ADRL HISTORY IN RADFORD
Thu, 2008-07-03 10:28
When the Flowmaster American Drag Racing League (ADRL) presented by the
National Guard visits Motor Mile Dragway in Radford, Virginia July 4-5,
for the 2nd annual ADRL Shelor Motor Mile Independence Drags, fans and
racers alike will be in for a history-making experience.
The conclusion of the first day of this year’s Independence Drags will feature a unique event as all four finals from the ADRL’s rain-shortened previous event in Martin, Michigan will be run with ADRL President Kenny Nowling personally starting each pair of competitors with hand signals. The unusual format came about as a result of severe electrical storms in Michigan taking out the track’s starting-line tree and scoreboard displays, but leaving the staging and timing equipment intact.
When the Flowmaster American Drag Racing League (ADRL) presented by the National Guard visits Motor Mile Dragway in Radford, Virginia July 4-5, for the 2nd annual ADRL Shelor Motor Mile Independence Drags, fans and racers alike will be in for a history-making experience.
The conclusion of the first day of this year’s Independence Drags will feature a unique event as all four finals from the ADRL’s rain-shortened previous event in Martin, Michigan will be run with ADRL President Kenny Nowling personally starting each pair of competitors with hand signals. The unusual format came about as a result of severe electrical storms in Michigan taking out the track’s starting-line tree and scoreboard displays, but leaving the staging and timing equipment intact.
“Sometimes you have to do what it takes,” Nowling said of what one Extreme 10.5 team quickly dubbed the Arm Drop Racing League (ADRL). That means the finals will be run—complete with arm-drop starts—at the end of Friday night’s qualifying session in Radford.
“It’s the only way to remain fair and consistent,” Nowling stated. “Besides, I think everyone left in contention is looking forward to the bragging rights of winning such a unique title. The fans in Virginia are in for a real treat, too, because these arm-drop starts for a pair of 3,000-horsepower cars have to be seen to be believed.”
Points leader Joshua Hernandez will take on Bob Mandell Jr. in the Pro Extreme final, teammates Billy Harper and Dennis Radford will square off for Pro Nitrous honors, Gary White and Brent Rau will stage the ADRL’s first-ever meeting of import cars in the Extreme 10.5 final, and T.T. Jones will ride against Scott Gray to determine the Pro Extreme Motorcycle winner. All final-round passes also will count as official ADRL qualifying attempts toward the Independence Drags, Nowling added.
“And one more thing; when we came up with the arm-drop idea, I promised Steve Gorman, our reigning Extreme 10.5 champion, that he could shave my head on the starting line when it was all over,” he said. “Well, that’s still on. It actually comes at a good time, too, because our next event is the inaugural 1-800-GO-GUARD.com U.S. Drags up in Budd’s Creek, Maryland, so I’ll fit right in with my new military-style haircut.”
Saturday’s on-track action will include two scheduled qualifying sessions, with eliminations for all professional classes beginning at 4 p.m. Additionally, extensive fireworks displays are planned for both nights at the track, along with a trackside custom car show and comprehensive manufacturer’s midway.
The conclusion of the first day of this year’s Independence Drags will feature a unique event as all four finals from the ADRL’s rain-shortened previous event in Martin, Michigan will be run with ADRL President Kenny Nowling personally starting each pair of competitors with hand signals. The unusual format came about as a result of severe electrical storms in Michigan taking out the track’s starting-line tree and scoreboard displays, but leaving the staging and timing equipment intact.
Arm Drop Racing League President Kenny Nowling balances atop a concrete barrier and prepares to send the Extreme 10.5 entries of Billy Glidden (near lane) and H.T. Wilson down the eighth mile at Martin, Michigan.
The conclusion of the first day of this year’s Independence Drags will feature a unique event as all four finals from the ADRL’s rain-shortened previous event in Martin, Michigan will be run with ADRL President Kenny Nowling personally starting each pair of competitors with hand signals. The unusual format came about as a result of severe electrical storms in Michigan taking out the track’s starting-line tree and scoreboard displays, but leaving the staging and timing equipment intact.
“Sometimes you have to do what it takes,” Nowling said of what one Extreme 10.5 team quickly dubbed the Arm Drop Racing League (ADRL). That means the finals will be run—complete with arm-drop starts—at the end of Friday night’s qualifying session in Radford.
“It’s the only way to remain fair and consistent,” Nowling stated. “Besides, I think everyone left in contention is looking forward to the bragging rights of winning such a unique title. The fans in Virginia are in for a real treat, too, because these arm-drop starts for a pair of 3,000-horsepower cars have to be seen to be believed.”
Team Titan driver Gary White will make up half of the historical first pairing of two import cars for the ADRL when he stages his '07 Scion against Brent Rau's '99 Mitsubishi Eclipse in the rain-postponed Extreme 10.5 final from Michigan at this weekend's ADRL Shelor Motor Mile Independence Drags in Radford, Virginia.
“And one more thing; when we came up with the arm-drop idea, I promised Steve Gorman, our reigning Extreme 10.5 champion, that he could shave my head on the starting line when it was all over,” he said. “Well, that’s still on. It actually comes at a good time, too, because our next event is the inaugural 1-800-GO-GUARD.com U.S. Drags up in Budd’s Creek, Maryland, so I’ll fit right in with my new military-style haircut.”
Saturday’s on-track action will include two scheduled qualifying sessions, with eliminations for all professional classes beginning at 4 p.m. Additionally, extensive fireworks displays are planned for both nights at the track, along with a trackside custom car show and comprehensive manufacturer’s midway.
Categories:
