AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts Update: Event 3
O'FALLON, Mo. (May 8, 2007) - Joshua Hernandez and Johnny Pilcher not only won event titles last weekend at the Flowmaster American Drag Racing League's Camp Motorsports Georgia Drags, they also emerged as the big winners in the ADRL's AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts points competition.
With his win Saturday afternoon at the rain-delayed ADRL World Finals (which were completed at the Georgia Drags), Hernandez moved from third place to first in the Battle for the Belts Pro Extreme standings. Later that night, Pilcher claimed his second career ADRL title with a win over Rickie Smith in the Georgia Drags Pro Nitrous final to jump from fourth to first in the class' standings.
In Extreme 10.5, Rodney Rosenstiel reached the Georgia Drags semifinals and maintained his lead in the points chase.
The 2007 AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts eliminators, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 12 in Kennedale, Texas, will determine the ADRL's season champions. The top eight points-earners in each of the ADRL's professional classes at the completion of the ADRL Eastern Race Fuels DRAGSTOCK IV event (Sept. 14-15) automatically qualify for the championship eliminators. For a complete breakdown of how drivers earn points in ADRL competition, visit [ American Drag Racing League ].
Following is a look at the AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts competitions through three of eight events on the 2007 points-scoring calendar.
Pro Extreme
Moving up: Hernandez has a points lead of better than one full round after finally completing a long-delayed ADRL World Finals victory. Georgia Drags runner-up Travis Swearingen made the biggest move in the standings, jumping from a tie for 17th place to fifth. Event winner Joe Baker also made a big leap up the charts, landing in fourth place after entering the event in 12th.
The top eight: 1. Hernandez (992 points); 2. Mike Bell (868); 3. John Lynam (788); 4. Baker (663); 5. Swearingen (574); 6. Bubba Stanton (573); 7. Jason Scruggs (481); 8. Bobby Booth (473).
On the outside: World Finals runner-up Dwayne Watkins is in the ninth spot, just 10 points behind Booth. Behind Watkins, some of the class' traditional hitters will be looking to move up in the coming weeks, including Bil Clanton (11th place), Todd Tutterow (14th), Michael Neal (17th), and Quain Stott (21st).
Notable: The Pro Extreme class has had seven different winners in its last seven completed events. ... A total of 44 drivers have scored points thus far in the 2007 Battle for the Belts competition.
Pro Nitrous
Moving up: Like Hernandez, Pilcher's margin of comfort at the top of his class is better than one full round. Other big movers over the weekend were Terry Housley, who jumped from seventh to second after winning the World Finals title, and Dennis Radford, who parlayed a semifinals finish in the Georgia Drags into a six-spot improvement (12th to sixth).
The top eight: 1. Pilcher (981 points); 2. Housley (869); 3. Shannon Jenkins (782); 4. Thomas Myers (764); 5. Keith Baker (678); 6. Radford (676); 7. Charles Carpenter (671); 8. Burton Auxier (585).
On the outside: There's very little breathing room for the drivers at the top of the Pro Nitrous standings, as two of the class' legendary drivers are only a few points away from claiming a place in the top eight. Georgia Drags runner-up Rickie Smith sits in ninth place, just 12 points behind Auxier, while Harold Martin is a mere eight points behind Smith.
Notable: The fifth- through seventh-place drivers are separated by a total of seven points. ... Smith is 27th in the Pro Extreme standings after making his debut in that class at the Georgia Drags.
Extreme 10.5
Moving up: Just about everyone who competed in Valdosta is part of this category, as the class' ADRL debut earlier in the season featured only eight drivers. Georgia Drags winner Hill was the most noticeable newcomer to the top eight, going from zero points to second place overall in the space of one weekend.
The top eight: 1. Rosenstiel (663 points); 2. Hill (431); 3. Bill Jewett (354); 4. Tutterow (333); 5. Marcus Birt (329); 6. Mary Baltzell (232); 7. Joey Martin (229); 8. Steve Kirk Jr. (158).
On the outside: Former NHRA Pro Stock, Pro Stock Truck, and Comp driver Taylor Lastor made his Extreme 10.5 debut at the Georgia Drags. He is in 14th place in the class' standings, but only 32 points outside the top eight.
Notable: Despite the class having raced in one fewer event, and with not as many points available (three eliminations rounds as opposed to four), Rosenstiel has the biggest points lead of any ADRL driver. He is 232 points in front of Hill.
