Glidden named Driver of the Year; Taylor wins Jim Oddy Award

The National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) celebrated recently crowned ADRL world champions Jason Scruggs (Pro Extreme), Billy Harper (Pro Nitrous), Billy Glidden (Extreme 10.5) and Billy Vose (Pro Extreme Motorcycle) December 13, at the ADRL’s 2008 Racer Appreciation and Awards Gala in the Regency Ballroom at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Orlando.

Glidden was also named the ADRL’s 2008 Driver of the Year.

“Actually, we’re pretty elated,” Glidden said. “To grow up being (racing legend) Bob Glidden’s (son) and to find that our peers think enough of us with these kind of thoughts is just awesome; I mean, how do you give that back?”

Glidden named Driver of the Year; Taylor wins Jim Oddy Award

The National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) celebrated recently crowned ADRL world champions Jason Scruggs (Pro Extreme), Billy Harper (Pro Nitrous), Billy Glidden (Extreme 10.5) and Billy Vose (Pro Extreme Motorcycle) December 13, at the ADRL’s 2008 Racer Appreciation and Awards Gala in the Regency Ballroom at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Orlando.

Glidden was also named the ADRL’s 2008 Driver of the Year.

“Actually, we’re pretty elated,” Glidden said. “To grow up being (racing legend) Bob Glidden’s (son) and to find that our peers think enough of us with these kind of thoughts is just awesome; I mean, how do you give that back?”

Named ADRL’s Rookie of the Year was Pro Extreme Motorcycle rider Matt Prophit, who reached four final rounds in 2008, but is yet to take home a National Guard Minuteman trophy.

“Well, since I’d been runner-up four times already this year, I figured this would just be one more time,” Prophit quipped. “This is fantastic. You only get one chance in your career for this and it means more to me than anything else.”

Frankie Taylor, who scored his career-first ADRL win in 2008, was the recipient of the Jim Oddy Sportsmanship award, presented to the ADRL racer who most demonstrated sportsmanship along with competitive drive.

Throughout the season Taylor lent out several key parts to fellow Pro Extreme competitors, including Travis Swearingen and Bubba Stanton, even when it left Taylor short on parts in his own trailer. But his willingness to retrieve 2007 Extreme 10.5 world champ Steve Gorman and his car when Gorman’s race rig broke down in Oklahoma on his way to the Martin (MI) event sealed Taylor’s selection.

“It’s a real honor, especially (it) being the Jim Oddy award because I’ve been working with Jim Oddy probably 15 or 20 years. I think I’ve been his test dummy for a long time, just not always knowing it,” Taylor said with a laugh.

Finally, the 7th annual Walter W. Henry Memorial Award, the most prestigious award in doorslammer drag racing, was presented to longtime ADRL series sponsor Flowmaster, in recognition of its contribution to the sport. Gary Henry, son of the award’s namesake, joined ADRL President Kenny Nowling in making the presentation.

“Without Flowmaster and specifically the vision of its Vice President of Marketing, Richard Small, the ADRL probably wouldn’t even be here today, or certainly not at this stage in our development,” Nowling said. “Flowmaster’s contribution cannot be overstated and I’m honored that they are continuing their partnership with the ADRL as the official exhaust product of the ADRL and as the title sponsor for Dragstock, still our biggest and most prestigious event.”

The National Guard ADRL is the nation’s leading all-eighth-mile drag racing series featuring an all-professional show of four racing classes: Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Extreme 10.5 and Pro Extreme Motorcycles.