- Race Wrap Up
- Same day Coverage
JUNKYARD WILLYS LEADS NEW WINNERS
ADRL’s Independence Drags ran over by a day at Shelor Motor Mile in Radford, Va., thanks to rain delays, but there were no complaints from the appreciative crowd that was on hand. There were a number of compelling stories from the later rounds of competition along with three first-time winners in the four classes.
PRO EXTREME
Travis Swearingen and his blown “Junkyard Willys” ended Josh Hernandez’s bid for an undefeated season. Swearingen, who qualified fourth with a 3.961, never ran slower than a 3.846 through four rounds of eliminations to grab his first ever ADRL Pro Extreme win in three final round appearances.
Travis Swearingen had his popular “Junkyard Willys” in the Pro Extreme final round for the second year in a row with some of the quickest times of eliminations, but the odds weren’t in his favor. His opponent, regular season point’s leader Josh Hernandez, had won 15 consecutive rounds of competition for a perfect season up to this point. Hernandez had fought through everything the competition and the track could throw at him to get this far, but came up just short as Swearingen came around him at the start for a strong 3.819 to 3.951 victory. That run probably made Swearingen the quickest Willys in the history of drag racing, but it was winning his first ever ADRL event that left the sweetest taste in his mouth.
Josh Hernandez overcame a lot of adversity at Radford to continue his undefeated streak and make the finals in Pro Extreme. Hernandez lost a door on his burnout, ran off the top end of the track and had trouble stopping at the end of each run, but still got by Billy Gibson, Dwayne Watkins and Brian Daniels before finally losing in the finals.
A late light and tire shake that was severe enough to knock the door ajar ended Dwayne Watkin’s day in the second round against Josh Hernandez in Pro Extreme action at Radford.