There is another certainty as well: the event will feature the biggest payouts in the history of doorslammer racing.
With the highly-anticipated World Finals spanning three days on Oct. 21-23 at Texas Motorplex, the world's premier eighth-mile drag racing league will award nearly three-quarters of a million dollars to drivers over the weekend, making it the most lucrative race in ADRL and doorslammer history.
Of that, more than $355,000 will be awarded to the drivers who finish in the top 10 in points, and world champions will also be crowned in five classes (Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Extreme 10.5, Pro Extreme Motorcycle and Extreme Pro Stock).
An additional $182,500 will be awarded to drivers competing in the "Battle For The Belts," the one-day elimination shootout that takes place on Saturday, Oct. 22.
The BFTB features the top eight competitors in six classes and these ADRL competitors will be competing for as much as $25,000
Eliminations for the World Finals will take place on Sunday and the ADRL will hand out an additional $181,000 in event prize money.
The opportunity is certainly grand for drivers in Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous. A handful of drivers in both classes have an opportunity to win $110,000 over the weekend.
Winning the world championship in either class would give the champion $75,000, while they could also earn an additional $25,000 for winning the "Battle For The Belts" and $10,000 more for taking first in the World Finals.
Jason Hamstra is the current points leader in Pro Extreme, while Pro Nitrous driver Mike Castellana holds a commanding lead in that class and only needs to qualify to clinch his first ADRL World Championship.
"It's coming down to crunch time, but this is what makes it fun," Hamstra said. "There's a lot of pressure there, but it's what we love to do."
Castellana's relaxed approach has been beneficial in his standout Pro Nitrous season and he'll look to add to his four event wins with a similar mindset in Ennis, Texas.
"This team has just been unbelievable. It's just a great group of guys preparing the car and with Shannon (Jenkins) tuning, you couldn't ask for much more," Castellana said. "It's really just allowed me to relax and have fun this year, and it's truly been incredible."
In Extreme Pro Stock, Cary Goforth has the opportunity for one remarkable weekend.
Just by showing up, Goforth can clinch his first ADRL world championship, which nets him $50,000.
Should Goforth would the event – he has an XPS-best three wins in 2011 – and take the BFTB as well, Goforth, whose six events wins is tied for the most in class history, could earn an impressive $78,000.
"I'm just lucky to be here and it would be a dream come true to win a championship," Goforth said. "It could be something you could always look back on.
"This whole team deserves this. I'm so proud I can get this for them. They all deserve this."
Dan Millen, Frankie Taylor and Billy Glidden are still in contention for the biggest prizes in Extreme 10.5. All are competing for the world championship, though Millen holds a commanding lead and remains the odds-on favorite to repeat as the world championship.
Should Millen take all three, he would earn $48,000.
Ashley Owens has already clinched the $10,000 by winning the Pro Extreme Motorcycle world championship and could make it $22,500 by winning the BFTB for the first time and adding to his four event victories in his record-breaking 2011 season.
The world championship presentation take place on Sunday, Oct. 23 at the Racer Appreciation and Awards Gala, which takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the spacious Champions Club at Texas Motorplex.
