This was the ADRL's first visit to the famed National Trail Raceway in Hebron Ohio. They had a great showing in spectators, vendors and race teams. Per the ADRL's main website, every category saw a new winner visit the winners circle. The overriding concern the crews showed Friday morning over the condition of the track surface was put to rest during the first round of qualifying. Not only did the Extreme Pro stock cars get down the track, by the end of the race, we would see stellar performance in all of the categories. My hats off to the ADRL crew and Jim Layton's great staff at National Trail. They made it happen. Had anyone tried to convince this reporter we would see the performance levels we experienced Friday and Saturday, I would have simple thought you confused.
Jason Scruggs continued to struggle this weekend missing the show when he was bumped from the 16th spot during the 4th round of qualifying. The team seems to have lost the handle on the setup, something that can happen to the best out there. I'm amazed at how a seemingly innocuous change on a race set up will force a team to chase the tune for weeks before they find the problem. Given their championship winning history, I'm certain they'll figure it out.
Mel Bush's new Tommy D'Aprile driven 70 and a half Camaro made a great debut in Columbus. The team qualified 8th and lost in the first round to Quain Stott.
Another of the beautiful 70.5 Camaro's showed up in the pits of Randy Weatherford this weekend. The beautiful blue WS Construction entry would qualify 10th and loose in the first round to Steve Vick.
Dave Hance took a wild ride in the final round of qualifying in his New york Motorsports Extreme 10.5 mount. Per his crew chief 'Big Sexy', "He is sore but is already plotting to have the car ready for ADRL Rockingham." Parts have already been ordered and will met the team when they return to the Jessup Georgia based shop where the New Yorker keeps his car.
Pat Bennett also had a meeting with the wall at National Trail. It was no where near the 5g + hit Hance took.
Pro ExtremeThe Lucas oil backed team of Cody Barklage has steadily improved in performance over the last 5 races with consistent mid to low 3.80 passes in his 67 Pro Extreme Firebird. Cody would take on Joshua Hernandez's 57 Chevy in the finals winning when Hernandez crossed the centerline DQing his finals effort. This was Barklage's first visit to the ADRL's National Guard winner circle, I doubt it will be his last.
Barklage would take out Wes Johnson's #12 qualified 53 Corvette in round 1 with a 3.851 @ 193.21 MPH blast to 4.017 188.81 MPH pass.
Joey Martin would loose fire on the burnout and had an easy victory to Barklage in round 2. Barklage carded a 3.957 193.52 MPH pass.
The semi-final round pitted Frankie "The Mad Man" Taylor against Barklage. Taylor would get loose in the middle of the course and lift handing another easy victory to Cody, 3.785 199.02 MPH to 4.715 109.41 MPH.
The resurgent Joshua Hernandez would face Brian Daniels in round 1 winning by over a tenth with a 3.768, 201.70 MPH to 3.863 192.69 MPH.
Bubba Stanton would also loose fire on the burnout in his 2nd round race with Hernandez. Joshua would make another bracket style consistent 3.70 run, 3.799 @ 201.16 MPH.
John Stanley's Hagerstown MD 68 Camaro would be Hernandez's semi-final round opponent. Stanley would leave first but was unable to outrun the 3.742 203.68 MPH pass with his 3.841 193.99 MPH hit. This was John's first semi-final round showing in ADRL action. Look for more from this team as the work to refine their race day set-up.