ADRL Dragpalooza
Houston Motorsports Park - Houston, Texas
FINAL - Castellana Goes Wire-to-Wire; Martin Wins First in Pro Extreme
(3-4-2006) - Not that his résumé really
needed much help, but Mike Castellana, a winner in NHRA, IHRA, and major
Pro Street competition, can now say that he has also won a FLOWMASTER
American Drag Racing League event.
Castellana and his Awesome Motorsports '05 Cavalier were untouchable at
the ADRL RacingJunk.com DRAGPALOOZA II event at Houston Motorsports Park,
finishing No. 1 in qualifying and recording a series of six straight 4.0-second
runs to take the Pro Nitrous title.
The Pro Extreme win went to Joey Martin, who fought his way through a deep,
28-car field to eventually beat Joshua Hernandez in the final.
The RacingJunk.com DRAGPALOOZA II was ADRL's second event in a three-weekend
span to open the 2006 season. The series now takes a six-week break before
visiting the St. Louis area for the first time for the
inaugural ADRL Fatheadz.com Gateway Drags.
From first run to last, Castellana, the reigning IHRA Pro Modified champion,
was the man to beat in Pro Nitrous. He opened with a 4.034 in his first
qualifying run Saturday and never looked back, posting a 4.044 in his
final qualifying run, a 4.051 on his first-round single, and then putting
together a bracket-car-like sequence of 4.028, 4.014, and 4.013 in eliminations
wins over James Hancock III, Terry Housley, and, in the final, Johnny
Pilcher.
The 516 points he scored for his qualifying and eliminations sweep vaulted
Castellana into the thick of the Battle for the Belts points race. He
will enter the St. Louis event in fourth place, exactly 100 points (the
equivalent of one round-win) behind Pilcher, the driver he beat in the
Houston final, 4.013 to 4.183.
Overall, five different drivers have won the last five ADRL Pro Nitrous
events, a streak beginning with Dan Parker's win in Valdosta last August.
Martin, in the Gotham City/TARE '03 Mustang, qualified No. 2 with a 3.950,
trailing only Bil Clanton, then turned it on in eliminations, running
four consecutive runs between 3.93 and 4.05 to turn back Terry Leggett,
Valdosta runner-up Thomas Patterson, Chip King, and Hernandez. He jumped
all the way to third place in the Pro Extreme portion of the Battle for
the Belts points standings, and currently trails only Valdosta winner
Mike Neal and Hernandez.
Drivers have four more events in which to earn points for the Battle of
the Belts ADRL world championship eliminators in the fall. The top eight
points-earners in each ADRL class will qualify for spots in their respective
Belts eliminators and will run for the 2006 ADRL titles on Oct. 13 in
Kennedale, Texas.
SATURDAY NOTES - New streaks and a new leader
(3-5-2006) - Streaking - The FLOWMASTER ADRL's two unique
qualifying streaks both remained intact in Houston. In Pro Extreme, No.
8 qualifier Mike Neal remains the only driver to qualify for every ADRL
event ever contested, while
Johnny Pilcher (No. 3 in Houston) is the only driver to qualify for all
eight Pro Nitrous events in ADRL history.
New Leader - Pilcher took over the top spot in the Pro Nitrous points standings with his runner-up finish. He leads Keith Baker by a mere two points.
Close but no cigar - Jason Scruggs flew to a 192.39 mph speed in his first Pro Extreme qualifying pass, but was unable to back that potential record up on either of his two remaining runs. The ADRL Pro Extreme speed record remains Joshua Hernandez's 189.28, set two weeks ago in Valdosta.
ADRL RacingJunk.com DRAGPALOOZA II results
Pro Extreme
First round
Bil Clanton 3.939 182.78
Herman Sheppard 4.259 171.69
Mike Neal 4.008 182.11
Frankie Taylor 3.987 184.43
Josh Hernandez 4.009 186.41
Eddie Ware 4.259 159.86
John Lynam 4.023 181.74
Jason Scruggs 4.565 118.92
Joey Martin 3.969 184.88
Terry Leggett 4.093 180.87
T. Patterson 4.002 180.43
Troy Critchley 4.038 182.63
Chip King 4.155 155.66
Bill Blackwell Centerline
Quarterfinals
Bil Clanton 3.947 180.65
Mike Neal 5.186 95.72
Josh Hernandez 4.024 181.38
John Lynam 3.971 184.73
Joey Martin 3.937 185.34
T. Patterson 3.988 183.08
Chip King 4.201 148.96
Todd Tutterow Broke
Semifinals
Josh Hernandez 3.989 169.11
Bil Clanton 4.017 173.61
Joey Martin 4.058 175.44
Chip King 4.076 152.59
Final
Joey Martin 3.943 185.95
Josh Hernandez 4.699 113.04
Pro Nitrous
First round
Mike Castellana 4.051 182.11
(single) (single)
James Hancock 4.117 175.03
Rex Kelley Red-light
Terry Housley 4.204 160.66
Thomas Myers 4.293 162.22
Burton Auxier 4.318 139.58
Grant Hensley 4.287 175.92
R. Weatherford 4.050 176.40
Jeff Naiser 8.154 55.38
Ken Thomas 5.578 95.16
Harold Martin No-show
Johnny Pilcher 4.071 181.45
Stan Allen 4.279 166.48
Keith Baker 4.087 180.14
Charles Carpenter 4.105 171.23
Quarterfinals
Mike Castellana 4.028 184.28
James Hancock 4.180 172.55
Terry Housley 4.062 177.87
Burton Auxier 4.304 137.36
Ken Thomas 4.205 165.20
R. Weatherford 4.580 123.59
Johnny Pilcher 4.131 176.19
Keith Baker 5.292 92.86
Semifinals
Mike Castellana 4.014 179.93
Terry Housley 4.055 178.78
Johnny Pilcher 4.046 180.58
Ken Thomas 4.198 171.30
Final
Mike Castellana 4.013 183.37
Johnny Pilcher 4.183 175.78
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That's Gonna Leave A Mark
(3-04-2006) - Bill Blackwell got out of shape during the first round of eliminations at the ADRL Dragpalooza in Houston, Texas.
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ADRL RacingJunk.com DRAGPALOOZA II Set to Kick Off
at Houston Motorsports Park
(3-4-2006)
- After a full day of testing, the assembled Pro Modified contingent
on hand for event No. 2 on the Flowmaster ADRL schedule are dialing in
raceday combinations in anticipation of the first round of qualifying.
As was the case at the season opener in Valdosta, Georgia, two weeks
ago, there were plenty of solid eighth-mile passes registered throughout
the day on Friday.
Here are the top five in each class:
Pro Extreme:
Joey Martin – 3.93, 188
Bil Clanton – 3.94, 181
John Lynam – 3.96, 184
Mike Neal – 3.96, 182
Todd Tutterow – 3.98, 185
Pro Nitrous:
Johnny Pilcher – 4.04, 181
Terry Housley – 4.04, 171
Mike Castellana – 4.05, 183
Randy Weatherford – 4.05, 178
Keith Baker – 4.12, 176
One
Head in a Duffle Bag – There was plenty of scrambling going
on in Todd Tutterow’s pit area last night after he torched a head
on his small block-powered Mustang. A major logistical effort was put
forth, and after numerous phone calls, a “mercy flight” was
organized so that one of his crew members back home in North Carolina
could fly in with a spare head. He and the new part arrived from Winston-Salem
in the wee hours of the morning, and the waiting crew immediately went
to work to make the repairs. The team had a mostly sleepless night, but
Tutterow will be out on the track when qualifying begins.
It’s About Time – There were some great
runs turned in during testing on Friday, but the numbers that showed up
on some time slips just didn’t add up. Concerned that the timing
system may need some adjusting, the company who provided the system to
Houston Motorsports Park have flown a representative in who will be checking
things out thoroughly before the serious racing gets under way.
Battle for the Belts Tightens - With only the top eight
points-earners in each class eligible to compete for the 2006 ADRL world
titles this fall in Kennedale, Texas, there is already a sense of urgency
evident in the pits here in Houston. Valdosta winner Mike Neal leads the
Pro Extreme standings with 710 points, while Keith Baker (518) is just
ahead of Harold Martin (506) at the top of the Pro Nitrous chart. Martin
won the Pro Nitrous title at the season-opener in Valdosta in his ADRL
debut, and while it looked for a while as if he was going to be a no-show
here this weekend, his ACDelco-sponsored Pontiac arrived late in the day.
His crew worked long into the night to get ready for the upcoming battle.
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PREVIEW - After Short Break, ADRL Revs up
for Second Event of Season
(3-03-2006) - With the first-event gremlins taken care
of, the drivers on the FLOWMASTER American Drag Racing League circuit will
now turn their attention to the meat of the 2006 season, beginning with
this weekend's ADRL RacingJunk.com DRAGPALOOZA II event at Houston Motorsports
Park.
The action begins Friday with open testing for all Outlaw Pro Mod cars,
followed by a full day of qualifying and eliminations on Saturday. Qualifying
for both the Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous classes gets under way at noon,
with eliminations scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.
Another large field is expected for the second ADRL event of the 2006
season. Two weeks ago at the season-opener in Valdosta, Ga., a total of
62 cars competed in the two Outlaw classes, a record for a Pro Mod-only
event. ADRL officials announced earlier this week that 67 entry
requests had been received for DRAGPALOOZA II.
ADRL drivers - especially those who ended up below the line in Valdosta
- will also be looking to improve their standing in the Battle for the
Belts competition, as only the top eight points-earners in each class
will be eligible to compete for the 2006 ADRL world titles this fall in
Kennedale, Texas. Valdosta winner Mike Neal leads the Pro Extreme standings
with 710 points; Keith Baker (518) is just ahead of Harold Martin (506)
at the top of the Pro Nitrous chart. Martin won the Pro Nitrous title
at the season-opener in Valdosta in his ADRL debut.
The defending event champions are Bil Clanton (Pro Extreme) and
Shannon Jenkins (Pro Nitrous). Last year's DRAGPALOOZA was held at South
Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta.
This year's DRAGPALOOZA also gained a title-rights sponsor in the form
of RacingJunk.com, the ADRL's newest marketing partner. More information
can be found on the company's web-site at www.racingjunk.com.
Battle for the Belts points standings Through 2 of 7 events
Pro Extreme
1. Mike Neal 710
2. Quain Stott 519
3. Thomas Patterson 402
4. Jason Scruggs 316
5. Toney Russell 314
6. Joshua Hernandez 313
7. John Lynam 308
8. Todd Tutterow 306
9. Bil Clanton 216
10. Danny Rowe 210
11. Eddie Ware 208
12. Gaylen Smith 203
13. Phil Osborne 114
14. Frankie Taylor 111
15. Bennie McDonald 109
16. Chip King 107
17. Joey Martin 103
18. Bubba Stanton 102
19. Doug Palmer 101
Pro Nitrous
1. Keith Baker 518
2. Harold Martin 506
3. Shannon Jenkins 416
4. Rickie Smith 409
5. Ken Thomas 408
6. Johnny Pilcher 317
7. Terry Housley 305
8. Kenny Rucker 302
9. Rex Kelley 217
10. Burton Auxier 214
11. Randy Weatherford 213
12. James Hancock 207
13. Mike Castellana 115
14. Charles Carpenter 108
15. Stan Allen 104
16. Thomas Meyers 104
17. Jamie Hancock 103
Rick Senft 103
19. Grant Hensley 102
Ricky Cate 101
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(3-4-2006)
- After a full day of testing, the assembled Pro Modified contingent
on hand for event No. 2 on the Flowmaster ADRL schedule are dialing in
raceday combinations in anticipation of the first round of qualifying.
One
Head in a Duffle Bag – There was plenty of scrambling going
on in Todd Tutterow’s pit area last night after he torched a head
on his small block-powered Mustang. A major logistical effort was put
forth, and after numerous phone calls, a “mercy flight” was
organized so that one of his crew members back home in North Carolina
could fly in with a spare head. He and the new part arrived from Winston-Salem
in the wee hours of the morning, and the waiting crew immediately went
to work to make the repairs. The team had a mostly sleepless night, but
Tutterow will be out on the track when qualifying begins.
