MADISON, Ill. – Under the lights on the world-class drag strip at World Wide Technology Raceway, the American Drag Racing League returned home to the site of its greatest events and a foundation of the Missouri-based series. Former ADRL Rookie of the Year and Pro Extreme World Champion Jason Hamstra rocketed to the top of PX class qualifying with a Q3 pass of 3.633 seconds at 210.57 mph. More impressive is the fact Hamstra’s ’69 Camaro labored for most of the eighth-mile track, huffing and puffing to the finish line.
Hamstra also set top speed of qualifying thus far with a pass of 211.49 mph, done before the track’s lights came on in round two.
A hallmark of Friday night’s action across the river from St. Louis was great side-by-side racing. Reigning Mid-West Pro Mod Series Champion Aaron Wells and the ADRL PX winner from the Texas Motorplex last month Frankie “The Madman” Taylor put on the run of the night with Taylor edging Wells at the lane, 3.71 to 3.72. Taylor would go on to qualify second on the provisional ladder with a Q3 pass of 3.653 seconds at 285.05 mph. Wells currently sits seventh.
Dragpalooza top qualifier Wesley Jones qualified third Friday night with a solid lap of 3.663 seconds at 209.14 mph. Round 2 was an odd one for Jones, as it was for Bubba Stanton and John Sullivan, all of whom experienced gremlins in the left lane, preventing them from taking the staging light.
The event is one of the first in Illinois opening itself to fans on the grounds they observe social distancing protocols to minimize chances of spreading the COVID-19 virus. ADRL President Mel Roth said he was pleased with race fans’ respect of the guidelines.
“St. Louis has some of the most passionate drag racing fans you’ll find,” Roth said. “They understand the best way to get back to a normal way of life is to do what we have to do now, which is to wear a mask and use social distancing. I think most of these fans would’ve shown up in hazmat suits, they missed great drag racing so badly!”
Three rounds of qualifying were conducted Friday with one to go Saturday, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. local time (CDT). Spectator gates open at 2 p.m., with fans encouraged to get to World Wide Technology Raceway early.
To print out FREE tickets or for the full schedule of events for this weekend’s 2020 ADRL Gateway Drags at World Wide Technology Raceway, click HERE.
Can’t make the race? SpeedVideo is streaming the entire event LIVE from WWT Raceway. Catch all the action by clicking HERE. Didn’t get a chance to get that Dragpalooza shirt? Can’t make it to the race this weekend, but still want the event merch? Head to the ADRL Store at ADRLDrags.com/Store.
For more information on the American Drag Racing League and to stay up-to-date on breaking news, follow them on their official page on Facebook at Facebook.com/ADRLDrags and on Instagram and Twitter at @ADRLDrags. Fans can also visit the official ADRL website at ADRLDrags.com.
Lloyd Davis from Powell, Tennessee USA (Comp Number: 2051) 1985 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: C/EA, Div: 2 "Lloyd Davis" Owned by Lloyd Davis from Powell, Tennessee USA 1983 Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 9.320 at NHRA Atlanta […]
Jim Tabb from Tyler, Texas USA (Comp Number: 416) 1985 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: C/A, Div: 4 "Tabb & Hess" Owned by Tabb & Hess from Tyler, Texas USA 1984 Chevrolet Camaro by Willie Rells | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chevrolet by Nickens & Brown with 5 speed manual transmission 1/4 […]
Bob Tilton from Mitchell, South Dakota USA (Comp Number: 568) 1985 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: B/EA, Div: 5 "McCleod-Tilton" Owned by John McCleod from Mitchell, South Dakota USA 1984 Chevrolet Corvette by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a 310 cubic inch Pontiac with 2 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: Unknown […]
Bucky Burk from Indianapolis, Indiana USA (Comp Number: 3164) 1985 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: B/G, Div: 3 "Burk & Dolce" Owned by Bucky Burk & Dolce from Indianapolis, Indiana USA 1981 Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chevrolet with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
David Nickens from Houston, Texas USA (Comp Number: 4211) 1985 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: B/SM, Div: 4 "Castrol GTX/Nationwise" Owned by Nickens Bros. from Houston, Texas USA 1985 Pontiac Firebird by Willie Rells | Powered by a 323 cubic inch Chevrolet by Nickens Bros with 5 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 9.440 […]
Scott Britton from Dayton, Ohio USA (Comp Number: 3377) 1985 - Category: COMPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: A/D, Div: 3 "Antrobius & Britton" Owned by Pat Antrobius & Scott Britton from Dayton, Ohio USA 1985 Dragster by S&W Race Cars | Powered by a 440 cubic inch Rodeck Chevrolet with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
Wally Zalak from Huntington, New York USA (Comp Number: 147) 1985 - Category: COMPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: A/D, Div: 1 "Beast from the East" Owned by Wally Zalak from Huntington, New York USA 1985 Dragster by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chevrolet with 3 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile […]
Gary Chomiski from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada (Comp Number: 5233) 1985 - Category: COMPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: B/ED, Div: 5 "Drag City USA" Owned by Gary Chomiski from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada '85 Dragster by Mike Bos | Powered by a 340 cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 7.380 at Unknown | 1/4 Mile […]
Fred Anderson from Omaha, Nebraska USA (Comp Number: 5331) 1985 - Category: SPORTSMAN, Type: HN, Class: C/SM, Div: 5 "Tension Four" Owned by Fred Anderson from Omaha, Nebraska USA 1975 Chevrolet Camaro by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chevrolet with 4 speed manual transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 9.773 at […]
Ron Neff from Arvada, Colorado USA (Comp Number: 580) 1985 - Category: COMPDRAG, Type: PN, Class: C/ED, Div: 5 "Jolly Rancher" Owned by Ron Neff from Arvada, Colorado USA 1981 Dragster by an Unknown chassis builder | Powered by a Unknown cubic inch Chevrolet with automatic transmission 1/4 Mile ET: 8.054 at NHRA Pomona CA […]
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