A decorated

former champion and a budding champion-to-be shared the winners' circle Saturday

in Dragstock III at Rockingham Dragway, an American Drag Racing League event

that featured the increasingly popular Outlaw Pro Modifieds.

 

EVENT PHOTO

GALLERY

SATURDAY FINAL – MARTIN, JENKINS CLAIM

TITLES BEFORE 25,000

AT ROCKINGHAM DRAGWAY

A decorated

former champion and a budding champion-to-be shared the winners' circle Saturday

in Dragstock III at Rockingham Dragway, an American Drag Racing League event

that featured the increasingly popular Outlaw Pro Modifieds.

A crowd

estimated at more than 25,000, the largest one-day crowd to attend a race at the

track since Steve Earwood purchased it in 1992, watched Shannon "the Iceman"

Jenkins of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Joey Martin of Milton, Fla., take home the

biggest shares of the $40,000 purse.

Martin, driving a 1967 Ford Mustang

replica, qualified No. 1 on the way to winning the Pro Extreme championship and

$11,000. The victory made the Florida driver the season's first two-time winner.

He won an ADRL race earlier this year at Houston, Texas and also has won twice

this year in the NHRA series (at Englishtown, N.J., and Memphis,

Tenn.).

Jenkins, a three-time former IHRA Pro Modified Champion (1997,

1999, 2002) as well as the first champion in the NHRA's Pro Modified division

(2002), drove his 1968 Chevrolet Camaro replica to the Pro Nitrous championship

and a $5,000 payday.

Martin gained four positions with his Saturday

victory, moving all the way up to third place behind new leader Jason Scruggs of

Saltillo, Miss.

Although he lost to Martin in the semifinals, Scruggs set

ADRL records for eighth, mile time (3.813 seconds) and speed (198.44 miles per

hour) to move around Mike Neal of Pace, Fla., and into the points lead. Neal was

not a factor at The Rock, qualifying just seventh and suffering mechanical

problems that prevented his participation in eliminations.

Scruggs broke the

3.872 second and 194.63 mph records he set earlier this year at Madison, Ill.,

in his 1963 Chevrolet Corvette replica.

After dispatching Scruggs, Martin

beat Herman Sheppard of Ehrhardt, S.C., in the final, 3.925 to 3.980

seconds.

Although he qualified fifth, Jenkins was untouchable during

eliminations. The veteran posted the quickest time in every round of racing with

almost monotonous consistency, putting up times of 4.031 seconds, 4.013, 4.016

and, finally, 4.018.

His only real test came against six-time former IHRA

Pro Stock champion Rickie Smith of King, N.C., whom he beat in the semifinals by

just .009 of a second. In the final, Jenkins bested James Hancock III of

Opelika, Ala.

More than 60 drivers, those who didn't qualify for the

16-car field in either class, went home empty-handed. Among them were Pro

Nitrous championship contenders Burton Auxier Jr. of Dixie, West Va., Terry

Housley of Lenoir City, Tenn., and Jenkins' teammate, Mike Castellana of

Westbury, N.Y., along with Memphis, Tenn., Pro Extreme winner Bill Clanton of

Rome Ga., who fell from second to fifth as a result.

Among the others on

the sidelines for eliminations were former IHRA Pro Stock and Pro Modified

champion Tommy Mauney of Spartanburg, S.C.; distaff driver Annette Summer of

Aiken, S.C., who never was able to get traction with her twin-turbo 1957 Chevy

Bel Air; and Bill Kuhlman of Perry, Mo., the first Pro Modified driver to exceed

200 miles per hour on the quarter mile.

In a race dominated by Georgia

drivers, Steve Kirk Jr. of Monroe beat Marcus Birt of Gray for the Outlaw 10.5

title. Kirk drove his 2000 Chevrolet Camaro to the No. 1 qualifying postion at

4.430 seconds and was never challenged. His was the only car to break the 4.50

second barrier which it did in two of three rounds including the

final.

 

 

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SATURDAY NOTEBOOK

Al Tucci interviewed the Dragstock III winers for 1320

TV.com – Click here to watch the video clips: Dragstock Winners

Hard to let it go – Shannon Jenkins won the Pro

Nitrous title with a car that he no longer owns. He had sold the “Iceman”

first-generation Camaro to the Bankston Brothers Racing team prior to Dragstock

III.

The Bankston crew knew that Jenkins was still in the race for the Nitrous

Championship Belt, however, a trophy and title that will be raced for at the

ADRL season finale at Kennedale, Texas, next month. Without a car in which to

compete, Jenkins would by default forfeit any chance to claim the title, so the

new owners allowed Jenkins to not only drive his former hot rod at Rockingham

this weekend but also to run it in Texas.

Single-minded – Todd Tutterow, who is also in the Battle for

the Belts, is not going to compete for the Pro Nitrous title this year. He will

still contend for the Pro Extreme belt, but will not be in the running for the

double-up as he did last season. Tutterow sold his nitrous ride to Brian

Williams, who offered Tutterow enough cold cash for the Ford to make it worth

his while to forfeit his chance at one of the two titles.

Thanks Dave – Bil Clanton was uninjured in an

unbelievable double wall-banger crash during the last round of qualifying. While

Clanton was uninjured, his “Big Money” ’53 Studebaker suffered enough damage

that he feared he would be unable to effect repairs in time for the Kennedale,

Texas, shootout next month.

In a gesture of generosity, Dave Wood, owner of the Troy Critchley Cuda and

the Josh Hernandez Camaro, offered Clanton the use of the Corvette that

Critchley piloted prior to obtaining the Cuda. The announcement was made to the

hundreds of fans who stayed around to participate in the winner’s circle

celebration at the conclusion of the event. The announcement brought forth a

collective sigh of relief from the Clanton race team and was approved by the

crowd with a thunderous burst of applause.

Let them eat cake – The accident suffered by Bil Clanton

did not stop his mother from providing what is becoming a tradition at drag

races. Once she knew that her son was okay following the crash, “Mama Clanton”

brought out the pound cakes that usually have people waiting in line to get a

slice. When one friend was asked why he got such a large piece, he responded

with a grin, “ That was the biggest piece I could get.”

The numbers game – The actual attendance for

Dragstock III will possibly be disputed for years, but it was evident to anyone

who has been to the “Rock” in the past that this was very likely the largest

crowd to ever attend a drag race at the venue.

Estimates ranged from the high teens to well over 30,000. While a large

number of free tickets were distributed thoughout the southeast, the huge throng

will most certainly provide a substantial profit for the promoters.

The average wait for a beverage at the concession stands

exceeded 60 minutes and at times was quite a lot longer.

Play nice now – The heat during the afternoon and the

packed stands and pits could have been the breeding grounds for a lot of rowdy

behavior, but the fan enjoyment and good manners amazed several of the members

of the media and made the security personnel very happy.

 

Are you watching? – The NHRA should look at the numbers of

fans and the fact that the stands were 80% full one hour before the first car

ever went down the track. From the time the first car fired its engine, the

stands were packed and remained so until the last of the fireworks exploded high

over the finish line.

As for the IHRA, they should look at their current Pro Modified class format.

There were plenty of fans of nitrous cars on hand, and of course there were also

legions of blower car fans in the stands, but it didn’t seem to matter that the

different combinations never faced each other during the event. Instead of

spending countless hours trying to maintain parity between the two groups, they

should look at splitting the two and let them fight it out among themselves.

A rumor floating around the pits purported that a significant series sponsor

had solidified an agreement to back future expansion of the ADRL based on the

turnout of fans on Friday night. When a series official was asked, the

predictable response was the usual, “We would prefer not to comment. We don’t

want to jinx anything.” A twinkle in the eye and a grin that wrapped around the

face spoke more than words, however.

Kudos – Doug Priesterer and Joey Martin earn Low

Qualifier Bonus from www.Promodifieds.US.

Each received a check for $400.00 donated by the staff for

the great entertainment and enjoyment provided by the racing members of the ADRL

program. Stated Brian Cupp, who originated the idea for the bonus: “It is just

our way of giving a little something back to the ones who make this possible.”

 

SATURDAY RESULTS –

Flowmaster ADRL Dragstock III – Rockingham,

NC

Pro 10.5 Qualifying Notes – Round 2

Left Lane:

Keith Jackson – 6.017 et – 98.75 mph

Right Lane: Tracy Cockman – 7.957 et –

80.93 mph

Both guys light the tires up…

Left Lane: Danny Cook –

6.444 et – 93.09 mph

Right Lane: Jared Brunner – 4.937 et – 156.12

mph

Again both guys loose off the line..

Left Lane: Mike Hill –

4.622 et – 163.06 mph

Right Lane: Rob Hale – 14.425 et – 51.04

mph

Hill drifts way out of the groove bu stays with it…

Left Lane:

Mike Donnahue – 4.956 et – 156.73 mph

Right Lane: Scott Hartley – 4.754 et –

151.97 mph

Hartley with a nice run…

Left Lane: Stacy McIntyre –

7.031 et – 72.24 mph

Right Lane: Marcus Birt – 4.551 et – 162.20

mph

Birt goes to #2..

Left Lane: Jack Barfield – 4.606 et – 165.05

mph

Right Lane: Michael Robinson – 6.526 et – 101.50 et

Barfield with

a nice shot…

Left Lane:

Right Lane: Steve Kirk – 4.430 et – 166.97

et

Holy Cow!!! Kirk resets his own

record!!!…

__________________

Flowmaster ADRL Dragstock III – Rockingham,

NC

Pro Nitrous Qualifying Notes – Round 2 – Sept 16 –

2:30pm

Left Lane: Candyce Marsh – broke

Right Lane:

Burton Auxier – 7.447 et – 60.21 mph

Something happened to March &

Burton had MAJOR tire shake….

Left Lane: Terry Housley – 9.019 et – 64.89

mph

Right Lane: Dan Bandish – 7.541 et – 66.34 mph

Major shake for

each racer…

Left Lane: Ronnie Hood – 4.116 et – 179.28 mph

Right

Lane: Annette Summer – 7.665 et – 67.75 mph

Annette turns left & Hood

has a nice run…

Left Lane: Steve Cossis – 8.762 et – 50.59 mph

Right

Lane: Jerry Bridgeforth – 7.427 et – 88.17 mph

Again, more

shake…

Left Lane: Shannon Jenkins – 4.051 et – 184.36 mph

Right Lane:

James Hancock – 7.535 et – 68.81 mph

The Iceman shows how to get it

done!!!

Left Lane: Dale Brinsfield – 4.098 et – 186.36 mph

Right

Lane: Rex Kelley – 4.583 et – 163.73 mph

A great run by

Brinsfiled….

Left Lane: Rick Moore – 4.330 et – 142.01 mph

Right

Lane: Billy Harper – 9.715 et – 45.29 mph

Harper with major

shake…

Left Lane: Pat Stoken – 6.655 et – 73.96 mph

Right Lane: Mike

Castellana – 7.384 et – 72.58 mph

These guys has synchronized tire

shake…

Left Lane: Johnny Pilcher – 4.076 et – 183.79 mph

Right Lane:

Ben Ledford – 4.192 et – 174.14 mph

Another great run by

Pilcher…

Left Lane: Steve Vick– 6.635 et – 92.04 mph

Right Lane:

Charles Carpenter –4.092 et – 180.43 mph

Charles makes another great run…

Left Lane: Randy Weatherford– 4.073 et – 188.52 mph

Right Lane: Dan

Parker – 7.261 et – 88.42mph

Weatherford rode the wall & never

lifted…

Left Lane: Keith Baker – 4.099 et – 182.80 mph

Right Lane:

Sonny Tindal – 4.152 et – 177.21 mph

Nice run by both guys…

Left

Lane: Buzz Varner – 4.313et – 152.80 mph

Right Lane: Greg Godwin – 4.074 et

– 180.57 mph

Godwin looked smooth & straight…

Left Lane:

Right Lane: Dave Roemer –4.100 et – 179.83 mph

Roemer drifted left

but made a good run…

Left Lane:

Right Lane: Rickie Smith – 4.076 et

– 181.18 mph

Trickie Rickie with a nice run…

Left Lane:

Right

Lane: Brian Williams – 4.148 et – 176.70 mph

 

Flowmaster ADRL Dragstock III – Rockingham,

NC

Pro Nitrous Qualifying Notes – Final Round – Sept 16 –

3:00pm

Left Lane: Jerry Bridgeforth – 4.265 et – 172.61 mph

Right Lane: Randy Weatherford – 4.055 et – 180.94 mph

Weatherford

with yet another great run….

Left Lane: Dan Parker – 4.114 et – 187.44

mph

Right Lane: Steve Vick – 4.069 et – 181.35 mph

Vick jumps up the

ladder with a great run…

Left Lane: Dan Bandish – 4.301 et – 174.03 mph

Right Lane: Johnny Pilcher – 4.073 et – 180.36 mph

Pilcher straight

& smooth again…

Left Lane: James Hancock – 4.101 et – 177.66 mph

Right Lane: Ronnie Hood – 4.156 et – 160.98 mph

Hood gets real loose

in the middle & does not get in…

Left Lane: Rex Kelley – 4.145 et –

180.62 mph

Right Lane: Steve Cossis – 10.953 et – 39.32 mph

Rex

doesn’t quite have enough to get in…

Left Lane: Burton Auxier – 4.615 et

– 167.97 mph

Right Lane: Candyce Marsh – 4.209 et – 174.55 mph

Burton

shakes & just misses the field…

Left Lane: Annette Summer – 6.452 et

– ??? mph

Right Lane: Pat Stoken – 4.058 et – 183.47 mph

Nice run by

Stoken & Annette has big tire shake again…

Left Lane: Pat Stoken –

6.655 et – 73.96 mph

Right Lane: Mike Castellana – 7.384 et – 72.58

mph

These guys has synchronized tire shake…

Left Lane: Rod Houck –

4.084 et – 186.70 mph

Right Lane: Dale Brinsfield – 4.125 et – 178.22

mph

Good run by both guys…

Left Lane: Dave Roemer– 4.096 et –

180.81 mph

Right Lane: Rick Moore –4.073 et – 182.75 mph

Rick Moore

makes a great run & jumps in the field!!

Left Lane: Rickie Smith–

4.101 et – 188.02 mph

Right Lane: Terry Housley – 4.136 et – 177.00

mph

Housley misses the field…

Left Lane: Sonny Tindal – 4.128 et –

185.56 mph

Right Lane: Buzz Varner – 4.114 et – 178.47 mph

Both guys

run well, but miss the field…

Left Lane: Greg Godwin – 4.052 et – 180.72

mph

Right Lane: Keith Baker – 4.100 et – 180.98 mph

Godwin continued

to flex his muscle…

Left Lane: Charles Carpenter – 4.128 et – 185.84

mph

Right Lane: Shannon Jenkins –4.054 et – 182.85 mph

The Iceman

straight & smooth…

Left Lane: Billy Harper – 4.183 et – 176.14

mph

Right Lane: Brian Williams – 4.121 et – 177.60 mph

Neither guy

will make the field…

Left Lane: Dennis Radford – 4.119 et – 181.03

mph

Right Lane:

Left Lane: Mike Castellana – 5.058 et – 102.68

mph

Right Lane:

Mike went way right & crossed the centerline. He

will not make the field…

 

 

Flowmaster ADRL Dragstock III – Rockingham,

NC

Pro Nitrous 1st Round Eliminations

Doug Riesterer – 4.053 et – 177.11 mph **(Winner)**

Dale Brinsfield – 4.113 et – 179.16 mph[

Good race, but

Riesterer has the power…

Rickie Smith – 4.058 et – 181.01 mph

**(Winner)**

Rod Houck – 4.098 et – 181.35 mph

After a

pretty good staging dual, Rickie had the better light & got the

win…

Dennis Radford – 4.091 et – 177.58 mph **(Winner)**

Johnny Pilcher – 4.078 et – 181.35 mph

Holeshot!! Radford

had a .037 light to Pilchers .077…

Shannon Jenkins – 4.031 et – 183.84

mph **(Winner)**

Rick Moore – 4.073 et – 181.47

mph

What a great race!! Both had .050 lights…

Randy Weatherford –

4.044 et – 179.95 mph **(Winner)**

Keith Baker – 5.534 et –

87.89 mph

Baker shook & Randy made a nice run…

Dave Roemer –

4.076 et – 188.17 mph **(Winner)**

Steve Vick – 6.377 et –

86.13 mph

Roemer had a great .045 light & made a nice run. Vick got

very loose & had to lift…

Pat Stoken – 4.032 et – 184.40 mph

**(Winner)**

Charles Carpenter – 4.086 et – 182.01

mph

Stoken with a great run to take the win…

Greg Godwin – 7.806

et – 57.82 mph

Jamie Hancock – 4.112 et – 180.09 mph **(Winner)**

Both had great lights, but Godwin shook & Hancock made a

nice run for the win…

Flowmaster ADRL Dragstock III – Rockingham,

NC

Pro Extreme 1st Round Eliminations

Joey Martin – 3.908 et – 190.22

mph**(Winner)**

Josh Hernandez – 4.091et – 179.40

mph

Joey makes a killer run!!

Bryan Dyar – 4.030 et – 184.09

mph

Bennie McDonlad – 4.030 et– 178.57 mph

**(Winner)**

With a .080 to .105 light Bennie gets the

holeshot win!!

Travis Swearingen – 3.989 et – 185.43

mph**(Winner)**

Troy Critchley – 4.088 et – 178.68

mph

Travis is having a great day!!

Jason Scruggs – 3.813et –

198.44 mph**(Winner)**

Todd Tutterow – 4.222 et – 180.77

mph

Really not much I can say!!! Except clutch

dust!!!!!!!!!

Herman Sheppard – 3.995 et – 184.90

mph**(Winner)**

Eddie Ware – 5.074 et – 101.51

mph

Ware has problems & the Herminator is rockin!!

Brian

Daniels – 4.035 et – 180.65 mph**(Winner)**

Mike Bell –

4.030 et – 179.42 mph

Again, with an .053 to .090 light, Daniels gets

the holeshot win!!

Frankie Taylor – 4.022 et – 182.80

mph**(Winner)**

John Lynam – 4.016 et – 179.88

mph

Another holeshot!! Frankie with a .049 to .067 light..

Dwayne

Watkins – 4.254 et – 155.40 mph

Bubba Stanton – 4.005 et – 184.55 mph

**(Winner)**

Watkins falls off the pace & Bubba gets

the win!!!

Flowmaster ADRL Dragstock III – Rockingham,

NC

Pro 10.5 1st Round Eliminations

Marcus Birt – 4.655 et – 148.41 mph **(Winner)**

Scott Hartley – 4.698 et – 153.32 mph

Birt rides the

centerline & never lifts to take the win…

Jack Barfield – 4.543 et –

162.24 mph **(Winner)**

Michael Robinson – 4.592 et –

161.11 mph

Nice run by Barfield…

Mike Hill – 4.853 et – 127.53

mph **(Winner)**

Stacy McIntyre – 4.695 et – 159.19

mph

Crazy race… Hill rides the wall to get the win… McIntyre has a .993

r/t

Steve Kirk – 4.525 et – 165.84 mph **(Winner)**

Tracy Cockman– 8.462 et – 73.11 mph[

Kirk falls off a little

but takes the win…

 

Flowmaster ADRL Dragstock III – Rockingham,

NC

Pro 10.5 Semi-Finals

Steve Kirk –

4.475 et – 166.74 mph **(Winner)**

Jack Barfield –

???

Barfield left way before the tree came down & got no

time…

Mike Hill – 4.616 et – 160.16 mph

Marcus Birt – 4.535 et –

163.33 mph **(Winner)**

Hill left on Birt, but Birt

runs the number…

Flowmaster ADRL Dragstock III – Rockingham,

NC

Pro Extreme Semi-Finals

Joey Martin –

3.909 et – 189.28 mph**(Winner)**

Jason Scruggs – 4.003 et –

195.42 mph

Scruggs pedals it & still runs 195, but Joey & Chuck

are on fire tonight!!!!

Herman Sheppard – 4.142 et – 183.54

mph**(Winner)**

Frankie Taylor – 16.052 et – 23.87

mph

Herman went deep & had a .005 light. Sounded like Frankie popped

the blower & coasted.

Flowmaster ADRL Dragstock III – Rockingham,

NC

Pro 10.5 Finals

Steve Kirk – 4.463et –

166.21mph **(Winner)**

Marcus Birt – 4.495et –

163.59mph

What a great race, but Kirk takes the win…

 

Flowmaster ADRL Dragstock III – Rockingham,

NC

Pro Nitrous Finals

Shannon

Jenkins – 4.018et – 184.02mph **(Winner)**

Jamie Hancock –

4.056et – 178.47mph

Jenkins had an .012 light & made another killer

run to take the win!!!

 

FRIDAY NOTEBOOK –

(9-15-2006) – Just happy to be here – Dwayne Watkins is

campaigning his '57 Chevy in basic primer this weekend. It has been an unusual

and frustrating time for the Watkins Racing team during the last two

weeks.

Two weeks ago, while returning from a local race, the receiver on the trailer

broke completely off, depositing the trailer onto the interstate just 10 miles

from their shop. Fortunately, the trailer slid to a stop without turning over,

but not before grinding away the hydraulic foot pad. Taking the welder from the

trailer, they were able to apply enough of repair job to get them to their

shop.

Then… – Labor Day weekend, while in a match race,

Watkins had parts of the four-link suspension break, causing a tire to fold up

under the car. That resulted in a “minor steering problem” that resulted in the

car striking the right guard rail and careening across to the opposite rail.

Frustrated, Watkins was ready to toss in the towel for the remaining portion of

the season.

His team, family, and friends all got together and decide they could repair

the car and have it ready for Dragstock III, the event they had been looking

forward to all year. “Besides,” said Watkins, “We have brand new shirts for the

team and we wanted to wear them.”

Not only was the team just happy to be here, they celebrated by running 3.983

in the first lap on the car since it was repaired.

Cha-Ching – www.Promodifieds.US is providing a bonus

to the low qualifiers in both Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous categories at the 3rd

annual Dragstock event. Brian Cupp, of Promodifieds.US initiated the idea and

the staff of the site all joined in by making donations to the fund. A check of

$400.00 will be presented to the low qualifiers at the pre-race ceremonies

Saturday evening.

 

No luck with blue…..well, till now – Frankie

Taylor was bemoaning the fact that he had not experienced very good luck with

the new blue 1959 Corvette body that has replaced his previous yellow body.

Taylor mentioned that he was thinking of returning to the yellow color that most

fans recognize.

When reminded that he was just returning from a win last week, Taylor

responded, “Sometimes you win ugly and sometimes you have a dominating win. That

was definitely not a dominating win.”

Taylor may have to rethink his opinion of the blue color after posting one of

the better times (3.983) during times trials prior to tonight’s first round of

qualifying.

 

One way to cool the surface – The track

temperature during the afternoon time trials was around 114 degrees. That is not

especially hot for the teams, however it appeared that someone thought they

should attempt to cool the track. Or at least it appeared that way when a large

cooler full of iced drinks was overturned and spilled in the right lane at the

start line.

 

Big Mac is in the house – Fans of drag racing were thrilled

to hear one of the most famous voices ever in racing when Dave McClellan took

over the microphone for a few minutes during the pro testing afternoon session.

 

The Place to be – Todd Tutterow and team know how

to enjoy a weekend at the track.

1000 hamburgers, 500 hot dogs, buckets

of slaw and gallons of cold drinks were made available to any and all who

dropped by his pit area. In addition to all the food being cooked on a huge BBQ

grill, a live band rocked late into the night and morning hours.

 

Better not let the wife hear him – Overheard in the pits,

and we hope it was said in jest. A team member about his wife, “If I had shot

her when I wanted to, I would be out of jail by now.”

 

Butts in the Bleachers – When the gates opened for

spectators at 2 pm, the initial influx of fans gave a moment of concern about

attendance. However, by the time qualifying began at 8 pm, the crowd had swelled

to the largest Friday crowd anyone could remember in recent history, including

national events.

 

Lots of cars – ADRL can now boast of the largest car count

in the history of Outlaw Pro Modified racing. Including the 10.5 and Pro Stock,

a total of 138 cars made passes or were teched.

 

RUN NOTES

Round by round times and notes (courtesy of Brian Cupp and www.Promdifieds.US )

Flowmaster ADRL Dragstock III – Rockingham, NC

Pro

10.5 Qualifying Notes – Round 1

Left Lane: Steve

Kirk – 4.435 et – 174.62 mph

Right Lane: Stacy McIntyre –

Holy Cow

what a run by Steve Kirk!!!

Left Lane: Michael Robinson – 4.625 et –

160.77 mph

Right Lane: Keith Jackson – 5.108 et – 172.74 mph

Left

Lane: Marcus Birt – 5.316 – 147.14 mph

Right Lane: Jack Barfield – 4.572 et

– 161.30 mph

Birt smokes the tires & Barfield runs well…

Left

Lane: Rob Hale – 4.745 et – 156.23 mph

Right Lane: Danny Cook – 4.756 et –

149.85

Good side by side run…

Left Lane: Tracy Cockman – 4.720 et –

155.90 mph

Right Lane: Mike Donahue – 4.846 et – 157.15 mph

Left

Lane: Elliot Thompson – 8.813 et – 65.011 mph

Right Lane: Mike Hill – 4.563

et – 161.42

The Hitman with a nice run to go to #2..

Flowmaster ADRL Dragstock III – Rockingham,

NC

Pro Extreme Qualifying Notes – Round 1 – Sept 15 – 8:00pm

Left Lane: Jeff Balton – 5.093 et – 126.25 mph

Right

Lane: Bennie MacDonald – 4.057 et – 181.25 mph

Nice run by Bennie to

start the show…

Left Lane: Bill Wright – 7.160 et – 65.40 mph

Right Lane: Dwayne Watkins – 4.085 et – 173.01 mph

Watkins with

another great run…

Left Lane: Joshua Hernandez – 8.488et – 64.25 mph

Right Lane: Joey Martin – 3.931 et – 186.48 mph

Josh smokes the hides

& Joey Martin makes a great run!!!!!

Left Lane: Brian Daniels – 4.053

et – 180.99 mph

Right Lane: Troy Critchley – 4.053 et – 187.00

mph

Nice runs by both guys…

Left Lane: Toney Russell – 6.272 et –

91.40 mph

Right Lane: Mike Bell – 4.001 et – 184.22 mph

The Lowmad

shakes & Bell goes right down the groove…

Left Lane: Bil Clanton –

6.962 et – 68.40 mph

Right Lane: Frankie Taylor – 4.071 et – 182.48

mph

Clanton has problems…

Left Lane: Travis Swearingen – 4.143

et – 186.25 mph

Right Lane: Bryan Dyar – 4.000 et – 180.62 mph

Rector

really has Dyar running well…

Left Lane: TJ Harrill– 8.507 et – 71.61

mph

Right Lane: Bubba Stanton – 4.050 et – 181.11 mph

TJ gets loose

real early & Bubba makes a nice run….

Left Lane: Michael Neal – 4.148 et

– 175.18 mph

Right Lane:

Michael leaves a little soft..

Left

Lane: Quain Stott- 4.028 et – 180.16 mph

Right Lane: Todd Tutterow – 4.113

et – 181.32 mph

A little off the pace for both guys, Stott with a .93

earlier in testing!!

Left Lane: Bruce McGee- 5.492 et – 91.13 mph

Right Lane: Herman Sheppard – 3.967 et – 184.85 mph

Mcgee leaves

before the tree & Herman makes a killer run!!

Left Lane: Eddie Ware –

4.085 et – 188.49 mph

Right Lane: Kelly Martin – 4.131 et – 185.51

mph

Eddie Ware in the IHRA winning camaro makes a nice run & Martin

also in a great looking ’57…

Left Lane: Todd Bauknecht- 6.080 et – 75.24

mph

Right Lane:

Todd gets way crossed up & crosses the

centerline…

Left Lane: Mike Neal – 4.000 et – 185.21 mph

Right Lane:

Neal with another 4 flat…

Left Lane: Chip King – 6.825et – 65.21

mph

Right Lane: Bryon Rich – no time

Chip King blew the tires off

again… Rich never took the tree….

Flowmaster ADRL Dragstock III – Rockingham,

NC

Pro Nitrous Qualifying Notes – Round 1 – Sept 15 – 8:30pm

Left Lane: Greg Godwin – 4.057 et – 179.71 mph

Right Lane:

Ronnie Hood – 9.568 et – 44.98 mph

Great run by Godwin to start things

off..

Left Lane: Jerry Bridgeforth – 4.279 et – 174.68 mph

Right Lane:

Brian Williams – 4.129 et – 177.93

Nice pass by Williams in the old

Tutterow mustang…

Left Lane: Rickie Smith – 4.065 et – 189.26 mph

Right Lane: Steve Cossis – 9.368 et – 64.49 mph

Nice run by Smith,

Cossis shakes right off the line…

Left Lane: Annette Summer – 7.085 et –

68.22 mph

Right Lane: Shannon Jenkins – 6.239 et – 75.68 mph

Major

shake for both racers…

Left Lane: Tracy Cockman – 9.064 et – 49.83 mph

Right Lane: Dennis Radford – 4.044 et – 181.08 mph

Radford makes a

great run to go to #1…

Left Lane: Billy Harper – 9.942 et – 45.04 mph

Right Lane: Randy Weatherford – 4.010 et – 182.01 mph

Harper has

problems & Weatherford makes a GREAT run!!!

Left Lane: Dave Roemer –

4.056 et – 188.81 mph

Right Lane: Pat Stoken – 4.019 et – 182.48

mph

Great runs by both guys!!

Left Lane: Rex Kelley – broke

Right Lane: Doeg Riesterer – 4.007 et – 181.81 mph

Kelley broke after

the burnout…Riesterer made a HUGE run with a .979 60’!!!!

Left Lane: Ben

Ledford – 4.215 et – 176.51 mph

Right Lane: Candyce Marsh – 4.222 et –

168.41 mph

A side by side race…

Left Lane: Jamie Hancock– 4.069 et

– 179.93 mph

Right Lane: Steve Vick –???

Hancock’s run looked good.

Vick was right with him, but something happened with the clocks…

Left

Lane: Dan Bandish – 5.383 et – ??? mph

Right Lane: Rick Moore – 4.411 et –

134.94 mph

Moore nearly hit the wall…

Left Lane: Burton Auxier–

4.111 et – 180.38 mph

Right Lane: Johnny Pilcher – Johnny Picher – 6.831 –

106.21

Something happened to Pilcher right off the line… Burton made a

nice run…

Left Lane: Rod Houck– 4.068 et – 188.62 mph

Right Lane:

Keith Baker – 4.092 et – 179.90 mph

Great side by side run… Big speed by

Houck…

Left Lane: Dan Parker – 4.173 et – 183.02 mph

Right Lane:

Buzz Varner – 4.107 et – 177.98 mph

Left Lane: Sonny Tindal– 4.140 et

– 184.07 mph

Right Lane: Terry Housley – 4.111 et – 176.40 mph

Good

runs, but this will get Tindal to the bump spot…

Left Lane: Mike

Castellana– 5.254 et – 100.07 mph

Right Lane: Dale Brinsfield – 8.791 et –

77.27 mph

Shake for both guys…

Left Lane: Charles Carpenter –

4.084 et – 187.31 mph

Right Lane:

A great run with big mph for the

legend!!!

 

 

Kenny Benso involved in spectacular crash at ADRL Dragstock III event

(9-15-2006) – Mountain motor Pro Stock cars were invited to

participate in the 3rd annual Dragstock show being held at North Carolina’s

Rockingham Dragway this weekend. Kenny Benso was expecting to use the event to

test in preparation for the IHRA finale, scheduled for this track next

month.

Unfortunately for Benso, the weekend ended suddenly when he lost

control of his 2006 Cobalt during a test run. The car rolled twice before

contacting the right wall. It then crossed the track, bounced off the opposite

wall and came to rest in the middle of the track with fire bellowing from the

front end.

The rescue teams rolled as quickly as possible but it was the

quick actions of Herman Sheppard, the youngest driver in attendance, that

prevented Benso from receiving serious injuries. Sheppard was on the return road

after his run and Benso’s car came to rest almost directly in front of his

position.

Still in his fire suit, Sheppard scaled the retaining wall and

was able to assist Benso from the flaming car. At the same time, Sheppard hit

the fire bottles to extinguish the fire and then tuned off the fuel pump. The

fire rescue team arrived at that time and assisted Benso into the emergency

vehicle.

Benso was shaken up but otherwise uninjured.

THURSDAY NOTEBOOK – Eastern Race Fuels DRAGSTOCK

III Notebook

Pro 10.5 entry list – The ADRL offices received more

than 20 entry requests for the Pro 10.5 competition at DRAGSTOCK III. The class

is expected to join Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous as the ADRL's third

points-earning category in 2007. The entries for the DRAGSTOCK III Pro 10.5

competition, in alphabetic order:

Jack Barfield, Marcus Birt, Tony Bolt,

Brad Brand, Jared Brunner, Bobby Cole, Danny Cook, Mike Donnahue, Harold

Galtney, Rob Hale, Scott Hartley, Mike Hill, Keith Jackson, Tommy Kelly, Steve

Kirk Jr., Tim Lynch, Stacy McIntyre, Craig Miller, Alan Mullins, Jeff Naiser,

Michael Robinson, and Lance Styck.

DRAGSTOCK III grand marshals

– As befitting the ADRL's largest and oldest event, DRAGSTOCK III will

feature three grand marshals: Wendy Stallings, president of Eastern Race Fuels;

Reggie Fountain of Fountain Powerboats; and legendary drag racing announcer and

television personality Dave McClelland.

Battle for the Belts

scenarios – DRAGSTOCK III will determine the eight-car fields for the

ADRL's second annual Battle for the Belts competition, the season-ending

eliminators in both Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous that will decide the 2006 ADRL

world champions. Only the top eight points-earners in each class at the

conclusion of DRAGSTOCK III are guaranteed a spot in 

their respective

fields.

The Battle for the Belts will be held in Kennedale, Texas, in

October, which will be the last of the seven events on the 2006

schedule.

Heading into DRAGSTOCK III, a number of drivers have managed

to 

clinch Battle for the Belts spots in either Pro Extreme or Pro 

Nitrous, and a number of others could secure an invitation with a 

strong performance in Rockingham. Following is a breakdown of each 

class' major contenders:

Pro Extreme Clinched – Mike

Neal (1,564 points), Bil Clanton (1,473), John Lynam (1,436), and Jason Scruggs

(1,370). The first three drivers have 

clinched mathematically; Scruggs is

in because no combination of 

events in Rockingham could push him lower than

eighth place.

99-percent clinched: Quain Stott (1,244). Stott will clinch

the 

minute either Todd Tutterow or Thomas Patterson loses in eliminations 

or DNQs.

Looking good – Joshua Hernandez (1,154) and

Joey Martin (1,051): These 

are the only other drivers over 1,000 points and

both have a 

significant advantage of 300-plus points over ninth-place

Patterson.

Could use some help – Tutterow (735),

Patterson (719), Troy Critchley 

(718), Todd Bauknecht (620), and Toney

Russell (619). For this group 

of drivers, on-track performance in

Rockingham will be the difference 

between attending the Kennedale race to

run in the Battle for the 

Belts or to run in the regular Pro Extreme

eliminator the next night.

Pro Nitrous Clinched – Keith

Baker (1,558), Terry Housley (1,437), Burton Auxier (1,362), and Johnny Pilcher

(1,258). Baker, Housley, and Auxier all 

have event wins under their belts;

Pilcher is the class' most consistent qualifier.

Could use some

help – Rex Kelley, James Hancock, Shannon Jenkins, 

Tutterow, Mike

Castellana, Harold Martin, Ken Thomas (all between 851 

and 715 points).

There is no "looking good" category for Pro Nitrous, 

as nothing beyond the

drivers already in the show can be predicted 

with any certainty. A mere 136

points separates these seven drivers, 

at least three of whom will not be

qualifying to run for the ADRL Pro 

Nitrous championship.

 

Loaded DRAGSTOCK Pro Extreme Field Features Every Driver in Top 20

(9-15-2006) – The deepest field in Pro Extreme history

is gathering at Rockingham Dragway, ready to begin fighting on Friday for both

an Eastern Race Fuels DRAGSTOCK III title and a coveted spot in the FLOWMASTER

American Drag Racing League championship eliminators next month.

Every

member of the top 20 in the current ADRL Pro Extreme points 

standings has

pre-entered for DRAGSTOCK III, which begins Friday with 

open testing and a

single qualifying run in the evening. As of 

Monday, the ADRL offices had

accepted a full 60 entries for the 

class, which will qualify 16 cars for

Saturday's eliminations.

The Pro Extreme competition at DRAGSTOCK is the

ADRL's oldest single 

event, dating back to 2004.

"An eight-car

eliminator at the first DRAGSTOCK is where the 

FLOWMASTER ADRL really got

started,  so  I feel as if we'll reach 

another milestone this weekend,"

said ADRL President Kenny Nowling. 

"The competition this year, though,

should be like nothing ever seen 

before. We have a huge field of nothing

but hitters, and there's only 

16 spots out there for Saturday night.

Speaking as a race fan, I 

can't wait."

With every member of the

current top 20 entered, there are certainly 

no weak spots at the top of the

Pro Extreme field. Mike Neal enters 

DRAGSTOCK III with the Pro Extreme

points lead, having scored 1,564 

points over the last six ADRL events. He

is closely followed by Bil 

Clanton and 2005 ADRL world champion John Lynam,

who are both in the 

1,400s, and record-setting Jason Scruggs, who sits in

fourth place at 

1,370 points.

All four of those drivers have already

clinched spots in next month's 

ADRL Battle for the Belts world championship

eliminators. The top 

eight drivers in the Pro Extreme points standings at

the conclusion 

of DRAGSTOCK III will qualify to run in the Battle for the

Belts, a 

three-round eliminator that will determine the 2006 ADRL Pro

Extreme 

world champion.

Behind Scruggs, a logjam of drivers from the

fifth spot on down will 

be looking to go as many rounds as possible in

Rockingham and hoping 

that the gods of mathematics rule in their favor.

That group contains 

a number of the class' heavy hitters, including

fifth-place Quain 

Stott, Houston winner Joey Martin (seventh place),

veterans Troy 

Critchley and Thomas Patterson (ninth and 10th, respectively)

and 

Huntsville winner Brian Daniels, whose late-season scoring surge has 

him in 15th place with a mathematical shot at reaching the top

eight.

Following Friday's one qualifying run, drivers in Pro Extreme

will 

get two more chances to qualify on Saturday. The quickest 16 

survivors of what looks to be a brutal qualifying battle will then 

advance to eliminations later that day.

Stott is the defending event

champion. He outlasted a large field 

before eventually edging Lynam in the

final on a holeshot, 4.000 to 

3.976.

*****

ADRL Battle for

the Belts points standings

(through 6 of 7 events; top 8 qualify; qualified

drivers denoted with *)

PRO EXTREME

1.    *Mike Neal    1,564

2.   

*Bil Clanton    1,473

3.    *John Lynam    1,436

4.    *Jason Scruggs   

1,370

5.    Quain Stott    1,244

6.    Josh Hernandez    1,154

7.   

Joey Martin    1,051

8.    Todd Tutterow    735

9.    Thomas Patterson   

719

10.    Troy Critchley    718

11.    Todd Bauknecht    620

12.   

Toney Russell    619

13.    Chip King    524

14.    Bubba Stanton   

516

15.    Brian Daniels    507

PRO NITROUS

1.    *Keith Baker   

1,558

2.    *Terry Housley    1,437

3.    *Burton Auxier    1,362

4.   

*Johnny Pilcher    1,258

5.    Rex Kelley    851

6.    James Hancock   

843

7.    Shannon Jenkins    841

8.    Todd Tutterow    836

9.    Mike

Castellana    736

10.    Harold Martin    728

11.    Ken Thomas   

715

12.    R. Weatherford    542

13.    Steve Vick    515

14.    Aaron

Hodges    427

15.    Dan Parker    425

*****

Eastern Race Fuels

DRAGSTOCK III

Pro Extreme entry list

Tom Ashley

Joe Baker

Jeff

Balton

Cody Barklage

Zach Barklage

Todd Bauknecht

Mike Bell

Scott

Cannon Jr.

Bil Clanton

Troy Critchley

Joe Culver

Brian

Daniels

Bryan Dyar

Steve Engel

Buddy Farmer

Jeff Fisher

Tommy

Gray Jr.

Jason Green

T.J. Harrill

Gene Hayes

Jimmy Hendrix

Josh

Hernandez

Jerry Hicks

Ed Hoover

Kenny Keller

Chip King

Bill

Kuhlmann

Taylor Lastor

John Lynam

Joey Martin

Kelly Martin

Tommy

Mauney

Bennie McDonald Jr.

Ron Muenks

Michael Neal

Mike Neal

Phil

Osborne

Thomas Patterson

Alan Pittman

Jerry Prater

Scott

Ray

Jerry Rhodes

Bryon Rich

Don Roddy

Rodney Rosenstiel

Toney

Russell

Hugh Scott

Chris Scrocca

Jason Scruggs

Bryan

Seward

Herman Sheppard

Bubba Stanton

Ron Stokes

Quain

Stott

Travis Swearingen

Frankie Taylor

Todd Tutterow

Eddie

Ware

Bill Wright

Dwayne Watkins

Fierce Points Battles Loom for Many Pro Nitrous Drivers

(9-14-2006) – Every round will be crucial – even every

qualifying point will matter – when a large Pro Nitrous field begins racing for

real on Friday at the FLOWMASTER American Drag Racing League's Eastern Race

Fuels DRAGSTOCK III event at Rockingham Raceway.

In addition to competing

for an event title at the ADRL's oldest and 

largest event, a number of Pro

Nitrous drivers will have their 

calculators at the ready to keep track of

their chances of qualifying 

for next month's ADRL Battle for the Belts

world championship 

eliminator. Only the top eight Pro Nitrous

points-earners at the 

conclusion of DRAGSTOCK III eliminations will qualify

for the Battle 

for the Belts competition, which will determine the 2006

ADRL world 

champion.

As of Monday, 48 Pro Nitrous entry requests for

DRAGSTOCK III had 

been received by the ADRL offices, including entries from

nine of the 

drivers in the current top 10 of the points standings. That

list 

includes the top four drivers in the Pro Nitrous points standings – 

points leader Keith Baker, Huntsville winner Terry Housley, Burton 

Auxier, and series veteran Johnny Pilcher – all of whom have clinched 

places in the Battle for the Belts.

The struggle for the final four

positions, though, looks to a 

dogfight between a number of drivers. The

fifth- through seventh-

place drivers (Rex Kelley, James Hancock, and

Shannon Jenkins) are 

separated by a mere 10 points, and further back lurk

drivers such as 

Mike Castellana and Harold Martin, who are about one

round-win away 

from the number-eight spot. The competition for places in

the Belts 

run-off looks to be close enough that qualifying points at

DRAGSTOCK 

III – 16 for No. 1, down to 1 for No. 16 – could make the

difference 

for many drivers.

The Pro Nitrous contingent will have a

single qualifying session 

Friday night, followed by two more qualifying

attempts on Saturday.  

The quickest 16 cars will then take a short break

before beginning 

eliminations later that day.

Jenkins won last

year's event in the first DRAGSTOCK appearance for 

the Pro Nitrous

class.

*****

ADRL Battle for the Belts points

standings

(through 6 of 7 events; top 8 qualify; qualified

drivers denoted with *)

PRO EXTREME

1.    *Mike

Neal    1,564

2.    *Bil Clanton    1,473

3.    *John Lynam   

1,436

4.    *Jason Scruggs    1,370

5.    Quain Stott    1,244

6.   

Josh Hernandez    1,154

7.    Joey Martin    1,051

8.    Todd Tutterow   

735

9.    Thomas Patterson    719

10.    Troy Critchley    718

11.   

Todd Bauknecht    620

12.    Toney Russell    619

13.    Chip King   

524

14.    Bubba Stanton    516

15.    Brian Daniels   

507

PRO NITROUS

1.    *Keith Baker    1,558

2.   

*Terry Housley    1,437

3.    *Burton Auxier    1,362

4.    *Johnny

Pilcher    1,258

5.    Rex Kelley    851

6.    James Hancock    843

7. 

  Shannon Jenkins    841

8.    Todd Tutterow    836

9.    Mike Castellana 

  736

10.    Harold Martin    728

11.    Ken Thomas    715

12.    R.

Weatherford    542

13.    Steve Vick    515

14.    Aaron Hodges   

427

15.    Dan Parker    425

*****

Eastern Race Fuels

DRAGSTOCK III

Pro Nitrous entry list

Stan

Allen

Burton Auxier

Keith Baker

Johnny Barb

Jerry

Bridgeforth

Dale Brinsfield

Charles Carpenter

Mike Castellana

Steve

Cossis

Thomas Dunford

Pererik Fors

Greg Godwin

James Hancock

III

Jamie Hancock

Billy Harper

Ronnie Hood

Rod Houck

Terry

Housley

Shannon Jenkins

Mike Johnson

Rex Kelly

Kenny Kneece

Ben

Ledford

Thomas Lee

Candyce Marsh

Jay Marshall

Harold Martin

Rick

Moore

Johnny Murray

Thomas Myers

Chuck Nuytten

Dan Parker

Doug

Patton

Johnny Pilcher

Dennis Radford

Doug Riesterer

Harold

Robinson

David Roemer

Jeff Simpkins

Rickie Smith

Teddy

Smith

Bubba Stanton

Pat Stoken

Annette Summer

Sonny Tindal

Buzz

Varner

Steve Vick

Randy Weatherford

 

HUGE FIELDS EXPECTED FOR ADRL'S OLDEST EVENT

(9-12-2006) – The biggest event in Outlaw Pro

Mod racing just keeps getting bigger, with this weekend's American Drag Racing

League Eastern Race Fuels DRAGSTOCK III event expected to outshine its two

predecessors in terms of both car count and attendance.

More than 140

pre-entries in three classes have been approved for DRAGSTOCK III, according to

ADRL President Kenny Nowling. The event, the sixth of seven on the 2006 ADRL

schedule, will feature points-earning competitions in both the Pro Extreme and

Pro Nitrous classes, as well as a Pro 10.5 competition that will showcase a

class due to become a full ADRL eliminator in 2007.

"The Eastern Race

Fuels DRAGSTOCK event has always been the premier Pro Mod event of the year, but

the enthusiasm I have seen from race teams and fans for DRAGSTOCK III has been

nothing short of phenomenal," Nowling said. "Everyone in the ADRL family is

looking forward to huge fields and crowded grandstands at Rockingham

Dragway."

The event begins Friday with open testing sessions throughout

most of the day and the first round of qualifying for both the Pro Extreme and

Pro Nitrous classes at 8:30 p.m. Eastern. As always at ADRL events, Saturday is

a full day, with Sportsman time trials and eliminations beginning at 9:30 a.m.

and Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous qualifying resuming at noon. Eliminations in the

two Outlaw Pro Mod classes are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. DRAGSTOCK III will

also feature an eight-car mountain-motor Pro Stock competition.

In

addition to competing for event titles at DRAGSTOCK III, a number of ADRL

drivers will also be looking to clinch spots in next month's Battle for the

Belts ADRL world championship eliminators in Kennedale, Texas. DRAGSTOCK III is

the final event in which drivers can earn points in the 2006 ADRL standings, and

only the top eight points-earners in each Outlaw Pro Mod class are guaranteed

positions in the Battle for the Belts eliminators.

Entering this

weekend's event, Mike Neal (1,564 points), Bil Clanton (1,473), John Lynam

(1,436), and Jason Scruggs (1,370) have clinched spots in the Pro Extreme half

of the Belts competition, while Keith Baker (1,558), Terry Housley (1,437),

Burton Auxier (1,362), and Johnny Pilcher (1,258) are already qualified for the

Pro Nitrous competition. In both classes, a number of drivers in lower positions

could claim spots in the Belts competition by racing well in Rockingham, but the

exact order of the Belts qualifiers will likely not be determined until the

final pairs go down the track.

Got a comment? Drop us a line at comppluseditor@aol.com.

 

 

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