|
|
|
ADRL Dragpalooza Extreme Pro Stock
Photos by Gena White ~ Text by Danny White
Doug Kirk was the first official ADRL Extreme Pro Stock winner in Baytown, the two Extreme Pro Stock races last year were exhibitions. The longtime Pro Stock racer qualified in the top half of the field in the third spot. Kirk put a holeshot on Robert Patrick in the first round with a winning 4.159, 174.42 to Patrick's losing 4.121. Kirk dodged a bullet in the semifinals when his off pace 5.175, 127.23 was able to cover the troubled 10.576, 57.15 of Matt Hartford. Kirk ran a 4.165, 175.25 in the final that beat the broken ride of Brian Gahm.
Former IHRA champion Brian Gahm chose to come to Baytown to race and it very well. Gahm drove his Jon Kaase powered Mustang to the top of the field with a good 4.119, 176.42. Gahm took out Jason Collins in the first round 4.128, 166.42 to Collins' 4.360, 136.48. Gahm took the bye into the finals with a 4.170, 156.44 where he got very, very close to the wall. In the finals, Gahm faced off with Doug Kirk but broke off the line and was unable to finish the run.
Matt Hartford, the former compact and NHRA Pro Stock racer, has taken over the wheel of the Wilson Manifolds Grand Am from Rob Mansfield. The wild-haired Arizona driver will drive this car and his Top Dragster this year. In Baytown, Hartford ran a good 4.114, 177.60 to land the second spot. Hartford's beat Elijah Morton with a holeshot 4.142, 175.55 in the first round. In the semis Hartford's troubled 10.576 57.15 lost to the eventual winner Doug Kirk and his 5.17.
Robert Patrick had ran in the two ADRL Extreme Pro Stock races last year and liked the ADRL so much he tried to run without success to run the Extreme 10.5 class at Ennis last year. At Baytown Patrick was back on the big tires and in his proper element. Patrick ran a 4.120, 176.81 to garner the fourth spot. Patrick ran a consistent 4.121, 175.78 in the first round, but Doug Kirk's .020 RT was better than Patrick's .08 RT and his 4.159, 174.96 was enough to cover Patrick in the first round.
Elijah Morton had a forgettable weekend that almost ended on the first test pass. Morton brought the sleek Morton Brothers Mustang out for a test shot Friday and rear wheels locked on the car on the beginning of the burnout. The Mustang pitched sideways but luckily did not hit anything. The Morton team fixed the car to come back to run a good 4.123, 175.30 to get the fifth spot. Morton ran a 4.129, 173.32 in the first round but was beaten on a holeshot by Matt Hartford, who ran a 4.14, 175.55.
Jason Collins had a wild weekend to say the least. Collins competed at the race at the IHRA Baton Rouge race qualified number one on Friday. Saturday morning the Patriot Performance team pulled into Baytown prepared to race. Collins had missed the first round of qualifying and shut off on his first attempt in the second round of qualifying. Collins came back in final round running a tire shaking 4.834, 113.73 to land in the sixth spot. Collins improved to an early shutoff 4.360, 136.38 in the first round that fell to Brian Gahm's 4.128, 176.42. Collins went back to Baton Rouge on Sunday and won there from the first qualifying spot. Collins weekend was an extreme contrast finishing last in Baytown and first in Baton Rouge.
| |
Copyright 1996-2022 by