ROCKINGHAM, NC (September 10, 2010 – It was a record-breaking day on Friday at Rockingham Dragway, as several drivers did their best to rewrite history at the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Simpson Dragstock VII.
None, however, did it better than Frankie Taylor, who re-established his place as the fastest man in the ADRL.
The “Madman” had hoped to become the first Pro Extreme driver to run in the 3.5s, and his bold prediction leading up to the race came true, as he went a blistering 3.596 at 210.64 miles per hour to jump to the No. 1 qualifying spot through three qualifying rounds on Friday.
“It felt good. To do it with the sun out was pretty cool,” Taylor said. “I wanted to be the first in the 50s, so that’s pretty cool, too. I’m very happy and this is pretty exciting.”
With a record-entry Pro Nitrous field that also became the quickest Pro Nitrous field in ADRL history (3.97), several other drivers stood out en route to qualifying in the top spot after one day.
In Pro Nitrous, Shannon Jenkins went 3.813 to climb to the top, while Dan Millen (3.882 in Extreme 10.5), Ashley Owens (4.022 in Pro Extreme Motorcycle), Brian Gahm (4.062 in Extreme Pro Stock) and Janna Vogler (Pro Junior Dragster) were all top qualifiers.
Jenkins, Millen and Owens all ran the quickest times in ADRL history in their respective classes and they will become world E.T. records if they can back it up on Saturday.
Taylor accomplished that by going 3.61 in his first pass. He topped that on a solo run on his next trip, bringing the huge crowd at Rockingham to its feet.
The only thing left for Taylor is picking up his third ADRL win.
“It’s just about winning (Saturday),” Taylor said. “If I go .61, .59 and .60 tomorrow and cut some good lights, I’ll be good.”
Joshua Hernandez went 3.65 to qualify second, while Jason Scruggs went 3.66 in his third pass to move to the third position.
Jenkins dropped to the No. 2 position momentarily after Jim Halsey went 3.84 in Pro Nitrous. But the “Iceman” responded like he usually does, going 3.813 at 198.38 mph to bump Halsey back to second. “I saw Jim go .84 and just said ‘Here we go.’ I just got mean with (the car),” Jenkins said.
After driving teammate Mike Castellana’s car to a win in St. Louis in August, Jenkins looked impressive in his own car, which was back in Jenkins’ hands for the first time after his crash in July.
The amazing thing is Jenkins thinks it has more potential for Saturday.
“It was soft on the clutch,” Jenkins said. “It would have gone .78 or .79 easy and probably 200 miles per hour, too. We’ll just have to get it tomorrow and save the best for last.”
Millen had a day to remember in Extreme 10.5, making three 3-second passes, the first of which made him the fifth and final member of the Mickey Thompson 3-Second Club.
The Al-Anabi Racing driver celebrated that moment, but then finished the day even better, going 3.882 at 203.09 mph to take the top qualifying spot.
“I wouldn’t care if it was three 4.00 runs or three in the 3s, we haven’t had this much success since we started racing this car. We’re very happy,” Millen said.
That last run was Millen’s first going more than 200 mph, but the current E.T. record – at least until Millen can back his up – goes to Chuck Ulsch, who went 3.90 at 202.97 mph to sit in second.
Five drivers (Millen, Ulsch, Gary White, Todd Moyer and Spiro Pappas) all had 3-second runs on Friday, but Ulsch and Millen could be on a collision course for the finals.
“I think things would work out nice if we can see him in the finals,” Ulsch said.
It wasn’t a record-setting field in Pro Extreme Motorcycle, but Owens did his best to wow everyone at Rockingham Dragway.
Making just the third pass on a new motor that debuted for this race, Owens and his Fast by Gast bike went 4.022 at 177.44 mph, which is currently .12 better than No. 2 and No. 3 qualifiers Terry Schweigert and Kim Morrell.
“I was happy with a 4.02, but I’m always trying to go a little better,” Owens said. “You always have to try to do a little better. I think there’s room for improvement.”
Owens went 4.07 during his second qualifying run and then blew everyone away – Paul Gast included – with his run of 4.02. He’ll try to back that up Saturday to re-set his world E.T. record, but a 3-second run might be possible.
“It’s possible, but we want to win first and foremost,” Gast said.
Gahm didn’t waste any time carrying over his momentum from winning the Hardee’s Gateway Drags III in August in Extreme Pro Stock.
On his first pass, the Ohio native made the top run of the day, going 4.06 at 175.89 mph. Gahm was certainly happy to have the No. 1 qualifying spot after Friday, but he was just as pleased with the consistency he displayed.
“It’s a good way to start. We made a good call and it seemed like it worked well,” Gahm said. “We actually made three good runs. The car is working really well.”
He’ll need that consistency in a field that is packed tightly, with Pete Berner right behind in No. 2 at 4.077. Cary Goforth follows in third (4.079), but Gahm will be focused for his second straight win.
“If we can be consistent like that, it’s going to be good for race day,” Gahm said. “We’ll go back, make some changes and decide if we want to step on it.”
Vogler became the top qualifier in PJD after posting a reaction time of 0.003. Ryan Crews is right behind at .004 and K.J. Nowling is third with a .005.
The fourth and final qualifying session for Simpson Dragstock VII begins at 11 a.m. at Rockingham Dragway, with the first round of eliminations set to begin at 3 p.m.
ABOUT THE ADRL
Based in O’Fallon, Missouri, the American Drag Racing League is the nation’s premier sanctioning body for the sport of eighth-mile drag racing. The professional categories featured in the ADRL are Extreme Pro Stock, Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme, the quickest doorslammer class in all of drag racing. The 2010 ADRL tour consists of 10 national events run throughout the United States. For more information on the ADRL, visit www.ADRL.us.
None, however, did it better than Frankie Taylor, who re-established his place as the fastest man in the ADRL.
The “Madman” had hoped to become the first Pro Extreme driver to run in the 3.5s, and his bold prediction leading up to the race came true, as he went a blistering 3.596 at 210.64 miles per hour to jump to the No. 1 qualifying spot through three qualifying rounds on Friday.
“It felt good. To do it with the sun out was pretty cool,” Taylor said. “I wanted to be the first in the 50s, so that’s pretty cool, too. I’m very happy and this is pretty exciting.”
With a record-entry Pro Nitrous field that also became the quickest Pro Nitrous field in ADRL history (3.97), several other drivers stood out en route to qualifying in the top spot after one day.
In Pro Nitrous, Shannon Jenkins went 3.813 to climb to the top, while Dan Millen (3.882 in Extreme 10.5), Ashley Owens (4.022 in Pro Extreme Motorcycle), Brian Gahm (4.062 in Extreme Pro Stock) and Janna Vogler (Pro Junior Dragster) were all top qualifiers.
Jenkins, Millen and Owens all ran the quickest times in ADRL history in their respective classes and they will become world E.T. records if they can back it up on Saturday.
Taylor accomplished that by going 3.61 in his first pass. He topped that on a solo run on his next trip, bringing the huge crowd at Rockingham to its feet.
The only thing left for Taylor is picking up his third ADRL win.
“It’s just about winning (Saturday),” Taylor said. “If I go .61, .59 and .60 tomorrow and cut some good lights, I’ll be good.”
Joshua Hernandez went 3.65 to qualify second, while Jason Scruggs went 3.66 in his third pass to move to the third position.
Jenkins dropped to the No. 2 position momentarily after Jim Halsey went 3.84 in Pro Nitrous. But the “Iceman” responded like he usually does, going 3.813 at 198.38 mph to bump Halsey back to second. “I saw Jim go .84 and just said ‘Here we go.’ I just got mean with (the car),” Jenkins said.
After driving teammate Mike Castellana’s car to a win in St. Louis in August, Jenkins looked impressive in his own car, which was back in Jenkins’ hands for the first time after his crash in July.
The amazing thing is Jenkins thinks it has more potential for Saturday.
“It was soft on the clutch,” Jenkins said. “It would have gone .78 or .79 easy and probably 200 miles per hour, too. We’ll just have to get it tomorrow and save the best for last.”
Millen had a day to remember in Extreme 10.5, making three 3-second passes, the first of which made him the fifth and final member of the Mickey Thompson 3-Second Club.
The Al-Anabi Racing driver celebrated that moment, but then finished the day even better, going 3.882 at 203.09 mph to take the top qualifying spot.
“I wouldn’t care if it was three 4.00 runs or three in the 3s, we haven’t had this much success since we started racing this car. We’re very happy,” Millen said.
That last run was Millen’s first going more than 200 mph, but the current E.T. record – at least until Millen can back his up – goes to Chuck Ulsch, who went 3.90 at 202.97 mph to sit in second.
Five drivers (Millen, Ulsch, Gary White, Todd Moyer and Spiro Pappas) all had 3-second runs on Friday, but Ulsch and Millen could be on a collision course for the finals.
“I think things would work out nice if we can see him in the finals,” Ulsch said.
It wasn’t a record-setting field in Pro Extreme Motorcycle, but Owens did his best to wow everyone at Rockingham Dragway.
Making just the third pass on a new motor that debuted for this race, Owens and his Fast by Gast bike went 4.022 at 177.44 mph, which is currently .12 better than No. 2 and No. 3 qualifiers Terry Schweigert and Kim Morrell.
“I was happy with a 4.02, but I’m always trying to go a little better,” Owens said. “You always have to try to do a little better. I think there’s room for improvement.”
Owens went 4.07 during his second qualifying run and then blew everyone away – Paul Gast included – with his run of 4.02. He’ll try to back that up Saturday to re-set his world E.T. record, but a 3-second run might be possible.
“It’s possible, but we want to win first and foremost,” Gast said.
Gahm didn’t waste any time carrying over his momentum from winning the Hardee’s Gateway Drags III in August in Extreme Pro Stock.
On his first pass, the Ohio native made the top run of the day, going 4.06 at 175.89 mph. Gahm was certainly happy to have the No. 1 qualifying spot after Friday, but he was just as pleased with the consistency he displayed.
“It’s a good way to start. We made a good call and it seemed like it worked well,” Gahm said. “We actually made three good runs. The car is working really well.”
He’ll need that consistency in a field that is packed tightly, with Pete Berner right behind in No. 2 at 4.077. Cary Goforth follows in third (4.079), but Gahm will be focused for his second straight win.
“If we can be consistent like that, it’s going to be good for race day,” Gahm said. “We’ll go back, make some changes and decide if we want to step on it.”
Vogler became the top qualifier in PJD after posting a reaction time of 0.003. Ryan Crews is right behind at .004 and K.J. Nowling is third with a .005.
The fourth and final qualifying session for Simpson Dragstock VII begins at 11 a.m. at Rockingham Dragway, with the first round of eliminations set to begin at 3 p.m.
ABOUT THE ADRL
Based in O’Fallon, Missouri, the American Drag Racing League is the nation’s premier sanctioning body for the sport of eighth-mile drag racing. The professional categories featured in the ADRL are Extreme Pro Stock, Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme, the quickest doorslammer class in all of drag racing. The 2010 ADRL tour consists of 10 national events run throughout the United States. For more information on the ADRL, visit www.ADRL.us.
