ADRL Dragpalooza at South Georgia Motorsports Park
by Marvin T. Smith
Photos
Kenny Nowling brought in the Flowmaster ADRL Dragpalooza Pro Modified race to South Georgia Motorsports Park May 20-22. This was no doubt the largest Pro Modified race ever in the state of Georgia with over three dozen pro mods in attendance.
Friday was a test and tune day. Things got off to a rough start when the first car out, Bennie McDonald's beautiful 53 Vette, got out of shape and hit the wall. Bennie was fine, but his car will need a trip to the chassis shop to fix a bent main frame rail and some front end parts. The event quickly returned to normal, and many outstanding runs were made. Best for the night was Todd Bauknecht's fine 3.98 at over 180 in his 63 Vette. Other impressive runs were made by Mel Eaves' nitro coupe (4.105), Roy Hill's late model Mustang, driven by Mike Bell (4.08 181), Josh Hernandez (4.10), Chip King (4.09), and Troy Critchley (4.10). Shannon Jenkins ran a fine 4.04 at 182.48 to excite the Nitrous lovers in his 68 Camaro, then came back and ran 4.04 in Mike Castellana's Western Beef car to prove he is the nitrous king. Georgia's Ellis Milner team broke a valve on a burnout and were out of the event.
On Saturday, three rounds of qualifying set the eight car fields in Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme. Pro Nitrous qualifying was led by Shannon Jenkins with an outstanding 4.02 which he would later better during eliminations. The final eight car field included Johnny Pilcher (4.10), Keith Baker (4.11), Charles Carpenter (4.12), Terry Housley (4.13), Patrick Doherty (4.13), James Hancock (4.15), and Ron Smith (4.17). Jenkins did not back up his time for the ADRL record, but Johnny Pilcher and Keith Baker swapped the record back and forth. First Pilcher set the record at 4.116, the Baker lowered it to 4.110, and Pilcher came back to reset it with a 4.109.
Pro Extreme qualifying was led by Rome, Georgia's Bil Clanton with a fine 3.975 181. Bil waited until the final qualifying session to get in the field, after hitting the top end lights in a previous attempt. Eddie Ware (3.979), Todd Bauknecht (3.987), John Lynam (3.988), Perry Herring (4.009), Mike Neal (4.02), Josh Hernandez (4.022), and Shannon Jenkins (4.030) made up the field. Fifteen cars ran under 4.10. The 4.030 bump spot was the quickest ever for an ADRL event. Shannon Jenkins was running the Mike Castellana Western Beef nitrous car in Pro Extreme. All the other cars were blown. Eddie Ware's 3.979 was backed up for the ADRL record, but it wouldn't stand.
Eliminations were fantastic. In Pro Nitrous, Shannon Jenkins showed his mastery, running 4.02, 4.017, and a final 4.007 184.42 which became the new ADRL Pro Nitrous record. Earlier record swappers Pilcher and Baker ran well and would have met in the semis, but Pilcher broke allowing Baker to single to the final. Baker's game 4.08 just was not enough for Jenkins this time. Everyone was holding their breath every time Shannon ran hoping to see the first Nitrous 3 second run, but it was not to be.
Pro Extreme was exactly that! In round one, Bil Clanton ran a 3.970 to take out Shannon Jenkin's fine 4.007 in the nitrous Western Beef entry, again just missing the first nitrous car in the 3s. Clanton's 3.970 became the new ADRL Pro Extreme record, taking it away from Eddie Ware's psychedelic '41 Willys. Other round one action saw John Lynam (4.12) take out Perry Herring (4.61), Josh Hernandez (3.972) take out Eddie Ware (7.41), and Todd Bauknecht (4.19) take out Mike Neal's 4.31. In Round 2, Clanton's 3.975 took out Lynam's 4.17, and Josh Hernandez' 3.996 took out Todd Bauknecht's 4.02. Everyone was ready for the big finale, but unfortunately the tree malfunctioned. Due to an 11:00 PM curfew for the track, the final would be run on Sunday during the first round of the team event.
There was also a B&M Hedman Hedders $5000 bracket race on Saturday and Sunday with the expected large fields. Saturday's winner was Doug Simmons in a beautiful Camaro. Simmons used a 5.611 (5.60 dial in) to beat Jack Ivey who broke out with a 7.436 on a 7.44 dial in. On Sunday, Mark Padgett ran a 6.36 on his 6.34 dial to beat Jack Ivey's 7.483 on his 7.45 dial.
On Sunday, the event format changed to a team challenge. The AMS Allstars (cars that run in the AMS Pro Modified "exhibitions" at NHRA national events) would race the Outlaw Pro Mods. Eleven cars with the best elapsed times from Saturday made up each team. Three rounds of eliminations would determine team champions. Each win scored a point for the team, and low elapsed time and top speed of each round added a point each. Cars were paired by elapsed time (No. 1 AMS ran No. 1 Outlaw, down to No. 11 running No. 11). Pairings for rounds two and three were based on elapsed times from the previous round. There was a break rule in effect, and alternates were placed in the field as needed.
In round 1, Terry Neal (O) beat Terry Housley (AMS), James Hancock (O) beat Mel Eaves (AMS), Patrick Doherty (O) beat Chip King (AMS), Charles Carpenter (O) beat Troy Critchely (AMS), Mike Bell (AMS) beat Keith Baker (O), Tommy Gray (AMS) beat Johnny Pilcher (O), Hugh Scott (O) beat Thomas Patterson (AMS), Mike Neal (O) beat Eddie Ware (AMS), Shannon Jenkins (AMS) beat John Lynam (O), and Perry Herring (AMS) beat Todd Bauknecht (O). The final race in Round 1 was the delayed final of Pro Extreme from Saturday night. Bil Clanton used a 4.022 178 to beat Josh Hernandez' troubled 8.44. The crowd went wild! Clanton's win also added two points (low et and a win) to the Outlaw's score. At the end of round one, the Outlaws led by a wide margin.
In round 2, John Lynam ran an outstanding 3.939 185.28 (track temperature over 130 and adjusted altitude near 3000 ft) to beat Thomas Patterson, Josh Hernandez singled when Hugh Scott broke, Todd Bauknecht narrowly defeated Troy Critchley, James Hancock beat Chip King, Charles Carpenter beat Mel Eaves, Patrick Doherty beat Terry Housley, Keith Baker (4.14) beat Mike Bell (4.16), John Gullett (turbo Mustang brought in with the break rule) beat Perry Herring, Michael Neal beat a breaking Shannon Jenkins, Mike Neal (4.06) took out Tommy Gray (4.31), and Bil Clanton (4.58) took out Eddie Ware's 4.74. This match of the record holders was a wild affair with both cars having tire shake. Clanton's parachutes shook out but he kept his foot in it and won anyway as Ware's extra 12 mph wasn't enough to chase down Clanton at the finish. In round two, the Flowmaster Outlaws gained enough points to win the team challenge over the AMS team. But this is the ADRL, and they put on quite a show!
Round three would be run for the fans and to give the AMS team a chance to regain some respect.In Round 3, Jenkins beat Hugh Scott, 4.62 to 4.68. Michael Neal ran a 4.13 to beat a troubled Terry Housley, James Hancock (4.24) beat Thomas Patterson, Todd Bauknecht ran a 4.29 single, Bil Clanton (4.01) took out Perry Herring, John Gullett got his turbo Mustang thumping with a 4.26 win over Eddie Ware, Troy Critchley (4.13) beat Charles Carpenter (4.21), Patrick Doherty took at 4.16 single, Keith Baker (4.14) beat Josh Hernandez (4.15), Mike Neal (4.04) beat Mel Eaves (7.33), and John Lynam (3.942 185.92!!) beat Mike Bell (4.82). The final team challenge score was Flowmaster Outlaws 31 to AMS Allstars 8. OUTLAWS RULE!
This was an outstanding event enjoyed by everyone. Both Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous records were set at the event. In case you are wondering, Bil Clanton kept the Pro Extreme e.t. record at 3.970. John Lynam's outstanding runs on Sunday didn't count for the record, as ADRL record procedures only recognize Saturday times. Lynam did leave with the Pro Extreme mph record at 185.66. Shannon Jenkins' fine 4.007 and 184.42 are the official Pro Nitrous records. The ADRL series will return with more Pro Mod Madness in August. Don't miss this one!
Photos
Kenny Nowling brought in the Flowmaster ADRL Dragpalooza Pro Modified race to South Georgia Motorsports Park May 20-22. This was no doubt the largest Pro Modified race ever in the state of Georgia with over three dozen pro mods in attendance.
Friday was a test and tune day. Things got off to a rough start when the first car out, Bennie McDonald's beautiful 53 Vette, got out of shape and hit the wall. Bennie was fine, but his car will need a trip to the chassis shop to fix a bent main frame rail and some front end parts. The event quickly returned to normal, and many outstanding runs were made. Best for the night was Todd Bauknecht's fine 3.98 at over 180 in his 63 Vette. Other impressive runs were made by Mel Eaves' nitro coupe (4.105), Roy Hill's late model Mustang, driven by Mike Bell (4.08 181), Josh Hernandez (4.10), Chip King (4.09), and Troy Critchley (4.10). Shannon Jenkins ran a fine 4.04 at 182.48 to excite the Nitrous lovers in his 68 Camaro, then came back and ran 4.04 in Mike Castellana's Western Beef car to prove he is the nitrous king. Georgia's Ellis Milner team broke a valve on a burnout and were out of the event.
On Saturday, three rounds of qualifying set the eight car fields in Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme. Pro Nitrous qualifying was led by Shannon Jenkins with an outstanding 4.02 which he would later better during eliminations. The final eight car field included Johnny Pilcher (4.10), Keith Baker (4.11), Charles Carpenter (4.12), Terry Housley (4.13), Patrick Doherty (4.13), James Hancock (4.15), and Ron Smith (4.17). Jenkins did not back up his time for the ADRL record, but Johnny Pilcher and Keith Baker swapped the record back and forth. First Pilcher set the record at 4.116, the Baker lowered it to 4.110, and Pilcher came back to reset it with a 4.109.
Pro Extreme qualifying was led by Rome, Georgia's Bil Clanton with a fine 3.975 181. Bil waited until the final qualifying session to get in the field, after hitting the top end lights in a previous attempt. Eddie Ware (3.979), Todd Bauknecht (3.987), John Lynam (3.988), Perry Herring (4.009), Mike Neal (4.02), Josh Hernandez (4.022), and Shannon Jenkins (4.030) made up the field. Fifteen cars ran under 4.10. The 4.030 bump spot was the quickest ever for an ADRL event. Shannon Jenkins was running the Mike Castellana Western Beef nitrous car in Pro Extreme. All the other cars were blown. Eddie Ware's 3.979 was backed up for the ADRL record, but it wouldn't stand.
Eliminations were fantastic. In Pro Nitrous, Shannon Jenkins showed his mastery, running 4.02, 4.017, and a final 4.007 184.42 which became the new ADRL Pro Nitrous record. Earlier record swappers Pilcher and Baker ran well and would have met in the semis, but Pilcher broke allowing Baker to single to the final. Baker's game 4.08 just was not enough for Jenkins this time. Everyone was holding their breath every time Shannon ran hoping to see the first Nitrous 3 second run, but it was not to be.
Pro Extreme was exactly that! In round one, Bil Clanton ran a 3.970 to take out Shannon Jenkin's fine 4.007 in the nitrous Western Beef entry, again just missing the first nitrous car in the 3s. Clanton's 3.970 became the new ADRL Pro Extreme record, taking it away from Eddie Ware's psychedelic '41 Willys. Other round one action saw John Lynam (4.12) take out Perry Herring (4.61), Josh Hernandez (3.972) take out Eddie Ware (7.41), and Todd Bauknecht (4.19) take out Mike Neal's 4.31. In Round 2, Clanton's 3.975 took out Lynam's 4.17, and Josh Hernandez' 3.996 took out Todd Bauknecht's 4.02. Everyone was ready for the big finale, but unfortunately the tree malfunctioned. Due to an 11:00 PM curfew for the track, the final would be run on Sunday during the first round of the team event.
There was also a B&M Hedman Hedders $5000 bracket race on Saturday and Sunday with the expected large fields. Saturday's winner was Doug Simmons in a beautiful Camaro. Simmons used a 5.611 (5.60 dial in) to beat Jack Ivey who broke out with a 7.436 on a 7.44 dial in. On Sunday, Mark Padgett ran a 6.36 on his 6.34 dial to beat Jack Ivey's 7.483 on his 7.45 dial.
On Sunday, the event format changed to a team challenge. The AMS Allstars (cars that run in the AMS Pro Modified "exhibitions" at NHRA national events) would race the Outlaw Pro Mods. Eleven cars with the best elapsed times from Saturday made up each team. Three rounds of eliminations would determine team champions. Each win scored a point for the team, and low elapsed time and top speed of each round added a point each. Cars were paired by elapsed time (No. 1 AMS ran No. 1 Outlaw, down to No. 11 running No. 11). Pairings for rounds two and three were based on elapsed times from the previous round. There was a break rule in effect, and alternates were placed in the field as needed.
In round 1, Terry Neal (O) beat Terry Housley (AMS), James Hancock (O) beat Mel Eaves (AMS), Patrick Doherty (O) beat Chip King (AMS), Charles Carpenter (O) beat Troy Critchely (AMS), Mike Bell (AMS) beat Keith Baker (O), Tommy Gray (AMS) beat Johnny Pilcher (O), Hugh Scott (O) beat Thomas Patterson (AMS), Mike Neal (O) beat Eddie Ware (AMS), Shannon Jenkins (AMS) beat John Lynam (O), and Perry Herring (AMS) beat Todd Bauknecht (O). The final race in Round 1 was the delayed final of Pro Extreme from Saturday night. Bil Clanton used a 4.022 178 to beat Josh Hernandez' troubled 8.44. The crowd went wild! Clanton's win also added two points (low et and a win) to the Outlaw's score. At the end of round one, the Outlaws led by a wide margin.
In round 2, John Lynam ran an outstanding 3.939 185.28 (track temperature over 130 and adjusted altitude near 3000 ft) to beat Thomas Patterson, Josh Hernandez singled when Hugh Scott broke, Todd Bauknecht narrowly defeated Troy Critchley, James Hancock beat Chip King, Charles Carpenter beat Mel Eaves, Patrick Doherty beat Terry Housley, Keith Baker (4.14) beat Mike Bell (4.16), John Gullett (turbo Mustang brought in with the break rule) beat Perry Herring, Michael Neal beat a breaking Shannon Jenkins, Mike Neal (4.06) took out Tommy Gray (4.31), and Bil Clanton (4.58) took out Eddie Ware's 4.74. This match of the record holders was a wild affair with both cars having tire shake. Clanton's parachutes shook out but he kept his foot in it and won anyway as Ware's extra 12 mph wasn't enough to chase down Clanton at the finish. In round two, the Flowmaster Outlaws gained enough points to win the team challenge over the AMS team. But this is the ADRL, and they put on quite a show!
Round three would be run for the fans and to give the AMS team a chance to regain some respect.In Round 3, Jenkins beat Hugh Scott, 4.62 to 4.68. Michael Neal ran a 4.13 to beat a troubled Terry Housley, James Hancock (4.24) beat Thomas Patterson, Todd Bauknecht ran a 4.29 single, Bil Clanton (4.01) took out Perry Herring, John Gullett got his turbo Mustang thumping with a 4.26 win over Eddie Ware, Troy Critchley (4.13) beat Charles Carpenter (4.21), Patrick Doherty took at 4.16 single, Keith Baker (4.14) beat Josh Hernandez (4.15), Mike Neal (4.04) beat Mel Eaves (7.33), and John Lynam (3.942 185.92!!) beat Mike Bell (4.82). The final team challenge score was Flowmaster Outlaws 31 to AMS Allstars 8. OUTLAWS RULE!
This was an outstanding event enjoyed by everyone. Both Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous records were set at the event. In case you are wondering, Bil Clanton kept the Pro Extreme e.t. record at 3.970. John Lynam's outstanding runs on Sunday didn't count for the record, as ADRL record procedures only recognize Saturday times. Lynam did leave with the Pro Extreme mph record at 185.66. Shannon Jenkins' fine 4.007 and 184.42 are the official Pro Nitrous records. The ADRL series will return with more Pro Mod Madness in August. Don't miss this one!
posted by David @ 3:32 PM
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