The Pro X-treme final

X-DRL at Budds Creek, MD

First X-DRL event held at MIR

Words by Michele Beck
Photos by Roger Richards

After the rain-delayed action on Saturday, race fans were treated to an incredible showdown as the stars of the X-DRL stayed through Sunday, July 28, to finish what they started and give the Budds Creek fans what they deserved. Royce Miller, the legendary track operator of Maryland International Raceway, led the combined track team from 4 a.m. Sunday morning to replicate the incredible track surface from the previous two days of qualifying.

Paul Taylor

Racing action began under cloudy skies with a fast track. Fans hoped the conditions were good for some quick runs and Stupid Fast Racing’s Paul Taylor confirmed the numbers were favorable with 2100-foot air conditions. The team kept turning screws on the Mesquite Logistics Corvette all weekend, doing everything they could to get into the 3.50s. Despite their best effort the 0.50s were not to be had, but the two 3.604 passes in qualifying were the fastest of the event and produced a new Pro X-Treme record for the X-DRL while capturing the track record for the famed Budds Creek facility.

“We changed our combination to pick up the 60-foot time – we thought it was enough to get us into the 3.50’s but the car shook in the middle. The track was phenomenal all weekend long. We just didn’t have enough in the car for the track,” said Taylor.

The fans were not disappointed as the drivers put on a great show with some close racing. Masters Entertainment was at Budd’s Creek to film for the X-DRL Velocity TV show and brought the “High Speed” photo-finish camera to shoot the 660-foot stripe, producing awesome frame-by frame film for the show.

PRO X-TREME

The X-DRL racers put them to good use in the Pro X-Treme semi-finals when Frankie took the hole shot win over Todd Martin with a 0.033 reaction time to Martin’s 0.069. The elapsed times were close with Taylor going 3.641 to Martin’s 3.629.

Tim Tindle was hoping to make it to his second X-DRL Pro X-Treme final in a row but came up short against Terry “Legbone” Leggett who ran his career best 3.610 in qualifying Friday night and followed it up with impressive times all weekend long. His 3.693 in the semi-final round was just enough to edge out Tindle’s 3.712.