AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts preview: Pro Nitrous
ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 10, 2007) - Runaway points leader Johnny Pilcher and defending ADRL world champion Keith Baker highlight the eight-car Pro Nitrous field for the Flowmaster American Drag Racing League's season-ending AlphaTrade Battle for the Belts competition Friday at Texas Motorplex.
Pilcher scored 2,498 points during the 2007 season, finishing roughly nine round-wins in front of No. 2 qualifier Doug Riesterer. Baker wound up third in the points standings, leading a tightly compressed group of drivers that included Charles Carpenter and Terry Housley. Those three finished within 69 points of one another.
Following is a look at each of the qualified Pro Nitrous drivers for the Battle for the Belts competition, ordered by points finish (2007 records include the 2006 ADRL World Finals). Any qualified driver who does not compete at this weekend's AlphaTrade ADRL World Finals will be replaced by the highest-ranked alternate at the event.
NO. 1 JOHNNY PILCHER (2,498 POINTS)
Best result: Winner, Valdosta and Huntsville
2007 record: 15-4
Career record: 28-16
Notable: Has qualified for every ADRL Pro Nitrous event ever contested (19) ... most eliminations rounds (44) and round-wins (28) in PN history.
NO. 2 DOUG RIESTERER (1,596)
Best result: Winner, Radford
2007 record: 9-4
Career record: 10-5
Notable: No. 1 qualifier at each of the last three ADRL national events.
NO. 3 KEITH BAKER (1,539)
Best result: Runner-up, Radford
2007 record: 7-5
Career record: 21-15
Notable: Defending Battle for the Belts Pro Nitrous champion ... one of three drivers in class history with 20 or more round-wins.
NO. 4 CHARLES CARPENTER (1,527)
Best result: Winner, Houston and Norwalk
2007 record: 8-3
Career record: 9-8
Notable: Prior best ADRL result was a semifinal finish early in the 2005 season.
NO. 5 TERRY HOUSLEY (1,518)
Best result: Winner, Kennedale (2006)
2007 record: 3-5
Career record: 17-10
Notable: Eventual winner of the 2006 ADRL World Finals, contested at three different facilities over a seven-month span.
NO. 6 THOMAS MYERS (1,328)
Best result: Runner-up, Houston
2007 record: 4-6
Career record: 4-11
Notable: Improved from a 22nd-place finish in 2006.
NO. 7 DENNIS RADFORD (1,315)
Best result: Semifinals, Valdosta and Huntsville
2007 record: 4-6
Career record: 7-9
Notable: First appearance in Battle for the Belts competition.
NO. 8 JAMIE HANCOCK (1,270)
Best result: Runner-up, Huntsville
2007 record: 7-5
Career record: 7-7
Notable: Secured final Belts spot with a semifinal finish at Dragstock IV in Rockingham.
Final points standings
1. Johnny Pilcher 2,498
2. Doug Riesterer 1,596
3. Keith Baker 1,539
4. C. Carpenter 1,527
5. Terry Housley 1,518
6. Thomas Myers 1,328
7. Dennis Radford 1,315
8. Jamie Hancock 1,270
9. Harold Martin 1,161
10. Greg Godwin 1,079
11. Stan Allen 1,030
12. Rod Houck 999
13. Shannon Jenkins 933
14. Jim Halsey 928
15. R. Weatherford 909
16. Billy Harper 900
17. Burton Auxier 825
18. Steve Vick 709
19. Mike Lockwood 642
20. Buzz Varner 466
21. Teddy Smith 356
22. Mike Castellana 307
23. James Hancock III 234
24. Tim Savell 227
25. Terry Murphy 226
26. Blake Housley 178
27. Ed Burnley 177
28. John Deflorian 136
29. Jarod Wenrick 126
30. Rex Kelley 125
