ADRL Lemar Motorsports World Finals – October 22^nd, 2010  Dallas Texas

“Battle for the Belts” Final Results

World Champions Crowned During ADRL World Finals VI

By:  Josh Hachat

Frankie Taylor had waited several long years in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) for a moment like this.  With the belt wrapped around his waist after winning his first ADRL World Championship in the Speedtech “Battle For the Belts” at the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals VI, the Pro Extreme veteran wasn’t about to wipe the smile off his face.

Five other ADRL racers won World Championships on Oct. 22nd at Texas Motorplex, and all joined Taylor as first-time “Battle For The Belts” champions.

Taylor got his title by beating fellow Houston-area native Joshua Hernandez in the finals, and joining Taylor in the winner’s circle was Burton Auxier (Pro Nitrous), Dan Millen (Extreme 10.5), Kim Morrell (Pro Extreme Motorcycle), John Montecalvo (Extreme Pro Stock) and Tyler Allen (Pro Junior Dragster).

Texan Frankie Taylor is the 2010 ADRL Pro Extreme Champion

Taylor needed to be close to perfect to win the belt considering his matchups. He went 3.65 to beat Texas friend and rival Gaylen Smith, added a little more to chase down Quain Stott with a 3.64 at 208.59 mph in the semifinals and then topped himself in the finals showdown against Hernandez.

Taylor again trailed off the line, but the 3.62 at a whopping 209.98 mph quickly made up for it, wowing the Texas Motorplex crowd in the process.

“All three of those guys are hard,” Taylor said. “With Josh, I just didn’t want to get beat on the tree. Beating anybody in the class is hard, but to beat these three guys says a lot for our team. I’m just lucky I get to drive.”

Auxier went from a tremendous low – not qualifying at the last race in Norwalk, OH – to a tremendous high on Friday in winning his first world title in PN.

He was dominant throughout the day and ended it by going 3.89 to beat Al-Anabi Racing teammate and close friend Shannon Jenkins in the process.

“This is just unreal,” Auxier said. “Everyone pitched in and made this happen. Shannon has taught me a lot and he really has helped me a lot. It was good that we ran in the finals because I know he’s the best guy.”

Auxier tested at Texas Motorplex leading up to the race and it made a major difference. He was the quickest car in Pro Nitrous the entire day, going 3.84 to beat Randy Weatherford and topping it with a 3.83 in the semifinals to knock off No. 1 qualifier Rickie Smith.

Burton Auxier claimed the ADRL's P/N Championship "Belt" for 2010

After an incredibly difficult start to the year, Millen capped off his remarkable turnaround by going 3.84 in the Extreme 10.5 finals, beating No. 1 qualifier Gary White to not only claim the World Championship, but also his first ADRL win.

Millen, who has been in the 3-second range for nearly every pass since he broke into the club, was on point in Ennis, going 3.84 and 3.85 before his quickest – and fastest (201.16 mph) – pass of the night (3.840) in beating White.

Morrell’s celebration in Pro Extreme Motorcycle started the moment she crossed the finish line and saw the win light come on, making her the first female to win an ADRL championship.

“I was just screaming when the light came on,” Morrell said of her first World Championship and ADRL win. “I can’t believe this. I’ll probably wake up tomorrow and just cry.”

It would be tears of joy after Morrell dethroned Owens, who broke before the halfway point to suffer just his second loss all season.

But it came at a critical time and Morrell, who had a red-light win in the first round and a bye in the semifinals, took advantage with a 4.49.

In Extreme Pro Stock it was John Montecalvo, who returned to the form that brought him four straight wins in Extreme Pro Stock earlier this year. But none of them – or any win for that matter – felt as good as his first ADRL World Championship.

ADRL Extreme PS World Champion - John Montecalvo

“Winning the IHRA title was a lifelong goal and I’m glad we did. But I’ve got to say this just blows it away,” Montecalvo said. “Elated is the word to describe this. This has been a dream year.”

It was a dream finish, as Montecalvo went 4.08 in the first round before posting back-to-back 4.07s in beating Brian Gahm in the semifinals and Pete Berner, who upset No. 1 qualifier Cary Goforth in the semifinals, in the finals.

Allen won the first Pro Junior Dragster title in ADRL history, beating Alexander Oppen in the finals with a 7.93.

Top qualifiers for Saturday’s World Finals VI include Taylor in Pro Extreme, Auxier in Pro Nitrous, Millen in Extreme 10.5, Morrell in Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Berner in Extreme Pro Stock and Raven Dupriest in Pro Junior Dragster.

Elements Defer Event Conclusion

In what has become an all too frequent occurrence in 2010 because of inclement weather, the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) was forced to postpone the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals VI on Saturday at Texas Motorplex.

A steady and sometimes driving rain in Ennis caused the postponement, wiping away the scheduled Vince Neil concert as well. It marks the fourth race that has been postponed during the 2010 season.

“Our goal in 2010 was to finish the season without an injury to a single driver and we did that, but unfortunately we were affected by rain at 9 of our 10 events,” ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling said.  “From a time perspective, there was not any possibility to dry the surface and race. It’s heart-breaking for me and Mother Nature has not been too kind to us this year.”

Instead of the first points race for 2011 being completed at Texas Motorplex on Saturday, the race will now be completed on a double-race weekend on March 25-26 as part of Universal Technical Institute Dragpalooza VII presented by Safety-Kleen at Houston Raceway Park.

The postponed race came a day after the ADRL crowned world champions in each of its six classes at the Speedtech “Battle For The Belts.”

The 2011 ADRL Tour will start on March 25-26 at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas.

Nowling also confirmed that the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals VII would take place from Texas Motorplex on Oct. 21-22, 2011.

“The good news is we will be back twice (to Texas) in 2011,” Nowling said.

The full 10-event ADRL schedule for the 2011 season will also be released in the coming weeks.

Kim Morrell became the ADRL's first female World Champion