Veterans Dominate National Guard ADRL =?windows-1252?Q?Hardee=92?= =?windows-1252?Q?s=AE_Gateway_Drags_Winners_Circle?=

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

American Drag Racing League
Contact: ADRL Communications
(404) 375-4895 or (636) 272-2375
www.ADRL.us <http://www.adrl.us/>

*Veterans Dominate National Guard ADRL Hardee’s® Gateway Drags Winners
Circle*

MADISON, IL (Aug. 8, 2009) — Only Pro Extreme Motorcycle rider Travis
Davis had never previously visited a National Guard American Drag Racing
League (ADRL) winner’s circle, but that didn’t make their victories in
the ADRL Hardee’s Gateway Drags any less thrilling for Mike Janis (Pro
Extreme), Mike Castellana (Pro Nitrous), Billy Glidden (Extreme 10.5) or
Brian Gahm (Extreme Pro Stock).

Janis, from Lancaster, NY, steered his supercharged 1968 Firebird past
Brian Daniels in the opening round, then made a remarkable string of
unopposed passes to secure his second win in the last three ADRL
national events. Both Wes Johnston and finalist Jason Scruggs damaged
their car’s engines beyond repair in previous passes, while Cody
Barklage suffered the heartbreak of a $20 fuel fitting breaking on the
starting line following his burnout for the semis.

“We did run into some unfortunate opponents and I feel bad for those
guys, I really do, but I think we also ran well enough to show we
would’ve had something for them anyhow,” Janis said after covering the
eighth mile at Gateway International Raceway in 3.86 seconds at 195.59
miles per hour in the final round.

Teammates Castellana and Khalid Al-Balooshi faced off in the first-ever,
all Al-Anabi Racing final, with the veteran taking out the rookie with
team owner Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar looking on. Pro
Nitrous legend Shannon Jenkins and Burton Auxier also drive Al-Anabi
cars and “Tricky Rickie” Smith serves as crew chief for Balooshi, who
qualified in the number-one position.

“It was great to have the Sheikh here this weekend and especially to see
all of his cars do so well,” Castellana said after defeating Terry
Murphy, Lee Adkins, Johnny Pilcher and Balooshi for his third ADRL event
title. “This team is on a roll now and it feels great to get a win and
be part of it.”

Reigning Flowmaster Extreme 10.5 World Champ Glidden started from the
third qualifying spot, then ran his Ford-powered ’06 GTO past Todd
Kitchen, Jeff Paulk and Gary White to reach polesitter Chuck Ulsch in
the final round. Ulsch was coming off a semi-final appearance that set
the drag racing world on fire with its first-ever three-second pass
(3.98/197.88) on the relatively narrow 10.5W rear tires, a feat widely
considered unattainable just a couple of years ago.

Ulsch’s supercharged ’68 Camaro lost traction in the final, however,
allowing Glidden’s nitrous-assisted ride to blast through for the win in
4.07 seconds at 176.74 mph. Afterward, the man from Whiteland, Indiana,
expressed surprise at earning his fifth National Guard Minuteman trophy
after seven ADRL races this year.

“It’s nothing I did,” Glidden insisted. “If they hadn’t had trouble over
there, there’s no way I can run with the kind of horsepower they’re
making. So yeah, I’m kind of surprised to win here.”

Despite qualifying number two, then taking out current class champ Billy
Vose, Keith Dennis and Monte Campbell, Davis also admitted to a little
surprise at prevailing with a holeshot over Ron Procopio in the final
round. Both riders carded 4.26 elapsed times, but a .052 advantage off
the starting line made the difference for Davis.

“I knew Ronnie was a good leaver and I had to be on top of it, but I
think he had his worst light of the day and that helped me, too,” Davis
said. “But my bike has been running real good lately and I’m feeling
good on it, so hopefully this is just the first of many (wins) for us.”

First-round Extreme Pro Stock action was marred by a scary, top-end
rollover accident involving Matt Hartford. Fortunately, the third-place
qualifier emerged uninjured, but his 2007 Cobalt sustained serious damage.

“It just started to haze the tires, then took a sudden, hard right into
the wall. I probably stayed in it longer than I should have,” Hartford
admitted after the first wreck of his career. “But when you’re trying to
win these races you have to go for it.”

Meanwhile, points leader Gahm continued his dominance of the naturally
aspirated class, racing through Brad Waddle, Steven Boone and John
Montecalvo before ending the hopes of Dean Goforth with his fourth event
title this year. Gahm set low E.T. of the meet with a 4.13-seconds blast
in the final, while Goforth suffered a flat, left front tire halfway
into his run that threw his ’09 Pontiac GXP across the center line,
where it hit the finish line markers.

“I hate to see that. We already lost one (car) today and don’t need our
guys tearing their stuff up out here,” Gahm said. “That was a good run
for us and it’s great to keep the momentum going toward the championship.”

The National Guard ADRL returns to racing in two weeks, Aug. 21-22, with
the ADRL Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III at National Trail
Raceway in Hebron, Ohio.

FINAL ROUND RESULTS (PHOTOS)

GIR_PXfinal.jpg
Pro Extreme -- Mike Janis, Pontiac Firebird, 3.863, 195.59 def. Jason
Scruggs, Chevy Camaro, broke.

GIR_PNfinal.jpg
Pro Nitrous -- Mike Castellana (near lane), Chevy Camaro, 4.579, 118.45
def. Khalid Al-Balooshi, Camaro, LBT.

GIR_XTFfinal
Extreme 10.5 -- Billy Glidden (far lane), Pontiac GTO, 4.076, 176.74 def. Chuck Ulsch, Chevy Camaro, 4.336, 187.47.

GIR_PXMfinal.jpg
Pro Extreme Motorcycle -- Travis Davis (far lane), Suzuki, 4.268, 168.98 def. Ronald Procopio, Suzuki, 4.265, 168.45.

GIR_XPSfinal.jpg
Extreme Pro Stock -- Brian Gahm (near lane), Ford Mustang, 4.137, 174.17 def. Dean Goforth, Pontiac GXP, DQ.

GIR_PJDfinal.jpg
Pro Junior Dragster -- Ty Tutterow (near lane), Halfscale, 7.942, 81.91 def. Trevor Haisma, Spitzer, 8.005, 81.36.

For complete results go to http://www.dragracecentral.com" <http://www.dragracecentral.com>>DragRaceCentral.com.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL GUARD
The National Guard is the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the
United States and one of the nation’s longest enduring institutions. The
National Guard operates in all 50 states, three territories (Puerto
Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands) and the District of Columbia. For
more information on the National Guard, visit www.NationalGuard.com.

ABOUT THE ADRL
Based in O’Fallon, Missouri, the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is
the nation’s premier sanctioning body for the sport of eighth-mile drag
racing. The professional categories featured in the national Guard ADRL
are Extreme Pro Stock, Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme 10.5, Pro
Nitrous, and Pro Extreme, the quickest doorslammer class in all of drag
racing. The 2009 National Guard ADRL tour consists of 10 national events
run throughout the United States. For more information on the National
Guard ADRL, visit www.ADRL.us.

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