Battle for the Belts Will Determine New ADRL Pro Nitrous Champion
KENNEDALE, Texas (Oct. 9, 2006) - Only one thing will be certain when the FLOWMASTER American Drag Racing League's Battle for the Belts championship eliminators get under way Friday night at the GetWorkComp.com World Finals: a new ADRL Pro Nitrous world champion will be crowned.
With 2005 ADRL Pro Nitrous champion Dan Parker not qualifying for the Battle for the Belts competition, a first-time winner is guaranteed to come from the field of eight qualified drivers. That group includes 2006 points leader Keith Baker, 2005 Battle for the Belts runner-up Rex Kelley, former IHRA Pro Modified champion Shannon Jenkins, and fuel-injection wizard Harold Martin. The three-round, single-elimination battle for the ADRL Pro Nitrous title begins at 8:30 p.m. local time Friday at Texas Raceway.
Following is a look at each driver in the Pro Nitrous field, in order of placement in the final 2006 ADRL Pro Nitrous points standings (2006 records include 2005 Kennedale event):
NO. 1 KEITH BAKER (1,660 POINTS)
Best result: Winner, Kennedale (2005)
2006 record: 9-6
Career record: 14-9
Notable: Won the regular Pro Nitrous eliminator at last year's
Kennedale event, which counted toward 2006 points standings. .... Has
qualified for seven straight eliminators; overall, has participated
in 10 of the 12 Pro Nitrous eliminators in ADRL history.
NO. 2 TERRY HOUSLEY (1,437 POINTS)
Best result: Winner, Huntsville
2006 record: 10-3
Career record: 10-4
Notable: Defeated Baker at Huntsville in his first ADRL final-round
appearance. ... Opened the 2006 season with three straight semifinal
finishes.
NO. 3 BURTON AUXIER (1,362 POINTS)
Best result: Winner, Madison
2006 record: 8-4
Career record: same
Notable: Won at least one eliminations round in first four events of
2006.
NO. 4 JOHNNY PILCHER (1,362 POINTS)
Best result: Runner-up, Houston
2006 record: 5-6
Career record: 13-11
Notable: Only driver to qualify for all 12 ADRL Pro Nitrous
eliminators held to date. ... Had five consecutive semifinal results
during the 2005 season.
NO. 5 SHANNON JENKINS (1,353 POINTS)
Best result: Winner, Rockingham
2006 record: 7-3
Career record: 18-5
Notable: Four event wins and 18 round-wins are most of any Pro
Nitrous driver. ... ADRL record-holder for elapsed time (3.992
seconds).
NO. 6 JAMES HANCOCK III (1,249 POINTS)
Best result: runner-up, Rockingham
2006 record: 6-6
Career record: 8-10
Notable: Qualified for all six events held in 2006.
NO. 7 REX KELLEY (851 POINTS)
Best result: Semifinals, Huntsville
2006 record: 2-5
Career record: 2-7
Notable: Lost to Dan Parker in 2005 Battle for the Belts final round.
NO. 8 HAROLD MARTIN (728 POINTS)
Best result: Winner, Valdosta
2006 record: 4-2
Career record: same
Notable: An event-winner in his ADRL career debut ... Qualified as
alternate for the 2006 Belts eliminator, replacing Todd Tutterow.
FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS
1. Keith Baker vs.
8. Harold Martin
4. Johnny Pilcher vs.
5. Shannon Jenkins
3. Burton Auxier vs.
6. James Hancock III
2. Terry Housley vs.
7. Rex Kelley
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Keith Baker 1,660
2. Terry Housley 1,437
3. Burton Auxier 1,362
Johnny Pilcher 1,362
5. Shannon Jenkins 1,353
6. James Hancock 1,249
7. Rex Kelley 851
8. Todd Tutterow 836
9. Rickie Smith 818
10. R. Weatherford 757
11. Mike Castellana 736
12. Harold Martin 728
13. Ken Thomas 715
14. Steve Vick 622
15. Pat Stoken 436
16. Aaron Hodges 427
17. Dan Parker 425
18. Dennis Radford 424
19. Stan Allen 415
20. Billy Harper 404
21. C. Carpenter 317
22. Dave Roemer 310
John Deflorian 310
Thomas Meyers 310
25. Sonny Tindal 303
