An Extreme win for Texan Taylor at The Rock

Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Gary Rowe and Roger Richards

Defending ADRL Pro Extreme World Champ Frankie Taylor showed by his winning performance at the ADRL’s biggest event, Dragstock VIII, that he is a good bet to repeat as the champion when the eight drivers with the most points decide this year’s Battle for the Belts.

It was almost midnight on Saturday, Sept. 10, when Taylor wrapped up the Dragstock win in front of a huge crowd that stayed in their seats despite the late hour. Taylor, driving a 2005 ‘Vette built by Jeffers Pro Cars, ripped a 3.622 at 210.47 miles per hour that trailered  the ’63 Vette of Mississippi’s Jason Scruggs that ran an equally impressive but losing 3.699/205.07.  As a driver Scruggs did everything he could to win, putting a .066 holeshot on Taylor, but Taylor’s ‘Vette ran Scruggs down at the lights beating him to the finish line by just .011 of a second for the win.

Jason Scruggs’ red supercharged ‘Vette had both chutes out to slow his car after a sub-four-second lap. (Roger Richards photo)

It was the first Dragstock win for the ADRL veteran who qualified No. 1 with a 3.597 and took out point’s leader Jason Hamstra in the semifinals before knocking off the red-hot Scruggs, who had won at the previous ADRL event at Virginia Motorsports Park.

“This (Dragstock) is the biggest race to win and to get it, words can’t describe it,” said Taylor in the winner’s circle. “The last couple races, Scruggs has been kicking butt, so to beat him when he’s doing that, it’s amazing. To beat him at the Rock, it’s an honor. He’s the man.”