Words and photos by Jeff Burk 10/20/05

he Kennedale, Texas event not only was the final race of the 2005 ADRL season and determined both the Pro Extreme Champ and the Pro Nitrous Champ, but, thanks to the unique format of the ADRL, it also became the first points race of the 2006 season. This Texas outlaw track was once owned by one of the most famous of all Texas track owners and doorslammer racers, Bill Hilscher. The atmosphere, history, and superior traction at the historic eighth-mile track delivered the style of racing that the ADRL’s outlaw doorslammer fans have come to expect: Three-second ET’s, upsets and no lift, no mercy drag racing.

Even before the first of the nearly 40 Outlaw Pro Mods made a lap there was a dose of controversy as about a half-dozen cars attempted to race without engine diapers, which is a violation of the only rules the ADRL enforces, safety rules. After the wailing and gnashing of teeth was over, racers begged, borrowed, or stole a diaper, and qualifying got started.

Before the first Outlaw ‘slammer went down the track there was a lot of anticipation by the ADRL staff of seeing the first three-second Pro Mod pass at the track. A little controversy ensued as the track management swore there had never been a sub-four-second pass while many of the fans and racers at the track swore that Jason Scruggs and his supercharged, small block AJ/Olds-powered Outlaw car had accomplished the feat a couple of years earlier recording a 3.99 lap. About a half-dozen or so pairs into the Friday night practice session John Lynam settled that argument and any question as to the quality of the track with a 3.95 lap. From that point on it was obvious that this race was going to live up to its advance billing.

In fact, there were no fewer than five sub-four-second Pro Extreme laps during the Friday night "Battle for the Belt" recorded by touring outlaws John Lynam and Bil Clanton.

PRO EXTREME

Frankie Taylor

For the hardcore racer and fan the real deal began on Saturday when a racer had to qualify to race; no one got in on past performance or reputation. The Saturday race was a go quick or go home quick-eight affair for Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous cars that the ADRL events are becoming famous for.

In the first round of Pro Extreme qualifying the only two Texas racers were in the quick-eight field. Gaylen Smith and his ’94 Camaro with a 4.04 and Aussie-turned-Texan, Troy Critchley, who had run his first 3.99 on a test lap Friday night but could only get a 4.07 from his ’93 ‘Vette in the heat of the afternoon.

South Carolina racer John Lynam thought he had the pole with his 3.975/185.31, but that lap was thrown out because he ran in the wrong lane. That put Toney Russell’s "Lomad" Nomad on the pole with a career best 4.015.

In the second round everyone stepped up as the track got even better. Critchley improved to a 4.060, but that was only good enough for second alternate. In the last qualifying round Lynam calmly shook off his previous mistake and ran yet another sub-four-second lap to get the pole with an even quicker 3.956/185.92. Russell again ran a career best with a 4.003 and Quain Stott improved to a 4.002. Bil Clanton sat on the bump with a 4.046 that he ran on a seven-cylinder piston burning lap.

Touring Pros other than Critchley who didn’t make the show included Frankie Taylor, Todd Bauknecht, and Herman “The Hermanator” Sheppard.

The first pair in eliminations delivered the closest race of the weekend when Mike Neal’s ’53 Studebaker ran a 3.999 to beat Eddie Ware's 4.000 timing. Lynam seemed unstoppable and he continued to pummel his opponents with a steady diet of threes, including a 3.94 lap against Neal in the semi-finals.

Quain Stott