Keep up with this weekend's ADRL Independence Drags by reading our event notebook. We bring you the stories behind the numbers and win-lights throughout the course of the weekend. Tune in daily for the latest news from the pits.

 

		EVENT NEWS			FRIDAY GALLERY SATURDAY GALLERY SUNDAY GALLERY

 

SUNDAY FINAL - ADRL COMPLETES EVENT JUST IN TIME

Swearingen scores huge Pro Extreme win

 

The ADRL was racing on the track and against the sky Sunday at Motor Mile Dragway in Radford, Virginia, as ominous storm

clouds appeared on the horizon just as the final rounds were about to be run at the 2nd annual Shelor Motor Mile Independence Drags.

Just minutes after the exhaust notes of Pro Extreme winner Travis Swearingen’s supercharged 1941 Willys faded into the rolling hills of southwest Virginia, the skies unleashed a violent storm that sent fans and teams packing. But they left satisfied, knowing Billy Glidden and Charlie Prophit also scored their first ADRL wins in Extreme 10.5 and Pro Extreme Motorcycle, respectively, while Billy Harper continued his dominance of the Pro Nitrous class with his third-straight ADRL national-event win.

Swearingen, who also reached the final in Radford at the inaugural Independence Drags, put together a dominating performance after qualifying fourth at the picturesque eighth-mile track. He ran a pair of 3.84-seconds passes in defeating Bob Mandell Jr. and Wes Johnston in the early rounds. He then ran identical to the thousandths 3.81 passes at 198 mph in the semis and final to beat number-one qualifier Bubba Stanton and interrupt the momentum of Joshua Hernandez, winner of the three previous ADRL events.

“We really didn’t change much from our tune-up at Martin (Michigan) last month,” Swearingen said. “We kept everything pretty much the same all day and it kept getting better. Our car just seems to like this track.”

Number-one starter Harper also was a model of consistency on raceday, running a pair of 3.96-seconds laps in beating West Virginians Burton Auxier and Kenny Rucker before improving to 3.94 to edge his teammate, Dennis Radford, in the semis. In the final round, Harper ran 3.93 at 185.57 mph in his 2000 Viper to defeat Charles Carpenter in the ADRL debut of his ’55 Chevy.

“I’ve never worked with a team that pays such attention to detail,” Harper said. “You would not believe the amount of things they check and double-check between each round. They just give me a car that’s such a pleasure to drive, I can’t thank them enough.”

Consistency was the watchword of the day as Glidden put together a string of three 4.31-seconds passes after going 4.37 in a first-round bye run. Glidden drove his ’06 GTO to the Extreme 10.5 title with wins over Gary Gardella, Todd Moyer and Steve Kirk Jr., who had trouble with the nitrous system on his 1963 Corvette in the final round.

It was nearly an all-Prophit affair in the Pro Extreme Motorcycle final, but Matt Prophit, brother of the eventual race champion, gave away a sure win in the semis with a red-light start against Ron Procopio. The dreaded red bulb then caught up with Procopio in the final, as he left .011 of a second too soon, while Prophit streaked to the win in 4.35 seconds at 165.20 mph.

“The only thing that would’ve made it better would be if Matt could have made it to the final,” Prophit said. “Usually it’s me that would do something to mess that up, but this time I can razz him.”

The Flowmaster American Drag Racing League presented by the National Guard returns to action July 25-26, with its inaugural 1-800-Go-Guard.com U.S. Drags at Maryland International Raceway in Budd’s Creek, Maryland. The U.S. Drags also will feature the debut and first leg of the Sonny’s Extreme Pro Stock Challenge presented by Purvis Ford-Lincoln-Mercury.

 

 

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HANG ON, HAROLD

 

While much conversation has been focused on the NHRA and it's national event shutdowns, ADRL Pro Nitrous Harold Martin learned the same issues can be found at eighth-mile facilities like the one in Radford, Va. One other Pro Nitrous racer, Greg Godwin, flipped his car in the runoff area. (Roger Richards)

FULL SEQUENCE 

 

 

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EVENT EXTENDED UNTIL SUNDAY

The 2nd annual ADRL Shelor Motor Mile Drags will be one day longer than originally scheduled as rain pushed back eliminations to Sunday, July 6, at the eighth-mile Motor Mile Dragway in Radford, Virginia.

One round of qualifying was completed Friday night as scheduled for all four ADRL professional classes, but wet weather consumed much of Saturday’s planned on-track action, allowing only one of two additional scheduled qualifying rounds to be completed  in Pro Nitrous, Extreme 10.5 and Pro Extreme Motorcycle. A second round of supercharged Pro Extreme action will open up Sunday’s action at noon before all four classes enter elimination rounds.

Top qualifiers so far include Billy Harper with an outstanding 3.93-seconds at 187.19 mph in Pro Nitrous pole, reigning Extreme 10.5 world champion Steve Gorman with a 4.35 at 166.48 mph, and Charlie Prophit with a 4.32 at 160.54 to lead the Pro Extreme Motorcycle field.

 

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SATURDAY QUALIFYING RESUMES - QUALIFYING CUT TO TWO SESSIONS

FINAL SESSION

PRO NITROUS

(6:40pm)

(L) Fredy Sciba – 4.062 et – 183.67 mph
(R) Stan Allen – 5.822 et – 82.77 mph
 
Allen hurt something & dropped parts on the track, meanwhile Scriba made a great run to jump all the way to #5.
 
(L) Josh Chester – 4.147 et – 175.10 mph
(R) Dale Brinsfield – 4.102 et – 178.08 mph
 
Both guys got big time loose, Scriba a little further down track.
 
(L) Pat Bennett – 4.179 et – 174.55 mph
(R) Rickie Smith – 4.019 et – 182.04 mph
 
Tricky Rickie makes a killer run to jump up to the #2 spot!!
 
(L) Andy Jensen – 3.997 et – 184.65 mph
(R) Shannon Jenkins – 4.257 et – 148.12 mph
 
Jenkins shook & had to lift. Meanwhile Jensen carded a .983 60’ & a 3 second pass in the turbo ride!!
 
(L) Randy Weatherford – 4.022 et – 179.35 mph
(R) Harold Martin – 4.079 et – 179.43 mph
 
Great side by side pass here, Martin fighting his way in the field, putting Jenkins on the bump spot.
 
(L) Pat Moore – 4.073 et – 178.57 mph
(R) Dennis Radford – 4.018 et – 181.74 mph
 
The NOS guys are throwing it down, another set of great passes, Radford jumping up to the #3 spot, bumping out the Iceman.
 
(L) Rick Smith – 15.596 et – 62.36 mph
(R) Dwayne White – 6.879 et – 113.69 mph
 
Smith had all kinds of problems, looked like the car was loading up, then he had huge shake right at the hit. White shook as well & neither will make the field.
 
(L) Keith Baker – 4.361 et – 169.81 mph
(R) Steve Carrier – 4.165 et – 170.00 mph
 
Baker shook & slapped the throttle, but it wasn’t enough as he will not make the show.
 
(L) Thomas Myers – 4.071 et – 183.08 mph
(R) Steve Vick – 4.006 et – 182.63 mph
 
Great job by Slick driving through some shake, sliding a bit to the wall & staying with it to jump to a safe spot in the field. Vick is just set on kill this weekend!
 
(L) Billy Harper – 3.933 et – 187.19 mph
(R) Burton Auxier – 4.125 et – 4.125 mph
 
Both guys bump their way in the field, Harper going from the outhouse to the penthouse with a .978 60’ & a killer run!!! Look at the speed!!
 
(L) Kenny Rucker – 4.068 et – 178.86 mph
(R) Tim Savell – 4.158 et – 169.11 mph
 
Rucker waits till the very last moment & makes a career best run to bump Josh Chester from the field in the last pair.

Extreme 10.5

(L) Gary Gardella – 4.999 et – 159.49 mph
(R) Elliott Thompson – 4.910 et – 158.17 mph
 
A pair of turbo rides banging & popping here. Good run for the FWD ride & Thompson is just a bit off the pace.
 
(L) Michael Neal – 4.459 et – 169.30 mph
(R) Steve Gorman – 4.352 et – 166.48 mph
 
Neal drove through some shake in the first 60’, but Gorman was on a string, taking the top spot away from Neal with a great pass!!
 
(L) Doug Horween – 7.151 et – 72.62 mph
(R) Todd Moyer – 4.813 et – 159.69 mph
 
Both guys just blow the tires off right at the hit.
 
(L) Cory Wheat – 4.387 et – 166.91 mph
(R) Billy Glidden – 4.372 et – 162.28 mph
 
Great side by side pass here as these guys were glued together all the way to the stripe!!
 
(L) Steve Kirk – N/T
(R) Mike Hill – 4.414 et – 171.23 mph
 
Kirk had problems while purging the nos & had to be shut off. Hill makes a clean run with big mph.
 
(L)
(R) Bob Mandell III – 4.880 et – 148.96 mph
 
Mandell was banging & popping a bit on this pass.

Pro Extreme Motorcycle
(5:30pm)

(L) Larry Berg – 4.870 et – 144.09 mph
(R) Craig Rosenberg – 4.652 et – 152.85 mph
 
Clean passes, but no improvement for either rider, but they are in the show for now.
 
(L) Darryl Hollins – 4.599 et – 152.23 mph
(R) Tommy Campbell – 4.771 et – 147.69 mph
 
Another clean pair, nice run by Hollinsl to get in the #10 spot.
 
(L) MacMcAdams – 4.458 et – 162.45 mph
(R) Scott Gray – 5.022 et – 149.15 mph
 
Gray had problems while McAdams make a great run on the General Lee bike to get in the top half of the field for now..
 
(L) Tim Shelton – 4.623 et – 150.00 mph
(R) Nikie Corley – 6.286 et – 72.84 mph
 
Corley has a big pop about 60’ out & has to lift..
 
(L) Charlie Prophit – 4.325 et – 160.54 mph
(R) Monte Campbell – 4.481 et – 156.85 mph
 
Huge run for Prophit as he lowers his own low et of the event!!
 
(L) Bay Bay Yarborough – 4.660 et – 147.83 mph
(R) Coodee Thomas – 5.515 et – 108.15 mph
 
Thomas with a pop of the line & he legged it out, but will not make the field.
 
(L) Billy Vose – 4.509 et – 144.69 mph
(R) Leshon Norman – 6.514 et – 80.70 mph
 
Vose was on a nice pass, but had a big bang at the big end & put a ton of smoke out.
 
(L) Ron Procopio – 4.426 et – 159.12
(R)
 
Procopio duplicates his pass from last night & stays in the #5 spot..
 
(L) Matt Prophit – 4.360 et – 164.11 mph
(R)
 
Prophit did not make a pass last night. He jumps right up to the #2 spot with an great pass!!
(L) Robert Hunnicutt – 4.430 et – 161.52 mph
(R)
 
A good run for Prophit, but he does not improve his position.

 

 

 

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SATURDAY - EVENT DELAYED BY WEATHER (3:00 PM, EST)

Track drying began an hour ago following Saturday morning showers. The process is expected to take a while to complete. 

 

FINISHING UP MARTIN - HERNANDEZ WINS POSTPONED FINALS

Shortly after fireworks lit up the south-Virginia sky, Joshua Hernandez lit up the crowd at Motor Mile Dragway this July 4th by winning an unprecedented third consecutive American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Pro Extreme event, in the rain-postponed “arm-drop drags” final from the series’ previous race in Martin, Michigan.

Joining Hernandez in victory lane at Motor Mile Dragway in Radford, Virginia were Billy Harper in Pro Nitrous and Extreme 10.5 winner Gary White. The postponed Pro Extreme Motorcycle final was held over again to the ADRL’s next event, July 25-26, at Budd’s Creek, Maryland because finalist Scott Gray asked for the delay to accommodate his opponent, T.T. Jones, who couldn’t make the race due to illness.

“I know everybody says this, but this win belongs to my team. They work so hard getting the car ready and hauling it all over the country and then they just give me a perfect ride,” Hernandez said of his ’57 Chevy after going 3.89 seconds at 192.55 miles per hour over the eighth-mile course to defeat Bob Mandell Jr. “I was definitely worried after we didn’t get down the track in our test pass, but they made some changes and there was no problem at all.”

Harper defeated teammate Dennis Radford to pick up his second-straight ADRL Pro Nitrous win, but it was an anticlimactic affair as both drivers lost traction early and coasted to the finish line.

“It shook hard going into second gear and I had to get off it,” Harper explained after posting a 5.98-seconds win at just 83 mph with his 2000 Viper. Radford said the transmission broke in his ’70 Cuda after it also lost traction early.

“It’s okay, we knew the trophy was going home with the team,” Radford said. “We want to win one again tomorrow, though, that’s what we’re focused on now.”

In Extreme 10.5, which refers to the cars’ relatively narrow 10.5-inch-wide rear slicks, Gary White made a solo pass in his 2006 Scion after fellow Martin finalist Brent Rau didn’t make the long tow down from Minnesota. White’s car also lost grip shortly after launching and smoked it’s rear tires to half-track on a 5.12 at 152.65-mph pass.

“Basically the track was just too good tonight and we just read it wrong,” White admitted. “That’s okay, though, because we learned something and hopefully we can use that to do better tomorrow.

The ADRL returns to action tomorrow with two more scheduled qualifying sessions before eliminations rounds begin at 4 p.m. for the 2nd annual Shelor Motor Mile Independence Drags.

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SESSION #1 - QUALIFYING

 

 

Pro Extreme

(11:51pm)

(L) Scott Filkins – 4.529 et – 134.45 mph

(R) Billy Gibson – 4.275 et – 163.40 mph
 
Filkins got loose & peddled it at least once…
 
(L) Frankie Taylor – 3.857 et – 193.05 mph
(R) Travis Swearingen – 3.961 et – 187.97 mph
 
Killer side by side run as Frankie is just killin it today!!! Travis had a .965 60’ but drifted around a bit. Frankie had a .968 60’ & 2.577 330’ short time.
 
(L) Brandon Snider – 5.355 et – 90.63 mph
(R) Bubba Stanton – 3.843 et – 196.08 mph
 
Frankies number lasted one pair as Stanton is absolutely set on KILL!! Again with huge mph!!
 
(L) Jason Scruggs – N/T
(R) Mike Neal – 4.053 et – 181.45 mph
 
Scruggs was shut off after the burnout as it appeared they had a fuel leak. Neal made a clean run, it looked better that it was.
 
(L) Michael Neal – 4.186 et – 176.54 mph
(R) Bil Clanton – N/T
 
Another disappointing turn here as Clanton was also leaking after the burnout & had to be shut off... Neal had to peddle a couple times & dropped some oil in the process..
 
(L) Hugh Scott – 4.396 et – 134.33 mph
(R) Chip King – 4.271 et – 175.51 mph
 
Hugh made clean run but appeared to click it early. King had his own problems and was late on the chutes, but got it stopped.
 
(L) Dwayne Watkins – 4.073 et – 182.33 mph
(R) Brian Daniels – 5.237 et – 93.15 mph
 
Wild one here, Daniels crossed the centerline right beside Watkins, close enough that Watkins lifted for a second. Daniels will get the centerline DQ.
 
(L) 
(R) Wes Johnston – 4.117 et – 165.14 mph
 
Johnston appeared to lift early…


Pro Nitrous

(11:15pm)

(L) Rickie Smith – 4.050 et – 181.23 mph
(R) Pat Moore – 4.246 et – 171.82 mph
 
Nice pair to open the PN session as Rickie throws down the gauntlet.
 
(L) Harold Martin – 8.064 et – 54.66 mph
(R) Fredy Scriba – 5.025 et – 101.90 mph
 
Both guys got big time loose, Scriba a little further down track.
 
(L) Shannon Jenkins – 5.913 et – 80.73 mph
(R) Kenny Rucker – 4.231 et – 170.00 mph
 
Wow, both guys go hard left & Shannon lifts, but Rucker stays with it & skates all the way to the stripe!!
 
(L) Tim Savell – 4.124 et – 179.43 mph
(R) Keith Baker – 7.245 et – 72.62 mph
 
Baker shakes hard & has to lift. Savell makes a clean run to go to #2…
 
(L) Charles Carpenter – 4.040 et – 180.22 mph
(R) Pat Bennett – 4.232 et – 160.43 mph
 
Carpenter makes a smooth straight run to go to the top of the PN heap!!
 
(L) Steve Vick – 3.986 et – 183.00 mph
(R) Andy Jensen – 4.585 et – 170.33 mph
 
How bout that track crew & how bout Steve Vick & crew!! After a lengthy rain delay, a fireworks show, etc, Vick throws down the gauntlet with a .978 60’ and a huge et!!
 
(L) Steve Carrier – 7.503 et – 59.74 mph
(R)
 
Huge shake for Carrier right at the hit of the throttle.
 
(L) Dwayne White – 6.050 et – 74.81 mph
(R) Thomas Myers – 4.159 et – 176.96 mph
 
Holy cow, both cars went straight to the centerline, right at each other & White lifted. Slick hung with it, all over the centerline but never crossing!!
 
(L) Burton Auxier – 5.923 et – 99.36 mph
(R) Randy Weatherford – 4.041 et – 179.43 mph
 
Burton went to the wall and had to click it off. Weatherford rode the centerline much like Slick before him.
 
(L) Stan Allen – 4.096 et – 182.33 mph
(R)
 
Allen makes a nice runt to jump up to the #5 spot…
 
(L) 
(R) Dale Brinsfield – 4.076 et – 178.08 mph
 
Brinsfield makes a great run in the gorgeous Mustang to grab the #5 spot away from Allen.
 
(L) 
(R) Rick Smith – N/T

Smith rolled the tree & will not get a time.

Remember that Harper & Radford will run at the end of the show which will also be the Martin final.

Extreme 10.5

(8:53pm)

(L) Ellis Vial – 5.245 et – 131.81 mph
(R) Doug Horween – 4.800 et – 158.06 mph
 
It didn’t sound like Vial could make the gear change… Horween drove it out the backdoor & didn’t have chutes, but he made the turnoff.
 
(L) Billy Glidden – 5.012 et – 106.46 mph
(R) Cory Wheat – 4.642 et – 156.52 mph
 
Glidden has a 1.01 60’ but ran into to problems & had to lift. Wheat goes to #1 for now.
 
(L) Steve Gorman – 4.479 et – 161.12 mph
(R) Bob Mandell – 4.656 et – 152.23 mph
 
Gorman was all over the lane, but rose it out to take over the top spot.
 
(L) Todd Moyer – 4.480 et – 155.71 mph
(R) Michael Neal – 4.450 et – 170.26 mph
 
Awesome pass here, both guys straight & true & Neal goes right to the top!!
 
(L) Mike Hill – 4.569 et – 164.65 mph
(R) Gary Gardella – 4.913 et – 155.71 mph

Hill had it softened up big time off the line after striking the tires twice in testing. Gardella takes the fwd ride into the 4 second zone.

Elliott Thompson is the only competitor left  in the lanes as the rains came...

 

Pro Extreme Motorcycle

(8:06pm)
(L) Tommy Campbell – N/T
(R) Jack Young – 4.387 et – 158.23 mph
 
Campbell has a big bang right at the hit while Young makes a great pass to open the program.
 
(L) Leshon Norman – 5.355 et – 126.19 mph
(R) Darryl Hollins – 4.645 et – 151.72 mph
 
Norman has problems in the left lane while Hollins goes to the #2 spot..
 
(L) Coodee Thomas – 5.531 et – 101.10 mph
(R) Tim Shelton – 4.686 et – 151.01 mph
 
Thomas has all kinds of problems, banging & popping before finally lifting.
 
(L) Scott Gray – 4.481 et – 152.39 mph
(R) Larry Berg – N/T
 
Berg breaks after the burnout. Gray rode the centerline all the way to the stripe..
 
(L) Nikie Corley – 4.389 et – 157.29 mph
(R) Mac McAdams – 4.487 et – 156.47 mph
 
We get a good side by side pair here, going to #2 & #4 respectively.
 
(L) Craig Rosenberg – 4.630 et – 152.59 mph
(R) Ron Procopio – 4.429 et – 162.93 mph
 
Procopio makes a great pass to go the #3 spot with big speed.
 
(L) Monte Campbell – 4.500 et – 152.49 mph
(R) Charlie Prophit – 4.347 et – 163.58 mph
 
Prophit makes an outstanding run to go right to the top of the heap!!
 
(L)
(R) Robert Hunnicutt – 4.451 et – 162.10 mph
 
Hunnicutt rides through some tire shake to make a nice pass.
 
(L)
(R) Billy Vose – 4.388 et – 161.46 mph
 
The defending champ makes a clean run, but only good enough for the #3 spot.

 

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EVENT PREVIEW - ADRL HISTORY TO BE MADE IN RADFORD

When the Flowmaster American Drag Racing League (ADRL) presented by the National Guard visits Motor Mile Dragway in Radford, Virginia July 4-5, for the 2nd annual ADRL Shelor Motor Mile Independence Drags, fans and racers alike will be in for a history-making experience.

The conclusion of the first day of this year’s Independence Drags will feature a unique event as all four finals from the ADRL’s rain-shortened previous event in Martin, Michigan will be run with ADRL President Kenny Nowling personally starting each pair of competitors with hand signals. The unusual format came about as a result of severe electrical storms in Michigan taking out the track’s starting-line tree and scoreboard displays, but leaving the staging and timing equipment intact.

“Sometimes you have to do what it takes,” Nowling said of what one Extreme 10.5 team quickly dubbed the Arm Drop Racing League (ADRL). That means the finals will be run—complete with arm-drop starts—at the end of Friday night’s qualifying session in Radford.

“It’s the only way to remain fair and consistent,” Nowling stated. “Besides, I think everyone left in contention is looking forward to the bragging rights of winning such a unique title. The fans in Virginia are in for a real treat, too, because these arm-drop starts for a pair of 3,000-horsepower cars have to be seen to be believed.”

Points leader Joshua Hernandez will take on Bob Mandell Jr. in the Pro Extreme final, teammates Billy Harper and Dennis Radford will square off for Pro Nitrous honors, Gary White and Brent Rau will stage the ADRL’s first-ever meeting of import cars in the Extreme 10.5 final, and T.T. Jones will ride against Scott Gray to determine the Pro Extreme Motorcycle winner. All final-round passes also will count as official ADRL qualifying attempts toward the Independence Drags, Nowling added.

“And one more thing; when we came up with the arm-drop idea, I promised Steve Gorman, our reigning Extreme 10.5 champion, that he could shave my head on the starting line when it was all over,” he said. “Well, that’s still on. It actually comes at a good time, too, because our next event is the inaugural 1-800-GO-GUARD.com U.S. Drags up in Budd’s Creek, Maryland, so I’ll fit right in with my new military-style haircut.”

Saturday’s on-track action will include two scheduled qualifying sessions, with eliminations for all professional classes beginning at 4 p.m. Additionally, extensive fireworks displays are planned for both nights at the track, along with a trackside custom car show and comprehensive manufacturer’s midway.