ADRL FLOWMASTER Racensur.com Sunshine Drags
by Marvin T. Smith
More Photos Added!
South Georgia Motorsports Park, August 19-20, 2005 -The ADRL brought back their exciting Pro Modified doorslammer action to South Georgia Motorsports Park for their second big event this year. A large crowd braved high heat and humidity to see fifty-one cars attempted to qualify for what surely must be one of the largest Pro Mod races ever held. The format for this event was somewhat unusual. There was a TLR AMS Pro Mod Challenge race as part of the series usually contested as an "exhibition" category at select National Hot Rod Association national events. Drivers were competing for a purse and series points. This category races a full quarter mile. Twenty-seven cars attempted to make the sixteen car field. There was also a Pro Extreme class for Outlaw Pro Mods that ran the one-eighth mile. Fourteen cars tried to qualify for the eight car field. Then there was the Pro Nitrous category limited to nitrous oxide-assisted pro mods which also raced on the one-eighth mile. Ten cars vied for the eight car field. This was an amazing event, with cars from as far away as California and Alberta, Canada.
After three rounds of qualifying, Troy Critchley led the AMS field with a fine 6.201 at 226. Nine cars ran in the 6.20s, with the final spot being secured by Terry Leggett at 6.400. Thomas Patterson ran a stunning (especially considering the conditions) 230.25 in his 41 Willys for what must be one of the fastest times ever recorded by a car using this body style.
The Pro Extreme field was led by John Lynam's Lil Red Vette at 3.995 185.59 which was amazing in the heat. Mike Neal, Bil Clanton, Jason Scruggs, Todd Bauknecht, Michael Neal, Herman Sheppard, and Toney Russell completed the field with the bump at 4.133.
Pro Nitrous was led by Shannon Jenkins at 4.10 182.18. Johnny Pilcher, Dan Parker, Keith Baker, James Hancock, Rex Kelley, Doug Patton, and Jerry Bridgforth completed the field with the bump at 4.371.
During qualifying, the rained out Belle Rose, Louisiana ADRL race was finished. South Georgia Motorsports Park has become the rain date capitol of the world, having just completed two rained out NHRA Division Two events two weeks ago. The Belle Rose winners at SGMP included John Lynam over Mike Neal in Don Stroud's Studebaker in Pro Extreme, and Shannon Jenkins over Keith Baker in Pro Nitrous. The AMS series was not contested at Belle Rose.
In SGMP AMS/TLR racing round one, Troy Critchley (6.30) beat Terry Leggett (6.57), Jay Payne (6.42) beat Mike Bell (6.35) on a big holeshot, Mike Ashley (6.29) beat Joey Martin (11.48), Troy Coughlin (6.29) beat Eddie Ware (6.39), Thomas Patterson (6.27) beat B. Seward in the ex-Roy Hill Mustang (6.33) and ran another 230 mph, Chip King beat Frankie Taylor with low e.t. of the round at 6.26, Josh Hernandez (6.29) beat Doug Palmer (6.47), and Kirk Kuhns (6.30) beat Glen Kerunsky. In round two, Payne (6.27) beat Critchley (6.32), Ashley (6.28) beat his teammate Coughlin (6.27) on a holeshot, Patterson beat Chip King on a holeshot (6.28 to 6.26), and Hernandez beat Kuhns (6.34/foul) with the round’s low e.t. of 6.22. In the semi-finals, Ashley beat Payne 6.23 to 6.24, and Hernandez beat Patterson 6.24 to 6.27. In the finals, Hernandez beat Ashley with a 6.20 228 to Mike’s 6.22 229. This event featured some of the best Pro Mod racing ever, with most runs in the 6.20s. Hernandez had been the runner-up in Pro Extreme at the June ADRL event, so he made up for it this time out.
Pro Extreme also had great racing all evening. In round one, Lynam (4.02) beat Russell (4.11), Scruggs (4.02) beat Bauknecht(4.21), Mike Neal ran 4.05 at 180 to beat Sheppard's 4.08,and Bil Clanton ran 4.05 to beat Michael Neal's 4.15. In Round Two, Lynam used a 4.005 to beat Scruggs' 4.23, and Mike Neal fouled away a fine 3.99 to lose to Bil Clanton's 4.04 at 176. In the finals, heavily favored John Lynam slipped to a 4.10 and lost to Bil Clanton's 4.05 175. Clanton owns South Georgia Motorsports Park this year, having also won the big June ADRL event. The Clanton team had a hard time, changing the rear end three times on the way to the winner's circle. They earned this win. Hats off to the Rome, Georgia group.
The Pro Nitrous cars put on a great show. In round one, Jenkins used a 4.10 to beat Bridgforth's 66 Shelby Rent-a-Racer at 4.37, Keith Baker ran 4.20 to beat Hancock's 4.24, Johnny Pilcher used a 4.17 to beat Patton's 4.29, and Dan Parker used a 4.19 to beat Kelley's 4.26. Top speed was set by Jenkins at 182. In the semi-finals, Jenkins ran a fine 4.08 182 to waste Keith Baker's troubled 4.40 at only 140. Parker ran a 4.14 at 177 to beat a very close Johnny Pilcher's 4.15 at 175. In the finals, heavily favored Shannon Jenkins lost on a holeshot to Dan Parker's 4.17 at 175. Jenkins ran his slowest time of the race at 4.15 179 in his losing effort. Parker is from Columbus, Georgia, so a second category went to a Georgia team.
Several turbo cars tried to qualify for the AMS race, including Mike Moran from Michigan, Annette Summer from South Carolina, and John Gullet from Florida. Although they failed to qualify, they put on a great show. Herman Sheppard's beautiful 68 Camaro was selected as the Best Appearing Car. His car was beautiful, but having Tiffany Furman back him up didn’t hurt either.
An eighth mile bracket race was also held in conjunction with the event. In Footbrake, Roger Kelly's yellow Camaro beat fouling Tony Holland in is Maverick. In Super Pro action, ChrisWeaver's Pinto beat fouling Roger Mann's Camaro after some strong dragsters bit the dust. Tiffany Furman completed her license and drove a dragster during the event.
This was easily the biggest Pro Mod event held this year to date. The cars, the stars, the track, the spectators, and the full moon were all in alignment. The ADRL brought in Brian Lohnes from New England Dragway, Epping, New Hampshire to do the announcing. His voice added much to the event. Kenny Nowling of the ADRL promised to return next year and to try to have a race date when it would not be quite as hot. You don’t want to miss any of the ADRL action. Check out Dragstock 2 in South Carolina later this fall.
More Photos Added!
South Georgia Motorsports Park, August 19-20, 2005 -The ADRL brought back their exciting Pro Modified doorslammer action to South Georgia Motorsports Park for their second big event this year. A large crowd braved high heat and humidity to see fifty-one cars attempted to qualify for what surely must be one of the largest Pro Mod races ever held. The format for this event was somewhat unusual. There was a TLR AMS Pro Mod Challenge race as part of the series usually contested as an "exhibition" category at select National Hot Rod Association national events. Drivers were competing for a purse and series points. This category races a full quarter mile. Twenty-seven cars attempted to make the sixteen car field. There was also a Pro Extreme class for Outlaw Pro Mods that ran the one-eighth mile. Fourteen cars tried to qualify for the eight car field. Then there was the Pro Nitrous category limited to nitrous oxide-assisted pro mods which also raced on the one-eighth mile. Ten cars vied for the eight car field. This was an amazing event, with cars from as far away as California and Alberta, Canada.
After three rounds of qualifying, Troy Critchley led the AMS field with a fine 6.201 at 226. Nine cars ran in the 6.20s, with the final spot being secured by Terry Leggett at 6.400. Thomas Patterson ran a stunning (especially considering the conditions) 230.25 in his 41 Willys for what must be one of the fastest times ever recorded by a car using this body style.
The Pro Extreme field was led by John Lynam's Lil Red Vette at 3.995 185.59 which was amazing in the heat. Mike Neal, Bil Clanton, Jason Scruggs, Todd Bauknecht, Michael Neal, Herman Sheppard, and Toney Russell completed the field with the bump at 4.133.
Pro Nitrous was led by Shannon Jenkins at 4.10 182.18. Johnny Pilcher, Dan Parker, Keith Baker, James Hancock, Rex Kelley, Doug Patton, and Jerry Bridgforth completed the field with the bump at 4.371.
During qualifying, the rained out Belle Rose, Louisiana ADRL race was finished. South Georgia Motorsports Park has become the rain date capitol of the world, having just completed two rained out NHRA Division Two events two weeks ago. The Belle Rose winners at SGMP included John Lynam over Mike Neal in Don Stroud's Studebaker in Pro Extreme, and Shannon Jenkins over Keith Baker in Pro Nitrous. The AMS series was not contested at Belle Rose.
In SGMP AMS/TLR racing round one, Troy Critchley (6.30) beat Terry Leggett (6.57), Jay Payne (6.42) beat Mike Bell (6.35) on a big holeshot, Mike Ashley (6.29) beat Joey Martin (11.48), Troy Coughlin (6.29) beat Eddie Ware (6.39), Thomas Patterson (6.27) beat B. Seward in the ex-Roy Hill Mustang (6.33) and ran another 230 mph, Chip King beat Frankie Taylor with low e.t. of the round at 6.26, Josh Hernandez (6.29) beat Doug Palmer (6.47), and Kirk Kuhns (6.30) beat Glen Kerunsky. In round two, Payne (6.27) beat Critchley (6.32), Ashley (6.28) beat his teammate Coughlin (6.27) on a holeshot, Patterson beat Chip King on a holeshot (6.28 to 6.26), and Hernandez beat Kuhns (6.34/foul) with the round’s low e.t. of 6.22. In the semi-finals, Ashley beat Payne 6.23 to 6.24, and Hernandez beat Patterson 6.24 to 6.27. In the finals, Hernandez beat Ashley with a 6.20 228 to Mike’s 6.22 229. This event featured some of the best Pro Mod racing ever, with most runs in the 6.20s. Hernandez had been the runner-up in Pro Extreme at the June ADRL event, so he made up for it this time out.
Pro Extreme also had great racing all evening. In round one, Lynam (4.02) beat Russell (4.11), Scruggs (4.02) beat Bauknecht(4.21), Mike Neal ran 4.05 at 180 to beat Sheppard's 4.08,and Bil Clanton ran 4.05 to beat Michael Neal's 4.15. In Round Two, Lynam used a 4.005 to beat Scruggs' 4.23, and Mike Neal fouled away a fine 3.99 to lose to Bil Clanton's 4.04 at 176. In the finals, heavily favored John Lynam slipped to a 4.10 and lost to Bil Clanton's 4.05 175. Clanton owns South Georgia Motorsports Park this year, having also won the big June ADRL event. The Clanton team had a hard time, changing the rear end three times on the way to the winner's circle. They earned this win. Hats off to the Rome, Georgia group.
The Pro Nitrous cars put on a great show. In round one, Jenkins used a 4.10 to beat Bridgforth's 66 Shelby Rent-a-Racer at 4.37, Keith Baker ran 4.20 to beat Hancock's 4.24, Johnny Pilcher used a 4.17 to beat Patton's 4.29, and Dan Parker used a 4.19 to beat Kelley's 4.26. Top speed was set by Jenkins at 182. In the semi-finals, Jenkins ran a fine 4.08 182 to waste Keith Baker's troubled 4.40 at only 140. Parker ran a 4.14 at 177 to beat a very close Johnny Pilcher's 4.15 at 175. In the finals, heavily favored Shannon Jenkins lost on a holeshot to Dan Parker's 4.17 at 175. Jenkins ran his slowest time of the race at 4.15 179 in his losing effort. Parker is from Columbus, Georgia, so a second category went to a Georgia team.
Several turbo cars tried to qualify for the AMS race, including Mike Moran from Michigan, Annette Summer from South Carolina, and John Gullet from Florida. Although they failed to qualify, they put on a great show. Herman Sheppard's beautiful 68 Camaro was selected as the Best Appearing Car. His car was beautiful, but having Tiffany Furman back him up didn’t hurt either.
An eighth mile bracket race was also held in conjunction with the event. In Footbrake, Roger Kelly's yellow Camaro beat fouling Tony Holland in is Maverick. In Super Pro action, ChrisWeaver's Pinto beat fouling Roger Mann's Camaro after some strong dragsters bit the dust. Tiffany Furman completed her license and drove a dragster during the event.
This was easily the biggest Pro Mod event held this year to date. The cars, the stars, the track, the spectators, and the full moon were all in alignment. The ADRL brought in Brian Lohnes from New England Dragway, Epping, New Hampshire to do the announcing. His voice added much to the event. Kenny Nowling of the ADRL promised to return next year and to try to have a race date when it would not be quite as hot. You don’t want to miss any of the ADRL action. Check out Dragstock 2 in South Carolina later this fall.
posted by David @ 2:32 AM
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