Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Steve Embling and courtesy ADRL

The new ADRL management team faced just about every obstacle a drag race series can at their inaugural event at Pennsylvania’s Maple Grove Raceway and they almost made it through unscathed.  They arrived at the track only to find a newly surfaced shut-off area that was deemed unraceable. The Maple Grove management repaired the surface in just 24 hours.

Once the track surface was repaired, the race was plagued with rain, despite a weather forecast that called for zero chance of rain for the weekend. Then, after a four-hour rain delay on Saturday and facing a track curfew they still almost got the race finished.  In the end they just ran out of time and were forced to call the race complete without actual winners.

Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous completed their quarterfinal rounds before the event was called due to the track curfew. The ADRL policy regarding rainouts is an event is considered complete and competitors will be awarded purse and points up to the finished point in the race. There is no carry over to the next race.

Pro Extreme racers Joey Martin and Frankie Taylor duked it out during the two days to see who would hold the American Drag Racing League ET record. During Saturday's final qualifying session, Florida racer Joey Martin driving the “Lomad” Chevy Nomad he built himself backed up his 3.584 from Friday with a 3.596, re-setting the ADRL PX record to 3.584. (Pro Extreme cars have gone quicker overseas.) Martin held the record a mere six hours.

Frankie Taylor in his Jeffers Race Cars C-5 Lencoglide equipped ‘Vette recorded a 3.581 during qualifying Friday and then in the first round of Saturday Eliminations ran a  3.605  that was quick enough to back it up and secure the new record from Friday. That was an accomplishment worth the 1500 miles (each way) the Texan towed to race in Mohnton, Pa.

"We had a good time," said Taylor, who was sponsored by Nitro Fish for this weekend's race. "It's a great facility."
Taylor lost in the quarterfinals to Todd Tutterow. Other Pro Extreme semifinalists were J.R. Todd, Alex Hossler and Indiana racer Mick Snyder, who has advanced to the semifinals in all ADRL races this year.

One name noticeably absent in the Pro Extreme pits at the event was Jim Oddy, veteran tuner for the B-1 team. Oddy was let go by the team prior to the event but there has been no statement as to why.