O’FALLON, MO (March 18, 2011) – In a landmark move for the American Drag Racing League (ADRL), the world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league is adopting a conventional points series to determine its World Champions.

It can now also be considered the richest doorslammer drag racing series in history.

The ADRL announced on Thursday its plans for a traditional points series, which will also be accompanied by an incredible $356,000 points fund.

The World Championship will go to the competitor recording the most points throughout the 10-race series in each class (Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Extreme 10.5, Pro Extreme Motorcycle and Extreme Pro Stock).

The “Battle For The Belts” will now be an in-series shootout during the final race weekend, once again offering a championship belt and significant cash payout.

In all, the World Championships points fund will pay nearly $400,000 to ADRL competitors, which comes on top of the $330,000 increase in single-event purse payouts that was announced in February.

The points fund will pay the top 10 competitors in the points standings in each class at the conclusion of the 2011 season, marking a significant point in the ADRL’s history.

“We want to be a world-class organization and this is part of making that happen. This will help make the ADRL even better than ever,” ADRL Executive Vice President Jeff Fortune said.

“Working with more sponsors than ever, we’re introducing the biggest payouts and best broadcast options in our history, and we’re creating more and more opportunities for exposure for our drivers and teams. This shows the commitment we’re making and the direction we’re headed.”

Winning the World Championship in Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous will award those drivers a remarkable $75,000, with the runner-up in points for each class netting $10,000.

In Extreme 10.5, the points champion will get $25,000, while the runner-up will get $7,000.

The Pro Extreme Motorcycle points champion will earn $10,000, with $3,000 going to the runner-up.

Extreme Pro Stock’s points champion will be awarded $50,000 and another $8,000 will go to the runner-up.

“With the support we’ve received, we’re trying to use the sponsorship, commitments and support we have in the best way for the sport, the drivers and teams, and to enable the series to grow,” Fortune said.

It will also make for a unique and innovative final race weekend during the 2011 ADRL Tour, as the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals VII, which takes place Oct. 21-22 at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas, will be chocked full of storylines.

The “Battle For The Belts” will continue to take place on that Friday, with the top eight qualifiers in each class gunning for a championship belt in what will be a separate one-day shootout.

The next day, there will be final qualifying and eliminations for the World Finals, which concludes the 2011 season.

At that time, the event winners from that race, along with the World Championship will then be awarded on what will be one of the ADRL’s biggest racing weekends to date.

“That will be an amazing weekend, giving fans and teams three memorable moments over two days,” Fortune said. “You’ve got the ‘Battle For The Belts,' which is always exciting, and the race on Saturday, which anyone can come in and win, and now the World Championship. It’s going to be a thrilling way to end what we believe will be the biggest year in ADRL history.”

There will no longer be a first-race carryover, meaning the ADRL will adopt a more traditional schedule, ending the 2011 season with the final race and points championship.

The Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags V in September will continue as the last race to qualify for the “Battle For The Belts.”

Points from last year’s World Finals event in Ennis will carry over to 2011, meaning the current points standings on www.ADRL.us are correct.

The increased payouts, points program and low qualifier programs will begin at the first race of the 2011 season, which begins on March 25-26 with CarSafe Dragpalooza VII presented by LenMar Motorsports at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas.

For full World Championship payouts, visit www.ADRL.us.

ADRL races at Palm Beach International Raceway on April 15-16, 2011.

ABOUT THE ADRL
Based in O’Fallon, Missouri, the American Drag Racing League is the nation’s premier sanctioning body for the sport of eighth-mile drag racing. The professional categories featured in the ADRL are Pro Junior Dragster, Extreme Pro Stock, Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme, the quickest doorslammer class in all of drag racing. The 2011 ADRL tour consists of 10 national events run throughout the United States. For more information on the ADRL, visit www.ADRL.us.

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Content courtesy of ADRL News Bureau