[coverattach=1](6-15-09) Havre de Grace, MD - After rain ended the action in the semi finals of the ADRL Memphis Drags II on May 23, Jim Halsey was on a mission to double up in Martin, MI, with hopes of winning two national events in the same weekend. Halsey completed exactly half the goal before rain once again shortened the event at hand.
On Saturday afternoon - under touch and go weather conditions - the finals of the Memphis event were in fact completed at Martin, MI, in conjunction with qualifying for the ADRL Ford Drive one event, the fourth of a ten race roster on the American Drag Racing League's national event circuit. Winning on a hole shot, Halsey took down Khalid Al-Balooshi in a thrilling semi-final match up. On the final run of eliminations, Halsey motored past the 68 Camaro of Tim Savell. Shortly thereafter, rain set in for the rest of weekend in Martin. Halsey, who won an IHRA National Event in 2008 at this same facility has experienced great success at Martin, be it a race to the 660 foot mark or full 1/4 mile competition.
The next event on ADRL's schedule will once again be a race within a race, with the rain-shortened outcome of Martin set to unfold at Heartland Park in Topeka, KS on July 3-4. "I'm not looking forward to the travel involved, but I'm pumped about competing at Topeka, and with a goal of doing what we set out to do at Martin - win both events," says Halsey, who's collected a total of 4 national event titles within the ranks of Pro Nitrous.
After taking delivery of his state of the art outlaw Camaro from Tim McAmis Race Cars last December, Halsey has clocked a best of 3.89 in eliminations, while touching 3.84 in a test lap at South Georgia Motorsports Park earlier this year. "Some of the competition is finally catching up to me, so it's time for me to start turning up the heat," says Halsey.
Despite his comfortable lead in Pro Nitrous points, coupled with the fact that he's gone to every final this year in ADRL competition, rumors are swirling that Halsey has yet to show his hand in terms of what this purpose-built outlaw car is really capable of. "Some of my competition thinks I've been laying back a bit, and quite frankly, they're right," commented Halsey.
Even though the Pro Nitrous category is extremely competitive, Halsey's consistency has made him the run-away performer this season. With Topeka less than a month away, Halsey hopes to continue fine tuning the set-up and maybe even show a little bit more of his hand in Kansas. "I've got something in my back pocket, and I'm just about ready to show it," declared Halsey.
Jim Halsey wishes to thank:
Cathy Crouse
Eric Davis
Allen Lay
Richard Crouse
Gene Fulton
Tim McAmis
Patrick and Constance Smith
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