ADRL's season-ending race a springboard for 2013 for Keith Haney Racing

Keith Haney Racing's two cars are looking to end the ADRL season with a strong statement this weekend at the ADRL World Finals VIII presented by CarSafe at Texas Motorplex.

Haney and teammate Monroe Guest have endured their fair share of growing pains this year making their Keith Haney Racing Chevy Camaros race ready and competitive. However Haney said every time they hit the track, the cars just keep getting better.

"We're feeling real strong," Haney said. "The cars have come around real nice. We has some issues in the beginning, but now we're happy with everything.

"We're happy with the crew chiefs and the decisions that have been made and we're looking forward to a good close on the year."

Haney said after racing in Pro Mod last time out, they are expecting to race in the Pro Nitrous field this weekend because there is going to be a better opportunity to make the field.

"There's a lot of NHRA guys coming to race on their way out to Las Vegas," Haney said. "The Pro Mod class only has eight spots as compared to 16 for Pro Nitrous, so we just want to give ourselves the best chance to be competitive."

He said the team recently completed an event at Tulsa Raceway Park that yielded promising results.

"Both our cars raced the Throwdown," Haney said. "I won first round despite the transmission being messed up and Monroe had a good outing, where he qualified No. 4. I couldn't make the call for second round because we didn't want to hurt the motor over a tranny, but we learned a lot.

"We feel like we've great package right now. Or motors from Reher-Morrison Racing Engines are great and Lucas Oil has come on board recently and really helped us out."

Haney said they are all pieces it the puzzle to make Keith Haney Racing a true contender in 2013.

"We want to run the season from the beginning," Haney said. "For a few reasons we didn't get the chance to do that this year, but now we've got a huge leg up on 2013. We want to be contenders at all 10 races next year."

The gates open at 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, with the first round of qualifying on Friday set to begin at  noon. On Saturday, the racing will begin at noon with the final qualifying session. The first round of eliminations starts at 2:30 p.m.

Scruggs’ PX Win At Home Track Highlights ADRL’s Memorable Memphis Return For Memphis Drags III

Jason Scruggs’ third win in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) in 2012 ended up being his one of his favorite and it also proved to be a historic one.

At his home ADRL track and with plenty of friends and family watching, the Pro Extreme star went 3.736 at 207.34 mph to beat Brandon Pesz in the finals of the Memphis Drags III at Memphis International Raceway. Go to ADRL.us for the full story. 

Rahaim, DeFlorian Garner First ADRL Wins, Lead Winners List At Summer Drags VIII

Bob Rahaim couldn’t have picked a better place for his first American Drag Racing League (ADRL) win.

Racing at his home ADRL track, the Pro Nitrous standout delivered an incredible performance in front of a huge gathering of friends and family, going a career-best 3.797 at 197.10 miles per hour on Saturday to beat Pat Stoken in the finals of the Summer Drags VIII at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.

It capped off a day the Grosse Point, Mich. native won’t ever forget. “I'm feeling numb. This is pretty overwhelming. To do this at your home track and have everybody here, it's just a storybook thing,” Rahaim said. “You couldn't have scripted it any better. “I can say my life is complete. I've always wanted to win one of these races and I've always wanted to do it at my home track with everybody here in person.”

Other Summer Drags VIII winners included Jason Scruggs (Pro Extreme), Alan Pittman (Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5), Eric McKinney (Pro Extreme Motorcycle), John DeFlorian (Extreme Pro Stock), Mike Castellana (Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified), Bruce Thrift (Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman) and Bo Butner (SuperCar Showdown). Rahaim, DeFlorian and Thrift were all first-time ADRL winners.

Rahaim’s career-best 3.797 came after a lengthy rain delay but it was the perfect combination and the perfect time for the run against Stoken, who was also seeking his first ADRL win.

"The team made a lot of great calls today and it couldn't have went any better," said Rahaim, who dedicated the team to crew chief Kevin Bowen after Bowen was recently hospitalized.

John DeFlorian let loose with a memorable celebration in the winner’s circle after picking up his first career ADRL win. Driving a Jerry Haas Race Cars 2012 Camaro, DeFlorian went 4.086 at 174.78 mph to beat Matt Bertsch in a matchup of first-time finalists and hand the Black Diamond Motorsports team, owned by Karen and Kevin Bealko, its first ADRL victory as well.

“I’m never speechless, but I’m almost speechless over this,” DeFlorian said. “This is just an amazing thing. This is something I’ve dreamed about. I’ve been trying to get one of these things for so long. “I have to thank Kevin and Karen for just giving me this opportunity. This is something I’ve always wanted to experience and it’s beyond my wildest dreams.”

After breaking the world E.T. record (4.01) in June at his hometown track in St. Louis, DeFlorian didn’t qualify three weeks ago in Virginia. But the team put it together in Martin, qualifying No. 4 and knocking off 2012 event winners Dean Goforth, Todd Hoerner and Cary Goforth to get to the finals, running as quick as 4.10.

“We couldn’t seem to get all the pieces of the puzzle together and then Virginia couldn’t have been any worse,” DeFlorian said. “We had to get our act together and we finally put it all together for this race. It’s an incredible bunch of guys on this team.” After a series of unfortunate events at recent races, Jason Scruggs put in a banner day, capped off by a new track record of 3.638 at 208.87 mph to beat Terry Leggett and his 3.689 at 205 mph in the finals.

Scruggs had four runs in the 3.60s during eliminations, including a 3.643 in the quarterfinals to get by Tommy D’Aprile. It gives Scruggs eight career wins, matching Joshua Hernandez for the most in Pro Extreme history. “It was a very good day today and we’re real happy to get the win,” Scruggs said. “Every round here is tough. Tommy had a great run, and Terry and his team are a great group of guys. “I’ve never had that much luck here, but the track was really good and things just worked out well.”

With Mick Snyder falling in the first round, Scruggs also inched back into the championship chase. Coupled with Scruggs’ win in Bristol, Snyder’s three-race winning streak and Scruggs’ win on Saturday, their two-car team is also in the midst of a potent stretch. “I think all this did was give something people can talk about for a little bit,” Scruggs said. “Mick had won three in a row, so as a team we’re on a pretty good streak.”

Eric McKinney took a commanding lead in the Pro Extreme Motorcycle points race with a brilliant showing at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park. McKinney made it three wins in 2012 after running a 4.073 at 170.15 mph against first-time ADRL finalist Dave Norris. “It was unbelievable. We changed some stuff and really stepped it up. You’re only as good as the people surrounding you and they make my program easier,” McKinney said. “They keep everything routine and we just keep plugging away. This was an awesome weekend.”

McKinney was outstanding on the tree during eliminations, capped off with an .006 and .013 reaction times in the semifinals and finals, respectively. McKinney also finished as the No. 1 qualifier after going 4.10 in the final qualifying session to take momentum into eliminations.

“That was definitely a confidence-booster,” McKinney said. “There’s nobody easy out there, so everyone has to do their jobs. This bike is consistent and comfortable and that’s big.”

Alan Pittman gladly took a lucky break in Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5, denying Billy Glidden’s chance at history in the process.

Glidden went 3.917 – a weekend-best in the class – but had an .001 red light, handing the win to Pittman and his 4.042 at 195.28 mph. It’s the third win in 2012 for the XTF points leader, and Pittman also kept Glidden from picking up an ADRL-record 14th career win.

“I won already when Terry Leggett made it to the finals. I mean, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him and his wife,” Pittman said. “I felt real good and then I pulled up to the starting line and I had it in low gear but the car wouldn’t move forward. “So I had to stick it in high gear and leave in high gear, so he definitely would have had me beat if he hadn’t turned it red.”

Bruce Thrift was remarkably consistent in picking up his first win in Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman, finishing off a standout day with a 4.376 at 153.61 mph in the finals to beat William Brown III. “I’m real excited. This is the real deal for Top Sportsman racing,” Thrift said. “This is the cream of the crop in this class. You really have to get after it just to get in. This was just awesome.”

Mike Castellana was superb in his fourth trip to the finals in Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified, winning his fourth race of the year with a 3.827 at 196.35 mph, giving him the quickest pass in the history of the class. Driving a 2012 RJ Race Cars Camaro, Castellana beat Pat Musi in the finals to add to his points lead. It also gives him 13 career wins to match Glidden and Ashley Owens for the most in ADRL history. “Our main concentration is to win the Pro Modified championship and this is all because of my crew. They do a great job and they got it right,” Castellana said. “It’s been a great year and I can’t say enough about it.

“I really have to thank KH (Al-Thani) and Al-Anabi Racing for making this happen.”

Bo Butner made it four wins in the SuperCar Showdown, slipping past Drew Skillman in a great side-by-side pass with a 5.77 at 119 mph, inching past Skillman and his 5.80 at 118.57 mph.

In Pro Junior Dragster, Devin Isenhower won with a 7.88 at 81.68 mph, knocking off Lane Ledford.

The sixth stop on the 10-race 2012 ADRL Tour takes place Aug. 3-4 at the state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway in Charlotte for ADRL Dragstock IX.

Riesterer Sets Track Record, Heads Top Qualifiers List At Summer Drags VIII

American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Pro Nitrous driver Doug Riesterer is trying for his third straight win in the class, and the talented Texan got off to a strong start on Friday at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.

On a rain-soaked day in Martin, Mich., Riesterer delivered the most impressive run of the day, going 3.80 at 195.22 mph on new Hoosier Tires to set a track record and take the top qualifying spot at the Summer Drags VIII. Riesterer is trying to become the first driver in Pro Nitrous to win three straight races since Rickie Smith did it in 2010.

“We put new tires on, it was a different day and a different track. You never know what to expect,” Riesterer said. “We put our best guess into it and I thought there was about a 20 percent chance it would go down the track. With new tires, you usually struggle but hopefully this is a good indicator.”

Two separate rain delays that totaled six hours wiped away one total round of qualifying and only three classes (Extreme Pro Stock, Summit Racing Top Sportsman and Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified) finished two qualifying sessions. With the inclement weather, the second qualifying session will resume on Saturday at 10 a.m., leading to the third qualifying session. Eliminations are scheduled to begin at their regularly scheduled time of 3:30 p.m.

Other No. 1 qualifiers after Friday included Bubba Stanton (Pro Extreme), Todd Moyer (Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5), Billy Vose (Pro Extreme Motorcycle), Cary Goforth (Extreme Pro Stock), Mike Castellana (Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified) and Bob Gulitti (Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman). Immediately after Riesterer finished his 3.80, a heavy and driving rain came at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.

When racing resumed, several competitors delivered strong runs including Bob Rahaim’s 3.846, and 3.85s from Jim Laurita and Robert Patrick. With his spot for eliminations secured, Riesterer will strive for continued consistency on Saturday.“If I knew it was going to rain, I probably would have calmed it way down,” Riesterer said. “I’m really happy with the 3.80. It was a nice run. We’ll probably keep the same approach for (Saturday).”

Pro Extreme grabbed the spotlight for only one session on Friday, but Bubba Stanton made the most of it with an incredible 3.669 at 207.04 mph. It was nearly a career best run for the 2006 PX world champion who seems to be rounding into form. 

Extreme Pro Stock Driver Richie Stevens Jr. Enjoying Magical Ride After First Win

Richie Stevens Jr. is officially living in “pinch-me” status these days and it’s not hard to figure out why.

The CarSafe-sponsored Extreme Pro Stock standout picked up his first ADRL event win at the recent U.S. Drags V at Virginia Motorsports Park, making him the only Pro Stock driver in drag racing history to win a Pro Stock race in the ADRL, NHRA and IHRA. That officially kicked off one of the most memorable stretches in Stevens’ life, both on and off the track.

After the impressive victory, Stevens watched his girlfriend, Erica Enders, win eight days later in Chicago to become the first female to win in NHRA Pro Stock. Moments later, Enders became Stevens’ fiancé when he asked her to marry him right on the finish line at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago.

“There was no better time with both of us doing well and I went to the finish line where she got her win – right on the stripe – and that was it. It couldn’t have been on a better day or at a better spot and it all worked out really well,” Stevens said.

“I didn’t want to steal the thunder from her winning the race, but the opportunity was there to do it and it was perfect.

“I couldn’t have drawn up a better eight days. It’s been great, like you’re living in a fantasy. Hopefully it will continue.”

If it continues on the track for Stevens, it will come at this week’s Summer Drags VIII, which takes place Friday and Saturday at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich.

Stevens is riding a massive wave of momentum after a terrific showing in Virginia.

With Enders cheering – and helping – him on, Stevens, who won the 2011 Battle For The Belts in XPS, had a banner day.

In the finals, he reeled in Dean Goforth with a 4.091 at 176.33 mph in the finals after an uncharacteristic poor light, but it also was the perfect time to run his quickest and fastest time of the weekend.

Afterwards, he dedicated the win to team sponsor and CarSafe Owner Mark Eckman.

“This feels awesome. Everybody out here is great and the competition is just incredible, so this means a lot to me. But it meant even more to get this win for Mark,” Stevens said.

“This trophy is going right to his house. To get that win in Richmond was awesome. I really wanted to get this win for Mark. He’s been behind this whole program since the start and it was an honor for me to get it for him. That felt great.”

There was a little bit of everything involved during Stevens’ magical day, including back-to-back 4.09s in his Jerry Haas Race Cars Mustang to finish his day.

Stevens, who was the runner-up in April at the Spring Drags in Bristol, showed his driving ability earlier in the day when a peddle-fest broke out against Pete Berner. It’s a rarity in Extreme Pro Stock, but Stevens did what he needed to do, going an adventurous 5.463 to get past Berner.

“That was a peddling-fest and I had not been in one of those. I’ve never really had to pedal a car to get back in it, but I was reaching for levers, watching for Pete and I was just trying to get down to the beams first,” Stevens said.

“We had a couple lucky breaks, but you need that. (Crew chief) Tom (Pierson) gave me a great car and we pulled it together when we had to. It was a good effort by everybody.”

The end result was a victory, but also the points lead for the first time in his ADRL career.

But it’s not exactly a commanding lead, as he leads Cary Goforth by just 80 points heading into the Summer Drags VIII, a track where Goforth won a year ago.

In fact, the top five drivers in the class (Stevens, Cary Goforth, Dean Goforth, Brian Gahm and Todd Hoerner) are separated by less than 250 points, making for what should be an unbelievable chase for the championship over the final five races.

It’s that possibility of a championship that has Stevens excited for the stretch run, and with the recent run of memorable events, he couldn’t be more excited.

“I didn’t even know we achieved the No. 1 spot. That was a bonus, but it’s anybody’s race. Everyone has a chance,” Stevens said. “There are so many awesome drivers. Nobody cuts you any slack on the starting line, so it’s going to be a dogfight. There are a lot of good cars out there.

“I’m looking forward to getting back in the car and trying to grab another win. I’m not trying to be greedy but I’m like every other driver who wants to win every time. I’m going to go to Martin with a good head on my shoulders.”

Teets Takes Summit Racing Equipment “Clash Of The Titans,” Leads Winners List At ADRL U.S. Drags V

In what was the most lucrative win in his career and in Top Sportsman history, Terry Teets didn’t have to go far to get it on Saturday.

Racing close to home at Virginia Motorsports Park, Teets capped off a terrific day with a winning 4.444 at 163.59 miles per hour in the finals of the Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman “Clash of the Titans,” which was held at this weekend’s American Drag Racing League (ADRL) U.S. Drags V. The win against Richmond-area native William Brown III netted Teets a Top Sportsman-record $10,000 prize and one massive winner’s circle smile.

“This is the biggest win I’ve ever had. I love Summit and the ADRL for putting this on,” said Teets, who also credited tuner Wayne Rogers, stepdaughter Sidney Spence and his son, Chris Teets. “It’s a big deal, too, because my brother (Glenn) won (in Top Sportsman) last year here, so we kept it in the family.”

Other winners at the U.S. Drags at VMP included Mick Snyder (Pro Extreme), Doug Riesterer (Pro Nitrous), Brad Brand (Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5), Casey Stemper (Pro Extreme Motorcycle), Richie Stevens Jr. (Extreme Pro Stock) and Fredy Scriba (Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified).

Driving a Jerry Haas Race Cars ’04 Cavalier, Teets qualified No. 15 in the 32-car qualifying field and then persevered through five rounds of eliminations before topping Brown in a memorable and historic final round.

“William is a great guy and a tough racer, so it’s also nice to keep this in the state of Virginia,” Teets said. “The car ran great all weekend and we just took it a round at a time. Getting to go out last and run as the final pair was really great.”

Mick Snyder made Pro Extreme history on Saturday, becoming the first driver in PX history to win three straight races.

This time, Snyder won it on the line, using an .043 reaction time to have his 3.665 at 208.23 mph hold up in a holeshot win against Tim Tindle and his career-best 3.646. The win stretched Snyder’s points lead and also gave him a significant first in the class.

“We’ve done it three different ways. My dad gave me one (win) with some awesome horsepower, we won one on a single and this one, I got to do it. A holeshot win is always cool,” Snyder said. “To get three in a row, it’s just crazy.”

Snyder was his usual consistent self in the Powersource Transportation Corvette and stayed in the 3.60s the entire weekend, making six passes just on Saturday alone. Tindle, though, nearly matched him with an outstanding run in his first PX finals appearance.

“It rattled the tires and got out of the groove a little, but I just kept driving. It was a great race,” Snyder said. “It was the most passes I’ve ever made in one day, but this is all of us working together.”

Doug Riesterer again delivered a masterful performance in Pro Nitrous, winning for the second straight race for the first time in his ADRL career by running an unbelievable 3.75 at 195.11 mph to also beat Burton Auxier, who ran a strong 3.824, for a second straight time.

The career-best pass is just off Auxier’s record pass of 3.74 set in 2011 at VMP, and came after some considerable adversity. Riesterer didn’t make a qualifying pass until the final session, just getting into the field with a 4.24. He turned it on late, running a 3.84 and 3.85 to reach the finals, capping off a truly memorable day with the brilliant pass.

“It was definitely the best win I’ve ever had, putting together a run like that in the finals. Getting back-to-back wins is so hard and Burton is as tough as they come. To run that kind of number, it’s just amazing,” said Riesterer, who thanked Reher-Morrison and Switzer Dynamics.

“We had it hopped up, but I didn’t think it was going to run that. It held the front end up forever, but to get that is just unbelievable. It’s just an awesome feeling.”

Richie Stevens won the Extreme Pro Stock “Battle For The Belts” in 2011, but his first official event win came on Saturday after he reeled in Dean Goforth with a 4.091 at 176.33 mph in the finals, picking a perfect time to run his quickest and fastest time of the weekend.

Afterwards, he dedicated the win to team sponsor and CarSafe Owner Mark Eckman.

“This feels awesome. Everybody out here is great and the competition is just incredible, so this means a lot to me. But it meant even more to get this win for Mark,” Stevens said. “This trophy is going right to his house.”

Stevens put together back-to-back 4.09s in his Jerry Haas Race Cars Mustang to finish his day, which followed a lucky break when he pedaled to a win in the quarterfinals against Pete Berner.

“We had a good day and a couple lucky breaks, but you need that,” Stevens said. “(Crew chief) Tom (Pierson) gave me a great car and we pulled it together when we had to. It was a good effort by everybody.”

A blown head gasket almost cost Casey Stemper in the Pro Extreme Motorcycle finals, but he was determined not to let it get the best of him.

It might have cost some parts on the bike, but Stemper continued to fight even as his bike caught fire in the finals against Eric McKinney, holding onto the win with an impressive 4.034 at 164.77 mph.

 “I was not going to let up. I felt the flames on my arm, but if I was that close to the win, I wasn’t going to give it up in the last 100 feet. When I saw that win light come on, it was just awesome,” Stemper said. “It was so close at the end and I thought he might get me, but that was just incredible.”

Stemper went as quick as 4.034 to qualify No. 1 and picking up his second victory in 2012 also put him closer to points leader McKinney in the championship chase. “Eric’s a great rider and we’re always trying to chase him down. You always want to beat the best,” Stemper said.

Brad Brand broke through for his first ADRL victory in Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5, just avoiding the left guardwall en route to a 3.949 at 185.72 mph to beat Alan Pittman in a highly-entertaining come-from-behind victory.

Brand qualified No. 2 with a 3.938 and his turbo-charged RJ Race Cars Mustang went 3.972 to beat Chuck Ulsch and advance to the finals. Pittman left first on Brand, but Brand never lifted despite the scare with the wall to end up with a highly-satisfying victory.

“We had been to two finals and had not won, so that felt really good,” Brand said. “We had the low round every round in eliminations, too. We wanted to get aggressive, but we did that what to be done. “We just had to work with the track and it was definitely a satisfying win.”

Fredy Scriba had an impressive run for his first ADRL victory, knocking out stalwarts Rickie Smith and Todd Tutterow in Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified.

Scriba went 3.981 at 188.25 to beat Smith, the No. 1 qualifier, in the semifinals and then stepped up with a 3.972 at 188.96 to chase down Tutterow and win by two feet in the finals.

Racing in a final of his fourth different class, Tutterow knocked out Jeff Naiser and points leader Mike Castellana – handing him his first ADRL loss in 2012 – but Scriba overcame Tutterow’s starting-line advantage.

“This was really cool. It was definitely a tuner’s weekend, but all the hard work we put in really paid off,” Scriba said. “I’ve got a good group of guys and things really came together.

“We had to play our own game and just run our race. We were running pretty consistent, going rounds and we just stuck to the gameplan. We had a lot of fun and I’m really glad they added this class.”

Bo Butner won for the third time in the SuperCar Showdown, running a career-best 5.798 at 118.87 in the finals to outdistance Chris Holbrook. In Pro Junior Dragster, Robert Vogler won with a 7.917 at 80.53 mph.

The sixth and next stop on the 10-race 2012 ADRL Tour takes place on July 13-14 with the Summer Drags VIII at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich.

ADRL Holding 32-Car Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman “Clash Of The Titans,” Offering $10,000 To Winner

With a new, one-race super event, the American Drag Racing League’s (ADRL) Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman class will reach incredible new heights in 2012.The ADRL and class sponsor Summit Racing Equipment have announced a special one-race event that will take place during the U.S. Drags V June 22-23 at Virginia MotorsportsPark (VMP) and will be one of the biggest single-race events in the history of Top Sportsman racing.


Entitled the Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman “Clash of the Titans,” this 32-car qualifying field will offer a $10,000 prize for the winner and nearly a $30,000 total payout during the event for TS racers, which immediately makesit one of the most anticipated events on the 2012 ADRL Tour and in Top Sportsman history.“The Top Sportsman racers have made it clear they want to race during the ADRL events, and with Summit Racing’s title sponsorship  of the class we wanted to put together one of the biggest Top Sportsman events in the country, “said Jim Greenleaf, Summit Racing’s Motorsports and Events Manager. 


"The Summit Racing Top Sportsman ‘Clash of the Titans’ promises to bring out the best of the best Top Sportsman racers competing for the $10,000 top prize and bragging rights. We are very excited to bring this event to a quality track like Virginia Motorsports Park.”The U.S. Drags V at VMP, which was the 2011 ADRL Track of the Year, is the fifth stop on the 10-race 2012 ADRL Tour. The Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman “Clash of the Titans”  will feature a 32-car qualifying field, and will feature three rounds  of qualifying and five rounds of eliminations. All three qualifying rounds will take place during the Friday of the event as part of the ADRL’s normal qualifying schedule. The first 
round of eliminations for the Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman “Clash of the Titans” will take place on Saturday morning as part  of the U.S. Drags at VMP.


With the impressive payout and 32-car qualifying field, fans can expect remarkable side-by-side racing from the popular full-bodied car class.In addition to the winner earning an incredible $10,000, the Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman “Clash of the Titans” runner-up will earn $5,000. Semifinalists will earn $1,000, quarterfinalists will win $750 and first-round winners will get $500. Qualifiers will earn $300, making it one of the largest single-event payouts in the  history of Top Sportsman racing. “The Summit Racing Equipment ‘Clash of the Titans’ is going to be such an unbelievable event and we are thrilled that Summit Racing Equipment has stepped up in such a tremendous manner to help put this together,” ADRL President Tim McAmis said. “This truly shows the incredible support they have for the ADRL and Top Sportsman racers. We are really looking forward to this event and 
the tremendous amount of excitement it will bring to this class and 
these drivers.”This impressive announcement continues the tremendous support that Summit Racing Equipment has shown for the ADRL.

Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman “Clash of the Titans”
WHAT: A special single-event race for Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman racers. Will feature a 32-car qualifying field and a $10,000 payout to the winner.
WHEN: June 22-23
WHERE: Virginia Motorsports Park
FYI: There will be 3 qualifying rounds and 5 rounds of eliminations.
EVENT PAYOUT:
Winner: $10,000
Runner Up: $5,000
Semi x 2: $1,000
Rd. 3 x 4: $750
Rd. 2 x 8: $500
Rd. 1 x 16: $300
Total Purse: $ 28,800

ADRL Returns To Virginia Motorsports Park For U.S. Drags V

The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) makes its return to Virginia Motorsports Park (VMP) for the U.S. Drags V on  June 22-23. It is the fifth of 10 races on the 2012 ADRL Tour. With new classes, a World Championship format and expanded family fun midway, there is considerable excitement and anticipation surrounding the world’s premier eighth mile drag racing league as it returns to Virginia Motorsports Park, which was named the 2011 ADRL Track of the Year. 


Along with the highly-anticipated and revolutionary new SuperCar  Showdown class, all of the ADRL’s professional classes will make compete at VMP, including Pro Junior Dragster (PJD), Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman (TS), Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified (PM), Extreme Pro Stock (XPS), Pro Extreme Motorcycle (PXM), Mickey  Thompson Extreme 10.5 (XTF), Pro Nitrous (PN) and Pro Extreme (PX), the quickest and fastest full-bodied, doorslammer class in the world.As part of the racing weekend, a special one-race event in the Summit 
Racing Equipment Top Sportsman class will take place. Entitled the Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman “Clash of the Titans,” this 32-car qualifying field will offer a $10,000 prize for the winner and nearly a $30,000 total payout during the event for TS racers, which immediately makes it one of the most anticipated events on the 2012 ADRL Tour and in Top Sportsman history.


Racing for the first time anywhere in the world in 2012 is the highly- anticipated SuperCar Showdown. The ADRL SuperCar Showdown will showcase the latest factory-produced, dealership-available automobiles in all-out drag racing with no handicap starts or performance restrictions, adding even more excitement to the ADRL’s fast-paced show.


The ADRL has made VMP an annual stop on its tour, thanks to excellent driver participation and fan turnout.The gates open at 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, with the first round of qualifying on Friday set to begin at 12 p.m. On Saturday, the racing will begin at 12 p.m. with the final qualifying session. The first round of eliminations starts at 3:30 p.m., with special jet car passes and other exhibition runs concluding the evening on Friday and Saturday. For more information on the ADRL U.S. Drags V, go to www.adrl.us/adrl-u-s-drags-v/. Tickets are $15 for adults Friday or Saturday, $25 for a two day, full-event pass, free for children 12-under and are available by calling the Virginia Motorsports Park Box Office at (804) 862-3174.

Snyder’s Standout Day Caps Winner’s List At Memorable Northeast Drags II At Maple Grove

READING, PA (May 5, 2012) – Mick Snyder could do no wrong on Saturday at Maple Grove Raceway and he left with his second American Drag Racing League (ADRL) win.
Snyder, a Pro Extreme standout, had a Saturday he will always remember as part of the ADRL’s Northeast Drags II presented by Penske.
Snyder claimed the No. 1 qualifying spot during the final session with a 3.64 and then finished off a terrific day at the historic track, running a 3.648 at 207.46 miles per hour to beat Tommy D’Aprile under the lights.
“To qualify No. 1 and then win at an event like this and at a place like this, it’s just great. My dad (Larry) had this car tuned up like a bracket car today and it was just outstanding,” Snyder said. “There’s not a bad car out here in Pro Extreme and this has just been awesome.”
Joining Snyder in the winner’s circle was Robert Patrick Jr. (Pro Nitrous), Billy Glidden (Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5), Eric McKinney (Pro Extreme Motorcycle), Dean Goforth (Extreme Pro Stock), Mike Castellana (Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified), Chip Forman (Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman) and Chris Holbrook (SuperCar Showdown).
Snyder’s win capped off a spectacular day at Maple Grove Raceway, where terrific runs, car counts and fan turnout summed up the ADRL’s second event at Maple Grove and third race in 2012.
Snyder and his Powersource Transportation car went as quick as 3.636 – the quickest run in Pro Extreme in 2012 – during eliminations en route to the win against D’Aprile, who made his second straight finals appearance.
“This car is just something else. It truly is an amazing car. I’m just so happy that Jason (Scruggs) let me drive it,” Snyder said.
Robert Patrick’s foray into Pro Nitrous is off to a fine start after a fantastic all-around performance on Saturday. He beat Burton Auxier with a 4.25 in the finals, but the rest of his day in his 2012 Jerry Bickel Race Cars Mustang was filled with runs in the 3.80s, including a great 3.811 in an outstanding semifinal duel with Jim Laurita.
“I had a lot of faith in my crew. They’ve been working their butt off and I couldn’t be any happier with this Jerry Bickel Race Car,” Patrick said. “I’m just so happy to be racing in the ADRL and to be part of this. This is my roots and this where I love racing.”
Billy Glidden delivered what was arguably the best run of his career in the Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5 finals, beating Chuck Ulsch on a holeshot in an unbelievable side-by-side race.
Ulsch went 3.855 at 202.82, but Glidden’s .028 and massive career-best 3.862 was enough for his 13th career ADRL win.
“That was awesome. When I got this thing into third gear and the front tire finally sat down, I figured it was on a good run,” Glidden said. “Going against Chuck, I knew I had to run well, and I had to do everything right.
“This was very satisfying and a very gratifying win for us.”
Mike Castellana remained perfect in Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified, going 3.847 at 195.42 mph to chase down Mike Janis in an excellent final for his third win in three events.
Castellana’s 2012 RJ Race Cars Camaro was remarkably consistent, as the Al-Anabi Racing driver backed up his record pass of 3.845 earlier on Saturday, going 3.854 to reach the finals.
“It just goes to show what a great job the crew does and how they make it work,” Castellana said. “We had a good handle on the car and track and it just all clicked.
“We’ve already surpassed our expectations for this year. There’s not much more you could expect.”
Dean Goforth was dynamite throughout eliminations on the starting line in Extreme Pro Stock, capping it off with an .011 reaction time in the finals to hold off Brian Gahm with a 4.083 at 177.20 mph.
“Honestly, me winning is good for everyone because it shows it doesn’t make any difference how old you are,” Goforth said. “This means a lot to me. I’m just happy to be part of the ADRL and I love the people in this class.”
Goforth’s third career XPS win will surely be one he will treasure after battling back from a near-fatal illness this past winter. To win on Saturday, Goforth won by holeshots in his Jerry Haas Race Cars GXP against No. 1 qualifier John DeFlorian in the semifinals and then Gahm in a memorable finals.
“(The holeshots) are probably cooler than winning the race,” Goforth said. “This was just a huge blessing tonight.”
Eric McKinney went nearly three years without a win in Pro Extreme Motorcycle, but the wait was worth it after going 4.099 at 173.96 mph to beat Ronald Procopio in the finals.
“I’m just on cloud nine right now. This is awesome and I’m just having a blast,” McKinney said. “I’m tickled to death to do this. It’s just some incredible racing in this class.”
McKinney was involved in a wild semifinal race against Scott Gray, who went 4.091 and appeared to win on a holeshot against McKinney’s 4.089. But Gray’s bike hit the center cone to disqualify him, sending McKinney to the finals.
“I knew he had beat me but then I heard on the radio that I had won,” McKinney said. “That round win was all luck, but I’ll take it.”
Chip Forman was the latest first-time winner in Summit Racing Equipment in Top Sportsman, running a 4.155 at 174.05 mph to beat Ray Bamond.
Both were making their first appearance in a final round, and Forman was beyond thrilled after tracking down Bamond just before the finish line.
“This is my first national event win anywhere, so this is just amazing,” Forman said. “In Bristol, we broke a crankshaft in qualifying, so we went from an extreme low to an extreme high. The car was dead on, I was good on the tree and everything came together.”
In the SuperCar Showdown finals, Chris Holbrook won for the first time, going 5.881 at 119 mph.
In Pro Junior Dragster, Morgan Benfield knocked off Jackson Core with a 7.94 at 77.21 mph. Benfield had a terrific .006 reaction time to win by a mere six inches.
The fourth stop on the 2012 ADRL Tour takes place on June 1-2 as the ADRL returns to St. Louis for the Gateway Drags IV presented by CarSafe at Gateway Motorsports Park.

Madman Taylor Returns To Form At Maple Grove

After not qualifying for the first two events of the 2012 season, Frankie Taylor got the run he was looking for on Friday during the American Drag Racing League’s (ADRL) Northeast Drags II presented by Penske at Maple Grove Raceway. Switching back to a blower, supercharger set-up after not qualifying the first two races with a turbocharger combination, Taylor delivered a classic run in his Jeffers Pro Cars Corvette, running an outstanding 3.653 at 207.85 miles per hour to leap to the top of Pro Extreme. For more information on the ADRL, visit www.ADRL.us.