ADRL Season Lid-lifter = Multiple 1st Time Winners
The first race of the 2012 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) season proved fitting as the Houston-area event produced a number of firsts in the winner’s circle for CarSafe Dragpalooza VIII…..
Out of the nine eliminator winners, eight of them were first-time victors in their respective classes, adding an extra sense of excitement to what ended up as a splendid kick-off to the 2012 ADRL Tour.
Alex Hossler served as a veteran in the winner’s circle, winning for the fourth time in supercharged Pro Extreme category after he beat Von Smith in the finals.
Alex Hossler's team celebrates it's big P/X victory
That final round was however a weird one because after doing his burnout, Smith couldn’t get the car in reverse to get back to the starting line, handing the win to Hossler, who qualified No. 1 in a Tim McAmis Race Cars Camaro. Hossler staged the car and took the green before shutting off.
Hossler had been impressive earlier, delivering back-to-back runs in the 3.60s during the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds while driving the Al-Anabi Racing Chevy Camaro which is tuned by legendary crew chief, Frank Manzo.
Rickie Jones and Mike Castellana were victorious in the event’s other two “Pro Mod” orientated categories, Jones won the Pro Nitrous title (his first) while Castellana (previously a frequent circuit winner within the ADRL’s P/N class) prevailed to become the first winner for the ADRL’s new for 2012 (legal Pro Mod) division which is being presented by Aeromotive.
Both the P/N and P/M fields were 8-car qualified affairs.
Mike Castellana competed in both Pro Nitrous and Pro Modified class eliminators
The first-time winners list continued with Alan Pittman (Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5), Casey Stemper (Pro Extreme Motorcycle), John Pluchino (Extreme Pro Stock) and Marco Abruzzi (Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman) also taking victories.
Also picking up a historic victory was Bo Butner, who went 5.862 at 119.46 miles per hour to become the first winner in the revolutionary new SuperCar Showdown which made its debut. In an all-Ford final, Butner and his 2012 Mustang knocked off No. 1 qualifier Chris Holbrook to claim the victory.
| NAME | ET | MPH | CAREER WIN | |
| Pro Extreme P/X | ||||
| Win: | Alex Hossler | NTR | NSR | 1st |
| R/UP: | Von Smith | NTR | NSR | |
| Low ET: | Jason Scruggs | 3.653 | ||
| Top Speed: | Von Smith | 208.26 | ||
| Bump Spot (16-cars): | 3.831 | |||
| Pro Nitrous P/N | ||||
| Win: | Rickie Jones | 3.836 | 195.79 | 1st |
| R/UP: | Bob Rahaim | 4.039 | 155.49 | |
| Low ET: | Rickie Jones | 3.821 | ||
| Top Speed: | Rickie Jones | 197/45 | ||
| Bump Spot (8-cars): | 4.064 | |||
| Pro Modified (P/M) | ||||
| Win: | Mike Castellana | 3.978 | 192.58 | 1st (Inaugural) |
| R/UP: | Jeff Naiser | 8.525 | 51.56 | |
| Low ET: | Mike Castellana | 3.852 | ||
| Top Speed: | Mike Castellana | 197.31 | ||
| Bump Spot (8-cars): | 3.986 | |||
| Extreme Pro Stock Winner: | John Pluchino | 4.112 | 176.65 | |
| Pro Extreme M/C Winner: | Casey Stemper | 4.084 | 171.88 | |
| Extreme 10.5 Winner: | Alan Pittman | 4.045 | 192.88 | |
| Top Sportsman Winner: | Marco Abruzzi | 4.379 | 156.90 | |
| Super Car Showdown Winner: | Bo Butner | 5.862 | 119.46 |
The ADRL introduced it's all new SuperCar Showdown eliminator during Dragpalooza VIII
2nd generation driver Rickie Jones earned his first victory in Pro Nitrous
Photos by: Roger Richards
