TUTTEROW HEADED INTO UNCHARTED WATERS FOR 2010

ADRL’S Pro Extreme Champion Has A Score of Firsts Already …

Todd Tutterow, 2009 Pro Extreme champion, is hard at work getting ready for the start of the 2010 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) season, just like he has every other season in the past.

The difference this year is a lucrative three-year contract with Al-Anabi Racing.

The 45-year-old Tutterow, is confident entering a season of competition that actually started last year. In ADRL, the 2009 title was determined on the first day of competition at the Texas Motorplex, located outside of Dallas, in October. Points for the 2010 season, were awarded on Saturday, the day after he was crowned champion.

The Yadkinville, North Carolina-based driver entered the championship-deciding Speedtech Battle for the Belts on Oct. 23 in Ennis, Texas and raced through Mike Janis, two-time defending series champ Jason Scruggs and Joshua Hernandez to win the title.

“It was probably the most memorable (day) because it was a national event and I was beating the best of the best. There was 40,000 to 50,000 people in the stands and it was pretty amazing,” Tutterow said.

“We actually missed the first race in 2009 but had all intentions of running the full schedule,” Tutterow added. “We ran consistently enough to win the championship last year.”

While competing in ADRL competition, Tutterow has a record of 20 wins and 20 losses in 40 rounds of competition. In one final round appearance Tutterow scored his only win on the tour.

Tutterow has spent the off-season flying back and forth to Qatar to test for Sheikh Khalid. Tutterow spent seven weeks with Khalid and is about to embark on another three-week junket to the Middle East.

Tutterow speaks volumes about Khalid's knowledge in the sport of drag racing. Khalid is also teamed up with Alan Johnson in NHRA. The team's two drivers are Larry Dixon in Top Fuel and Del Worsham in Funny Car.

“Khalid has a level head and he's smart enough to know what it takes to race,” Tutterow said, a definite tone of respect in his voice. “He puts a lot of smart people underneath him and he is very successful.”

This will be the first season of Tutterow's career in which he'll be fully sponsored.

“This is the first major sponsor I've ever had and we've got a pretty good program going for this year,” Tutterow said. “We're looking to win another championship for Al-Anabi.”

Another key ingredient in the puzzle is longtime mechanic Neal Gordon.

“Neal's been with me for 12 years and he can build about anything and I rely on everything he does,” Tutterow says. “We'll have the same bunch of guys back this year as we did last year. The big difference this year is we'll have better funding and that means everything.”

Tutterow also likes the “run what you brung” mentality behind the ADRL.

“I like the format and I like the people and I like the no-rule deal about it,” Tutterow said of the ADRL's racing philosophy. “I also like that when we get to the track nobody is whining about the other guy. There's no limits to what you can do in the American Drag Racing League. You want more horsepower and can get, then get it.”

What Tutterow wants is another championship and he's planning on “getting it.”

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