Cantusci Comes Close @ Concord

Eastern Ontario’s Gianni Cantusci almost made perfect on his trip down to North Carolina for last weekend’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at ZMax Dragway….. (continue reading…)

Nitro Nationals Innuendo

While the rumor mill has always been a rather unreliable source – I do like the chances for Canadian drag racing fans this coming summer….. (continue reading…)

EVENT ESSENTIALS:     VisitMyrtleBeach.com 4-Wide Nationals April 14-17^th, 2011   Concord, NC  

 NHRA 4-Wide Nationals – Version 2.0! 

Posted by: Michael Padian and Eric Lotz

Top Fuel driver Del Worsham nosed out Al-Anabi teammate Larry Dixon by four thousandths of a second to win the Second annual VisitMyrtleBeach.com NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway – April 17^th.

The other winners at the fourth of 22 races in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season were Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock).

Team Al-Anabi (near 2 lanes) dominated Top Fuel at Concord NC

Worsham gave up four thousandths to Dixon at the starting line (.064 to .068), but he was eighth-thousandths quicker than Dixon (3.813 at 3.821) on the track for a net win-margin of .0048, or about half a foot.  “I told (team manager) Alan (Johnson) it would be only a matter of inches … and it was,” said Worsham, who won for the second time this season and opened up a 77-point lead over Dixon in the Top Fuel point standings.

The Funny Car final was also a close finish with Beckman (4.120, 309.63) crossing the stripe in his Aaron’s Dodge Charger just in front of Bob Tasca’s Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang (4.137, 311.05) for his first win this year and 10th of his career.

Jack Beckman (near lane) won for the 10th time in his FC career

“Del talked about peaking too early. I’m not worried about that … I just want to peak,” said Beckman, who won for the first time in more than a year (Phoenix, 2010).

In Pro Stock, four-time and defending Series champion Anderson, from nearby Mooresville, N.C., chased down runner-up Greg Stanfield (6.559, 211.10) right at the stripe with a 6.556-second pass at 211.39 mph to win (by .005) for the first time this year.

North Carolina's own Greg Anderson scored in Pro Stock

“I love this race track and the best part of it is it’s home for me. Just a great, great day. I’m a very happy person,” said Anderson, who extended his NHRA-best streak of consecutive seasons with at least one win to 11.

Manzo Hits NHRA Win Milestone!

Sportsman drag racing action at Concord was highlighted by Frank Manzo who scored his 200 NHRA Drag Racing event win.

Manzo’s victory was his 92nd NHRA national event win to go along with his 108 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Divisional wins. 

Frank Manzo roared to his 200th (!) career win in TAFC

The Morganville, N.J., resident and Al-Anabi Team racer qualified #1 (5.447 secs/low ET) 1 and marched through eliminations meeting up with John Bojec, Chardon, Ohio, in the final of Top Alcohol Funny Car.  Manzo clocked in at 5.503 seconds, 265.48 mph to Bojec’s 5.585, 259.16 for the win and the trophy.

Manzo also set top speed for the TAFC category roaring to an incredible 265.90 mph.

Manzo, the current and 14-time NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series National Champion, picked up his first NHRA Wally trophy in 1980 at the SPORTSnationals event in Bowling Green where he won in the Pro Comp class over Mike Kosky.  Three decades and 200 wins later he sits on top of the all time NHRA winner list and does not appear to be slowing down.  Only nine drivers have more than 100 NHRA wins with Manzo leading the list at 200 followed by John Force at 132.

To view our event photo gallery click:  HERE                                            Photos by:  Dave DeAngelis

ADRL Lands Sponsor for first Northeast Venture

The first trip to the Northeast for the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) will also include a new partnership. 
The ADRL Teams Up With Penske Truck Leasing For Inaugural Northeast Drags At Maple Grove Raceway…..

(continue reading…)

New Twin-Turbos for DeJonge/Goddard TS Chevy

ADRL Safety-Kleen Spring Drags II – Juniper FL. (Apr. 15-16)

ADRL Invades Palm Beach Florida

By:  Josh Hachat

From start to finish, there was no stopping supercharged ’55 Nomad pilot Joey Martin.

In front of a massive overflow crowd at Palm Beach International Raceway, Martin and his fan favorite “Low-Mad” put together a string of incredible performances in Pro Extreme at the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Safety-Kleen Spring Drags II.

Joey Martin drove his fan favorite '55 Nomad to big win in P/X

He was the quickest car in every round, starting with Friday’s first qualifying session and ending with Saturday’s final, as Martin took the win with a 3.755 at 200.20 miles per hour to deny Jason Hamstra his second straight victory.

“I know I could do it,” Martin said. “I knew if I got my way, I could have a winning car.

“The last three rounds, we were thrashing.  It was a lot of drama. (Two-time PX World Champion) Jason and Mitchell (Scruggs) really helped us. They’re top-notch people.”

The ADRL’s first trip to Florida proved to be a rousing success as an incredible fan turnout made for a memorable atmosphere during Saturday’s eliminations.

Martin shared the last magic moment with the Pro Extreme win, but there were five others who savored a victory as well.

Mike Castellana’s 3.828 gave him the Pro Nitrous win against Burton Auxier, while Billy Glidden picked up his ADRL record 12th event win after a solo pass wrapped up a wild day in Extreme 10.5.

Great to see Mike Castellana back racing -- and in victory lane!

It was an emotional win for Castellana, who returned to racing this year after he was diagnosed with cancer last summer. After rigorous chemotherapy treatments removed the cancer, Castellana appeared to be as good as ever behind the wheel at PBIR.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling. It’s just great. Really, it’s hard to describe this right now,” Castellana said. “Shannon (Jenkins) and the crew gave me a great car and you win with the people behind you. They really make this happen.”

Pro Nitrous qualifying was highlighted by racer Mahana Al-Naemi who became the first PN car in ADRL history to reach the 3.70s.  Al-Naemi ran a magnificent 3.797 at 196.30 mph which stood up for Low ET of the event.

Mahana Al-Naemi ran a barrier breaking 3.797 to pace the P/N program

Ashley Owens stayed on Glidden’s heel, picking up his 11th career win in Pro Extreme Motorcycle with a 4.045 at 179.11 mph against Carlos Wilkerson.  Owens’ new Fast by Gast continues to dominate in Pro Extreme Motorcycle, capping off a record-breaking weekend with his latest commanding performance. Owens set the E.T. record on Friday (4.012), and followed that up with his second win of the 2011 season.

Pete Berner, meanwhile, exhaled deeply after finally earning his first ADRL win in Extreme Pro Stock following his 4.084 in the finals against Richie Stevens Jr.

Billy Glidden continued his winning ways in ADRL Pro 10.5 -- scoring for the 12th time in his career

In Pro Junior Dragster, J.C. Gloyd went 7.952 to knock off Kendall Thiesse.

The ADRL returns to action on May 6-7 with the Penske Truck Leasing Inaugural Northeast Drags, which takes place at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. It will be the ADRL’s first trip to Maple Grove.

The 2011 ADRL Tour consists of nine national events run throughout the United States. For more information on the ADRL, visit www.ADRL.us

Photos by: Roger Richards

Hoosier Tire Canada DOUBLES the #1 Qualifier Award in 2011 TNT Super Series…. (continue reading…)

Debut Date Set for new H.U.R.A. Series

The Heads Up Racing Association (H.U.R.A.), featuring Pro Modified 1/4 mile drag racing, will host their inaugural race at this year’s RPM Magazine/Lucas Oil Products Extreme Event in Grand Bend, Ontario!….. (continue reading…)