2009 ADRL DRAGSTOCK - SAME DAY COVERAGE
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SATURDAY FINAL - ADRL FLOWMASTER DRAGSTOCK CONCLUDES BEFORE PACKED HOUSE
The National Guard American Drag Racing League’s (ADRL’s) Flowmaster Dragstock VI lived up to
Before a standing-room-only crowd that packed historic Rockingham Dragway to capacity, Jason Hamstra won his second Pro Extreme race of the year, Pro Nitrous veteran Mike Castellana scored his second win of the last three events, Chuck Ulsch doubled his Extreme 10.5 win total in record-setting fashion, Extreme Pro Stock racer Doug Kirk won his second of the year and Pro Extreme Motorcycle rider Eric McKinney became the lone first-time winner.
“Our car was driving really smooth all weekend, it didn’t spin the tires even once,” the 21-year-old from Demotte, Indiana, said of his supercharged 1968 Camaro. “Everything just went perfect for us here.”
Flowmaster Dragstock VI also represented the final points-paying opportunity toward securing a qualifying position for the National Guard ADRL’s unique Speedtech Battle for the Belts, which pits the top eight finishers in each of the series’ five pro classes against each other in winner-take-all, championship-deciding playoffs at the 2009 season ender this October in Dallas, Texas. With his win, Hamstra cemented a seventh-place points finish and a chance at a National Guard ADRL championship.
“That was our first priority when we arrived here,” Hamstra said. “Once we won our second round and knew we’d be in the Battle for the Belts we were able to relax a little and just go racing.”
With team owner His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani looking on, Auxier got the jump off the start in the final, but Castellana’s 1970 Camaro quickly reeled him in and posted its third 3.90 pass in a row and won with a 193.16-mph blast.
“I saw Burton get out on me and didn’t think I was going to catch him, but then his car went into tire shake and that’s all it took,” Castellana said. “I’m just glad we could win another one for the Sheik. It was great to get three (of four) cars into the semis and racing my teammates, I was more relaxed than usual because I knew he team was going to get the win, no matter what. Now we just have to turn our attention to the Battle for the Belts and bring home the championship.”
After starting from the number-two slot with a 4.02 at an incredible 204.01 mph, the Clarksville, Maryland-based driver downed fellow Belts contenders Todd Moyer, Spiro Pappas and Jeff Paulk before facing off against top qualifier Gary White and his turbocharged, six cylinder 2007 Scion.
Ulsch left with a .045 holeshot and never looked back, running another 4.02 and increasing his speed to a whopping 206.39 mph. His qualifying speed becomes the official class record, however, since it’s not within the required one percent to back up the higher speed.
“This Vanishing Point car just continues to impress me. It’s working so perfectly and to see the kind of numbers we’re running now is really kind of unbelievable,” Ulsch said. “I’ve been at this a long time, but it doesn’t seem so long ago when we were running fives (seconds) at 140 miles an hour and to be running over 200 like this is just awesome.”
Prior to racing, Kirk and Gahm arranged with National Guard ADRL and Rockingham Dragway officials to stage a unique show for the thousands of fans on hand, swapping lanes while backing up from their burnouts.
“It’s something we’ve talked about doing for at least 10 years, but either no one would let us do it or it just wasn’t the right time to ask. We felt with the ADRL’s willingness to do things a little differently and the atmosphere and reputation of Dragstock as a unique race that this was the perfect opportunity. I hope the fans liked the show because we sure did. I especially liked the ending,” Kirk said after making his best pass of the weekend, a 4.09 at 176.12 mph, in the final round.
In the very next pair, Davis stepped up with a 4.16 to beat Lance Hines, then ran another 4.16 in the semis against Speedtech Battle for the Belts points leader Scott Gray to officially set the elapsed-time record.
In the final, Davis left first, but his bike’s engine expired before reaching the finish line and McKinney rode his ’09 Suzuki to a 4.21 win at 170.60 mph.
“Oh man, it feels so great to get the win,” McKinney said. “This crowd is just amazing to race in front of. But this a team sport and I have to thanks so many people, but especially my dad and mom and my girlfriend; without them I couldn’t be out here.”
In the National Guard ADRL’s only non-heads-up and non-professional class, Manchester, Kentucky’s Tyler Allen earned his first Pro Jr. Dragster victory, running a final-round 8.33 at 75.84 mph against an 8.30 dial.
The Speedtech Battle for the Belts will take place Oct. 23, on the first day of the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals V at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas. The televised broadcast of Flowmaster Dragstock VI will be on Sep. 27, at 3 p.m. on the Versus network.
Saturday's final results from the ADRL Flowmaster Dragstock
VI at Rockingham Dragway. The race is the ninth of 10 in the National
Guard American Drag Racing League’s 2009 season:
Pro Extreme -- Jason Hamstra, Chevy Camaro, 3.761, 204.73 def. Ken Walsh, Chevy Corvette, 3.875,
196.04.
Pro Nitrous -- Mike Castellana, Chevy Camaro, 3.906, 193.16 def. Burton Auxier, Pontiac Firebird,
4.265, 141.68.
Extreme 10.5 -- Chuck Ulsch, Chevy Camaro, 4.028, 206.39 def. Gary White, Toyota Scion, 4.215,
158.43.
Pro Extreme Motorcycle -- Eric McKinney, Suzuki, 4.218, 170.60 def. Travis Davis, Suzuki, 4.298,
156.10.
Extreme Pro Stock -- Doug Kirk, Ford Mustang, 4.096, 176.12 def. Brian Gahm, Mustang, 4.113,
175.18.
Pro Junior Dragster -- Tyler Allen, Halfscale, 8.335, 75.84 def. Robert Vogler III, Halfscale,
7.991, 75.67.
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FRIDAY QUALIFYING - ROCKINGHAM REPUATION REINFORCED BY RECORD-SETTING FIELDS FOR FLOWMASTER DRAGSTOCK VI
Rockingham Dragway has a well-deserved reputation as a fast track and racers at the National Guard ADRL’s Flowmaster Dragstock VI reinforced that reputation Friday night with some of the quickest and fastest fields in series history.
Pro Extreme qualifying climaxed with a stellar 3.71-seconds pass at 205.10 miles per hour over the Rockingham eighth mile by Jason Hamstra in his supercharged ’68 Camaro, representing the quickest and fastest pass ever by a torque converter-equipped car. It marks the first time Hamstra has ever officially led a National Guard ADRL qualifying round.
“We stepped it up a little bit at night, but it was far from a perfect pass,” the 21-year-old driver from Demotte, Indiana, said. “It moved around quite a bit out there. Our computer shows it pulled 2Gs lateral movement at one point. My teammates pointed out I missed my shift point a little and I told them that was because I was kind of busy driving!”
Dwayne Watkins currently holds the 16th and final qualifying position with a 3.91 at 193.63 lap, just nine-thousandths of a second off making it the quickest Pro Extreme field ever, and a record nine cars of the 35 entries have already topped the 200-mph mark. With one more qualifying session left for Saturday and several highly ranked drivers and cars still seeking inclusion, both records seem likely to change.
Pro Extreme qualifying also was interrupted by two significant engine explosions and fires, but fortunately, Frankie Taylor and Tommy D’Aprile escaped unharmed in both cases.
Mike Castellana of Westbury, NY, leads a similar situation with his 1970 Camaro in Pro Nitrous, which already has set a record as quickest field in National Guard ADRL history, bookended by Castellana’s record-setting 3.86 at 185.23 and Ted Smith’s 4.01 at 182.72 mph in the 16th position.
“The car drove toward the wall, out of the groove about 500 feet out. I felt the car drift and knew I was taking a chance being that close to the wall, but luckily we didn’t crash,” Castellana said.
Only two cars separate Pro Nitrous from featuring its first all-three-second field, and again, several non-qualified contenders from the 38 entries may well step up and help create history in Saturday’s lone qualifying session.
Qualifying for the Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 class is presently led by New Market, Alabama’s Gary White with a 4.00-seconds pass at 181.45 mph in the turbocharged, six-cylinder Titan Motorsports ’07 Scion. Close behind White at 4.02 seconds is Chuck Ulsch, who went an incredible 204.01 mph on the relatively narrow 10.5-inch-wide rear rubber on his supercharged ’68 Camaro.
Like Pro Nitrous, just two cars separate the Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 class from producing its quickest field ever, with R.B. Smith currently on the bump spot with a 4.62 time.
Thirty-nine riders entered Pro Extreme Motorcycle at Rockingham and after two qualifying rounds Ronald Procopio from Wake Forest, North Carolina, is on top with a 4.22 at 169.13 mph aboard his ’07 Suzuki. After the opening session, the National Guard ADRL’s two-wheeled warriors had already established the fifth-quickest field in series history, but after two shots at the track they made up the quickest field ever, locked in with a 4.33 by Derrick Holloway.
Holdenville, Oklahoma’s Dean Goforth came through with a 4.08 at 176.77 mph on Friday night to become the provisional Extreme Pro Stock pole sitter. Goforth’s elapsed time is less than three hundredths off the official class record and his speed falls short of the official mark by less than one mile per hour.
As the National Guard ADRL’s only non-heads-up class, the Pro Jr. Dragster division for drivers aged 8-17 qualifies based on quickest reaction times and Taylor Weatherford currently holds the lead over the 16-car field with a .007 light after two hits at the tree.
Flowmaster Dragstock VI resumes Saturday, Sep. 12, with a third and final round of qualifying for all classes beginning at noon, with elimination rounds to follow.
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Results Friday after qualifying for the ADRL Flowmaster Dragstock VI atRockingham Dragway, Ninth of 10 events in the National Guard American Drag Racing League.Qualifying will continue Saturday for Saturday's final eliminations.
Pro Extreme -- 1. Jason Hamstra, Chevy Camaro, 3.715, 205.10; 2. Cody Barklage, PontiacFirebird, 3.718, 203.25; 3. Mike Janis, Firebird, 3.745, 202.48; 4. John Stanley, Camaro, 3.765,202.06; 5. Tommy D'Aprile, Camaro, 3.765, 200.08; 6. Todd Tutterow, Chevy Corvette, 3.766, 203.89;7. Jason Scruggs, Camaro, 3.778, 205.47; 8. Gaylen Smith, 3.778, 201.43; 9. Wes Johnston, Corvette,3.789, 206.39; 10. Ken Walsh, Chey corvette, 3.792, 197.71; 11. Brian Daniels, Corvette, 3.802,185.89; 12. Kelly Martin, Chevy Belair, 3.821, 197.42; 13. Travis Swearingen, Willys, 3.827,183.94; 14. Neal Wantye, Ford Mustang, 3.865, 195.36; 15. Joshua Hernandez, Chevy Bel Air, 3.905,171.08; 16. Dwayne Watkins, Chey Belair, 3.914, 193.63. Not Qualified: 17. Andy Beal, 3.923,187.83; 18. Quain Stott, 3.935, 192.80; 19. Doug Winters, 3.943, 184.65; 20. Von Smith, 3.955,160.73; 21. Tim O'Hare, 3.969, 184.02; 22. Tim Tindle, 4.007, 187.26; 23. Troy Jackson, 4.008,183.17; 24. Cody Rabon, 4.028, 193.54; 25. Terry Leggett, 4.041, 177.77; 26. Dan Bandish, 4.095,184.35; 27. Danny Blankenship, 4.099, 180.00; 28. Frankie Taylor, 4.113, 184.60; 29. Mike Bell,4.158, 168.07; 30. LJ Wood Jr, 4.224, 172.25; 31. Brad Personett, 4.376, 136.77; 32. BennieMcDonald Jr, 4.559, 126.54; 33. Kevin Mayer, 4.697, 116.70; 34. Bobby Baucom, 5.107, 100.79; 35.Bubba Stanton, 7.389, 89.92.
Pro Nitrous -- 1. Mike Castellana, Chevy Camaro, 3.861, 185.23; 2. Jim Halsey,Camaro, 3.867, 194.21; 3. Burton Auxier, Pontiac Firebird, 3.906, 193.29; 4. Shannon Jenkins,Camaro, 3.926, 190.24; 5. Doug Riesterer, Camaro, 3.941, 185.77; 6. Greg Godwin, Chevy Corvette,3.942, 186.28; 7. Johnny Pilcher, Corvette, 3.956, 185.97; 8. Charles Carpenter, Chevy Bel Air,3.958, 186.25; 9. Dale Brinsfield, Ford Mustang, 3.964, 185.49; 10. John Bartunek, Camaro, 3.978,185.97; 11. John Deflorian Jr, Corvette, 3.982, 185.84; 12. Randy Weatherford, Camaro, 3.987,185.38; 13. Khalid Al-Balooshi, Camaro, 3.990, 189.26; 14. Fredy Scriba, Corvette, 3.999, 187.96;15. Thomas Myers, Corvette, 4.009, 186.90; 16. Ted Smith, Camaro, 4.014, 182.72. Not Qualified:17. Travis Harvey, 4.014, 182.33; 18. Stan Allen, 4.015, 188.23; 19. Lee Adkins, 4.025, 178.87; 20.Bob Rahaim, 4.038, 179.92; 21. Keith Baker, 4.078, 181.01; 22. Robert Mathis, 4.088, 182.90; 23.Josh Chester, 4.088, 179.64; 24. Ed Burnley, 4.088, 178.99; 25. Terry Housley, 4.106, 179.04; 26.Pat Stoken, 4.118, 137.54; 27. Jim Teachman, 4.135, 180.48; 28. Matt Guenther, 4.181, 181.37; 29.Terry Murphy, 4.209, 167.26; 30. Chris Patrick, 4.499, 145.96; 31. Dwayne White, 4.947, 124.33; 32.Halvor Hansen Jr, 5.055, 118.52; 33. Steve Vick, 5.656, 88.37; 34. Jason Harris, 5.959, 78.85; 35.Pat Bennett, 6.395, 73.75; 36. Danny Perry, 6.749, 78.31; 37. Randall Haynes, 6.983, 74.94; 38.Kenny Rucker, broke.
Extreme 10.5 -- 1. Gary White, Toyota Scion, 4.009, 181.45; 2. Chuck Ulsch, Chevy Camaro,4.027, 204.01; 3. Jeff Naiser, Pontiac Grand Am, 4.040, 179.85; 4. Billy Glidden, Pontiac GTO,4.048, 173.56; 5. Jake Carlton, Grand Am, 4.091, 176.84; 6. Jeff Paulk, Camaro, 4.115, 178.12; 7.Jeff Dickey, Camaro, 4.128, 183.02; 8. Craig Miller, Grand Am, 4.226, 184.14; 9. Kenny Doak, ChevyChevelle, 4.301, 180.74; 10. Tony Wilson, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.351, 167.59; 11. Michelle Wilson,Pontiac Firebird, 4.360, 171.64; 12. Jerry Bridgeforth, Ford Mustang, 4.409, 165.03; 13. MichaelNeal, Chevy Ii, 4.419, 175.09; 14. Ric Fleck, Camaro, 4.419, 169.91; 15. Joel Bayless, GTO, 4.457,171.64; 16. RB Smith, Chevy Corvette, 4.622, 161.52. Not Qualified: 17. Sandy Wilkins, 4.676,158.00; 18. H.T. Wilson, 4.683, 152.02; 19. Luis Cornjo, 4.754, 157.06; 20. Todd Moyer, 4.886,127.23; 21. Bubba Turner, 4.913, 131.43; 22. Spiro Pappas, 5.941, 94.59; 23. David Lambert, 6.600,84.25; 24. Rod Houck, 6.886, 82.84.
Pro Extreme Motorcycle -- 1. Ronald Procopio, Suzuki, 4.228, 173.67; 2. Scott Gray, Suzuki,4.234, 169.76; 3. James Helton, Suzuki, 4.249, 165.86; 4. Eric McKinney, Suzuki, 4.250, 167.09; 5.Matt Prophit, Suzuki, 4.270, 175.41; 6. Travis Davis, Suzuki, 4.278, 149.15; 7. Mimmo Marciano,Suzuki, 4.282, 164.25; 8. Ashley Owens, Suzuki, 4.290, 170.99; 9. Carlos Wilkerson, Suzuki, 4.292,162.00; 10. Lance Hines, Suzuki, 4.296, 167.30; 11. Monte Campbell, Suzuki, 4.308, 165.46; 12. EricDelisle, Kawasaki, 4.313, 168.75; 13. Jack Young, Suzuki, 4.318, 163.12; 14. Pumpatina Gilbert,Suzuki, 4.321, 166.83; 15. Coodee Thomas, Suzuki, 4.331, 161.96; 16. Derrick Holloway, Suzuki,4.337, 169.08. Not Qualified: 17. Japel Heard, 4.337, 167.45; 18. Ricardo Knights, 4.346, 168.20;19. Mantez Thompson, 4.350, 167.28; 20. J P Mattox, 4.358, 150.95; 21. Casey Stemper, 4.363,165.78; 22. John Collins, 4.364, 166.05; 23. Robert Hunnicutt, 4.383, 160.48; 24. Benard Cannon,4.394, 165.23; 25. Charlie Prophit, 4.413, 162.10; 26. Billy Vose, 4.415, 161.92; 27. Tyron Lemons,4.431, 162.06; 28. James Rester Jr, 4.438, 158.13; 29. Larry Berg, 4.452, 159.70; 30. Brian Carr,4.464, 164.29; 31. Darryl Holmes, 4.491, 163.16; 32. Craig Rosenberg, 4.500, 157.96; 33. Ron Clark,4.521, 156.57; 34. Mike Thyen, 4.525, 155.70; 35. Richard Holder, 4.704, 149.36; 36. BrunsonGrothus, 4.749, 125.00; 37. Kim Morrell, 4.762, 155.38; 38. Baybay Yarbrough, 4.791, 147.99; 39.Broderick Jackson, 6.478, 70.35.
Extreme Pro Stock -- 1. Dean Goforth, Pontiac GXP, 4.084, 176.77; 2. Matt Hartford, ChevyCobalt, 4.094, 175.23; 3. Brian Gahm, Ford Mustang, 4.103, 176.01; 4. Elijah Morton, Mustang,4.110, 176.10; 5. Robert Patrick, Mustang, 4.113, 175.11; 6. Doug Kirk, Mustang, 4.126, 176.03; 7.Cary Goforth, Cobalt, 4.128, 174.82; 8. Jason Collins, Cobalt, 4.137, 175.30; 9. Bert Jackson,Cobalt, 4.143, 174.14; 10. Jeff Dobbins, Mustang, 4.145, 173.72; 11. Steven Boone, Cobalt, 4.156,174.64; 12. Ron Miller, Pontiac Grand Am, 4.166, 172.28; 13. John Bartunek, Cobalt, 4.175, 172.56.
Pro Junior Dragster -- 1. Tyler Weatherford, Racetech, 8.002, 80.05; 2. Janna Vogler,Halfscale, 8.030, 79.72; 3. Brandon Pottorff, M/T, 8.018, 80.77; 4. Zach Pauley, Mike Bos, 7.953,82.84; 5. Ty Tutterow, Halfscale, 8.093, 81.46; 6. Makayla Wilson, Halfscale, 7.993, 80.44; 7.Patrick Weatherford, Racetech, 8.031, 80.53; 8. Ryan Crews, Halfscale, 8.032, 82.53; 9. RobertVogler III, Halfscale, 7.961, 81.80; 10. Tyler Allen, Halfscale, 8.298, 75.87; 11. Tia Tutterow,Halfscale, 8.519, 74.13; 12. Maxx Hyatt, Barrs, 7.974, 82.15; 13. Kendall Thiesse, Halfscale,8.026, 79.66; 14. KJ Nowling, Boss, 8.159, 82.50; 15. Timmy Cliffton Jr., Strike Force, 7.897,82.68; 16. John Moretz, 7.871, 80.94.
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