ADRL ALPHA TRADE BATTLE FOR THE BELTS - SAME DAY COVERAGE
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SATURDAY FINAL - Scruggs Doubles at World Finals; Radford, Hill,
Clark Also Score
The Flowmaster American Drag Racing League closed the books on its 2007 season
and opened up
its 2008 campaign over the weekend at Texas Motorplex, with Jason
Scruggs (Pro Extreme), Dennis Radford (Pro Nitrous), Mike Hill (Extreme 10.5)
and Ron Clark (Pro Extreme Motorcycle) winning event titles Saturday night at
the AlphaTrade ADRL World Finals.
One night earlier, Scruggs, Jamie
Hancock (Pro Nitrous), Steve Gorman (Extreme 10.5), and Bill Vose (Pro Extreme
Motorcycle) earned the 2007 ADRL world championships in their respective classes
by winning their three-round AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts eliminators.
Scruggs was the only driver to double-up at the World Finals, finishing
his stellar weekend with a 3.870 to 3.933 win Saturday night over Joey Martin in
the Pro Extreme final. His closest call of the day came in the semifinals, where
Frankie Taylor ran a stout 3.81/197.05 but still lost to Scruggs' 3.79/202.88 in
what was the quickest side-by-side pass in ADRL history.
Radford won his
first career ADRL national event title with a string of steady low-4.0-second
passes in eliminations. He wrapped up the title with a 4.00 to 4.37 win over
alternate Tim Savell in the final. Savell was attempting to join Brian Daniels
(Huntsville, 2006) as the only alternate to ever win an ADRL event
title.
After a first-round loss Friday in the AlphaTrade Battle for the
Belts eliminator, Hill bounced back strongly to claim the Extreme 10.5 title on
Saturday. Hill clobbered all three of his foes on Saturday, eventually winning
the World Finals trophy with a 4.26 (the quickest pass ever run on 10.5 tires)
to 4.50 final-round win over Kenny Kneece, who lost his second straight ADRL
final.
Clark, the No. 2 qualifier, held off No. 13 Brian- Carr to win
the Pro Extreme Motorcycle title, 4.29 to 4.36. Both riders were competing in
their first career ADRL final rounds.
All points earned from the 2007
AlphaTrade ADRL World Finals will carry over into the 2008 season and count
toward next year's Battle for the Belts points standings. The ADRL's complete
2008 schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.
2007 ADRL event winners
Pro
Extreme
Houston: Mike Bell
Valdosta: Joe Baker
Huntsville: Jason
Scruggs
Radford: Bubba Stanton
Norwalk: Bubba Stanton
Rockingham:
Josh Hernandez
Dallas: Jason Scruggs
Pro Nitrous
Houston: Charles
Carpenter
Valdosta: Johnny Pilcher
Huntsville: Johnny Pilcher
Radford: Doug Riesterer
Norwalk: Charles Carpenter
Rockingham: Jim
Halsey
Dallas: Dennis Radford
Extreme 10.5
Houston: Rodney
Rosenstiel
Valdosta: Mike Hill
Huntsville: Mike Hill
Norwalk: David
Janes
Rockingham: Brad Personett
Dallas: Mike Hill
Pro Extreme
Motorcycle
Valdosta: Steve Drake
Huntsville: Jack Young
Norwalk:
Eddie Gonder Jr.
Rockingham: Bill Vose
Dallas: Ron Clark
SATURDAY - ADRL NAMED NATIONAL GUARD AS SERIES PRESENTING SPONSOR
"The partnership between the Guard and the ADRL is a completely natural one. That's because the future of the Army National Guard, as well as that of the ADRL, rests with the young men and women across our nation, who are well-educated, excited by emerging technologies, and highly motivated to do great things for themselves and for the greater good of our communities," said MAJ Michael Baptista, Chief of Advertising for the Army National Guard. "The men and women who compete in the ADRL are incredibly brave and courageous, which are the same traits that embody a National Guard soldier."
ADRL President Kenny Nowling said that the addition of the Army National Guard to the ADRL family will help the series reach younger generations of fans.
"We're extremely excited that the National Guard has joined us in our effort to present the ADRL to the youth of America. It has been our goal bring a younger generation of fans into drag racing, and this partnership will certainly help with those efforts," Nowling said. "This partnership with the National Guard not only solidifies our position within our industry, it's also exciting for me personally. I have built the ADRL around the same core beliefs that the Army National Guard represents."
The agreement between the ADRL and the Army National Guard includes a number of additional features and programs that will be announced during the off-season. The ADRL's 2007 season concludes with this weekend's AlphaTrade ADRL World Finals at Texas Motorplex.
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FRIDAY - SCRUGGS, HANCOCK, GORMAN, AND VOSE CLAIM ADRL TITLES
Hancock is youngest
drag racing champion ever; Scruggs' win caps dominant season
The Flowmaster American Drag Racing League's 2007 season came to a close Friday
night at Texas Motorplex, with Jason Scruggs, Jamie Hancock, Steve Gorman, and
Bill Vose claiming ADRL world championships by winning their respective classes
in the AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts eliminators.
Scruggs capped a
sensational season by beating Joe Baker for the Pro Extreme title, 3.850 to a
troubled 7.79. During the 2007 season, Scruggs won his first career national
event title (Huntsville), continually lowered the ADRL's Pro Extreme performance
records (which now stand at 3.703 and 205.22 mph), and finished third in the
AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts points standings. He was dominant during
Friday's three-round competition, posting runs of 3.781/203.80 and 3.768/203.65
to win his two preliminary rounds before the final.
Hancock, 17, won the
Pro Nitrous title from the eighth and final qualifying position, beating
top-seeded Johnny Pilcher and Terry Housley to reach the final. He had his best
run of the event in that race, posting a 4.029 to turn back 2006 ADRL world
champion Keith Baker's 5-second run and deny Baker consecutive ADRL
championships. With the Belts title, Hancock became the youngest-ever winner of
a major drag racing championship. Ironically, Hancock came dangerously close to
not qualifying for the Belts field at all, needing a semifinal finish at
Dragstock IV in Rockingham to finally clinch his spot.
The ADRL's
first-ever Battle for the Belts finals in Extreme 10.5 and Pro Extreme
Motorcycle both ended at the starting line. In Extreme 10.5 Steve Gorman, the
fifth-place points finisher in 2007, claimed the ADRL championship by taking the
Tree after Michelle Wilson's car had troubles at the starting line and was
pushed back. Wilson had already become the first female to win a round in
AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts history and was attempting to become the series'
first female champion in any class.
The Pro Extreme Motorcycle
competition came down to the top two riders of the season, No. 1 qualifier
Coodee Thomas and No. 2 Vose. In the final, Thomas left before the Tree was
activated, although that didn't keep Vose from posting a monster run of 4.278 at
173.38.
Two points leaders from 2007 were eliminated in first-round
upsets Friday night. Pilcher, who claimed the top spot in the final Pro Nitrous
points standings by a massive 900-plus points, lost on a red-light against
Hancock, and Extreme 10.5 points leader Mike Hill was beaten on a holeshot by
Dragstock IV winner Brad Personett, 4.32 to 4.31.
The eight world titles
in the three full seasons of ADRL competition have now been won by eight
different drivers. John Lynam and Bubba Stanton won the first two Pro Extreme
championships; Dan Parker and Keith Baker won the fist two Pro Nitrous titles.
Friday night's AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts eliminators marked the
end of the 2007 ADRL season; Saturday's two rounds of qualifying and
eliminations in all four ADRL professional classes will begin the 2008 campaign.
All competitors entered this weekend's AlphaTrade ADRL World Finals with a clean
points slate, and any points earned Saturday will carry over into the 2008 ADRL
season.
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ADRL CHAMPIONS
Pro Extreme
2007: Jason
Scruggs
2006: Bubba Stanton
2005: John Lynam
Pro Nitrous
2007:
Jamie Hancock
2006: Keith Baker
2005: Dan Parker
Extreme
10.5
2007: Steve Gorman
Pro Extreme Motorcycle
2007: Bill Vose
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THURSDAY - ‘Bring it on’ says Hernandez
It's been a career year for Conroe, Texas resident Josh Hernandez. Entering this
weekend's AlphaTrade World Finals of the Flowmaster American Drag Racing League
in Ennis, Texas, he has achieved more this year with the tuning prowess of
Howard Moon than most racers hope to achieve in a lifetime - and it's all on the
line for eighth-mile bragging rights as Hernandez competes for the Pro Extreme
Championship belt.
"Bring it on," said the 35-year-old Hernandez. "I am
so ready to race this weekend. To think the whole season comes down to this
event, after the months and months of racing and traveling, I'm ready to get it
on and prove this Dr Moon’s Rage '57 Chevy is the baddest hot rod out there.
"With the backing of Tommy Lipar and Dr. Moon's amazing tuning, we've
had a stellar year, and I couldn't be more excited," Hernandez
said.
Hernandez enters the weekend on the heels of winning the Eastern
Race Fuels Dragstock IV in Rockingham, North Carolina and as one of eight
drivers who will compete in the AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts, having finished
the regular season in second place with 2129 points.
Less than three
weeks ago at the same Texas Motorplex track he will be competing at this
weekend, Hernandez was awarded the 2007 BAE World Championship title in the AMS
Pro Modified Challenge, the premier quarter-mile Pro Mod series, and eventually
won the race - his sixth win of the nine AMS series events to
date.
"This has obviously been a great track for me so far this year, so
we are all really comfortable racing here," he said.
"It would be
awesome to add the ADRL Championship Belt to this team's list of accomplishments
for this season, and I can guarantee that I will be doing my very best to
deliver it. I know Howard and the rest of the guys are ready to race, and I
think you'll see some incredible times and racing in Ennis this
weekend.
"It all comes down to this, and I'm ready to go," Hernandez
said.
Following the AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts championship
eliminators on Friday, Oct. 12 at the ADRL World Finals, drivers will begin
earning points toward the 2008 standings during Saturday's qualifying and
eliminations. Saturday will feature two rounds of qualifying (noon and 2 p.m.)
and the first round of eliminations for all classes will begin around 4 p.m.
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THURSDAY - Carpenter focused on ending 2007 with a
championship
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AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts preview: Pro
Extreme
Defending Pro Extreme world
champion Bubba Stanton will start from the No. 1 qualifying position for
Friday's AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts competition at Texas Motorplex after
finishing on top of the 2007 Flowmaster American Drag Racing League points
standings.
Stanton won two events and scored 2,178 points to edge Joshua
Hernandez (2,129) for the top spot in the Belts standings. Jason Scruggs, holder
of both ends of the ADRL Pro Extreme performance record, will open the
three-round competition from the No. 3 qualifying spot.
Hernandez, No. 6
John Lynam, and No. 8 Bil Clanton each qualified for the their third straight
Belts competition.
Following is a look at each of the qualified Pro
Extreme drivers for the Battle for the Belts competition (2007 records include
the 2006 ADRL World Finals). Any qualified driver who does not compete at this
weekend's AlphaTrade ADRL World Finals will be replaced by the highest-ranked
alternate at the event.
NO. 1 BUBBA STANTON (2,178 POINTS)
Best
result: Winner, Radford and Norwalk
2007 record: 14-4
Career record:
17-9
Notable: Defending ADRL Pro Extreme world champion ... reached three
straight finals during 2007 season (Huntsville through Norwalk).
NO. 2
JOSHUA HERNANDEZ (2,129)
Best result: Winner, Kennedale (2006) and
Rockingham
2007 record: 13-4
Career record: 21-11
Notable: Bookended
the points-scoring season with wins at the 2006 ADRL World Finals and the 2007
Dragstock IV event.
NO. 3 JASON SCRUGGS (1,954)
Best result: Winner,
Huntsville
2007 record: 10-4
Career record: 20-11
Notable: Reset the
class' performance standards all season, eventually improving the ADRL records
to 3.703 at 205.22 mph.
NO. 4 TRAVIS SWEARINGEN (1,577)
Best result:
Runner-up, Valdosta and Radford
2007 record: 7-5
Career record:
8-6
Notable: Finished on top of a tight points grouping from fourth to
seventh places.
NO. 5 JOE BAKER (1,571)
Best result: Winner,
Valdosta
2007 record: 8-4
Career record: 8-4
Notable: Won Valdosta
event in second ADRL outing.
NO. 6 JOHN LYNAM (1,416)
Best result:
Runner-up, Houston
2007 record: 7-5
Career record: 28-15
Notable: Won
the first Battle for the Belts title in 2005 ... Most round-wins (28), rounds
(43) and final-round appearances (eight) in class history.
NO. 7 DWAYNE
WATKINS (1,369)
Best result: Runner-up, Kennedale (2006) and Norwalk
2007
record: 7-5
Career record: 7-7
Notable: First appearance in Battle for the
Belts competition.
NO. 8 BIL CLANTON (1,197)
Best result:
Quarterfinals, Norwalk and Rockingham
2007 record: 2-7
Career record:
18-15
Notable: One of three drivers to qualify for all three Belts
eliminators in Pro Extreme (with John Lynam and Joshua Hernandez).
Final
points standings
1. Bubba Stanton 2,178
2. Joshua Hernandez
2,129
3. Jason Scruggs 1,954
4. Travis Swearingen
1,577
5. Joe Baker 1,571
6. John Lynam 1,416
7. Dwayne
Watkins 1,369
8. Bil Clanton 1,197
9. Brian Daniels
945
10. Quain Stott 905
11. Frankie Taylor 895
12. Mike
Bell 893
13. Michael Neal 888
14. Todd Tutterow
786
15. Mike Neal 778
16. Herman Sheppard 677
17. Kelly
Martin 673
18. Bennie McDonald 646
19. Hugh Scott
635
20. Bobby Booth 498
21. Joey Martin 480
22. Brandon
Pesz 460
23. Bryan Dyar 387
24. Tommy D'Aprile 363
25. Greg Holt 331
26. Chip King 316
27. Troy
Critchley 299
28. Steve Engel 281
29. Mel Eaves
252
30. T.J. Harrill 251
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AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts preview: Pro
Nitrous
Runaway points leader
Johnny Pilcher and defending ADRL world champion Keith Baker highlight the
eight-car Pro Nitrous field for the Flowmaster American Drag Racing League's
season-ending AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts competition Friday at Texas
Motorplex.
Pilcher scored 2,498 points during the 2007 season, finishing
roughly nine round-wins in front of No. 2 qualifier Doug Riesterer. Baker wound
up third in the points standings, leading a tightly compressed group of drivers
that included Charles Carpenter and Terry Housley. Those three finished within
69 points of one another.
Following is a look at each of the qualified
Pro Nitrous drivers for the Battle for the Belts competition, ordered by points
finish (2007 records include the 2006 ADRL World Finals). Any qualified driver
who does not compete at this weekend's AlphaTrade ADRL World Finals will be
replaced by the highest-ranked alternate at the event.
NO. 1 JOHNNY
PILCHER (2,498 POINTS)
Best result: Winner, Valdosta and Huntsville
2007
record: 15-4
Career record: 28-16
Notable: Has qualified for every ADRL
Pro Nitrous event ever contested (19) ... most eliminations rounds (44) and
round-wins (28) in PN history.
NO. 2 DOUG RIESTERER (1,596)
Best
result: Winner, Radford
2007 record: 9-4
Career record: 10-5
Notable:
No. 1 qualifier at each of the last three ADRL national events.
NO. 3
KEITH BAKER (1,539)
Best result: Runner-up, Radford
2007 record:
7-5
Career record: 21-15
Notable: Defending Battle for the Belts Pro
Nitrous champion ... one of three drivers in class history with 20 or more
round-wins.
NO. 4 CHARLES CARPENTER (1,527)
Best result: Winner,
Houston and Norwalk
2007 record: 8-3
Career record: 9-8
Notable: Prior
best ADRL result was a semifinal finish early in the 2005 season.
NO. 5
TERRY HOUSLEY (1,518)
Best result: Winner, Kennedale (2006)
2007 record:
3-5
Career record: 17-10
Notable: Eventual winner of the 2006 ADRL World
Finals, contested at three different facilities over a seven-month
span.
NO. 6 THOMAS MYERS (1,328)
Best result: Runner-up, Houston
2007 record: 4-6
Career record: 4-11
Notable: Improved from a
22nd-place finish in 2006.
NO. 7 DENNIS RADFORD (1,315)
Best result:
Semifinals, Valdosta and Huntsville
2007 record: 4-6
Career record: 7-9
Notable: First appearance in Battle for the Belts competition.
NO. 8
JAMIE HANCOCK (1,270)
Best result: Runner-up, Huntsville
2007 record:
7-5
Career record: 7-7
Notable: Secured final Belts spot with a semifinal
finish at Dragstock IV in Rockingham.
Final points standings
1.
Johnny Pilcher 2,498
2. Doug Riesterer 1,596
3. Keith Baker
1,539
4. C. Carpenter 1,527
5. Terry Housley 1,518
6.
Thomas Myers 1,328
7. Dennis Radford 1,315
8. Jamie Hancock
1,270
9. Harold Martin 1,161
10. Greg Godwin 1,079
11.
Stan Allen 1,030
12. Rod Houck 999
13. Shannon Jenkins
933
14. Jim Halsey 928
15. R. Weatherford 909
16. Billy
Harper 900
17. Burton Auxier 825
18. Steve Vick
709
19. Mike Lockwood 642
20. Buzz Varner 466
21. Teddy
Smith 356
22. Mike Castellana 307
23. James Hancock III
234
24. Tim Savell 227
25. Terry Murphy 226
26. Blake
Housley 178
27. Ed Burnley 177
28. John Deflorian
136
29. Jarod Wenrick 126
30. Rex Kelley 125
AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts preview: Extreme
10.5
ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 11, 2007) - Double-event-winner Mike Hill
heads a field of eight drivers for the first-ever AlphaTrade Battle for the
Belts competition in the Flowmaster American Drag Racing League's Extreme 10.5
class.
The three-round battle to determine the 2007 ADRL Extreme 10.5
champion is set for Friday evening at Texas Motorplex.
Hill will begin
the event from the No. 1 qualifying spot after easily claiming the season points
title. Behind event wins in Valdosta and Huntsville, Hill finished more than 200
points clear of second-place Bill Jewett.
David Janes and Brad
Personett, the seventh- and eighth-seeded drivers, reached the Battle for the
Belts after scoring dramatic event wins late in the 2007
season.
Following is a look at each of the qualified Extreme 10.5 drivers
for the Battle for the Belts competition. Any qualified driver who does not
compete at this weekend's AlphaTrade ADRL World Finals will be replaced by the
highest-ranked alternate at the event.
NO. 1 MIKE HILL (1,097 POINTS)
Best result: Winner, Valdosta and Huntsville
Record: 6-1
Notable: Only
two-time winner in class history ... holds Extreme 10.5 speed record at 170.82
mph.
NO. 2 BILL JEWETT (890)
Best result: Runner-up, Norwalk
Record: 3-4
Notable: Only driver to attend every ADRL Extreme 10.5 event
this season.
NO. 3 RODNEY ROSENSTIEL (865)
Best result: Winner,
Houston
Record: 4-2
Notable: Winner of ADRL's first-ever Extreme 10.5
event.
NO. 4 KENNY KNEECE (819)
Best result: Runner-up,
Rockingham
Record: 3-4
Notable: Quarterfinals, semifinals, final in last
three ADRL events.
NO. 5 STEVE GORMAN (724)
Best result: Runner-up,
Huntsville
Record: 2-4.
Notable: Qualified for final four Extreme 10.5
events of season.
NO. 6 MICHELLE WILSON (618)
Best result: Semifinals,
Huntsville
Record: 1-4
Notable: First female to compete in the Battle for
the Belts.
NO. 7 DAVID JANES (451)
Best result: Winner,
Norwalk
Record: 3-0
Notable: Won from the bump spot at Chevy
Drags.
NO. 8 BRAD PERSONETT (431)
Best result: Winner,
Rockingham
Record: 3-0
Notable: Grabbed final Belts spot on strength of
dramatic win at Dragstock IV.
Final points standings
1. Mike
Hill 1,097
2. Bill Jewett 890
3. Rodney Rosenstiel
865
4. Kenny Kneece 819
5. Steve Gorman 724
6. Michelle
Wilson 618
7. David Janes 451
8. Brad Personett
431
9. Michael Neal 382
10. Todd Tutterow 333
11. Marcus
Birt 329
12. Mary Baltzell 232
13. Joey Martin 229
Jim Robbins 229
Huston Dial 229
16. Rick Varner
227
17. Steve Kirk Jr. 208
18. Chad Wilson 128
Bill
Lutz 128
20. Larry Webb 127
Brian Keller 127
AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts preview: Pro
Extreme Motorcycle
The Flowmaster
American Drag Racing League will crown its first-ever champion in a two-wheeled
class when eight Pro Extreme Motorcycle riders meet Friday night for the
AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts competition at Texas Motorplex.
Coodee
Thomas, runner-up at the first two ADRL Pro Extreme Motorcycle events, finished
as the class' points leader in 2007 and will begin the Belts competition from
the No. 1 position. Class e.t. record-holder Bill Vose ( 4.271) wound up just
over 100 points behind Thomas and will run out of the No. 2
spot.
Following is a look at each of the qualified Pro Extreme Motorcycle
riders for the Battle for the Belts competition. Any qualified rider who does
not compete at this weekend's AlphaTrade ADRL World Finals will be replaced by
the highest-ranked alternate at the event.
NO. 1 COODEE THOMAS (1,194
POINTS)
Best result: Runner-up, Valdosta and Huntsville
Record:
6-3
Notable: Claimed points title despite not winning an event ... ADRL
record-holder for speed (169.10 mph).
NO. 2 BILL VOSE (1,087)
Best
result: Winner, Rockingham
Record: 6-2
Notable: ADRL record-holder for
e.t. (4.271).
NO. 3 JACK YOUNG (1,019)
Best result: Winner,
Huntsville
Record: 5-2
Notable: One of six riders to attend every ADRL
event this season.
NO. 4 STEVE DRAKE (1,009)
Best result: Winner,
Valdosta
Record: 4-3
Notable: Winner of the first-ever ADRL Pro Extreme
Motorcycle event.
NO. 5 SCOTT GRAY (932)
Best result: Semifinals,
Rockingham
Record: 4-4.
Notable: Reached at least quarterfinals in three
of four PMX events.
NO. 6 EDDIE GONDER JR. (774)
Best result: Winner,
Norwalk
Record: 5-1
Notable: Won event title in ADRL debut.
NO. 7
CHARLIE PROPHIT (712)
Best result: Quarterfinals, Norwalk
Record:
1-4
Notable: No. 1 qualifier at Dragstock IV.
NO. 8 T.T. JONES
(710)
Best result: Runner-up, Norwalk
Record: 3-3
Notable: Secured
final Belts spot by 19 points.
Final points standings
1.
Coodee Thomas 1,194
2. Bill Vose 1,087
3. Jack Young
1,019
4. Steve Drake 1,009
5. Scott Gray 932
6. Eddie
Gonder Jr. 774
7. Charlie Prophit 712
8. T.T. Jones
710
9. Louie Grist 691
10. Ashley Owens 624
11. Mantez
Thompson 606
12. Monte Campbell 592
13. Richard Holder
592
14. Ron Clark 495
15. Terry Wynn 488
16. Scott
Valetti 480
17. Rob Bush 451
18. Robert Hunnicutt
387
19. Carlos Wilkerson 360
20. Craig Rosenberg 332
21.
Brian Carr 284
22. James Rester 280
23. Nikie Corley 260
24. Japel Heard 155
25. Darian Guillory 136
26. Ronald
Procopio 135
27. Baybay Yarbrough 135
28. Kenny Hill
133
29. Scott McKinney 132
30. David Vantine 129
