Ellis Vial, a self-described “little guy” from Gloucester, Virginia, is ready for the fight of his life as he prepares for a Nov. 22 departure to Doha, Qatar, where he and his supercharged and nitrous-injected 1968 Firebird will take on some of the very best eighth-mile drag racers in the world in the 2010-11 Arabian Drag Racing League season.

As a part-time participant in the affiliated American Drag Racing League’s (ADRL’s) top-level Pro Extreme class, Vial is no stranger to the competition, having recorded a career-best 3.85-second run at 199.97 mph earlier this year at Norwalk, Ohio. The records for the class, however, are 3.59 seconds and 211.69 mph, belonging respectively to reigning ADRL Pro Extreme world champion Frankie Taylor and his teammate Wes Johnston, both of whom will be in Qatar, too.

They will be joined by the likes of last year’s champ, Todd Tutterow, this year’s runner-up to Taylor, Joshua Hernandez, former NHRA Top Fuel pilot J.R. Todd and the benefactor to both ADRLs, Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Thani (KH), the defending Arabian series champion and a race winner in the Stateside series.

Ellis Vial, a self-described “"little guy"” from Gloucester, Virginia, is ready for the fight of his life as he prepares for a Nov. 22 departure to Doha, Qatar, where he and his supercharged and nitrous-injected 1968 Firebird will take on some of the very best eighth-mile drag racers in the world in the 2010-11 Arabian Drag Racing League season.

As a part-time participant in the affiliated American Drag Racing League’'s (ADRL’s) top-level Pro Extreme class, Vial is no stranger to the competition, having recorded a career-best 3.85-second run at 199.97 mph earlier this year at Norwalk, Ohio. The records for the class, however, are 3.59 seconds and 211.69 mph, belonging respectively to reigning ADRL Pro Extreme world champion Frankie Taylor and his teammate Wes Johnston, both of whom will be in Qatar, too.

They will be joined by the likes of last year’s champ, Todd Tutterow, this year’'s runner-up to Taylor, Joshua Hernandez, former NHRA Top Fuel pilot J.R. Todd and the benefactor to both ADRLs, Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Thani (KH), the defending Arabian series champion and a race winner in the Stateside series.   

“"I think I know how Rocky felt when he went to fight Apollo Creed,”" Vial says, channeling the image of the ultimate underdog. “"But I’ve got a great guy in my corner with my new crew chief, Chris Duncan, just like Rocky had with his trainer, Mickey.”"

Duncan tuned ADRL star Alex Hossler to a pair of wins in Qatar last season and expressed confidence about visiting the Qatar Race Club victory lane again with Vial.

“"He'’s got some new components on the car that he hasn’t even tested yet, but it’'s with products that I’ve used before and had great luck with so I’m really not all that concerned,”" Duncan insists. “"It’'s going to be a new adventure and I’m excited about it.”"

That sense of adventure is what finally convinced Vial, along with wife and teammate, Kim, to take the chance and commit to the eight-race series that stretches from early December to late in February next year.

“"I'’ve got to do it. I can’t afford to do it, but I can’'t afford not to do it,”" said the professional yacht technician who recently sold his personal pleasure craft in order to buy spare parts and cover expenses at home while his boat repair business is shut down for 90 days in his absence. Sheikh Khalid and the Arabian Drag Racing League are covering all of Vial’s travel expenses, as well as providing food, lodging and a rental car during his time in Qatar.

“"Kim and I talked about it and it was actually her that insisted we go over there. An opportunity like this doesn'’t come along every day and I really have to thank KH for making it happen,”" Vial says. "“You know, if it wasn’t for Kim I probably would’'ve sold this car a long time ago. She’'s without a doubt the most important part of our team and just won’t let me quit and I love her for it. She eats peanut butter to go racing, I can promise you, because we go racing on pure heart; it sure isn’t wallet.”"

Vial also credits George Coleman of Coleman Automotive Machine in Gloucester for doing all the machine work that helped bring his “beast” to life, as well as offers thanks to Heath Smith at Specialty Hardware in Gloucester for providing the material needed for building crates to send overseas and George Rhodes at Office Supply of Gloucester for donating overnight shipping when he needed to send his engine heads up to Michigan.

"“It'’s really great to see and feel that local support as we embark on this adventure and it means more to me and Kim than I can really express,”" Vial said. “"I feel like I’'ve got the car and the talent and the ability and with a guy like Chris Duncan on my side I really believe we can go over there and represent everyone pretty well. Who knows, maybe we can deliver a knockout punch just like Rocky!"

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