Top Sportsman
PDRA Top Sportsman Racers Have Extra Incentive to go for Low Qualifier in 2015
PITTSBORO, NC – The Professional Drag Racers Association is known for its highly competitive eighth mile 
doorslammer racing. Though considered a sportsman class because of its bracket racing format, Top Sportsman (TS) is arguably one of the toughest and most fascinating classes in the series. Qualifying competition is fierce, requiring the top 16 to run a 4.160 or better to make the PDRA Finals in Virginia last October. Once qualified these men and women must dial their cars in running 4.10s or better, judging the finish line at around 180 MPH.
For 2015, veteran TS racer Bruce Thrift has teamed up with FTI Performance to sponsor a #1 Qualifier Award for each of the 10 events on the tour. The FTI Performance #1 Qualifier Award will present a plaque and $300 to each of the top qualifiers, beginning at the Texas Nationals March 19-21.
Contingency Postings Continue To Grow For Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman Class
Courtesy of ADRL
O’FALLON, MO – Support continues to build for the Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman class in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL).
With Summit Racing Equipment already named as the official sponsor for the ADRL’s newest class, the world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league announced on Tuesday that contingency postings for the class have already reached an impressive level.
In addition to the contingency program from Summit Racing Equipment, contingency sponsors for the class include Hoosier Tires, Jerry Bickel Race Cars and Tim McAmis Performance Parts, which also sponsors the low qualifier bonus for Summit Racing Top Sportsman.
It doesn’t stop there, either. New contingency sponsors starting with the upcoming Dragstock VIII at Rockingham Dragway are Ross Racing Pistons, Jerry Haas Race Cars, Rock Racing Batteries, Davis Golf Cart Sales and STT Safety Equipment, which has agreed to a double contingency posting.
Davis Plans Two Top Sportsman Entries for ADRL at Rockingham
Written by Ian Tocher
SUWANEE, GA — Fresh off making history last weekend at Virginia Motorsports Park (VMP) as the first driver to compete in three different American Drag Racing League (ADRL) classes, Ronnie Davis is planning to step up his
program next month in the ADRL’s Dragstock VIII at historic Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina.
“There is a very good chance you will see two Davis Golf Cart Sales ’63 Corvettes in the Top Sportsman class at the ADRL race in Rockingham,” the defending NHRA Division 2 Top Sportsman champion said. “I’ll be in my black Tommy Mauney Pro Mod car in Top Sportsman again, but the driver for my second Mauney-built car has not yet been named.
“I actually asked if I could drive both cars in Top Sportsman,” he added with a smile. “But I don’t think ADRL will allow that.”
Davis Ready for ADRL Top Sportsman Start in Virginia
Written by Ian Tocher
SUWANEE, GA — Ronnie Davis is on the verge of becoming the first driver ever to compete in a third American Drag Racing League (ADRL) class. The Suwanee, Georgia-based golf cart dealer has previously raced in the ADRL’s Pro 
Nitrous and Extreme 10.5 categories, but as a Top Sportsman pioneer with both the IHRA and NHRA series, he’s excited about entering his specialty at the ADRL Speedtech U.S. Drags IV Aug. 12-13, at Virginia Motorsports Park, near Richmond.
After staging two exhibition experiments, ADRL made Top Sportsman its first official full-size, bracket-racing class at its most recent event last month in Martin, Michigan.
“I’m very, very happy to see ADRL add Top Sportsman to their show,” says Davis, who will be driving his Tommy Mauney-built ’63 Corvette equipped with a new, nitrous-boosted Roush Yates 822-cubic-inch engine. “I think it’s a good deal for the ADRL and it’s good for Top Sportsman racers to have another high-quality organization to race with on good, safe tracks.”
Summit Racing Equipment To Sponsor ADRL Top Sportsman Class
Courtesy of ADRL
O’FALLON, MO – The Top Sportsman class in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) continues to grow at an incredible rate.
On Friday, the world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league announced that Summit Racing Equipment will be sponsoring the new Top Sportsman class for the rest of the 2011 ADRL season.
The class, now called the Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman class, made its official debut in July at the Ford Drive One Summer Drags VII at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.
“We feel the addition of the Top Sportsman class to the ADRL line up is a natural fit,” said Jim Greenleaf, Summit Racing Equipment’s Motorsports and Events Manager. “The Top Sportsman racers we have spoken with are extremely excited to be a part of the ADRL show and Summit Racing is excited to continue our support of sportsman racing with the official sponsorship of the class.
Butcher Feeling ‘Incredible’ After Historic Top Sportsman Win In ADRL
Courtesy of ADRL
MARTIN, MI – The occasion was deserving of a major celebration and Glenn Butcher was more than happy to provide it.
With Top Sportsman named an official class in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) before last weekend’s Ford Drive One Summer Drags VII at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, Butcher became the historic first winner in the class.
The Ohio native went 4.25 at 168.48 miles per hour, beating Charlie Whittenburg in a thrilling drag race that might have only been topped by Butcher’s exuberant celebration in the winner’s circle.
Nearly overcome with emotion, Butcher excitedly thanked everyone he could think of who contributed to the monumental victory.
Tim McAmis Performance Parts Sponsoring Top Sportsman Low Qualifier Program In ADRL
Courtesy of ADRL
O’FALLON, MO – New doors continue to be opened for Top Sportsman racers in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL).
The world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league announced on Monday that ADRL sponsor Tim McAmis Performance Parts will be offering a new Top Sportsman No. 1 Qualifier Program.
The low qualifier program will award the top qualifier in Top Sportsman $500 at each of the final five events during the 2011 season.
This exciting incentive will begin at this weekend’s Ford Drive One Summer Drags VII, which is the fifth of ninth stop on the 2011 ADRL Tour and takes place from U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich.
ADRL Releases Top Sportsman Class Rules
Courtesy of ADRL
O’FALLON, MO – The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) announced its official rulebook for the Top Sportsman class on Wednesday.
The full set of rules and regulations for the new Top Sportsman class can be downloaded at www.adrl.us/competition/rules or by clicking on the “Rules” dropdown under the “Competition” tab on the ADRL homepage, www.ADRL.us.
The ADRL earlier announced that it will add a full, 16-car qualifying field to its fast-paced racing program, starting with next week’s Ford Drive One Summer Drags VII, which takes place July 15-16 at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich.
“The Top Sportsman class and its rules have been well-established for a number of years and it was important that we adopted these rules and policies for our program. Driver safety is always our top concern,” ADRL Director of Technical Services Chris Bell said.
