Drag Racing Online: The Magazine

Words and photos by Ian Tocher

A total of eight thousandths of a second determined the course of Brian Daniels’ weekend June 9-10, as he raced to his first Pro Extreme win in the ADRL’s AMS Staff Leasing Summer Drags at Huntsville Dragway. Another first-timer in victory lane was Terry Housley, who became the sixth Pro Nitrous winner in as many races held this season.

Weather played a significant part in the story of the ADRL’s first visit to the historic north-Alabama eighth miler, where 36 supercharged Pro Extreme teams and 22 Pro Nitrous entries (including the twin-turbocharged ’57 Chevy of Annette Summer) vied for the event title. Ambient air temperatures were in the mid-90s both Friday and Saturday, with up to 80 percent humidity, corrected altitude approaching 4,000 feet ASL, and track temperatures reaching as high as 145-plus degrees. It made for challenging conditions for both car setup and driving, with many drivers shutting off early due to tire shake or blatantly going up in smoke before reaching the finish line.

Also a factor at Huntsville were the standings for the Battle for the Belts, which pits the top eight points getters against each other in both Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous for championships at the ADRL season closer this October in Kennedale, TX. Points are awarded according to qualifying position, elimination rounds won and records set, so with only the Huntsville event and the next race at

Reminiscent of a classic Funny Car, AMS Staff Leasing owner Dave Wood’s 1970 Cuda arrived with its new paint scheme at Huntsville. Driver Troy Critchley put it in the show with an 11th-place 4.119/179.71, but severe tire shake off the launch ended his day in round one against Bubba Stanton.

Rockingham (NC) Dragway in September offering opportunities to make a move in the standings, every point gained—or missed—could have significant championship implications.

PRO EXTREME

After three rounds of qualifying, Daniels was left out of the 16-car field by just five thousandths and already was packing up when he learned number-seven qualifier Jason Scruggs wouldn’t make the show. As first alternate, Daniels was suddenly back racing. “But we wouldn’t even have been in that situation if I hadn’t short-shifted on that last [qualifying] pass,” the Jackson, OH-based driver said. “It was on a good run and I felt really bad for my guys when I messed it up like that, so it was a real surprise to get back in.”