ADRL Quote Sheet For CarSafe Dragpalooza VII Presented By LenMar Motorsports, March 25-26
O’FALLON, MO (March 23, 2011) – The following is a quote sheet from several American Drag Racing League (ADRL) competitors for possible preview stories before the first event of the 2011 ADRL Tour, CarSafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar Motorsports, which takes place March 25-26 at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas.
Houston-area native Frankie Taylor, the 2010 World Champion in Pro Extreme
His thoughts on defending his title
“I think we can put up some big numbers in 2011. It was pretty cool to go 3.59, but I think there’s more in the car. But there’s going to be some pretty impressive bumps in this class this year.”
His experience racing in Qatar in the Arabian Drag Racing League for the first time
“It was a wonderful experience and the people were so nice and gracious. Racing-wise, it was unbelievable. There was no easy win. The drivers and teams running in Pro Extreme are unbelievably strong.”
Houston-area native and Pro Extreme driver Joshua Hernandez
His thoughts for 2011
“We’ve been bridesmaids so many years, and this team really deserves a championship. We’re going to do our best to get those win lights. I’m absolutely pumped to go try to do it again this year.”
On how racing in Qatar helped him
“It’s good practice for you and your team, and it keeps you sharp. We’re going to be ready to go in Texas. I’m really excited to get started.”
Two-time Pro Extreme World Champion Jason Scruggs
Thoughts on the class and Taylor’s championship run
“Frankie really has his car and combination working, and he really put it all together last year. He’s the guy to beat right now.”
His plans to rebound in 2011
“I’m more motivated than ever. I’m going to work hard and see if we can win some races. That’s what we intend to do, but it’s just going to get tougher and tougher in this class. It’s not going to come easy. You’re going to have to run in the low 3.60s to win and it’s probably going to dip into the 3.50s.”
Pro Extreme driver J.R. Todd, who is making his ADRL debut stateside after a successful Top Fuel career
On his hopes for 2011 by teaming with PX driver Alex Hossler
“Hopefully we can pick up where we left off in Qatar here in the U.S.,” Todd said. “We’re going to run both cars and do whatever it takes. Just to qualify in the ADRL is going to be a tough chore, but I’m looking forward to racing with (Hossler) here in the states. We both work together well and that’s what it takes.”
Pro Extreme driver Alex Hossler, who finished second in the points in 2010
Hossler on the two-car team with J.R. Todd
“He’s super cool and he’s proven winner for sure,” Hossler said. “He’s already proven that in a door car. It’s always going to help (me) succeed being around people like that.”
His hopes for Baytown
“There’s a lot of good cars out there,” Hossler said. “It’s going to be real tough, but it’s going to be fun.”
Pro Nitrous driver Jim Halsey, who went a 3.79 in testing two weeks ago (the quickest recorded time in the U.S. in Pro Nitrous history)
That testing session
“We got everything together,” Halsey said. “We struggled last year and regrouped over the winter. We got our old team back together and I think that helped more than anything. The chemistry is back and we made a real good run.
“We’re looking forward to going to Houston.”
On what he expects out of the Pro Nitrous class
“I think this year has the potential to be the best field of Nitrous cars you’ve seen in a long time,” Halsey said. “It’s going to be a tough year for everyone. The wins are going to be more meaningful and everybody likes to be top dog.
“I’m looking for big numbers and I want to run them consistently. I want to qualify well, go rounds and win some races.”
Stan Allen, Pro Nitrous driver
His goals for 2011
“It’s simple: we want to win a Pro Nitrous Championship. That’s easy to say, but this a very humbling category.
“I’m a competitor and I’m not taking off work, sometimes for a week at a time, just to qualify in the middle of the pack. I want to win. We have the right people in place to be successful along with the best equipment on the market.”
Dan Millen, defending Extreme 10.5 World Champion and record-holder
His plans for the first race
“In all of my years of racing, I’ve never had a good showing right out of the gates,” Millen said. “I’ve always had to struggled and work up to racing well by mid-season and I don’t know why.
“Right now, it just feels like we’re in between races, so I’m ready to go. It would be really sweet if we can go out and do well the first half of the (2011 ADRL) season.”
His thoughts on the class:
“There’s a lot of guys who have the potential to run really well,” Millen said. “I definitely think it will be a fast field.”
John Montecalvo, Extreme Pro Stock World Champion
His thoughts on the ADRL points system now determining world champions
“I want to thank the ADRL for giving us more to run for this year with bigger payouts and a shootout as well as the points fund,” Montecalvo said. “The ADRL guys really try to take care of their racers, and I certainly appreciate it.”
His thoughts on defending the championship
“We all want to win,” Montecalvo said. “I’m looking forward to battling for the title and continuing to race in the ADRL.
“I feel like we’ll be a contender again, but I know there’s a lot of people nipping at my heels and they’re going to come out swinging.”
Pete Berner, Extreme Pro Stock driver
His thoughts on the ADRL points system now determining world champions
“We also appreciate the ADRL stepping up to increase the purse and implementing the points structure this year,” Berner said. “I think this is a great move on their part and gives us even more incentive to go fast.
“With a points fund and the Battle For The Belts shootout, the ADRL has really upped the ante. We race at some of the best tracks in the country in front of thousands of fans with intense competition. It just doesn’t get much better than that.”
Kim Morrell – 2010 Pro Extreme Motorcycle World Champion, first female champion in ADRL history
Her plans for 2011
“I have new goals now and I’m definitely going to come out stronger at the start of the season. I definitely want to get in that 3-second range, too,” Morrell said.
“I’m going to be even more determined and I think I’m stronger now than I’ve ever been.
“I went through a year (2009) of not qualifying to year (2010) of being the third qualifier consistently, and now my goal is to be a No. 1 qualifier, set a world record and run in the 3s. I’m ready to go right now.”
O’FALLON, MO (March 23, 2011) – The following is a quote sheet from several American Drag Racing League (ADRL) competitors for possible preview stories before the first event of the 2011 ADRL Tour, CarSafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar Motorsports, which takes place March 25-26 at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas.
Houston-area native Frankie Taylor, the 2010 World Champion in Pro Extreme
His thoughts on defending his title
“I think we can put up some big numbers in 2011. It was pretty cool to go 3.59, but I think there’s more in the car. But there’s going to be some pretty impressive bumps in this class this year.”
His experience racing in Qatar in the Arabian Drag Racing League for the first time
“It was a wonderful experience and the people were so nice and gracious. Racing-wise, it was unbelievable. There was no easy win. The drivers and teams running in Pro Extreme are unbelievably strong.”
Houston-area native and Pro Extreme driver Joshua Hernandez
His thoughts for 2011
“We’ve been bridesmaids so many years, and this team really deserves a championship. We’re going to do our best to get those win lights. I’m absolutely pumped to go try to do it again this year.”
On how racing in Qatar helped him
“It’s good practice for you and your team, and it keeps you sharp. We’re going to be ready to go in Texas. I’m really excited to get started.”
Two-time Pro Extreme World Champion Jason Scruggs
Thoughts on the class and Taylor’s championship run
“Frankie really has his car and combination working, and he really put it all together last year. He’s the guy to beat right now.”
His plans to rebound in 2011
“I’m more motivated than ever. I’m going to work hard and see if we can win some races. That’s what we intend to do, but it’s just going to get tougher and tougher in this class. It’s not going to come easy. You’re going to have to run in the low 3.60s to win and it’s probably going to dip into the 3.50s.”
Pro Extreme driver J.R. Todd, who is making his ADRL debut stateside after a successful Top Fuel career
On his hopes for 2011 by teaming with PX driver Alex Hossler
“Hopefully we can pick up where we left off in Qatar here in the U.S.,” Todd said. “We’re going to run both cars and do whatever it takes. Just to qualify in the ADRL is going to be a tough chore, but I’m looking forward to racing with (Hossler) here in the states. We both work together well and that’s what it takes.”
Pro Extreme driver Alex Hossler, who finished second in the points in 2010
Hossler on the two-car team with J.R. Todd
“He’s super cool and he’s proven winner for sure,” Hossler said. “He’s already proven that in a door car. It’s always going to help (me) succeed being around people like that.”
His hopes for Baytown
“There’s a lot of good cars out there,” Hossler said. “It’s going to be real tough, but it’s going to be fun.”
Pro Nitrous driver Jim Halsey, who went a 3.79 in testing two weeks ago (the quickest recorded time in the U.S. in Pro Nitrous history)
That testing session
“We got everything together,” Halsey said. “We struggled last year and regrouped over the winter. We got our old team back together and I think that helped more than anything. The chemistry is back and we made a real good run.
“We’re looking forward to going to Houston.”
On what he expects out of the Pro Nitrous class
“I think this year has the potential to be the best field of Nitrous cars you’ve seen in a long time,” Halsey said. “It’s going to be a tough year for everyone. The wins are going to be more meaningful and everybody likes to be top dog.
“I’m looking for big numbers and I want to run them consistently. I want to qualify well, go rounds and win some races.”
Stan Allen, Pro Nitrous driver
His goals for 2011
“It’s simple: we want to win a Pro Nitrous Championship. That’s easy to say, but this a very humbling category.
“I’m a competitor and I’m not taking off work, sometimes for a week at a time, just to qualify in the middle of the pack. I want to win. We have the right people in place to be successful along with the best equipment on the market.”
Dan Millen, defending Extreme 10.5 World Champion and record-holder
His plans for the first race
“In all of my years of racing, I’ve never had a good showing right out of the gates,” Millen said. “I’ve always had to struggled and work up to racing well by mid-season and I don’t know why.
“Right now, it just feels like we’re in between races, so I’m ready to go. It would be really sweet if we can go out and do well the first half of the (2011 ADRL) season.”
His thoughts on the class:
“There’s a lot of guys who have the potential to run really well,” Millen said. “I definitely think it will be a fast field.”
John Montecalvo, Extreme Pro Stock World Champion
His thoughts on the ADRL points system now determining world champions
“I want to thank the ADRL for giving us more to run for this year with bigger payouts and a shootout as well as the points fund,” Montecalvo said. “The ADRL guys really try to take care of their racers, and I certainly appreciate it.”
His thoughts on defending the championship
“We all want to win,” Montecalvo said. “I’m looking forward to battling for the title and continuing to race in the ADRL.
“I feel like we’ll be a contender again, but I know there’s a lot of people nipping at my heels and they’re going to come out swinging.”
Pete Berner, Extreme Pro Stock driver
His thoughts on the ADRL points system now determining world champions
“We also appreciate the ADRL stepping up to increase the purse and implementing the points structure this year,” Berner said. “I think this is a great move on their part and gives us even more incentive to go fast.
“With a points fund and the Battle For The Belts shootout, the ADRL has really upped the ante. We race at some of the best tracks in the country in front of thousands of fans with intense competition. It just doesn’t get much better than that.”
Kim Morrell – 2010 Pro Extreme Motorcycle World Champion, first female champion in ADRL history
Her plans for 2011
“I have new goals now and I’m definitely going to come out stronger at the start of the season. I definitely want to get in that 3-second range, too,” Morrell said.
“I’m going to be even more determined and I think I’m stronger now than I’ve ever been.
“I went through a year (2009) of not qualifying to year (2010) of being the third qualifier consistently, and now my goal is to be a No. 1 qualifier, set a world record and run in the 3s. I’m ready to go right now.”
