Vegas odds-makers would love this one; three of the four 2008 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) champions crowned at the Texas Motorplex Oct. 24, in the 4th annual LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals, go by the name, “Billy,” with only defending Pro Extreme champ Jason Scruggs spoiling a four-of-a-kind finish, as Billy Vose also successfully defended his 2007 Pro Extreme Motorcycle championship, while Billy Glidden prevailed in Extreme 10.5 and Billy Harper won in the Pro Nitrous class.

The ADRL determines season champions through its Battle for the Belts, a single-elimination playoff between the top eight points earners in each professional class.

 

Vegas odds-makers would love this one; three of the four 2008 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) champions crowned at the Texas Motorplex Oct. 24, in the 4th annual LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals, go by the name, “Billy,” with only defending Pro Extreme champ Jason Scruggs spoiling a four-of-a-kind finish, as Billy Vose also successfully defended his 2007 Pro Extreme Motorcycle championship, while Billy Glidden prevailed in Extreme 10.5 and Billy Harper won in the Pro Nitrous class.

The ADRL determines season champions through its Battle for the Belts, a single-elimination playoff between the top eight points earners in each professional class.

Scruggs, from Saltillo, MS, ran a traction-challenged 4.15-seconds pass at just 151.05 mph with his supercharged ’07 Dodge Stratus to defeat Mabank, TX, racer Wes Johnston in the championship-deciding Pro Extreme final, after Bil Clanton and Brian Daniels were both disqualified for leaving too soon against him.

“We didn’t run too good and got lucky,” Scruggs said. “I guess that’s what it takes sometimes, though.”

Buck Mountain, PA’s Vose also benefited by a redlight start against him by Jack Clark in round one. He then overcame a holeshot by Scott Gray to win in the semis before making his best pass of the day, a 4.26 at 163.91 mph over the Motorplex eighth mile, to beat Nikie Corley and retain his ADRL title.

“It wasn’t pretty,” Vose said, “but it got the job done.”

Glidden and his Ford-powered ’06 GTO got the job done with a 4.15 pass at 172.94 mph against Mike Hill in the Extreme 10.5 Battle for the Belts final after ousting local favorite Michelle Wilson in round one and participating in the quickest and fastest side-by-side race in series history with Steve Kirk Jr. in the semis. Kirk put together a stout 4.15 at 177.91, but still came up short to Glidden’s record-setting 4.13 at 174.46 mph effort.

“I know it looks like I had them covered, but it was a far from perfect day,” the Whiteland, IN-based, second-generation driver insisted. “I fought clutch problems and feel fortunate to have won.”

Harper, from Paducah, KY, gave all the championship credit to his team members, led by crew chief and fellow driver Dennis

Radford. His 2001 Dodge Viper carried him to wins over Burton Auxier and Shannon Jenkins before going 3.94 at 186.23 mph to win over Rickie Smith in the final. All three of Harper’s challengers are Al-Anabi Awesome Motorsports teammates.

“Bring on another Al-Anabi car,” Radford quipped immediately upon winning.

The 2009 ADRL season actually begins this weekend, too, as all points earned in qualifying and eliminations at the World Finals will count toward setting the Battle for the Belts fields for next year.