Eastern Race Fuels DRAGSTOCK III Notebook
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (Sept. 14, 2006) - Notes, including scenarios for the Battle for the Belts championship eliminators, from the FLOWMASTER American Drag Racing League's Eastern Race Fuels DRAGSTOCK III event, which begins Friday at Rockingham Dragway:
Pro 10.5 entry list
The ADRL offices received more than 20 entry requests for the Pro 10.5 competition at DRAGSTOCK III. The class is expected to join Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous as the ADRL's third points-earning category in 2007. The entries for the DRAGSTOCK III Pro 10.5 competition, in alphabetic order:
Jack Barfield, Marcus Birt, Tony Bolt, Brad Brand, Jared Brunner, Bobby Cole, Danny Cook, Mike Donnahue, Harold Galtney, Rob Hale, Scott Hartley, Mike Hill, Keith Jackson, Tommy Kelly, Steve Kirk Jr., Tim Lynch, Stacy McIntyre, Craig Miller, Alan Mullins, Jeff Naiser, Michael Robinson, and Lance Styck.
DRAGSTOCK III grand marshals
As befitting the ADRL's largest and oldest event, DRAGSTOCK III will feature three grand marshals: Wendy Stallings, president of Eastern Race Fuels; Reggie Fountain of Fountain Powerboats; and legendary drag racing announcer and television personality Dave McClelland.
Battle for the Belts scenarios
DRAGSTOCK III will determine the eight-car fields for the ADRL's second annual Battle for the Belts competition, the season-ending eliminators in both Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous that will decide the 2006 ADRL world champions. Only the top eight points-earners in each class at the conclusion of DRAGSTOCK III are guaranteed a spot in their respective fields.
The Battle for the Belts will be held in Kennedale, Texas, in October, which will be the last of the seven events on the 2006 schedule.
Heading into DRAGSTOCK III, a number of drivers have managed to clinch Battle for the Belts spots in either Pro Extreme or Pro Nitrous, and a number of others could secure an invitation with a strong performance in Rockingham. Following is a breakdown of each class' major contenders:
Pro Extreme
Clinched: Mike Neal (1,564 points), Bil Clanton (1,473), John Lynam (1,436), and Jason Scruggs (1,370). The first three drivers have clinched mathematically; Scruggs is in because no combination of events in Rockingham could push him lower than eighth place.
99-percent clinched: Quain Stott (1,244). Stott will clinch the minute either Todd Tutterow or Thomas Patterson loses in eliminations or DNQs.
Looking good: Joshua Hernandez (1,154) and Joey Martin (1,051): These are the only other drivers over 1,000 points and both have a significant advantage of 300-plus points over ninth-place Patterson.
Could use some help: Tutterow (735), Patterson (719), Troy Critchley (718), Todd Bauknecht (620), and Toney Russell (619). For this group of drivers, on-track performance in Rockingham will be the difference between attending the Kennedale race to run in the Battle for the Belts or to run in the regular Pro Extreme eliminator the next night.
Pro Nitrous
Clinched: Keith Baker (1,558), Terry Housley (1,437), Burton Auxier (1,362), and Johnny Pilcher (1,258). Baker, Housley, and Auxier all have event wins under their belts; Pilcher is the class' most consistent qualifier.
Could use some help: Rex Kelley, James Hancock, Shannon Jenkins, Tutterow, Mike Castellana, Harold Martin, Ken Thomas (all between 851and 715 points). There is no "looking good" category for Pro Nitrous, as nothing beyond the drivers already in the show can be predicted with any certainty. A mere 136 points separates these seven drivers, at least three of whom will not be qualifying to run for the ADRL Pro Nitrous championship.
