ADRL Quarter Max Memphis Drags: Pro Nitrous Qualifiers

Photos by Gena White ~ Text by Danny White

Mike Castellana of the Al-Anabi team qualified at the top of the field with a good 3.913 191.43. Mike Castellana beat Tony Christian in the first round with an early shutoff 4.078 161.07 to the crossed up 8.086 of Tony Christian. Castellana beat Dave Pierce in the second round with a strong 3.950 189.28 to a close 4.025 186.10. Castellana will face Tim Savell in Michigan in the battle of Reher-Morrison power Camaros.

Khalid Al-Balooshi took his Al-Anabi Camaro to the second spot behind his teammate. Khalid Al-Balooshi set low e.t. of the race at Memphis with an 3.88 193.29 using Reher-Morrison power defeat of Terry Housley’s 4.091 178.59. Al-Balooshi took out Steve Vick in the second round in a battle of side by side three’s 3.921 191.62 to 3.987 187.23.

The Big Red Machine came to Memphis with a vengeance, as Jim Halsey qualified number three with a 3.921 192.33 in Tim McAmis built Camaro with Fulton power. Jim Halsey ran a strong 3.909 191.48 to beat Lee Adkins’ best ever 4.072 174.98 in the opening round. In the second round Halsey fell off to a 4.012 189.29 but was more than enough to beat Shannon Jenkins’ 4.463 123.16.

The Bankston Boyz and Tim Savell debut a new sponsor Friday night as the team flew the banner of UNT, Inc. on the team’s blue Reher-Morrison power Camaro. Savell qualified in the tough field with a 4.063 182.75 in the twelve spot. Tim Savell ran a 4.131 179.59 to beat the early shutoff 4.82 105.23 of Doug Riesterer.   Savell pulled off another upset in the second round when he beat Shannon Jenkins 4.156 168.51 to 4.463 123.16. Savell will face Mike Castellana in the semis in Michigan.

Shannon Jenkins was back behind the wheel of the David Janes built Speedtech/Al-Anabi Camaro with Reher-Morrison power at Memphis. Jenkins qualified number four with a 3.93 191.54. In the first round  Shannon Jenkins ran a great 3.902 192.69 to beat Ed Burnley’s 4.239 142.87. Shannon Jenkins fell to Tim Savell in the second round 4.156 168.81 to the shutoff 4.463 of Jenkins.

Steve Vick is living in the threes with his new Alan Pittman built-Gene Fulton powered Camaro. Vick ran a 3.981 186.30 to qualify number seven.   Steve Vick beat Randy Weatherford in the first round 3.987 185.98 to 4.492 122.67. Steve Vick was the fastest loser in the second round when his 3.987 187.23 lost to Khalid Al-Balooshi’s 3.921 191.62.

 The Purple Gorillas Corvette out of Dave’s RV banged on the door to the threes all weekend long. The Oklahoma based racer with Reher-Morrison power ran a 4.03 186.87 in qualifying for the number nine spot. Dave Pierce ran a good 4.031 186.87 to beat the close 4.107 179.23 of Greg Godwin. Dave Pierce ran a consistent 4.025 186.10 in the second round, but fell to Castellana’s strong 3.950 189.28.

The Reher –Morrison powered Bankston Boyz Camaro with Stan Allen aboard ran a good 4.05 186.27 to qualify number eleven just ahead of teammate Tim Savell. That earned Allen, the winner in Baytown, the right to face Jim Halsey.   Stan Allen ran a 4.072 174.98 but was beat by Jim Halsey’s 3.909 191.48 in the first round.

Doug Riesterer made his return to ADRL racing after his crash in Baytown. The car has been rebuilt by Riesterer and Doug has joined the LenMar Motorsports team too. Riesterer ran a great 3.949 186.81 run Friday night for the number five spot with the Reher-Morrison powered Camaro. In the first round Riesterer was matched up with Tim Savell.   Doug Riesterer got crossed up and had to shut off early on a 4.825 105.23 allowing Tim Savell to advance to the second round with a 4.131 179.59.

Burton Auxier came to Memphis with high hopes, as he was fresh off a win on the NHRA circuit. Burton Auxier qualified in the top half of the field at Memphis with a 3.963 190.38 in his Reher-Morrison powered Al-Anabi backed Camaro. In the third and final round of qualifying Auxier suffered an explosion on the top end of the track. Auxier was unable to make the first round call.  

Greg Godwin made his return to ADRL racing after last year’s rollover in Virginia. The Fulton powered G&B Racing Corvette of Greg Godwin made the show in Memphis.   Godwin made the top haft of the field with a good 4.002 183.34. That was one of the best if not the best in his career. Greg Godwin ran a 4.107 174.23 in the first round but it was surpassed by Dave Pierce’s 4.031 186.87.

Randy Weatherford ran a 4.037 183.52 to qualify number ten in his new Camaro. The beautiful new 840 C.I. Charlie Buck powered Camaro has consistency problems since he debut it earlier this year. It proved to be his downfall in Memphis. Weatherford ran a 4.492 122.69 that was beaten by the strong 3.987 185.95 of Steve Vick.   

Maryland racer & chassis builder Ed Burnley got his all red Camaro in the Memphis field with a good 4.078 179. It earned Burnley the thirteenth spot in the field for Saturday evening with the Gene Fulton powered Camaro.   Ed Burnley ran a 4.091 178.59 loosing to Khalid Al-Balooshi ‘s 3.88 193.29 that had Burnley having a nitrous explosion on the top end sending the scoop flying over the fence.

Dark horse racer Lee Adkins from Tennessee snuck into the final field in Memphis. It was Adkins first time to qualify for an ADRL field with a best ever at the time of 4.09 175.75. The run earned the raced the number fourteenth spot in his Reher –Morrison powered Camaro.   Lee Adkins’ ran his best ever again 4.072 174.98 in the opening round but lost to Jim Halsey’s 4.091 178.59.

The Balance Racing team from California has team with Terry Housley to field the Balance’s beautiful Corvette in the ADRL. Housley said the Corvette with Sonny Leonard power and his Willys are very similar as both were built by Tommy Mauney around the same time.   This will allow both teams to share information. Housley made steady improvements Friday and Saturday running a 4.123 176.79 to land the fifthteenth spot  Terry Housley ran a good 4.09, the first o run for the Ballance team, but it was not enough to beat the wild 3.88 193.29 of Khalid Al-Balooshi.

Former Pro Stock and Pro Street superstar Tony Christian made his ADRL debut in Memphis. Memphis has been the sight of many of his best days in racing. Christian did not disappoint in Memphis as he was the only Pro Nitrous car to qualify with a Powergilde transmission. The 06 Grand Am backed by a 800 C.I. Reher Morrison engine made the bump with a 4.143   179.54 Tony Christian lost to Mike Castellana in the first round when he got crossed up on a 8.086 67.89 and Castellana ran 4.078 161.07 to win.