Tragedy Mars ADRL DragStock Rockingham

Drag racing action during the ADRL’s DragStock VIII at Rockingham NC, was marred by a major tragedy when the close knit racing community lost one of its most popular circuit racers during qualifying…..

Bert Jackson, 51, was fatally injured driving his XPS classed Pontiac GTO during the third qualifying session at Rockingham Dragway, on Friday evening.

Bert Jackson

Jackson, of Glen Allen, Va., was pronounced dead shortly afterward by a medical examiner at nearby First Health Richmond Memorial Hospital in Rockingham. 

During his third qualifying session, Jackson hit the right wall, the left wall and then continued to barrel roll at very high speed when the throttle jammed wide open.  

Jackson was the driver of a car owned by Enoch Love of Richmond, Va.

The entire ADRL is deeply saddened by Friday’s incident.  Jackson was a passionate competitor, an incredibly kind-hearted human being and touched the lives of many during his drag racing career.

 Everyone at DragRaceCanada joins the ADRL racing community expressing it’s condolences to Jackson’s family, friends and teammates.

Event Essentials:  ADRL DragStock VII  (Rockingham NC – Sept 9-10th, 2011)

PRO MODIFIED: NAME ET MPH CAREER WIN
 Pro Extreme  P/X        
 Win: Frankie Taylor 3.622 210.47  
 R/UP: Jason Scruggs 3.699 205.07  
 Low ET: Frankie Taylor 3.597    
Top Speed: Frankie Taylor   210.47  
 Bump Spot:   3.804    
 Pro Nitrous  P/N        
 Win: Stan Allen 3.875 192.82 2nd
 R/UP: John Decerbo NTR NSR  
 Low ET: Khalid Al-Balooshi 3.790    
 Top Speed: Khalid Al-Balooshi   198.67  
Bump Spot:   3.953    
Extreme 10.5 Winner: Dan Millen 3.855 201.46  
Pro Extreme M/C Winner: Billy Vose 4.055 174.66  
Extreme Pro Stock Winner: Scott Hintz 4.108 175.71  
Top Sportsman Winner: Travis Harvey 4.247 146.34  


Taylor Scores At Dragstock  VIII – ADRL’s Biggest Annual Event

Frankie Taylor found the perfect birthday present for his wife – an American Drag Racing League (ADRL) win at Rockingham Dragway on Saturday.

The defending Pro Extreme world champion wrapped up Dragstock VIII in thrilling fashion, going 3.622 at 210.47 miles per hour to knock off Jason Scruggs in the finals of the ADRL’s biggest annual race.

PX Winner - Frankie Taylor

That it came on his wife Cindy’s birthday made it all even more special.  “This just became a very happy birthday for my wife now,” Taylor said. “This makes her day.”

Saturday started with a special and poignant memorial service for former Extreme Pro Stock driver Bert Jackson, who was killed in a tragic race accident during qualifying on Friday.

Racers, friends and teammates paid tribute to Jackson and XPS racers staged a grounded “missing man formation” before racing started at the historic track.  Following the touching tribute, the ADRL’s standout performers shattered several track records, delivering a number of memorable moments in front of an energized overflow crowd.
Joining Taylor in the winner’s circle was Stan Allen (Pro Nitrous), Dan Millen (Extreme 10.5), Billy Vose (Pro Extreme Motorcycle), Scott Hintz (Extreme Pro Stock) and Travis Harvey (Summit Racing Equipment Top Sportsman).

It was Taylor’s first win at the track and his Jeffers Pro Cars Corvette delivered all weekend. He was the No. 1 qualifier with a 3.597 and then took out points leader Jason Hamstra in the finals before knocking off the red-hot Scruggs, who won last month in Virginia.

“This is the biggest race to win and to get it, words can’t describe it,” said Taylor, who also credited CN Blocks for the win. “The last couple races, Scruggs has been kicking butt, so to beat him when he’s doing that, it’s amazing. To beat him at the Rock, it’s an honor. He’s the man.”

Stan Allen picked up his second career ADRL win, but this one will undoubtedly hold a special place in his heart.

Stan Allen won his 2nd career event in P/N

Allen went 3.876 at 192.82 to beat a red-lighting John Decerbo in the finals and instantly knew the magnitude of the victory.

“To win at the Rock, it’s just amazing,” Allen said. “Of all the races to win, this is the place. The competition in this class and at this race is just so intense; to get this is just phenomenal.”

Allen’s new ’68 Camaro from David Janes Race Cars is just three races old but it rounded into shape at Rockingham, going as quick as 3.845, which came in a thrilling semifinal win against No. 1 qualifier Khalid Al-Balooshi.

It took some time for Dan Millen’s 2011 Jerry Bickel Race Cars Mustang to round into form but everything quickly changed after a quick call to the builder after the first round of eliminations

Millen was dynamite from that point, running a 3.867 in the semifinals before turning it up with a track-record time of 3.855 in the finals against Chuck Ulsch.

Billy Vose pulled off what was arguably the biggest win of the event, as he ended Ashley Owens’ perfect mark in PXM with a holeshot victory. Owens went 3.999 in the finals, which served as the back-up to his record run of 3.964 from the semifinals, but Vose had a .018 reaction time and claimed his first win of the year.

Owens had won every event he entered in 2011, but Vose put an end to that by claiming his second Dragstock victory.

Scott Hintz also did his job on the tree, as his Jerry Haas Race Cars Ford was quicker off the line against John Montecalvo, making his 4.108 stand up against the defending world champion’s 4.08 in the Extreme Pro Stock finals.

Scott Hintz scored in XPS driving his Ford Mustang

After the win, an emotional Hintz dedicated the win to Bert Jackson and his team.

“This feels great, but I’m just glad I was able to do this for Bert. He was a great friend and competitor and he meant a lot to all of us,” Hintz said.  “This win will always hold a special place. It was one of the saddest things I’ve ever experienced. It was horrible and very tragic, and I’m just happy to get this win in Bert’s honor.”

Hintz won for the second time in 2011 with an outstanding performance at the starting line. He posted reaction times of .002 and .003 in earlier wins and delivered a .023 reaction time against Montecalvo in the finals.

The ADRL returns to action on Sept. 23-24 with the Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags V at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. It will be the final race for ADRL competitors to qualify for the “Battle For The Belts” shootout.

Posted by:  Josh Hachat

Photos by:  Bruce Biegler