2009 ADRL OHIO DRAGS - EVENT NOTEBOOK
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SUNDAY NOTEBOOK - IT'S A WRAP, CHATTING WITH THE WINNERS
THE BIG PAYOFF - Billy Glidden brings out the best in the Extreme 10.5 competition, just ask Spiro Pappas. The hard-charging driver
Pappas scored his first ADRL title in impressive fashion by running into the three-second zone en route to beating the defending world champion in the final. Glidden rolled a -.01 foul start.
Whether Glidden was trying to push the tree in the finals remains to be seen, but what was clearly visible was that Pappas has the car to beat. From his 4.039 (Jeff Paulk) to his 3.992 (Chuck Ulsch) in the semis, Pappas was relentless in his pursuit of the revered ADRL Minuteman trophy. As he limped his turbocharged Pontiac across the finish line with smoke trailing, he was never happier.
“It feels really good,” Pappas said in a post-race interview. “It's an awesome feeling knowing the guys that we're racing up against. It feels good.”
The level of high competition is what inspired Pappas to develop a new engine combination. But, in Columbus, Pappas ran a familiar combination.
“The old motor was a 520 cubic inch and this is our old engine that we raced from five maybe 10 years ago,” Pappas admitted. “We just converted it into a turbo and ran it in the Camaro won the championship over there and now we're here running in the ADRL race. We put that engine in the GXP and we had a lot of good runs with it.”
The source of the smoke following the final round didn’t necessarily constitute engine damage.
“The turbo boost came off,” Pappas explained. “The boost tube came off otherwise it would have probably been a 3.98. We were trying to repeat and we backed it off a little bit because Glidden is not as fast. [Sorry Billy, but you need a turbo on it.] It's the first ever win with this. It's an awesome feeling, racing these guys out here knowing how fast they are, how hard they work, how hard my guys work. It's a tough battle out here but it's worth it.”
For the record, Pappas scored his first three second ADRL Extreme Ten-Five run alongside Chuck Ulsch, the first driver to breach the revered zone for the class. Can Pappas go faster?
“Absolutely, we've got more left in it,” Pappas said.
IF THE SHOE FITS – The stunningly attractive blonde walking around National Trail Raceway looking for her glass slipper was shocked to
In the face of the larger financed teams, Barklage ran just enough to win each round. A likely bridesmaid in the final, he was nearly two-tenths behind Josh Hernandez, his final round opponent all night long.
The clock struck midnight for Hernandez and that was the break Barklage needed to capitalize. Hernandez crossed the centerline while Barklage thundered to a 3.912 elapsed time, 190.48 mph.
“Words can't describe it,” said Barklage, moments before being doused with Gatorade in the winner’s circle. “There's nothing out there that can describe this right now. We've been racing for 10 years and we've never gotten the national win and now we've finally got it. We needed it, it was long overdue especially with the bad luck we had a couple years back.”
Barklage’s victory provides some breathing room for the driver with one qualifying race left headed into the Battle for the Belts competition during October, at the ADRL World Finals in Dallas, Texas.
“Gets us that much closer,” Barklage confirmed. “I don't even know what to say, but it gets us closer.”
What he can say is this victory provides a strong measure of confidence heading into next month’s ADRL stop in Rockingham, N.C. Confidence and the unpredictable nature of drag racing are two different things.
“It helps with the confidence some but it's drag racing, anything can happen,” Barklage explained. “You've always gotta be confident if you want to do good but like I said it's drag racing and anything can happen.”
Yes, and sometimes you swipe Cinderella’s slipper.
ANYTHING BUT SLICK – Thomas “Slick” Myers had different visions of his first ADRL Pro Nitrous victory and Saturday’s triumph at the
Throw out the calamities he’s endured this season and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more gracious winner.
“It's awesome,” said Meyers. “Everything that we've been through - the fire, the kicking the rods out, blowing the intake off - all this through the years for the first win tonight was worth every bit of it. People don't understand that this is our heart and we put our heart and soul into this. We give up a lot to come to these events and just to be with our extended family. The race is just the bonus after being able to spend time with our extended family.”
The victory propels Myers to ninth in the ADRL points, just one position shy of a berth in the Battle for the Belts championship. The victory may be just the boost he needs headed into the final championship qualifying event next month in Rockingham, N.C.
“Oh you have no idea,” Myers admitted. “We've been struggling so hard to come out here and run with the likes of Shannon, Mike, Johnny, Steve Vick and all them. Just being with those guys is an honor and people don't understand that. Yeah, they've got all the money in the world over there but here it is, we're probably the most unfunded team on the property and we won. Dreams can come true.”
GOFORTH AND WIN, DAD – Sometimes the path to victory runs directly through your kid’s pit area. That’s what Dean Goforth found
Goforth used a first round victory over Cary Goforth to set up wins over Pete Berner, Brian Goforth and red-lighting Doug Kirk in the final round. Ironically, the aforementioned three competitors are former IHRA Pro Stock champions.
It was that kind of a day for Dean Goforth.
“Well it feels wonderful, it's good and I'm tickled to death,” said Goforth, holding his first ADRL Minuteman trophy. “I had a really good day … the crew … the guys from Sonny … everybody stayed with it and everything fell into place.”
The victory marked the third time that either father or son had reached the final round since the ADRL U.S. Drags last month in Richmond, Va. That says, in Goforth’s opinion, a lot about the resolve for the Holdenville, Ok.-based team.
“We're decent,” Goforth said. “I mean we're not the best guy out there but we're good enough to get to the winner’s circle evidently or at least get to the final round.”
And for Goforth, getting close is an awfully good treat.
“As long as you go up there enough your gonna get to the end sooner or later,” Goforth explained. “It's kind of like licking a popsicle, you'll get the stick if you just keep on going after it.”
SERIOUS MARKETING CHALLENGE – ADRL President Kenny Nowling, while performing post-race festivities at the Ohio Drags, challenged the National Trail raceway spectators to spend $100 with event sponsor Summit Racing Equipment on SummitRacing.com in the next week, and if they do, bring the receipt to next year’s event and he’ll pay them $200.
HEMI VERSUS SMALL BLOCK - Billy Glidden brought to Columbus a potent one-two punch of small block and 500-inch Hemi power. He opened Friday qualifying with the Hemi but after one round of qualifying, the familiar 404-incher was back in commission.
“Well we don't have time to leave the shop much and it's not really built to do what we're doing but it was decent enough that I could see if I could get the car moving and that first run Friday was just kind of a shot in the dark with gear ratios and the engine,” Glidden said. “It showed a lot of promise so we took it back out so I didn't kill it.
THIS USED TO BE MY PLAYGROUND – Bob Glidden was having the time of his life Saturday afternoon. The ten-time NHRA Pro Stock
If the kid is a chip off of the old block it’s because he learned the intricacies of being solid from the old man. If his performance during this weekend provided the appearance that Billy had an edge, it very well could have been because of his familiarity to the facility.
Simply put, if Indianapolis Raceway Park was his elder’s primary playground, National Trail Raceway was the satellite version.
“We really enjoyed coming here and for whatever reason we always did pretty well here,” the elder Glidden said.
Glidden, who admits he barely remembers his birthday, doesn’t remember much about his ten final rounds in Columbus, the first coming in 1974 when he defeated Roy Hill. His only final round loss came in 1978 when he lost to Richie Zul, the final race with his Pinto before introducing the undefeated Ford Fairmont.
Those were the good old days. Now, he’s perfectly content watching his son shine. This is his time and space.
“Just seeing him race and knowing how he does just makes me really proud,” Glidden said. “I enjoy it. I've been walking around here since 8:30 this morning. And seeing so many people I haven't seen for a long time and I've watched most of the cars go down the track, I've enjoyed it.”
Then watching his son go to the final round, that only serves to make him wonder, in a common day and time, when both were in their prime, who might win?
“He's bad to the bone,” Glidden said. “I'm afraid he would.”
THE LOGIC OF RACING TURBOCHARGED - Andy Jensen’s crime is that he leaned on the locals too hard.
Jensen, driving a turbocharged Camaro in the Pro Nitrous division, reeled off a 3.873 elapsed time at 191.70 during last season’s ADRL Dragstock event in Rockingham, N.C. Prior to Jensen’s run, it was largely believed the turbo combination couldn’t consistently compete in the Pro Extreme division. All bets are off when you can consistently run a half-tenth quicker than your nearest competition.
Now Jensen finds himself in a high horsepower pickle. He’s too fast to run Pro Nitrous and not quite quick enough to make a competitive dent in Pro Extreme. So what’s a man to do? If you Jensen, you tow your 427-inch, turbo-entry out to the track and put some test laps in.
“We tried a few things with the car,” said Jensen, who missed the Pro Extreme cut in Columbus. “We tried to make it work better and go faster with the Pro Extreme guys but there wasn't a whole lot. We tried a bunch of stuff but it's going to be a high to mid-3.80 car the way it looks right now unless we do some things to make it faster.”
The fierceness of the new challenge comes as no surprise to Jensen. Needless to say, he wasn’t a fan of the edict handed down last September which pushes him into the Pro Extreme class.
“I knew it was going to be tougher that's all there is to it,” Jensen said. “I'm not really happy about it but there's nothing really that I can do. It came down from the powers-that-be, so we've got to move over here and try to compete or not. That's what we're trying to do right now. If we can be competitive we'll stick around and do some more of it and if not we'll pursue different interests.”
And don’t think that Jensen hasn’t been exploring his options.
“We're going to run this one and see how we do here and I'm not sure if we're going to go to Rockingham or Texas right now,” Jensen said. “Rockingham is a possibility, it's a good ride for us and we have an opportunity to go to Epping that same weekend for the IHRA so we might just try to do that and see how it goes.”
MISSING IN ACTION – Sometimes the most seasoned home run hitters strike out. No stranger to the drag racing’s version of the
upper deck shot, Jason Scruggs came up short in four at-bats at National Trail Raceway.Scruggs, the defending Pro Extreme champion from Saltillo, Miss., was bumped from the sixteen-car field during the fourth and final qualifying session. His 3.989 elapsed time at 179.04 miles per hour was only good enough for first alternate.
“I think we finally had our clutch headed in the right direction then it rolled a sprag in the transmission and it hit the rev-limiter,” Scruggs said of his final attempt. “The motor quit pulling and it stopped running. It’s nobody’s fault but our own, we should have gotten our act together earlier.”
The last DNQ for Scruggs came in July 2009 when he missed the cut at the ADRL Independence Drags in Radford, Va.
“It seems like I have about one of them a year,” Scruggs said.
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SATURDAY NOTEBOOK - WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE PITS AT NATIONAL TRAIL RACEWAY
DRAG RACING IS THE BEST MEDICINE - Jimmy Hoberg walked to the starting line at National Trail Raceway Saturday afternoon during
On this day just walking was an accomplishment. Walking at National Trail Raceway was the icing on the cake.
“It was great,” said Hoberg, choking back the tears and apologizing for getting emotional.
Hoberg was driving in Columbus two weeks before Christmas when a reckless driver ran a red-light, t-boning his work truck while traveling at an estimated 120 miles per hour. Hoberg was the fourth car through the intersection.
“I pretty much broke everything from my waist up,” Hoberg said.
Hoberg was diagnosed with a broken neck, broken arm and a shattered pelvis amongst a score of other internal injuries. He also had a severed artery in his heart and a collapsed lung. He lost 30 percent of his lung.
Two of Hoberg’s co-workers were in the truck and one was ejected through the driver’s side window suffering a broken neck and the other suffered multiple non-life threatening injuries.
“I woke up with the steering wheel in my chest,” Hoberg recalled. “I talked to the rescue squad and told them I had twin three-year old daughters and needed to go to their play that night. I told them to take care of the other guys because my wife was going to come get me.”
He drifted into a coma, regaining consciousness 31 days later.
From the moment Hoberg woke, he began plotting a plan to return to the drag strip. Drag racing would serve as his inspiration during his rehabilitation.
“I heard about this race and I knew that was the race I wanted to return for,” said Hoberg, referencing this weekend’s ADRL event. “I couldn’t wait for the race to get here. The whole time I was down I told the guys [at National Trail Raceway] that I would be back for this event.”
Hoberg spent a total of 63 days in the hospital.
“For thirty-one days I had no idea what was going on,” Hoberg said.
As soon as Hoberg healed enough to become mobile, one of the first trips he made was out to the track. He made several trips where he would advise the staff on various jobs that needed to be done.
“The staff would come and pick me up when the track was open and then my wife would come and get me a couple of hours later,” Hoberg said.
Hoberg chokes up each time he explains how valuable his fellow track team members were to his recovery.
To this date, Hoberg has no idea what inspired this driver to do what he did. He added that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs and was uninjured in the crash which totaled his Range Rover.
“When I got to the hospital, they told my wife that I belonged to the morgue not the hospital,” Hoberg recalled. “They don’t know how I survived.
“The people at this track have been a blessing to me. They are a great group of people. I’ve lost a third of my lung, the doctors told me I wouldn’t walk again. I was determined to make it out here. I had to prove them wrong, even if I had to sit down. Nothing was going to keep me away. I proved them wrong. I just thank the good Lord I was able to make it here.”
HANCE OKAY – CAR AND FEELINGS NO SO GOOD -
The look on Dave Hance’s face told the story.
The Inwood, N.Y.-based, drag racer who also promotes the popular Shakedown at E’Town event in Englishtown, N.J., dinged his turbocharged Extreme 10.5 1957 Chevy during the final qualifying session.
Hance didn't suffer any physical injuries in the accident. What he did hurt was his feelings.
“Yeah, it's a tough thing,” said Hance, as he sifted through the parts of mangled fiberglass alongside his trailer. “You know I feel bad for the crew, they worked so hard to get this car out here and it just really sucks for them.”
Hance’s classic Chevrolet drifted out of the groove about half-track, then made a hard left turn into the retaining wall. The car bounced off the wall, went airborne and then struck the wall a second time. The car came to a stop just shy of the scoreboards.
“Well, it was the last qualifying shot, we weren't sitting to good, so we put a lot more power in it and apparently we got up the wheel speed and apparently I didn't recognize we were in severe wheel speed and I didn't get out of it in time, looks like it took me out,” Hance said.
DOAK’S CHEVELLE DINGED IN TOP END INCIDENT - Chassis builder
Kenny Doak’s Extreme 10.5 entry qualified 13th in the field but, because of the damage sustained, was unable to make the first round call.
According to witnesses, the Wellston, Ohio-based Mustang, driven by Jason Wilson, had a parachute snag the wheelie bars of Doak’s car. The wheelie bars were ripped from the rear of the car and forced through the quarterpanel of Doak's Chevelle.
Wilson's parachute then forced Doak's into the parked tow quad. This is just the initial damage that Naughton could quickly survey. He believes there’s more damage inside of the trunk that will show in a closer inspection.
“We were pulling away and it’s a shame because in thirty seconds the car would have been out of the way,” Naughton said. “We just made a really good pass, got in the show, we're all excited, the car's working now; we figured some things out electronic wise. We were all ready thinking we could throw power at it now and then this happened and that was real heartbreaking.”
Naughton said the incident could have easily involved another car as well as Doak’s.
“Jason Wilson come around the corner with both chutes deployed, instead of going around Kenny with another 50 feet around the side, he tried to get, for some reason, between both cars and wound up collecting Kenny's car,” Naughton explained. “Very lucky he didn't grab the Titan car because it would have drug them both together. Whether he forgot that he pulled the chutes, I don't know, but I think it was just a dumb move on his behalf. The guy never even apologized, never even came over to look at the car or the damage; right now he has not been over here to apologize and it's just, it would have been nice to at least get an apology out of him.”
Wilson told CompetitionPlus.com that he followed the instruction of the shutdown personnel.
“I was coming off and the guy was telling me to go ahead and turn so I made my turn and there was another guy standing there pointing to the inside,” Wilson said. “So when I made the turn I went to the inside and the guy kept motioning for me to come forward and I was just rolling down through there and the next thing I know, the car stopped. I knew the chutes were out.”
Wilson said the top end official motioned that his chutes were down, and dragging the ground presenting no potential problem. As Wilson turned off the track, a burst of wind, he said apparently blossomed the parachutes.
“No I had no idea at all,” answered Wilson, when asked if he had any idea what was going on behind him. “I was just rolling up through there, unhooking my HANS device and stuff and the car just came to a sudden stop. And I heard him start yelling. I didn't know what happened until I got out.”
Wilson doesn’t fault the officials on the top end for the incident. He blames it on a “freak” accident.
“I've had it happen to me too,” Wilson added. “You know, turn the corner, you don't know where your parachutes are when you turn, so I mean it was a bad deal but like I said I was doing what I was told to do.”
PATRICK TO THE TOP AGAIN - Robert Patrick always felt that he had a quick car, but for the better part of the 2009 season misfortune
Once again the Fredericksburg, Va.-based driver came to the final qualifying session of an ADRL Extreme Pro Stock event unbridled. And, this time the misfortune was born by the competition.
Patrick scored his second consecutive No. 1 effort of the season at the ADRL Ohio Drags in Columbus, Ohio with a 4.134 elapsed time at 173.70 miles per hour. The run vaulted him from third to first.
The run was what the former IHRA Pro Stock champion needed to turn the tide of what was developing into a frustrating weekend.
“We’ve been working hard and we’ve messed up a couple of motors at the last two events,” Patrick explained. “The last two races, we’ve been the quickest car … it’s pretty frustrating when you have the car to beat and the rods are hanging out.
“Bob Ingles works hard on our engines and I think we’ve corrected the issues.
“We just haven’t had any luck,” Patrick continued. “We have a good team, a good combination and a good engine builder in Bob Ingles. We’ve just had one of those years where nothing has gone right. We haven’t been able to keep the same engine in the car throughout the course of a weekend.
“There’s nothing wrong with my engine builder, we just had some mechanical issues with the parts we were using. We are working to correct that. Hopefully we have that all figured out.”
With some faulty parts out of the system and a lot of hard work, Patrick has turned up the wick on the competition, and he’s turned it up big time.
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FRIDAY NOTEBOOK – FIRST DAY AT THE TRAIL WITH THE ADRL
HOLD ON RIGHT THERE – Frankie Taylor described his semi-finals eliminations exit two weekends ago in St. Louis as the one that got 
away. Friday evening in Columbus, he was fishing again and the big one didn't get away.
Taylor, of Dickinson, Texas, took the Pro Extreme top spot with a 3.749 at 202.52.
“It actually ran pretty good through the middle,” Taylor explained. “It was a little soft on the starting line; it only went a .974 on the 60' which has been pretty good for us lately, but with Scruggs running .940's we need to pick up a little more. We were hoping for a .955 or a .957.”
Taylor entered the day unsure of what kind of conditions the National Trail Raceway surface would present.
“The track actually looked green up there when we looked at it yesterday,” Taylor said. “We actually went faster than we were trying to go, we were trying to go .85 and the track actually held the .82 pretty good. We went back and stepped up and it ran a 3.81 and we stepped it up again and it went that .74.”
CAN’T LOSE - Even when Chuck Ulsch struggles, he still flies.
The recent Mickey Thompson Tires Extreme 10.5 3-Second Club inductee didn’t reproduce his torrid pace from two weeks ago in St. Louis, but his 4.032 was more than enough to put Gil Mobley’s Camaro atop the field at the ADRL Ohio Drags in Columbus, Ohio.
“I think you've been struggling to get down the track today a little bit,” Ulsch said. “I was just glad to get down. We were struggling earlier like you said and I was just happy to have the car run from point a to point b. It wasn't the prettiest run but it got down.”
The three-run day wasn’t easy as mechanical maladies struck the team.
“We broke the shifter on that pass right there so luckily I had somebody that was good enough to get us in gear and get it down the track so it worked out good for us,” Ulsch explained.
STROKIN STOKEN - Pat Stoken was one of 28 Pro Nitrous cars on 
Friday evening at the ADRL Ohio Drags, literally. The Eureka, Mt.-based driver drove his Gene Fulton-powered, 1968 Camaro to the No. 1 position after three sessions by running a 3.903, 191.16 at National Trail raceway in Columbus, Ohio.
“It felt really good and smooth,” said Stoken, following his third qualifying session on Friday. “I've really got to thank the people that's been helping Jim Halsey and Patrick and Eric, that whole crew over there they've been really great helping us. It was a great pass there's no doubt about it. We shook a little bit in second gear. It's got a little more in it.”
Stoken couldn’t say with a degree of certainty that his run will hold through Saturday’s lone session, but what he could determine is that running as quickly as he did on Friday evening came as a pleasant surprise.
“The track definitely is coming around; the right lane seems to be the better than the left lane,” Stoken pointed out. “Nobody got down the left lane that time. The right lane seems to be coming around. Hopefully the left lane will get better.”
GAHM TIME AGAIN – Brian Gahm fired his best shot in Extreme Pro Stock at the onset of qualifying. The Lucasville, Ohio-based driver 
isn’t overly optimistic the run will hold through tomorrow’s final qualifying session.
“No I doubt it,” said Gahm when asked if felt the run would hold. “You've seen a bunch of them run 4.14's here tonight. I don't believe so but of course I'm hoping that maybe if we can get a good run we can run faster than a 14 but we didn't do it so we're just going to have to wait to see what tomorrow brings. If the weather stays like it is then somebody will go a 4.13 maybe a 4.12.”
THE TRACTION CONTROL - One race into the test Mike Janis sees the potential traction control brings to his Pro Extreme operation. The veteran doorslammer racer from Lancaster, N.Y., is the most recent winner on the National Guard ADRL tour and represents a growing trend of Pro Extreme racers seeking a way to corral the overabundance of horsepower their outlaw doorslammers produce.
“We’ve been constantly working on it,” Janis said, of the assistance provided by Shannon Davis of Davis Technologies, the device’s manufacturer. “Right now we are probably about 80-percent with it. It’s still the chassis and tune-up that plays a major role. It’s not all traction control, but we are making headway with it.”
Traction control is illegal in both NHRA and IHRA versions of Pro Modified. In the wide-open confines of ADRL, traction control is welcomed.
However, Janis warns, there’s a lot more to making traction control work than just bolting on a the unit.
“You always want to be able to say that, but no one is trying to lead anyone into believing that is true,” Janis said. “It’s a definite help. Suppose you are ten grams off with the clutch and you take too much tire speed off, it’s going to calm the car down and make it go down the track.
“It pulls the right amount of power out of there but you still have to get your clutch and everything else right.”
And when one has an abundance of power, the level which Janis possesses, having a calm car means having a winning combination.
THE ROD SHOP DODGE – Carl Kirk sat in the shade, outside of the direct sunlight encompassing National Trail Raceway. The former
Those memories nearly flowed freely as they recollected moments while racing at the NHRA Springnationals and other events.
“Those were the good old days,” said Kirk, who raced a B/Altered and A/Gas Mopar back in those days. “We raced until about 1972 when we realized that we had to raise families.”
Both the elder Kirk and Eckard have children who race in competition. Eckard’s children have raced for years in the NHRA’s Super Gas divisions. For Kirk, he’s having the time of his life watching his son, Doug Kirk, a former multi-time IHRA Pro Stock world champion and past Extreme Pro Stock champion, compete this weekend at the famed facility he once claimed as his stomping grounds. Soon he’ll be checking out his 16-year old grandson Justin Kirk, who is scheduled to begin licensing procedures later this year for Pro Stock competition.
Doug pointed out that he essentially spent the majority of his youth at National Trail.
“You’re born and bred into it,” Doug said. “There are so many memories for me because I spent so many years here. I watched him race for so many years and knew that was what I wanted to do when I grew up. It was neat to grow up in a drag racing family like that.”
“He was just your typical kid,” said the proud father. “I watched him come out and was proud of what he did.”
Now the torch is starting to pass to Justin and for Doug, he understands the pride his dad had in watching him race and win for the last twenty-five years.
“I watch my son and it’s a lot like my dad used to do with me,” Doug added. “The evolution of this racing keeps getting better and better and he’s already beyond me because he’s in charge of the racing computer and that stuff. I can’t do it and I can tell you my dad can’t do it.”
Regardless if his offspring are better suited for the current technology, the memories of yesterday is what has made Kirk’s time in racing complete.
“Those were some of the best memories I had in drag racing,” Kirk said. “Today’s racing is just all work and no fun. I have fun watching my son and now my grandson.”
Doug quipped, “My mom always accused my dad of living his life through me because back when he raced he couldn’t afford it. It’s all worked out for the best.”
THEY’LL BE DRIVING ONE - Following the overwhelming success of the Ford Drive One Summer Drags V in June at Martin, Michigan, the National Guard American Drag Racing League (ADRL) has entered into a multi-year marketing partnership with Ford Motor Company, the country’s leading automobile manufacturer, naming it as the official vehicle of the National Guard ADRL.
“We’re extremely excited about our new partnership with the ADRL,” said Brian Wolfe, director of Ford North America Motorsports. “Based on the response leading up to and following the Ford Drive One Summer Drags, we’re confident that the brand-loyal fans we see attending National Guard ADRL events will visit Ford dealers all over the country to not only drive one, but more importantly, buy one, too.”
As a key element in the partnership, Ford dealers will be instrumental in the National Guard ADRL’s unique complimentary ticket distribution program driving tens of thousands of potential customers through their doors. Promotional activities, driver and car appearances and special marketing programs will also build the bond between National Guard ADRL fans and Ford dealers. The active participation will continue at the events with Ford displaying a variety of new vehicles, products and interactive exhibits in the National Guard ADRL’s trackside Fan Experience Village.
“We couldn’t be more proud to have Ford come on board as the official vehicle of the National Guard ADRL,” said Kenny Nowling, president and CEO of the rapidly growing eighth-mile drag racing series. “Ford has an exceptional history in motorsports, on the track as a competitor and as an active sponsor, and we are truly honored to have them so closely associated with the National Guard ADRL.”
The multi-year agreement includes Ford as the provider of support vehicles to transport National Guard ADRL staff and equipment to events and appearances across the country.
“The National Guard ADRL attracts a very wide audience and offers Ford the opportunity to place their new cars and trucks in front of a much younger and more diverse group of fans than any other major motorsports series,” Nowling continued. “And with Ford products also racing and doing so well on the track, I think both Ford and the National Guard ADRL will see a tremendously positive response from our fans.”
Nowling said he also appreciates Ford’s made-at-home legacy.
“Ford is an American manufacturing icon and embodies everything that makes our country great—ingenuity, capability, flexibility, tenacity—along with making hands-down, the best cars and trucks in the world,” he declared. “I’m excited about getting to drive one.”
Shelor Motor Mile will continue to serve as the official dealership group and official motor home source for the National Guard ADRL and Shelor.com will continue as the series’ official online automobile source.
“My hope is that many National Guard ADRL fans will consider Ford first for their next new or used vehicle purchase and I would encourage them to start their search at Shelor Ford in Christiansburg, Virginia, or online at Shelor.com,” Nowling said.
SUPER BAD - Nick Jackson understands that a 1941 Willys is not exactly a prototype cart design when it comes to ADRL Extreme 10.5
competition. And, he’s okay with that.As long as he can play the game, have fun, and maintain a reasonable amount of competitiveness, he’s a happy camper.
“I love the Willys body style and I also prefer the small block Chevrolet engine combination,” said Jackson, who is presently unqualified headed into Saturday’s final qualifying session. “I figured that there's no way I could even have a slight chance of competing with the faster guys with the little small block so I figured the best chance I had to at least qualify and be part of the program was to put in some small tires and see if I could get them worked out.”
If you’re going to be different, it’s best to really standout. Nothing stands out more than a huge wing protruding from the rear of the fat-fender hot rod.
“One of the things that I enjoy is having something different, a different style wing,” Jackson said. “I kind of intended it to be sort of a mono-strut looking wing. People say that's just different. I consider it adding a different personality to it.”
The 14.71 Littlefield blower spinning atop the 370-inch Chevy adds extra personality as does the zoomie headers.
“It took a little bit of extra time to be able to get the zoomie headers on the car but once we got it fabricated and everything it gives it a much better look,” Jackson added.
For Jackson, that worked out perfect.
“This look fits this car …” said Jackson. “It’s everything that I wanted in a car.”
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THURSDAY NOTEBOOK -THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
HOME SWEET COLUMBUS - This weekend’s ADRL event in Columbus, Ohio will evoke memories for Extreme Pro Stock racer John Montecalvo.
National Trail Raceway, site of this weekend’s ADRL Ohio Drags, was
where the passion began for the veteran driver from Center Moriches,
N.Y.
Montecalvo traveled with friends Charlie and Pattie Bubka who were
fielding a B/Stock entry at the NHRA Springnationals. From B/Stock to
Pro Stock, the experience has been a trip in the fast lane.
“It’s going to be something to go back and race at the place where it
all began for me,” Monte tells. “My friends and I pulled into National
Trail in a ramp truck that first time. Those humble beginnings are
something you don’t forget. Nor do I want to forget them. It reminds me
of how far I’ve come and makes me appreciate being able to do what I
do.”
Memory lane trip aside, Montecalvo has a fight on his hands this weekend.
“I’m sure I’ll be reminiscing here this weekend, but my main focus will
be going after [points leader] Brian Gahm. He’s been incredibly tough
in Extreme Pro Stock all year, but maybe going back to the place that
ignited my drag racing passion will give me a little edge on the
competition. We’re going to stay humble and stay focused this weekend.
“I have a lot of memories of how we got started in this and a lot has
changed. Back then we stayed in tents. Now we stay in the Hampton Inn.
But there’s one thing that will never change and that’s the racing.”
NEW CAMARO FOR D'APRILE - Tommy D’Aprile expected to have a 1970 ½ Camaro during the 2009 season.
What he didn’t expect was to race the new ride this weekend during the
ADRL Ohio Drags in Columbus, Ohio.
The new Camaro has been pressed into service after the Mel Bush
Motorsports 1962 Bel-Air suffered structural damage during the recently
completed ADRL Gateway Drags in St. Louis. A broken rear suspension
bracket tore from the rear housing causing the major damage.
“I figured it was done” said D’Aprile of the Pro Extreme race car. “I
thought for sure I was going to crash. I didn’t know what happened but
it was like I ran something over and it threw the car in to the air. I
didn’t freak; I was like if it’s going to happen it’s going to happen
but I steered into it when she was on her side and thank God for prayer
everything turned out better than I thought it would.”
“She bent the four-link like a pretzel! I can’t believe it’s not worse
than it is,” said crew chief Kevin Peters. “Luckily the new car was
slated for this race and we don’t have to rush to get the Bel-Air ready
for this week. We’re planning on testing the new car mid week and then
head out for Columbus.”
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION - Pete Berner isn’t one to be passive or take things lightly. So since he
added his own engine program, he’s given it 110%. On paper, it 
may
be hard to see all the advancements Berner and the Quarter-Max.com team
have made this year, but there can be no doubt that many giants have
been conquered behind the scenes. An undiscovered engine problem
hindered progress for the last few events, but now the issue is fixed
and Berner is soon ready to debut a third engine from his program that
promises to be still better than any produced thus far.
“We’ve been battling an issue in the motor since early July,” explains
Berner, “and my focus has been off. Business [Berner’s mechanical
contracting business] is good, but with the current economic state,
it’s tough to take my mind off work and the guys working for me. But
now we have the engine issue covered and I’ve switched my focus back
from business to racing.”
At the beginning of the year, Berner made the decision to follow the
ADRL Extreme Pro Stock tour. He admits that he hasn’t done as well this
year as he would have liked, but he’s also sure he’s headed in the
right direction.
“We’ve stumbled a few times in figuring out our eighth mile set up. But
we’re not far off from the top runners and I think now that we have a
few kinks worked out, we’ll be right where we need to be. We’ve got
great manufacturers who back this team and are committed to helping us.
With any new venture, there are some hurdles to overcome and the
manufacturers we’re working with have been instrumental in helping us
leap over those hurdles. With such great support and a great team, I’d
say we’re definitely on the right track.
“On a more somber note, my thoughts and prayers go out to the Flemming
family. Eric Flemming, who began working for us last year, just lost
his dad earlier this week in a battle with cancer. Our hearts are heavy
for Eric and his family.”
Although with heavy hearts, Berner and crew will head to this weekend’s
ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III with new resolve.
CLUTCH PERFORMANCE - Mike Janis might have won the ADRL Gateway Drags in St. Louis, but the
Pro Extreme racer admits the triumph could have been better. 
His son and crew chief Mike Janis Jr., agrees with that assessment.
“Don’t get me wrong; getting our second win was fantastic. It’s just
that we struggled that weekend with the same troubles that we have had
all year. It’s no secret we’ve been putting band-aids on our issues all
season trying to compete. Thanks to some hard work from the guys at Ram
Clutches this coming race is looking better for us,” said crew chief
Mike Janis Jr.
What Janis is referring to is their clutch program. With the help of
Pat Norcia from Ram Clutches the team has slowly progressed with their
clutch set up all season but Columbus will be different.
"Pat has been fantastic all year but this time he’s really stepped it
up. He’s delivered to us a totally new clutch that should take care of
all of our issues. We may need some time to adjust to it but with Pat’s
help I think we’ll be just fine,” said driver and Team Owner Mike Janis.
Ram Clutches has supported Mike Janis Racing since 2001.
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