1^st Time “Thunder Valley” Touchdown for ADRL 

Jason Scruggs’ latest win in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is one he won’t soon forget.  With his ’63 Camaro echoing through Thunder Valley, Scruggs won for the seventh time in Pro Extreme, running 3.675 at 205.72 miles per  hour to beat Tommy D’Aprile in the finals of the ADRL Spring Drags III at Bristol Dragway….

The final was a perfect exclamation point to the ADRL’s first visit ever to fabled Bristol Dragway.   

Other event winners included Rickie Jones (Pro Nitrous), Alan Pittman (Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5), Japel Heard (Pro Extreme Motorcycle), Cary Goforth (Extreme Pro Stock), Mike Castellana (Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified), Aaron Glaser (Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman) and Bo Butner (SuperCar Showdown).

Jason Scruggs won for the 7th time in the ADRL's P/X category

The winner’s circle celebration also capped off a memorable two days at Bristol Dragway, as the ADRL concluded its successful debut in ThunderValley with a near-record competitor count and non-stop action.

Scruggs delivered when it mattered most, running a 3.687 (with a .007 reaction time) to beat Alex Hossler in the quarterfinals, and putting together his best run of the day in the finals against D’Aprile, who 
reached his first ADRL final and made a career-best pass in the semifinals (3.67).

Rickie Jones was workmanlike in Pro Nitrous, staying in the low 3.80s over the final three rounds to stay unbeaten in 2012 driving his Summit Racing Equipment-sponsored RJ Race Cars 2012 Camaro. He went 
as quick as 3.812 and then went 3.823 at 194.27 mph to beat Bob Rahaim in the finals for the second straight race.

The win proved to be a special one for Jones – who won for the first time in Bristol.
Mike Castellana remained unbeatable in Aeromotive Fuel Systems sponsored Pro Modified eliminator, keeping the Al-Anabi Racing driver perfect in the class.

Driving his 2012 RJ Race Cars Camaro, which had won the NHRA race atConcordone week before, Castellana took out arch rival Rickie Smith in the final with a 3.885 at 193.43 mph. 

Bristol's Pro Mod final featured a marqee match-up -- Mike Castellana vs Rickie Smith

Like  Jones, Alan Pittman stayed perfect and made it two season wins in a row, marking a number of firsts on a highlight-filled weekend for the  Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5 standout.

He capped it off by going 3.858 at 197.45 mph to beat Brad Brand, but the real fireworks came in the semifinals against Grant McCrary.  Both cars nearly came together at the center line and McCrary  actually crossed the center line before getting loose and crashing into the left wall. Crossing the center line disqualified McCrary’s  winning run, sending Pittman to the finals where he put together a  brilliant run. It wrapped up a weekend where he went as quick as 3.841 at 199.35 mph.

There was nothing easy about Cary Goforth’s win in Extreme Pro Stock, but in going 4.091 at 175.57 mph in his Jerry Haas Race Cars GXP to beat Richie Stevens Jr. in the finals, Goforth became the winningest driver in the class with his seventh victory.

Japel Heard’s first win in Pro Extreme Motorcycle came when he Casey Stemper with a 4.16 at 163.91 mph in the final round.  Heard won from the #1 qualifying spot (4.10 secs) and went as quick as 4.12 during eliminations.  

Bo Butner stayed perfect in the new SuperCar Showdown driving his 2012 Cobra Jet. In the finals 
Butner went 5.88 at 109.48 mph to track down Ray Skillman’s Mustang and keep his hot streak going.

Aaron Glaser went from the lowest of lows a month ago inHoustonto an extreme high after winning the Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman class.

After that non-qualifier Glaser went back to his old car and it proved to be the winning combination, 
as he went 4.235 at 163.33 mph to beat Dylan Stott Mustang in the final. .

Posted by:  Josh Hachat

Event Essentials:  ADRL Spring Drags III – April 20-21, 2012 – Bristol, TN

Photos by:  Roger Richards