Drag Racing Online: The Magazine

THE REST OF THE STORY from the ADRL at Houston Words and photos by Bret Kepner 3/9/06 After being pounded by Mother Nature at their 2006 opener in Valdosta, GA, the ADRL reboundedwith the best event yet presented by the 17-month-old organization. With perfect weather, a massive crowd and a racing surface generally considered to be "too good" by the competitors, the Flowmaster Mufflers-backed series once again delivered the best bargain in drag racing. Friday's ten-hour test session, (still with an insane $10 spectator admission), offered the fans all but three of the 49 combined supercharged and nitrous combatants making multiple runs. Saturday's marathon qualifying and eliminations program was thought to be a six-round invitation to an early Sunday morning final but the Houston Motorsports Park crew and ADRL staffers were seen smiling during the winners' circle festivities at 9:50 PM! It should be noted that, at all remaining races beginning with the next ADRL stop at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, IL, an official qualifying session will be held after the Friday test period. With only two qualifying sessions afforded at HMP, the 16-car Pro Extreme field still boasted an incredible 4.07-second bump spot and eliminations provided more than a few upsets. Here, then, is the "Rest of the Story."

1. Joey Martin and crew chief Chuck Ford owned HMP, running under 4.00 on four of six efforts on Saturday while Ford alternated lanes throughout the race. While a second-round 3.937/185.34 over Thomas Patterson was quickest on race day, the Floridian pushed his ex-Troy Coughlin '67 Mustang to a 3.932/188.21 track record during Friday's test session.

2. Bil Clanton once again had all other crew chiefs scratching their heads by clocking seven consecutive 330-feet ETs under 2.60 seconds with a best of 2.582. The "Big Money" '53 Commander hit a 3.940/181.52 best on Friday followed by 3.940/181.09, 3.939/182.78, and 3.947/180.65 blasts on race day before losing a two-inch decision (0.0007-second win margin) against Josh Hernandez in the semis while melting several pistons. Joked the Georgian after the loss, "If I could just put my
330 together with Scruggs‚ back-half, then I'd REALLY have something!"

3. Ex-Wisconsin cop (and former Max Security Prison guard!) Mike Hojnacki thrilled the HMP fans with laps in his Dodge Intrepid "Police Interceptor" jet FC. Pro driver has remained on the road touring schools and tracks while also presenting youth seminars despite the passing of his wife, Joni, after an aneurysm in August of 2005. 

4. Jason Scruggs duplicated his Valdosta performance; the Mississippi farmer clocked insane numbers but was trailered before the final. An early shut-off 4.08/161 on Friday after multiple tire-shaking attempts led to a Saturday first-session qualifier of 3.96 at an incredible 192.39 mph,one of the six fastest eighth-mile doorslammer speeds ever. The second qualifier and first round were both aborted after more shake and no official records.

5. Seen here shutting down the engine and pulling the chutes with the front wheels still in the air(!), reigning ADRL Pro Extreme champ John Lynam gained a measure of revenge for his stunning DNQ at Valdosta by taking out Scruggs in the opening round at HMP before losing to Hernandez in the second round. Making the show in the final session, the John McGrady-owned "red car" ran 4.03 and a pair of 4.02's, but once again put up a big number on test day with a 3.96/184.96.

6. Chip King's "Exciting New Dodge Whatever" struggled to catch breaks buring eliminations. Forced to shut-off early on every pass except his tremendous 3.96/186.80 qualifier, King actually took the lead in his semi-final match with Joey Martin only to be forced to lift and let Martin back around for the win!

7. Although they missed the PX field by all of two thousandths of a second, the Kansas City-based Swearingen family's "rat rod Pro Mod" Willys AmeriCar was a hit. Unreal detail belies rust-bucket paint; young Travis drove it to a best of 4.07/179.81. 

8. Everybody's favorite PSI-blown small block doorslammer had a nightmarish weekend in Texas. Todd Tutterow unleashed a 3.98/185.64 during the Friday test but torched a head in the process. Overnighted parts got the Mustang into the field with 3.97/185.80 and 3.95/185.34 shots, but more damage on the second-round burnout against Chip King finally stopped the North Carolinian for good.

9. Houston Motorsports Park had as much personality as the drivers. The spectacular view afforded atop the massive twenty-row finish-line grandstand on "the Hill" produced a bizarre perspective including one captured of Grant Hensley's Fort Worth, TX, Pro Nitrous '95 Camaro on its way to a 4.26/175 best. 

10. Michael Neal wishes 2006 would end already. For the second event, the past ADRL event winner never unloaded his PX Olds-powered '92 Lumina on race day after a nasty fire from yet another engine explosion on a 4.09/179 Friday test pass.

11. After grenading two different cars at Valdosta, life got a bit better for Bubba Stanton at HMP; the Mississippian made the PX show with a 4.05/178 and ran 4.04/177 in a first-round loss to Todd Tutterow.