Words by Jeff Burk Photos by Jeff Burk, Don Eckert and courtesy of the ADRL

In over 30 years of covering National Event drag racing at Gateway International Raceway last weekends ADRL event was the only one I have ever seen where the grandstands were truly and absolutely full. It was also the first ever National Event held at that track in more than 40 years of operations that drew huge crowds just to watch cars that didn’t burn nitromethane! And it was the first crowd I have ever seen at the track that applauded every run and stayed until the last car had went down the track Saturday night
The race marked the triumphant return of the  ADRL to Gateway International Raceway and solidified the ADRL as the premier doorslammer sanctioning body in drag racing. The race was a huge success for everyone involved -- unless you were one of the fans who came late in the day on either Friday or Saturday, waited a couple of hours in line only to have an Illinois State trooper tell you the track was FULL and you wouldn’t be allowed to enter. That was the scenario faced by DRO staffers and fans on both days when GIR was literally filled to capacity and beyond with drag racing fans.

The most impressive performance came from Extreme Ten-Five racer Chuck Ulsch, who put his name in the drag  racing record and history books becoming the first  racer using to run an eighth of a mile in under four seconds and over 197 mph. His supercharged, Hemi-powered Camaro  ran the record setting 3.986/197.88 in a semifinal thrashing of Jeff Naiser.

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