Last year when the National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) visited U.S. 131 Dragway in Martin, Michigan, severe weather cut the event short, forcing its completion at the next race on the schedule. This year the tables are turned, as fans attending this weekend’s (June 5-6) Ford Drive One Summer Drags V will get to see event champions crowned both days of the event due to rain ending the previous race prematurely.

Within Friday night’s qualifying session, the semi-finals and final rounds for all five National Guard ADRL professional classes that were rained out two weeks ago in Memphis will be concluded at Martin. Then on Saturday, the remaining two qualifying rounds and eliminations for the Ford Drive One Summer Drags V will be run, with both days featuring full winner’s circle celebrations and trophy presentations. Last year when the National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) visited U.S. 131 Dragway in Martin, Michigan, severe weather cut the event short, forcing its completion at the next race on the schedule. This year the tables are turned, as fans attending this weekend’s (June 5-6) Ford Drive One Summer Drags V will get to see event champions crowned both days of the event due to rain ending the previous race prematurely.

Within Friday night’s qualifying session, the semi-finals and final rounds for all five National Guard ADRL professional classes that were rained out two weeks ago in Memphis will be concluded at Martin. Then on Saturday, the remaining two qualifying rounds and eliminations for the Ford Drive One Summer Drags V will be run, with both days featuring full winner’s circle celebrations and trophy presentations.

“This is going to be one action-packed weekend of the wildest drag racing Western Michigan has ever seen,” National Guard ADRL Director Race Operations Quick Vandiver promised. “The stands were packed last year right before the bad weather hit and with perfect racing conditions forecast I know they’ll be full again this year, so everyone should come out early and enjoy the whole show.”

With two race wins up for grabs, along with the championship points they represent, the Martin, Michigan event could prove pivotal in setting the year-end, eight-car fields for the National Guard ADRL’s unique, championship-deciding Speedtech Battle for the Belts. The Speedtech Battle for the Belts will pit the top eight points earners in each of the ADRL’s five pro racing classes—Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Extreme 10.5, Extreme Pro Stock and Pro Extreme Motorcycle—against each other in Friday-night eliminations at the 2009 season ender this October at the Texas Motorplex, near Dallas. Points earned in Saturday’s race at Dallas will actually count toward the 2010 championship chase.

The National Guard ADRL features teams from all across the country competing in thrilling eighth-mile, head-to-head action. National Guard ADRL racing is an all-pro-show with no filler classes, which translates to a quick-paced and entertaining day of drag racing.

The stars of the ADRL are friendly, approachable and eager to visit with fans. Pit access is included with all event tickets, which are distributed to the Western Michigan community almost entirely free of charge thanks to ADRL sponsors Ford Drive One and the National Guard.

High-definition television coverage of the Ford Drive One Summer Drags V will be shown at 3 p.m. June 21, on the Versus action sports network. Additional air dates following each remaining National Guard ADRL event this year will be August 2, 16 and 23; September 6 and 27; and November 8 and 22, with all dates and times subject to change.

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