ADRL Eastern Race Fuels DRAGSTOCK IV
Friday & Saturday - September 14-15, 2007
EVENT PHOTO GALLERY
Well over 20,000 race fans in attendance for the Saturday show

  HERNANDEZ WINS DRAGSTOCK TITLE AFTER SCRUGGS STUMBLES
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – Jason Scruggs did everything but win the race Saturday at Steve Earwood’s Rockingham Dragway where, after becoming the first doorslammer to break the 200 mile per hour barrier in one-eighth of a mile, his Cinderella weekend ended in a final round loss to Josh Hernandez.
 
Scruggs’ replica 1963 Chevrolet Corvette was victimized by tire shake in the finale, slowing to 4.360 seconds after setting ADRL world records of 3.703 seconds at 205.13 miles per hour earlier in a Dragstock IV event that drew an estimated 30,000 race fans.
 
Nevertheless, it may have taken another record for Scruggs to have gotten around Hernandez in the Pro Extreme final.  Hernandez, the points leader in the race for the NHRA Pro Modified championship, pushed his Howard Moon-tuned replica 1957 Chevy Bel Air through the eighth mile in 3.786 seconds at 197.80 miles per hour.
        
Other winners were Jim Halsey of Street, Md., who prevailed in Pro Nitrous; NHRA Xplod Series Champion Brad Personett of Orlando, Fla., who drove his 2008 Toyota Scion into the winners’ circle in Extreme 10.5; and veteran Bill Vose of Buck Mountain, Pa., who rode his Suzuki to a big win in Pro Extreme Motorcycle.
 
Scruggs, who also set ADRL records for time and speed at last year’s event, got a gift victory in round one when his ‘Vette lost traction and slowed to an almost pedestrian 4.524 seconds at just 165 mph.  Although it was nowhere close to his record times, it still was good enough to get him past No. 16 qualifier Mel Eaves.
 
In round two, however, the Saltillo, Miss., veteran began to flex his considerable muscle.  Paired with No. 8 qualifier Dwayne Watkins of Rosemark, Tenn., Scruggs was clocked in a then-record 3.736 seconds at a resounding 205 mph.  In the semis, he went one better, duplicating his speed record while again lowering the record, this time to 3.703 seconds.
 
In the final, though, he had no answer for Hernandez, the Conroe, Texas, driver who this year has won six of eight events in the NHRA’s AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Series.  Driving the Dr. Moon’s Rage Chevy Bel Air, Hernandez qualified in the middle of the pack in the first ever field qualified under 4.00 seconds.
 
Nevertheless, he was almost flawless in eliminations with eighth-mile times of  3.873, 3.807, 3.877 and 3.786 seconds.  It was the second Rockingham victory for Hernandez, who won on the quarter mile course at the 2006 IHRA Spring Nationals.
 
Halsey also won with consistency, eventually upstaging No. 1 qualifier Doug Reisterer of Victoria, Texas, who, in a first round victory over Mocksville’s Steve Vick, pushed his 1968 Camaro to the quickest ever time for a nitrous car at 3.941 seconds.
 
Personett was the dominant driver in Extreme 10.5 after track and national record holder and No. 1 qualifier Mike Hill of Washington, Ga., fouled out in the first round by .001 of a second, ending his Rock winning streak at three races.
 
PRO EXTREME
 Qualifying – 1. Jason Scruggs, Saltillo, Miss., 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 3.809, 200.86 mph; 2. John Lynam, Ladys Island, S.C., 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 3.865, 188.36 mph; 3. Tommy Mauney, Shelby, N.C., 2007 Ford Mustang, 3.896, 193.71 mph; 4. Quain Stott, Columbus, N.C., 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 3.899, 187.99 mph; 5. Bill Clanton, Rome, Ga., 1953 Studebaker, 3.906, 190.75 mph; 6. Josh Hernandez, Conroe, Texas, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, 3.914, 192.66 mph; 7. Chip King, Semora, N.C., 1969 Dodge Daytona, 3.930, 186.98 mph; 8. Dwayne Watkins, Rosemark, Tenn., 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, 3.931, 185.51 mph; 9. Frankie Taylor, Dickinson, Texas, 2005 Chevrolet Corvette, 3.933, 187.89 mph; 10. Joe Baker, Milton, Fla., 1941 Willys, 3.944, 184.65 mph; 11. Todd Tutterow, Yadkinville, N.C., 1941 Willys, 3.949, 190.00 mph; 12. Mike Neal, Cantonment, Fla., 1953 Studebaker, 3.963, 177.23 mph; 13. Kelly Martin, Pageland, S.C., 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, 3.974, 187.11 mph; 14. Joey Martin, Milton, Fla., 2007 Ford Mustang, 3.978, 183.64 mph; 15. Travis Swearingen, Grain Valley, Mo., 1941 Willys, 3.984, 186.55 mph; 16. Mel Eaves, Hudson, Fla., 1967 Chevrolet Camaro, 3.996, 184.75 mph.
 First round – Scruggs, 4.524, 165.44 mph, def. Eaves, 4.953, 144.77 mph; Watkins, 3.863, 190.32 mph, def. Taylor, 5.549, 114.28 mph; Stott, 3.895, 188.81 mph, def. K. Martin, 3.920, 188.04 mph; Clanton, 3.850, 193.38 mph, def. Bennie McDonald, 5.745, 97.18 mph; Lynam, 3.910, 187.23 mph, def. Bubba Stanton (in as alternate), 4.091, 155.42 mph; Baker, 3.903, 185.92 mph, def. King, 3.931, 186.36 mph; J. Martin, 3.927, 184.90 mph, def. Mauney, no time; Hernandez, 3.873, 194.66 mph, def. Tutterow, 5.345, 105.99 mph.
 Second round – Scruggs, 3.736, 205.13 mph, def. Watkins, 4.031, 171.84 mph; Stott, 3.881, 190.00 mph, def. Clanton, broke; Baker, 3.889, 186.84 mph, def. Lynam, 4.394, 122.44 mph; Hernandez, 3.807, 197.51 mph, def. J. Martin, 3.909, 186.05 mph.
 Semifinals – Scruggs, 3.703, 205.13 mph, def. Stott, 5.380, 89.31 mph; Hernandez, 3.877, 192.99 mph, def. Baker, 4.441, 121.29 mph.
 FINAL – Joshua Hernandez, Conroe, Texas, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, 3.786, 197.80 mph, def. Jason Scruggs, Saltillo, Miss., 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 4.360, 128.15 mph.
 
PRO NITROUS
Qualifying – 1. Doug Reisterer, Victoria, Texas, 1968 Camaro, 4.002, 181.59 mph; 2. Burton Auxier, Dixie, West Va., 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, 4.018, 181.30 mph; 3. Jim Halsey, Street, Md., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, 4.021, 185.80 mph; 4. Greg Godwin, Walterboro, S.C., 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 4.022, 180.91 mph; 5. Harold Martin, New Hudson, Mich., 2007 Pontiac Grand Am, 4.031, 183.47 mph; 6. Billy Harper, Paducah, Ky., 2000 Dodge Viper, .4.037, 181.69 mph; 7. Keith Baker, Dothan, Ala., 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 4.039, 181.08 mph; 8. Randy Weatherford, Providence, N.C., 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 4.048, 180.09 mph; 9. Johnny Pilcher, Chancellor, Ala., 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 4.049, 180.84 mph; 10. Jamie Hancock, Opelika, Ala., 2004 Chevrolet Corvette, 4.055, 181.50 mph; 11. Dennis Radford, Baker City, Ore., 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, 4.056, 179.14 mph; 12. Stan Allen, New Iberia, La., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, 4.058, 181.81 mph; 13. Thomas Meyers, Granbury, Texas, 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 4.062, 180.04 mph; 14. Buzz Varner, Graham, N.C., 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 4.071, 179.42 mph; 15. Tim Savell, Terry Miss., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, 4.072, 178..26 mph; 16. Steve Vick, Mocksville, 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 4.074, 179.66 mph.
 First round – Reisterer, 3.941, 183.69 mph, def. Vick, 6.736, 99.74 mph; Pilcher, 3.999, 181.45 mph, def. Weatherford, 4.023, 181.79 mph; Godwin, 4.052, 181.28 mph, def. Myers, 4.030, 181.59 mph; Martin, 4.016, 181.98 mph, def. Allen, 4.632, 174.59 mph; Savell, 4.437, 154.62 mph, def. Auxier, 8.306, 53.51 mph; Hancock, 4.042, 181.69 mph, def. Baker, 6.882, 66.46 mph; Halsey, 3.975, 185.92 mph, def. Varner, 4.041, 180.96 mph; Harper, 3.994, 184.25 mph, def. Radford, 6.335, 80.40 mph.
 Second round – Pilcher, 4.765, 159.17 mph, def. Reisterer, 8.209, 76.92 mph; Martin, 4.007, 175.75 mph, def. Godwin, 4.104, 179.95 mph; Hancock, 4.261, 162.51 mph, def. Savell, 5.061, 101.51 mph; Halsey, 4.085, 183.84 mph, def. Harper, 9.558, no speed posted.
 Semifinals – Martin, 3.995, 185.89 mph, def. Pilcher, 11.038, 38.09 mph; Halsey, 3.975, 186.20 mph, def. Hancock, 4.242, 142.88 mph.
 FINAL – Jim Halsey, Street, Md., 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, 4.009, 183.29 mph, def. Harold Martin, New Hudson, Mich., 2007 Pontiac Grand Am, 4.332, 147.21 mph.
 
EXTREME 10.5
Qualifying – 1. Mike Hill, Washington, Ga., 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 4.336, 170.82 mph; 2. Steve Gorman, Whitesboro, Texas, 2001 Pontiac Grand Am, 4.358, 166.93 mph; 3. Brad Personett, Orlando, Fla., 2008 Toyota Scion, 4.358, 164.79 mph; 4. Michelle Wilson, Azle, Texas, 2000 Pontiac Firebird, 4.386, 165.58 mph; 5. Houston Dial, Pembroke, N.C., 2005 Chevrolet, 4.425, 162.70 mph; 6. Michael Neal, Pace, Fla., 1967 Chevrolet Nova,  4.451, 167.38 mph; 7. Rick Varner, Kannapolis, Md., 2005 Pontiac GTO, 4.457, 162.96 mph; 8. Kenny Kneece, Trenton, S.C., 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 4.458, 164.91 mph.
 Round one – Kneece, 8.448, 86.58 mph, def. Hill, foul; Dial, 5.042, 157.98 mph, def. Wilson, 9.649, 59.74 mph; Varner, 4.609, 144.75 mph, def. Gorman, 4.862, 115.50 mph; Personett, 4.352, 169.61 mph, def. Neal, 4.667, 136.14 mph.
 Semifinals – Kneece, 4.592, 165.33 mph, def. Dial, broke; Personett, 4.335, 168.43 mph, def. Varner, 6.532, 78.45 mph.
 FINAL – Brad Personett, Orlando, Fla., 2008 Toyota Scion, 4.337, 167.18 mph, def. Kenny Kneece, Trenton, S.C., 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, 4.525, 164.11 mph.

PRO EXTREME MOTORCYCLE
Qualifying – 1. Charlie Prophit, W. Monroe, La., Suzuki, 4.271, 163.49 mph; 2. Scott Valetti, Cincinnati, Ohio, Suzuki, 4.292, 165.44 mph; 3. Bill Vose, Buck Mountain, Pa., Suzuki, 4.305. 161.05 mph; 4. Coodee Thomas, Conyers, Ga., Suzuki, 4.318, 169.10 mph; 5. Ron Clark, Columbia Station, Ohio, Suzuki, 4.326, 151.07 mph; 6. Eddie Gonder, Poquoson, Va., Suzuki, 4.387, 161.75 mph; 7. Ron Procopio, Wake Forest, N.C., Suzuki, 4.405, 158.87 mph; 8. Brian Carr, Schirr, West Va., Suzuki, 4.410, 161.52 mph; 9. Steve Drake, Xenia, Ohio, Suzuki, 4.411, 164.19 mph; 10. Craig Rosenberg, Oviedo, Fla., Suzuki, 4.424, 158.91 mph; 11. Robert Hunnicutt, Youngsville, N.C.,Suzuki, 4.433, 163.06 mph; 12. Japel Heard, Atlanta, Ga., Suzuki, 4.442, 163.26 mph; 13. Scott Gray, Ocala, Fla., Kawasaki, 4.442, 158.09 mph; 14. Monte Campbell, Venice, Fla., Kawasaki, 4.456, 159.74 mph; 15. T.T. Jones, Harvest, Ala., Suzuki, 4.459, 156.88 mph; 16. Rob Bush, Cola, S.C., Suzuki, 4.472, 157.52 mph.
 First round – Carr, 4.357, 163.59 mph, def. Drake, 4.387, 161.20 mph; Valetti, 4.367, 159.44 mph, def. Jones, 4.388, 162.22 mph; Gonder, 4.359, 163.85 mph, def. Hunnicutt, no time; Rosenberg, 4.372, 160.88 mph, def. Procompio, 4.532, 150.31 mph; Bush, 4.385, 162.12, mph, def. Prophit, 4.837, 112.67 mph; Vose, 4.271, 166.93 mph, def. Campbell, 4.396, 163.41 mph; Gray, 4.421, 159.87 mph, def. Thomas, 4.413, 154.83 mph; Clark, no time, def. Heard, no time.
 Second round – Bush, 4.387, 163.04 mph, def. Carr, foul; Rosenberg, 4.303, 164.67 mph, def. Valetti, 4.369, 166.72 mph; Gray, 4.451, 161.42 mph, def. Clark, no time; Vose, 4.279, 166.76 mph, def. Gonder, 4.383, 162.53 mph.
 Semifinals – Bush, 4.391, 162.70 mph, def. Gray, 4.438, 160.82 mph; Vose, 4.279, 167.43 mph, def. Rosenberg, 10.198, 42.02 mph.
 FINAL – Bill Vose, Buck Mountain, Pa., Suzuki, 4.326, 160.44 mph, def. Rob Bush, Cola, S.C., Suzuki, 4.496, 160.48 mph.


 SCRUGGS BREAKS 200 MPH BARRIER AT ROCKINGHAM'S DRAGSTOCK IV
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – Jason Scruggs made the most of his return to Rockingham Dragway Saturday, becoming the first Pro Modified driver to accelerate to 200 miles per hour in one-eighth of a mile during qualifying for Dragstock IV, the final event in which drivers can qualify for the ADRL’s Battle of the Belts playoff.
 
Twenty years after Bill Kuhlman became the first driver of a full-bodied race car to break the 200 mph barrier in the quarter mile, Scruggs stopped the eighth-mile timers in 3.809 seconds at 200.86 mph in his replica 1963 Chevrolete Corvette.
 
That not only earned him another piece of Pro Mod history, it established him as the Pro Extreme division favorite in eliminations that were to have begun Saturday night.
 
Scruggs, who flirted with 200 mph three weeks ago at Norwalk, Ohio, where he was clocked at 199.11 mph, said he gambled on the run.
 
“It was a chance I was willing to take,” Scruggs said.  “We set the national record in this race a year ago (3.813 seconds, 198.44 mph) and I knew we had a good shot at doing it again, but you still have to have some luck for it to happen.” 
 
Rockingham owner Steve Earwood announced earlier that he and ADRL president Kenny Nowling had signed a 10-year agreement that will keep Dragstock at the North Carolina track through 2017.
 
“After the way that Rockingham and this entire region of the country supported our record-setting Dragstock III and has come out for Dragstock IV, we thought it only appropriate to keep the ADRL’s oldest and most prestigious event right here in the heart of doorslammer country,” Nowling said.
 
“The ADRL show is incredible, one of the best I’ve seen in my 38 years in the business,” Earwood said.  “Obviously, looking at another record-breaking crowd, our fans feel the same way.”