Black Diamond Motorsports exits early at ADRL U.S. Drag V

Courtesy of Black Diamond Motorsports
Photo by Roger Richards

Dinwiddie, VA – The American Drag Racing League made its return to Virginia Motorsports Park for the U.S. Drags V and was greeted with a deluge of extreme conditions. First round of qualifying the temperatures were on the extreme end of the scale but despite these Kevin Bealko in his competition debut with a clutch, was able to qualify the 2011 GXP in ninth position while John Delforian, Jr. in the 2012 Camaro ended up in the sixteenth position .

The second round of qualifying started twelve hours later after several rain showers and a temperature drop of almost twenty degrees John was able to improve his time while Kevin wiggled down the track but unfortunately the other teams also improved their elapsed times bumping both cars out of the field . Rain ended any more qualifying sessions for friday night and the team went to work prepping both cars for the final qualifying session on Saturday.

Saturday qualifying session started with temperatures not as warm as friday’s, Black Diamond Motorsports hoped to parlay this into both cars qualifying in the field . The 2012 Camaro driven by John Deflorian, Jr. who has qualified number one in the last three events and reset the elapsed time record was the first out to try to qualify but the Camaro spun then shook the tires then went right and left failing to improve his elapsed time and to qualify . Kevin Bealko in the 2011 GXP made a hard move to the wall but he was able to reel it in and qualified in the fifteenth position facing Todd Hoerner in first round.

First round of eliminations with out lane choice and in the first six pairs no one was able to get down the right lane, Kevin and the Black Diamond Motorsports Team was facing a daunting task knowing they would have to be in the right lane . Both of the Sonny Racing Engine powered Extreme Pro Stocks pulled to the line . The tree flashed and both drivers were late leaving, Kevin and the GXP made a straight as an arrow pass down the right lane but Todd Hoerner had the better light and scored the win.

Black Diamond Motorsports would like to thank their fans and sponsors and hope to see you at the ADRL Summer Drags VIII takes place on July 13-14 at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich.