::: DRO ::: Race Coverage - ADRL at Hattiesburg

Michael Neal said his win over Critchley at the ADRL opener gave his team a great boost of confidence and they're looking forward to racing at all six ADRL events this year.

The Pro Nitrous final featured a pair of cagey veterans, but Smith had the clear performance advantage, being the only driver to run in the .20s all day (and he did it in each round). Pilcher said he knew he'd have to win it at the tree -- and that's exactly what happened. He left with a .040 light to the .093 by Smith and his 4.315 at 168.83 stood up to beat Smith's 4.266/173.44 combination.

Johnny Pilcher's 1963 Corvette carries the only Sonny Leonard-built, nitrous-injected Chevy "Hemi" in existence. In its first race outing the 737 c.i. powerplant propelled the Enterprise, AL-based racer to victory over Rickie Smith.

"I knew I had a good light, but it was so close neither one of us knew who won," Pilcher said. "I would never have dreamed it. To come in here green with a totally new engine is really something. I've got to give credit to Sonny Leonard, he gave us a piece that's a dream, something you can really work with."

"He sped up and I slowed down, it's as simple as that," Smith said. "I wasn't pushing the tree all day long and I just got beat that time. It happens."

SHOOTING GALLERY

Darren Mayer, crew chief for Troy Critchley's AMS Staff Leasing-sponsored Pro Mod, said their car has been in the shop three times over the winter for chassis changes at both ends. The front suspension mounting points were changed and the engine dropped about half an inch lower between the front frame rails, he said. "It's handling a lot better," Critchley said, "I can actually steer it now."

ADVERTISEMENT