Super Fast ADRL Norwalk — In the Books!
The ADRL’s ultra cool/ultra fast door slammer series touched down at Ohio’s fabulous Summit Motorsports Park for it’s 2nd to last event of the 2012 season…
The event featured numerous record smashing performances for the all 1/8th mile circuit as racers advantaged both tremendous track and atmospheric conditions.
With another stout performance on Saturday, Michigan’s Bob Rahaim moved even closer to his first American Drag Racing League (ADRL) championship for the Pro Nitrous category.
The standout driver had a brilliant day during the Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags VI presented by Mickey Thompson. In the championship final round Rahaim wheeled his 1969 Camaro-bodied car to a 3.883 at 195.28 mph to beat Stan Allen ’69 Camaro and win his second straight race. That puts Rahaim on the cusp of clinching his first ADRL world championship in Pro Nitrous, which could come in three weeks during the ADRL World Finals VIII presented by CarSafe at Texas Motorplex.
Other winners included Alex Hossler (Pro Extreme), Eric McKinney (Pro Extreme Motorcycle), Billy Glidden (Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5), Elijah Morton (Extreme Pro Stock), Dave Roemer (Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified), Ronnie Davis (Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman) and Chris Holbrook (SuperCar Showdown).
Rahaim went as quick as 3.83 secs in eliminations, but his main focus in picking up his third win in five finals appearances in 2012 was staying consistent in his ’69 Jerry Bickel Race Cars Camaro powered by Reher-Morrison and Switzer Dynamics.
Alex Hossler continued to have incredibly good fortune at Summit MotorsportsParkin the Pro Extreme class, advancing to the finals for the 3rd straight year and winning for the second time. His final round effort of 3.740 secs at 199.40 mph driving the Frank Manzo tuned Al-Anabi Racing Team Chevy Camaro, knocked off Tim Tindle’s Corvette.
Hossler, who now has two wins in 2012, beat Tommy D’Aprile in round one and points leader Mick Snyder in the second frame using his event best 3.719 secs elapsed time. He then got a good break in the semifinals when his opponent Neal Wantye went red.
The overall PX title chase did tighten up at Norwalk when Jason Scruggs advanced to the semifinals round. That puts the Corvette driver to within less than 10 points for the championship lead behind Mick Snyder.
Ohio’s own Dave Roemer picked up one of the biggest wins of his career, and did that at his home track. The driver of the nitrous-injected Chevy Cavalier beat Pat Musi with a 4.07 at 182.38 mph in the Aeromotive Fuel Systems Pro Modified final.
The win was a solid comeback for Roemer, who didn’t even get into the field until going 3.978 secs in the final qualifying session earlier in the day.
Eric McKinney’s first race in the Pro Extreme Motorcycle class was in 2008 at Summit Motorsports Park, and on Saturday he wrapped up his first ADRL world championship by winning his fourth straight race and sixth overall in 2012 with a 4.112 at 172.96 mph in the finals against Canadian Terry Schweigert. Making a memorable moment even sweeter was that he was able to celebrate the win and world championship with more than 20 family members and friends at his home ADRL track.
McKinney, who qualified No. 2, went as quick at 4.079 in advancing to his 8th final in nine races. In a season filled with accomplishments,McKinney has done nearly everything, becoming a dominant rider in the process.
Ronnie Davis stayed in title contention in Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman, edging out Marco Abruzzi in a fantastic side-by-side final afterAbruzzibroke out.
Davis finished with an impressive 4.176 at 172.76 mph racing his ’63 Corvette to pick up his second win of 2012 in the process. His victory came over the quickest 16-car field in ADRL TS history (4.210 secs bump).
Davis chopped down the top two drivers in points in eliminations, beating William Brown III in the semifinals before slipping past Abruzz iin the finals. The Summit Racing-sponsored Abruzzi did well at his home track to take the points lead into the final event of the season, but Davis also managed to make up some ground at a key time to keep his shot at the championship very much alive.
North Carolina’s Elijah Morton finally found a bright spot in his frustration-filled 2012 season, picking up his second career ADRL win in Extreme Pro Stock.
In a final round battle featuring 2 Ford Mustangs, Morton went 4.075 secs at 178.31 mph to defeat Doug Kirk. For both racers – it was their first final round appearances of 2012 season.
Morton and his 2012 Jerry Haas-built car was the ultimate beneficiary of a wild first-round in XPS when the top eight qualifiers, including the top three drivers in the points standings (Cary Goforth, Richie Stevens and Todd Hoerner) all lost.
Goforth however still has a significant lead over Stevens and others heading into the season ending World Finals, making him a heavy favorite to clinch his 2nd straight world championship in Extreme Pro Stock.
Billy Glidden became the first competitor in ADRL history to get to 14 wins, going 3.939 at 187.11 mph to beat Alan Pittman and his 3.894 on a holeshot in the Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5 finals.
Pittman too however retains a significant lead in the Mickey Thompson Extreme 10.5 title chase heading into the World Finals.
In the SuperCar Showdown final, Chris Holbrook went 5.674 at 121.88 mph to beat Jimmy Ronzello and wrap up a record-setting weekend. In addition to the win, Holbrook also set the E.T. (5.667) and speed (121.88 mph) world record in the class.
In the event’s Pro Junior Dragster eliminator — Nick Isenhower got the victory.
The 10th and final ADRL event for 2012 takes place Oct. 19-20 nearDallaswhen the Texas Motorplex hosts ADRL World Finals VIII presented by CarSafe.
Posted by: Josh Hachat
Event Essentials: Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags VI (Sep. 28-29th) Norwalk Ohio
NAME | ET | MPH | CAREER WIN | |
Pro Extreme P/X | ||||
Win: | Alex Hossler | 3.740 | 199.40 | |
R/UP: | Tim Tindle | 3.783 | 182.11 | |
Low ET: | Mick Snyder | 3.598 | ||
Top Speed: | Brandon Pez | 211.23 | ||
Bump Spot (16-cars): | 3.810 | |||
Pro Nitrous P/N | ||||
Win: | Bob Rahaim | 3.883 | 195.28 | |
R/UP: | Stan Allen | 4.887 | 103.99 | |
Low ET: | Doug Riesterer | 3.781 | ||
Top Speed: | Pat Stoken | 197.62 | ||
Bump Spot (16-cars): | 4.193 | |||
Pro Modified (P/M) | ||||
Win: | Dave Roemer | 4.070 | 182.30 | |
R/UP: | Pat Musi | 10.36 | 50.65 | |
Low ET: | Pat Musi | 3.905 | ||
Top Speed: | Todd Tutterow | 198.61 | ||
Bump Spot (8-cars): | 4.031 | |||
Extreme Pro Stock Winner: | Elija Morton | 4.075 | 173.31 | |
Pro Extreme M/C Winner: | Eric McKinney | 4.112 | 172.96 | |
Extreme 10.5 Winner: | Billy Glidden | 3.938 | 187.44 | |
Top Sportsman Winner: | Ronnie Davis | 4.176 | 172.76 | |
Super Car Showdown Winner: | Chris Holbrook | 5.674 | 121.88 |
Photos by: Bruce Biegler & Steve Embling
To view DragRaceCanada’s event photo gallery click: HERE