ADRL
Hard Work Leading To Successful 2012 Season For Sonny’s Racing Engines
Courtesy of ADRL
O’FALLON, MO – The hard work has certainly proven to be worth it in what has been a successful 2012 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) season for ADRL sponsor Sonny’s Racing Engines.
Of the last six winners in the ADRL’s highly-competitive Extreme Pro Stock class, five have used powerful Sonny’s Racing Engines to end up in the winner’s circle, while countless others have racked up impressive performances in what has already been a banner year for Sonny’s Racing Engines and its owner, Sonny Leonard.
“This year has probably been one of my best years of performance in the ADRL and we are very excited about that,” Leonard said. “We’ve done a lot of research and development work, developing engine components and a lot of other stuff, and it’s paid off.
“Of the 18 employees here, 10 have been here more than 20 years. We have a lot of good guys and a lot of good customers who believe in us.”
ADRL Loses Fan Favorite And Pro Extreme Motorcycle Standout Japel Heard
Courtesy of ADRL
O’FALLON, MO – The American Drag Racing League regretfully announced on Friday that longtime Pro Extreme Motorcycle rider Japel Heard, 42, has died.
Heard, of Snellville, Ga., was the owner of The Fashion Industry, an exclusive high-fashion men’s apparel boutique located in the historic West End of Atlanta. Heard was pronounced dead on Thursday by a medical examiner at Rockdale Medical Center in Conyers, Ga.
The entire ADRL racing community is greatly saddened by Heard’s death and offers its most sincere condolences to Heard’s family, friends and racing teammates.
Heard was a standout competitor, but he was also a tremendous person who helped countless individuals throughout his racing career and impacted the lives of many more with a fun-loving personality that made him one of the most popular riders in the ADRL’s Pro Extreme Motorcycle class.
Jenkins Heads Winners List At Dragstock IX
Courtesy of ADRL
CHARLOTTE, NC – Shannon “Iceman” Jenkins has been a staple at the American Drag Racing League’s (ADRL) prestigious Dragstock r
ace, first appearing at the event in 2005.
At the ninth rendition of the race on Saturday, Jenkins delivered another trademark performance in Pro Nitrous, this time at the ADRL’s first appearance at zMAX Dragway.
Jenkins won for the first time in 2012 as well, running 3.87 at 194.02 mph to beat Doug Riesterer and add another chapter to his unbelievable legacy.
“It’s a great feeling to win here and it’s great to see the sport healthy,” Jenkins said. “Racing at a track like this and being fortunate enough to win it is the greatest feeling you can ever have.”
Other winners included Tim Tindle (Pro Extreme), Brad Brand (Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5), Eric McKinney (Pro Extreme Motorcycle), Cary Goforth (Extreme Pro Stock), Mike Janis (Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified) and Ronnie Davis (Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman).
Scruggs Leads Top Qualifiers List For Dragstock IX At ADRL’s Debut At zMAX Dragway
Courtesy of ADRL
CHARLOTTE, NC – At another new track on the 2012 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) schedule, Pro Extreme driver Jason 
Scruggs turned in another impressive performance.
After winning at the ADRL’s debut at Bristol Dragway in April, the two-time world champion is off to a fine start at the ADRL’s first visit to the incredible zMAX Dragway in Charlotte for Dragstock IX.
Scruggs went 3.677 at 206.67 miles per hour on a rain-soaked Friday, jumping to the No. 1 spot in Pro Extreme during the ADRL’s most prestigious event at a track that drew rave reviews across the board.
“This is the nicest facility I’ve ever been to,” Scruggs said. “Hopefully this will turn out as well as Bristol. I’d like to go out and run well every round and hopefully still have that same outcome.
ADRL Makes Its Debut at zMAX Dragway For Dragstock IX
Courtesy of ADRL
O’FALLON, MO – The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) makes its debut at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C. for Dragstock IX on Aug. 3-4. It is the seventh of 10 races on the 2012 ADRL Tour.
With new classes, a World Championship format and expanded family fun midway, there is considerable excitement and anticipation surrounding the world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league as races for the first time at the state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway.
Along with the highly-anticipated and revolutionary new SuperCar Showdown class, all of the ADRL’s professional classes will make compete at zMAX Dragway, including Pro Junior Dragster (PJD), Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman (TS), Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified (PM), Extreme Pro Stock (XPS), Pro Extreme Motorcycle (PXM), Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5 (XTF), Pro Nitrous (PN) and Pro Extreme (PX), the quickest and fastest full-bodied, doorslammer class in the world.
ADRL To Hold Special “Pro Mods And Hot Rods” Event At Dragstock IX
Courtesy of ADRL
O’FALLON, MO – The American Drag Racing League’s (ADRL) first appearance at zMAX Dragway for its prestigious Dragstock event will also feature a first-time opportunity for local car clubs and hot rod owners.
Entitled “Pro Mods and Hot Rods,” the world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league announced on Thursday that will allow hot rod owners free admission for the car and the driver for the upcoming Dragstock IX, which takes place Aug. 3-4 at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte.
Drivers must register their car by July 30 to be eligible for the free car and driver entry to what is annually one of the biggest events on the ADRL Tour.
“This is something that is perfect for the ADRL and it was ideal to introduce it at Dragstock, which has always been our most prestigious event, and at an incredible facility like zMAX Dragway,” ADRL Account Executive Keith Goolsby said.
ADRL Adjusts Minimum Weight Requirements For Supercharged, Nitrous Cars In Aeromotive Pro Modified Class
Courtesy of ADRL
O’FALLON, MO – The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) announced on Monday new minimum weight requirements for supercharged and nitrous cars in the Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified class.
All supercharged cars in the class will now have a 50-pound lighter weight requirement (2,600 pounds) than previously before, while all nitrous cars will now have a 50-pound heavier weight requirement (2,475 pounds).
Weight requirements for turbocharged cars will not be changed.
Here are the new weight requirements for cars in the Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified class:
- All supercharged cars will have minimum weight decreased from 2,650 pounds to 2,600 pounds.
- All nitrous cars will increase from 2,425 pounds to 2,475 pounds minimum weight.
- Turbocharged cars will have no change (2,650 pounds minimum weight)
Garret Race Cars Dominates ADRL Pro Extreme in Michigan
Written by Ian Tocher
MARBLE HILL, MO — Garret Race Cars entries dominated the ADRL Pro Extreme class July 13-14, in Martin, Michigan, led by the company flagship ’63 Corvette of two-time class champion Jason Scruggs, who won the ADRL Summer Drags VIII at U.S. 131
Motorsports Park.
After 23 Pro Extreme teams made qualifying attempts on the U.S. 131 eighth mile, Garret-built cars took three of the top five positions and made up a full quarter of the 16-car, race-day field, led by the ’69 Camaro of 2006 class champion Bubba Stanton, who ran 3.663 seconds at 205.17 miles per hour to earn the top spot. ADRL officials also presented Stanton with the Turbos by Garrett Best Engineered Car award at the West Michigan event.
“I was thrilled to see Jason win again and for Bubba to regain the kind of performance and recognition he’s used to,” said Garret Livingston, founder and president of Garret Race Cars in Marble Hill, Missouri. “All of our cars did extremely well this weekend, which is a testament to the quality of people and teams we work with at the ADRL.”
Rahaim, DeFlorian Garner First ADRL Wins, Lead Winners List At Summer Drags VIII
Courtesy of ADRL
MARTIN, MI – Bob Rahaim couldn’t have picked a better place for his first American Drag Racing League (ADRL) win.
Racing at his home ADRL track, the Pro Nitrous standout delivered an incredible performance in front of a huge gathering of
friends and family, going a career-best 3.797 at 197.10 miles per hour on Saturday to beat Pat Stoken in the finals of the Summer Drags VIII at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.
It capped off a day the Grosse Point, Mich. native won?t ever forget.
I’m feeling numb. This is pretty overwhelming. To do this at your home track and have everybody here, it’s just a storybook thing,? Rahaim said. ?You couldn’t have scripted it any better
I can say my life is complete. I’ve always wanted to win one of these races and I’ve always wanted to do it at my home track with everybody here in person.
Other Summer Drags VIII winners included Jason Scruggs (Pro Extreme), Alan Pittman (Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5), Eric McKinney (Pro Extreme Motorcycle), John DeFlorian (Extreme Pro Stock), Mike Castellana (Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified), Bruce Thrift (Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman) and Bo Butner (SuperCar Showdown).
Riesterer Sets Track Record, Heads Top Qualifiers List At Summer Drags VIII
Courtesy of ADRL
MARTIN, MI – American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Pro Nitrous driver Doug Riesterer is trying for his third straight win in the class, and the talented Texan got off to a strong start on Friday at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.
On a rain-soaked day in Martin, Mich., Riesterer delivered the most impressive run of the day, going 3.80 at 195.22 mph on new Hoosier Tires to set a track record and take the top qualifying spot at the Summer Drags VIII.
Riesterer is trying to become the first driver in Pro Nitrous to win three straight races since Rickie Smith did it in 2010.
“We put new tires on, it was a different day and a different track. You never know what to expect,” Riesterer said. “We put our best guess into it and I thought there was about a 20 percent chance it would go down the track. With new tires, you usually struggle but hopefully this is a good indicator.”
