biggest scare award for his round one slap of the wall. In the opening round of Nostalgia Fuel Altered competition Maroney ran into a bit of trouble right off the launch and slapped the right side wall just past the tree. Maroney was alright, but his “Super Nanook” ride was finished for the night.
Wrapping up the night were the insane riders of the Nitro Harley division. In that class Mike Scott claimed his second career Ironman trophy with a win over points leader Steve Dorn. Scott ran a 6.867, 203.89 in the final, besting Dorn’s 7.304, 168.64.
In the consolation pairing Jay Turner defeated Randal Andras.
The big night was brought to a close with a pair of side-by-side passes between Jill Canuso in the “Queen of Diamonds” jet dragster and Terry Rosberg in the “Jersey Thunder” and a huge finale that saw the Shockwave jet semi power past Grave Digger for the first win of the weekend.
Day two of the Arizona Nitro Jam will get underway on Saturday with gates opening at 9 a.m., FanFest at 5:30 p.m. and two rounds of Nitro Jam at 7 p.m.
Don’t miss another thrilling night of Nitro Jam Saturday at Southwestern International Raceway.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Friday's final results from the IHRA Arizona Nitro Jam at Southwestern International Raceway. The race is the third of 10 in the 2011 Nitro Jam Series:
Top Fuel Dragster Day One -- Bobby Lagana Jr., 5.115 seconds, 222.25 mph def. Bruce Litton, 5.150 seconds, 214.55 mph.
Prostalgia Funny Car Day One -- James Day, Pontiac Trans Am, 5.894, 236.92 def. Mike Savage, Plymouth Barracuda, 6.271, 182.40.
Fuel Altered Day One -- Chris Bennett, Austin Bantam, 6.406, 194.02 def. Ron Hope, Bantam, 7.504, 158.89.
Nitro Harley Day One -- Mike Scott, 6.867, 203.89 def. Steve Dorn, 7.304, 168.64.
No Box -- Benny Gossett, '27-T Ford, 9.242, 137.27 def. Victor Sandoval, Nova, 15.760, 85.77.
Box -- Toby Smith, Yancer, 8.002, 148.61 def. Daniel Slade, Dragster, 8.411, 118.95.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Final round-by-round results from the IHRA Arizona Nitro Jam at Southwestern International Raceway, the third of 10 events in the 2011 Nitro Jam Series:
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER DAY ONE:
ROUND ONE -- Bobby Lagana Jr., 4.975, 296.89 def. Bruce Litton, 5.107, 269.29;
FINAL -- B. Lagana Jr., 5.115, 222.25 def. B. Litton, 5.150, 214.55.
PROSTALGIA FUNNY CAR DAY ONE:
ROUND ONE -- Peter Gallen, Chevy Vega, 6.247, 232.79 def. Mike McIntire, Chevy Camaro, 6.265, 225.41; Mike Savage, Plymouth Barracuda, 5.984, 241.80 def. Mike Adams, Chevy Corvette, 6.455, 187.55; Tim Boychuk, Pontiac Firebird, 6.058, 232.39 def. Mark Sanders, Chevy Nova, 9.781, 109.81; James Day, Pontiac Trans Am, 5.847, 239.91 def. Roger Garten, Ford Mustang, 6.102, 203.22;
CONSOLATION -- M. McIntire, 6.363, 221.42 def. R. Garten, 6.570, 159.70; P. Gallen, 5.865, 247.52 def. M. Adams, 6.250, 225.86; M. Sanders, 18.580, 61.45 def. T. Boychuk, foul;
FINAL -- J. Day, 5.894, 236.92 def. M. Savage, 6.271, 182.40.
NITRO HARLEY DAY ONE:
ROUND ONE -- Steve Dorn, 6.914, 191.67 def. Jay Turner, 7.554, 218.76; Mike Scott, 6.933, 215.55 def. Randal Andras, 6.991, 204.01;
CONSOLATION -- J. Turner, 6.469, 219.94 def. R. Andras, 6.846, 183.92;
FINAL -- M. Scott, 6.867, 203.89 def. S. Dorn, 7.304, 168.64.
FUEL ALTERED DAY ONE:
ROUND ONE -- Chris Bennett, Austin Bantam, 6.626, 166.93 def. Jason Richey, Bantam, 7.921, 210.57; Ron Hope, Bantam, 7.375, 194.30 def. Ron Maroney, '-T Ford, DQ;
CONSOLATION -- J. Richey, broke def. R. Maroney, broke;
FINAL -- C. Bennett, 6.406, 194.02 def. R. Hope, 7.504, 158.89.
Today's Drag Racing News
| How drag racing became the sport of millionaires Fortune Started by magazine editor Wally Parks in 1951 in California, the association organizes and promotes the sport of drag racing, which is looking pretty lively as it approaches senior citizen status. Drag racing sounds like one of those sports that was ... See all stories on this topic » | ||
| AUTO RACING: Nitro Jam drag-racing event opens at SIR Arizona Daily Star Many of the best drivers from all across the United States and Canada are going to be in Tucson for two days of great drag racing accompanied by a great show," said Pennsylvania drag racer Peter Gallen in a news release. "This is one race you can't ... See all stories on this topic » | ||
| BANNING: Council upholds revocation of drag-racing strip Press-Enterprise By ERIN WALDNER The Banning City Council has upheld a decision to revoke a developer's permit to build a drag-racing strip near the local airport. Council members on Tuesday directed the city's lawyer, David Aleshire, to bring back a resolution that ... See all stories on this topic » | ||
| ||
| Records Broken and Heat Felt at Yas Drag Racing Festival girlracer The heat was felt in the desert earlier this month when the Yas Marina Circuit played host to the Yas Drag Racing Festival. It was an action packed event which saw the highest speed recorded in the UAE (United Arab Emirates), jet-powered demonstration ... See all stories on this topic » | ||
| Riverlink revs up to top fuellers Ipswich Queensland Times DRAG racing fans got the chance to meet their heroes in Ipswich on Thursday night ahead of the Top Fuel Championships that finish at Willowbank Raceway today. Ipswich's Steve 'The Pom' Read met the fans and is set to contest the top fuel racer series. ... See all stories on this topic » | ||
| NHRA State Championships back in 2011 NHRA.com The NHRA Drag Racing State Championships member-track program is back in 2011 for season No. 2. Targeted toward the NHRA Summit Racing Series bracket classes, the events are designed to recognize grassroots racers who serve as an integral part of the ... See all stories on this topic » | ||
| Summit Racing Power Experience Puts Enthusiasts in the Driver's Seat DigitalJournal.com (press release) The Power Experience is an interactive, multi-media motorsports showcase that literally brings the sights, sounds, and movement of racing to select NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series races and other events for 2011. "Fans will see, hear, ... See all stories on this topic » | ||
| Sportswire: Saints dragsters meet Hot Rod legend Muldowney Santa Maria Times Since 1959, the March Meet has been the premier drag racing event for the West Coast. The students entered their Alcohol powered dragster in the NE-1 class. With newly licensed NHRA driver and SMHS alumni Alfonso Esparza behind the wheel, ... See all stories on this topic » | ||
| NHRA divisional event kicks off today at LVMS Las Vegas Review - Journal By Jeff Wolf A motor sports tripleheader in Southern Nevada starts today with an NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with nearly 500 teams expected to compete in the three-day event. ... See all stories on this topic » |
Taylor’s Standout Day In Pro Extreme Leads Lists Of Six Top Qualifiers at ADRL’s CarSafe Dragpalooza
His 2011 season in the ADRL is off to a good start as well.
Racing at his hometown track, Taylor, the 2010 World Champion in Pro Extreme, picked up right where he left off last October, going 3.674 at 206.76 miles per hour at Royal Purple Raceway to grab the top qualifying spot in a star-studded Pro Extreme field at ADRL CarSafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar Motorsports.
"To get that No. 1, we're pretty excited," said Taylor, who also won a race at RPR in 2010. "To go back-to-back here would be great, and to win here in front of friends and family, it would be really special again.
"But this car has a lot more in it."
Taylor certainly grabbed everyone's attention at the first race of the 2011 ADRL Tour, but he wasn't alone.
In Pro Nitrous, Jim Halsey was the best during an incredible third qualifying session under the lights, going 3.83 to go to No. 1. Dan Millen righted the ship on his third attempt in Extreme 10.5, as his 3.87 bumped him to No. 1.
Ashley Owens is currently No. 1 in Pro Extreme Motorcycle with a 4.07, while Pete Berner's 4.06 leads Extreme Pro Stock.
The fourth and final qualifying session for Dragpalooza takes place Saturday morning.
Taylor went 3.70 during the afternoon qualifying session, upping that performance in the cooler evening conditions hours later.
Several other drivers performed well during the third qualifying session as well, with Gaylen Smith (3.704) and J.R. Todd, who had a class-best 207.24 mph, (3.707) moving to second and third, respectively.
But Taylor was on top of his game as he appeared sharp coming off a winter of competing in the Arabian Drag Racing League in Qatar for the first time.
"I definitely got a lot of experience in the 10.5 car and the Pro Extreme car, too," said Taylor, who is also second in XTF qualifying. "I did a lot of laps over there and I feel like we're mid-season (form) right now."
After a year filled with struggles, Halsey's 2011 got off to a better start, with his 3.83 at a class-best 197.31 mph standing as the prime example.
Still Halsey, who went 3.79 in a testing session earlier this month, thinks there's more in his '69 Camaro.
"It felt like a good run, but it could have been even better," Halsey said. "It could have been an .81. We just missed it, but we'll take it. We're making small moves on the car and it's responded very well.
"It's nice to see it doing what we want it to do."
It responded in the third qualifying round, as did several other cars in what ended up as a thrilling session.
Seven cars ended up in the 3.80s, with Mahana Al-Naimi (3.842), Doug Riesterer (3.843) and Mike Castellana (3.859) all hot on the heels of Halsey.
"It's good racing for the fans," Halsey said.
It took two sessions for Millen to find his rhythm – and even make it down the track – but the defending Extreme 10.5 champion responded like most expected, as he went a 3.874 at 202.91 mph to take command of a class he has dominated since September.
"We got the car from Qatar and we didn't really have a chance to test," Millen said. "It was a time crunch and we made a couple mistakes. We were still getting everybody in sync and we didn't want to do something dumb."
After not running in the first session, Millen said everyone forgot something minor before a second pass where he broke on the launch.
All of that was corrected hours later, but not without some trepidation.
"I was nervous. These cars are so on the edge, it was nice to make a pass like that," Millen said. "Now that we have that in, I'm a lot more relieved. We'll see what we need to change, and see if we can repeat this or maybe improve."
He'll need to, as Taylor went 3.91 to sit second. Lamar Swindoll Jr. perhaps opened the most eyes, going 3.95 at 202.33 mph driving teammate Todd Moyer's old Cavalier.
In Extreme Pro Stock, Pete Berner started his year motivated, going 4.066 on his first pass of the day.
Two other drivers – the two-car team of Cary (4.088) and Dean Goforth (4.090) – reached the 4.0s, but Berner was the clear standout on Friday.
"I'm pretty excited," Berner said. "The track's in great shape and it took whatever we gave it. All in all, we're just trying to keep the consistency. We have the power and the car is really starting to come into its own. We're trying to get everything to click."
With a loaded field, Berner won't remain content and has big goals for Saturday.
"Our runs corrected to a 4.01 and two 4.02s, so that's where we would like to get," Berner said. "The car definitely has it in it, we're just focusing on having more fun. We just want to have a good time."
Ashley Owens started his 2011 in a familiar position – the No. 1 qualifying spot in Pro Extreme Motorcycle.
He debuted a new bike from Fast by Gast owner Paul Gast and made huge strides on each pass. His day started with a 4.18, shrank to a 4.10 and ended with a 4.07 at 177.95 mph and a happy Gast.
"There's things we have to adjust, but for us to get a 4.07 (on Friday), I like that," Gast said. "We haven't seen the end of it this weekend. I think we can get better than that, but we're happy, especially with that mph."
It was the first race for Owens, the 2010 ADRL Driver of the Year, since a post-season wreck in the finals of a race.
But Gast didn't see Owens hold anything back on Friday.
"I'm sure there was a little anxiety, but I wasn't worried," Gast said. "He got back on the horse and didn't look like he missed a beat. I'm quite pleased."
Kim Morrell is No. 2 with a 4.12, while Terry Schweigert's 4.13 puts him in third.
Cole Burk had a perfect reaction time of .00 to go to the top spot in Pro Junior Dragster.
The fourth qualifying session begins at 11 a.m. with eliminations to follow.
ABOUT THE ADRL
Based in O'Fallon, Missouri, the American Drag Racing League is the world's premier sanctioning body for the sport of eighth-mile drag racing. The professional categories featured in the ADRL are Pro Junior Dragster, Extreme Pro Stock, Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme, the quickest doorslammer class in all of drag racing. The 2011 ADRL Tour consists of 10 national events run throughout the United States. For more information on the ADRL, visit www.ADRL.us
BAYTOWN, Texas -- Results Friday after qualifying for the ADRL Carsafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar at Royal Purple Raceway, First of 9 events in the American Drag Racing League. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday's final eliminations.
Pro Extreme -- 1. Frankie Taylor, Chevy Corvette, 3.674, 206.76; 2. Gaylen Smith, Corvette, 3.704, 204.39; 3. JR Todd, Chevy Bel Air, 3.707, 207.24; 4. Alex Hossler, Chevy Camaro, 3.719, 206.16; 5. Jason Hamstra, Plymouth Duster, 3.722, 208.62; 6. Mick Snyder, Corvette, 3.725, 205.63; 7. Von Smith, Camaro, 3.726, 204.57; 8. Joey Martin, Chevy Nomad, 3.733, 202.21; 9. Joshua Hernandez, Bel Air, 3.734, 204.63; 10. Bubba Stanton, Corvette, 3.735, 202.24; 11. Todd Tutterow, Camaro, 3.758, 206.76; 12. KH Al-Thani, Camaro, 3.843, 202.67; 13. Terry Leggett, Ford Mustang, 3.856, 195.87; 14. Quain Stott, Corvette, 3.879, 200.00; 15. Neal Wantye, Mustang, 3.907, 196.30; 16. Alex Viscardi, Ford Shelby, 3.990, 191.38. Not Qualified: 17. John Stanley, 3.998, 189.10; 18. Jason Scruggs, 4.009, 197.94; 19. Todd Martin, 4.031, 181.96; 20. Mike Janis, 4.112, 164.59; 21. Bill Windham, 4.797, 148.44; 22. Shawn Davis, 4.997, 103.00.
Pro Nitrous -- 1. Jim Halsey, Chevy Camaro, 3.837, 197.31; 2. Mahana Al-Naemi, Camaro, 3.842, 196.07; 3. Doug Riesterer, Camaro, 3.843, 191.24; 4. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 3.859, 196.24; 5. Pat Stoken, Camaro, 3.881, 196.30; 6. Rickie Jones, Camaro, 3.886, 195.25; 7. Khalid Al-Balooshi, Camaro, 3.895, 195.93; 8. Jeff Naiser, Camaro, 3.917, 191.05; 9. John Decerbo, Camaro, 3.950, 188.28; 10. Lee Adkins, Camaro, 3.962, 188.67; 11. Bob Rahaim, Camaro, 3.983, 187.70; 12. Robert Mathis, Camaro, 4.018, 185.28; 13. Stan Allen, Camaro, 4.143, 182.01; 14. John Hall, Camaro, 4.216, 174.10; 15. Burton Auxier, Camaro, 4.348, 133.53; 16. Dan Stevenson, Camaro, 4.741, 164.33. Not Qualified: 17. Blake Housley, 5.114, 100.26; 18. Chris Patrick, 5.257, 96.05; 19. Terry Housley, 5.343, 96.66; 20. Jim Laurita, 6.359, 73.20.
Extreme 10.5 -- 1. Dan Millen, Ford Mustang, 3.874, 202.91; 2. Frankie Taylor, Chevy Camaro, 3.918, 199.97; 3. Lamar Swindell Jr., Camaro, 3.954, 202.33; 4. Billy Glidden, Mustang, 4.067, 178.90; 5. Todd Moyer, Chevy Corvette, 4.163, 176.70; 6. Jimmy Blackmon, Pontiac Firebird, 4.179, 186.38; 7. Eric Stubbs, Corvette, 4.242, 188.73; 8. Michelle Wilson, Firebird, 4.269, 178.35; 9. Michael Neal, Chevy Nova, 4.319, 178.85; 10. Chris Shortridge, Camaro, 4.505, 166.70.
Pro Extreme Motorcycle -- 1. Ashley Owens, Suzuki, 4.071, 178.12; 2. Kim Morrell, Suzuki, 4.122, 171.69; 3. Terry Schweigert, Suzuki, 4.137, 173.41; 4. Eric McKinney, Suzuki, 4.150, 174.66; 5. Charlie Prophit, Suzuki, 4.174, 171.23; 6. Carlos Wilkerson, Suzuki, 4.178, 171.73; 7. Nathan Murray, Suzuki, 4.234, 168.05; 8. Broderick Jackson, Suzuki, 4.271, 168.75; 9. Shane Eperjesi, Suzuki, 4.291, 165.25; 10. Derrick Holloway, Suzuki, 4.295, 169.57; 11. Paul Gast, Suzuki, 4.335, 169.93; 12. Chuck Wilburn, Suzuki, 4.367, 161.94; 13. Jeff House, Suzuki, 4.440, 161.23; 14. Benji Gibson, Suzuki, 4.469, 158.82; 15. Jason Hamilton, Suzuki, 4.590, 135.47; 16. Blaine Hale, Suzuki, 5.781, 116.22.
Extreme Pro Stock -- 1. Pete Berner, Pontiac GXP, 4.066, 177.74; 2. Cary Goforth, Chevy Cobalt, 4.088, 176.65; 3. Dean Goforth, GXP, 4.090, 176.90; 4. Richie Stevens Jr, Ford Mustang, 4.103, 175.94; 5. John Montecalvo, Cobalt, 4.106, 176.84; 6. Brian Gahm, Mustang, 4.116, 176.14; 7. Scott Hintz, Mustang, 4.122, 176.26; 8. Elijah Morton, Ford ZX2, 4.123, 174.89; 9. Bert Jackson, Pontiac GTO, 4.130, 175.25; 10. Steven Boone, Cobalt, 4.138, 175.09; 11. Larry O'Brien, Dodge Avenger, 4.138, 174.96; 12. Brad Waddle, Mustang, 4.141, 175.21; 13. Cale Aronson, Mustang, 4.146, 174.53; 14. Richard Penland, Mustang, 4.153, 174.44; 15. Tony Pontieri, Cobalt, 4.162, 173.21; 16. Bob Bertsch, Mustang, 4.166, 174.93. Not Qualified: 17. Doug Kirk, 4.177, 174.73; 18. Trevor Eman, 4.182, 175.05; 19. Lester Cooper, 4.219, 171.40; 20. Todd Moyer, 4.612, 122.36; 21. Greg Lair, 5.443, 93.12.
Pro Junior Dragster -- 1. Cole Burk, Hardens, 7.933, 77.02; 2. Ashton Call, RPC, 8.404, 83.57; 3. Corey Tankersley, HalfScale, 7.964, 82.50; 4. Alexis Heard, HalfScale, 9.066, 69.42; 5. Morgan Benfield, Motivat, 8.001, 81.26; 6. Tyler Allen, Halfscale, 8.824, 74.95; 7. Kendall Thiesse, HalfScale, 8.081, 69.85; 8. Trevor Wilson, Hardens, 7.849, 85.09; 9. Jordin Dewald, RPC, 7.866, 81.81; 10. Alexander Oppen, Hercules, broke; 11. Victoria Stallings, Halfscale, 7.972, 84.11; 12. Kyle Dvorak, Spitzer, broke; 13. Kaley Allen, HalfScale, 7.909, 83.97; 14. Tia Tutterow, Halfscale, 8.036, 81.43.
Friday, March 25, 2011
ADRL Honors 2010 World Champions, Special Award Winners At Racer Appreciation And Awards Gala
BAYTOWN, TEXAS (March 24, 2011) – A day before the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) kicked off its 2011 season, the world's premier eighth-mile drag racing league honored its 2010 World Champions.
The ADRL held its Racer Appreciation and Awards Gala on Thursday at the Tower Club at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas, recognizing its 2010 champions as well as handing out a trio of special awards on the eve of Friday's 2011 season-opener, CarSafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar Motorsports.
ADRL television personality Bret Kepner hosted the event that trumpeted the 2010 "Battle For The Belts" winners and also announced the winners for Driver of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Track of the Year.
With a record eight wins during the 2010 season, Pro Extreme Motorcycle standout Ashley Owens was the obvious choice for Driver of the Year, drawing huge applause from the crowd at the Tower Club.
Owens also set class records of 4.02 and 178.21 miles per hour during an incredible 2010 season.
"I have the easy part. I just have to sit on the bike and ride," Owens said. "The (Fast by Gast) team provides me with the best equipment available. Last year was the best year in racing I've ever had."
Earning Rookie of the Year honors was Pro Extreme driver Mick Snyder, who won the Ohio Drags late in the winner and impressed in big ways at the tail end of his first year in the ADRL.
The award came as a surprise to Snyder, but it will likely only add to his motivation for 2011.
"I really didn't think I would be standing up here," Snyder said. "Everything about driving a Pro Extreme car is different than what I'm used to, but things really came around.
"I hope I can have even more fun this coming season."
With its spacious and beautiful facility, Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Oh. earned Track of the Year honors.
Also getting recognized were 2010 World Champions, as Tyler Allen (Pro Junior Dragster), John Montecalvo (Extreme Pro Stock), Kim Morrell (Pro Extreme Motorcycle), Dan Millen (Extreme 10.5), Burton Auxier (Pro Nitrous) and Frankie Taylor (Pro Extreme).
In addition to their World Championship belts, each was presented with a World Championship ring.
The ADRL held its Racer Appreciation and Awards Gala on Thursday at the Tower Club at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas, recognizing its 2010 champions as well as handing out a trio of special awards on the eve of Friday's 2011 season-opener, CarSafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar Motorsports.
ADRL television personality Bret Kepner hosted the event that trumpeted the 2010 "Battle For The Belts" winners and also announced the winners for Driver of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Track of the Year.
With a record eight wins during the 2010 season, Pro Extreme Motorcycle standout Ashley Owens was the obvious choice for Driver of the Year, drawing huge applause from the crowd at the Tower Club.
Owens also set class records of 4.02 and 178.21 miles per hour during an incredible 2010 season.
"I have the easy part. I just have to sit on the bike and ride," Owens said. "The (Fast by Gast) team provides me with the best equipment available. Last year was the best year in racing I've ever had."
Earning Rookie of the Year honors was Pro Extreme driver Mick Snyder, who won the Ohio Drags late in the winner and impressed in big ways at the tail end of his first year in the ADRL.
The award came as a surprise to Snyder, but it will likely only add to his motivation for 2011.
"I really didn't think I would be standing up here," Snyder said. "Everything about driving a Pro Extreme car is different than what I'm used to, but things really came around.
"I hope I can have even more fun this coming season."
With its spacious and beautiful facility, Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Oh. earned Track of the Year honors.
Also getting recognized were 2010 World Champions, as Tyler Allen (Pro Junior Dragster), John Montecalvo (Extreme Pro Stock), Kim Morrell (Pro Extreme Motorcycle), Dan Millen (Extreme 10.5), Burton Auxier (Pro Nitrous) and Frankie Taylor (Pro Extreme).
In addition to their World Championship belts, each was presented with a World Championship ring.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)