Battle For The Belts: Six Championship Impressions

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A season to remember in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) wrapped up with the Speedtech “Battle For The Belts” on Friday at Texas Motorplex.Fittingly, in a season filled with magical moments, unbelievable upsets and record-breaking runs, fans got a little bit of everything in Texas as champions were crowned in every class.In honor of the ADRL’s six world champions, here are six championship impressions from Texas Motorplex.Also, each champion will be featured in the coming days at www.ADRL.us. The list:TUESDAY: Tyler Allen, Pro Junior DragsterWEDNESDAY: John Montecalvo, Extreme Pro StockTHURSDAY: Kim Morrell, Pro Extreme MotorcycleFRIDAY: Dan Millen, Extreme 10.5SATURDAY: Burton Auxier, Pro NitrousSUNDAY: Frankie Taylor, Pro ExtremeTAYLOR TRIUMPHS OVER ALLFrankie Taylor didn’t enter the “Battle For The Belts” as the points leader, but that didn’t take away from everything the Houston-area had accomplished leading up to the final race.In that sense, it was almost fitting that Taylor was able to enjoy the biggest moment of his career at a track not far from his home.Like he has been for the last half of the year, Taylor was dialed in at Texas Motorplex and nobody could track him down.In the process of a memorable run, Taylor beat friend and rival Gaylen Smith in the first round after they both playfully talked about the anticipated first-round matchup.The Madman then chased down his next two wins, including in the finals, when he went 3.62 at nearly 210 miles per hour to beat fellow Houston-area driver Joshua Hernandez.Taylor’s magical year concludes with an event win - just his second in ADRL history - a world E.T. record of 3.596 and his very first ADRL World Championship.That’s a year worth smiling about.AUXIER ENDS UP IN PENTHOUSEIt wasn’t like Burton Auxier was heading to Texas Motorplex with a full head of steam.Luckily, he was in Ennis before the actual race, getting everything ready for his own championship run.Just a month ago, Auxier didn’t qualify for the Ohio Drags IV and seemed to be limping into the “Battle For The Belts.”But he had some productive test sessions at Texas Motorplex and the difference was noticeable the moment the Al-Anabi Racing driver made his first pass during the race.Things only got better, too, as Auxier went an incredible 3.83 in the semifinals to end points leader Rickie Smith’s quest for a championship.With Shannon Jenkins struggling a bit to get his Al-Anabi car in peak form, Auxier took advantage with a 3.89 in the finals to beat his teammate and friend.His celebration might not have been as boisterous as others, but it was evident it meant the world to him.LOCKED-IN MILLENSure, Dan Millen might have struggled - and then struggled some more - during a forgettable first half of the 2010 season.His 2011 Mustang wasn’t cooperating and everyone on his team was frustrated with where things were going.But in the midst of changing absolutely everything on the car, the Al-Anabi Racing driving found something no other Extreme 10.5 driver could match.Once he made his first 3-second run in Rockingham in early September, nobody could track down Millen.He entered the “Battle For The Belts” as the No. 8 seed, but he was by no means an underdog after setting world E.T. records at both Rockingham and Norwalk (3.82).He went as fast as 3.78 heading into Ennis and then was consistently explosive at Texas Motorplex.He didn’t go slower than 3.85, shrugging off a career-best from Billy Glidden in a semifinal win.Millen went 3.84 to beat Gary White in the finals to win for the first time in the ADRL.If Millen keeps this Mustang chugging along, it certainly won’t be his last.MORRELL FINALLY GETS OWENSAs much as Kim Morrell looked up to Ashley Owens, in the worst way she wanted to beat him.How ready was she?Well, Morrell and her team certainly weren’t sitting around before the world championships.That much was evident went Morrell went 4.07 right out of the gates in a qualifying session.A pass like that opened everyone’s eyes, but Morrell got an even bigger reaction the next time she went down the track.She went 4.024, just missing the world E.T. record set by the aforementioned Owens.Morrell wasn’t quite as sharp or quick during the “Battle For The Belts” eliminations, but everything went her way.She won via red light in the first round and then had a bye to the finals after both potential opponents fouled out.Then, Owens broke in the finals and while Morrell’s bike was having its own problems, it was enough to give her the win.It was the most shocking moment of Friday, mostly because of how dominant Owens had been this season.But Friday was all about Morrell, who is now the first female in ADRL history to win a world championship.MONTECALVO FINDS HIS MOJOJohn Montecalvo was frank - he had lost whatever magic he had during his amazing four-race win streak over the summer.Instead of floundering in disappointment, Montecalvo and his team found what they were looking for at the perfect time.Montecalvo still had a sliver of doubt, especially considering how well the rest of the field was running heading into Ennis.But his team reassured him things would be fine and they turned out even better.Fans couldn’t have gotten a better drag race in the finals, either.Both Montecalvo and Pete Berner went identical 4.071 in the championship round, but Montecalvo was slightly quicker off the line.It wrapped up a magnificent season and Montecalvo celebrated as one might expect. ALLEN GETS TITLEPro Junior Dragster driver Tyler Allen had a beaming smile that wasn’t about to leave his face. Among the rest of the ADRL champions, Allen was enjoying every bit of his special moment.He had a great reaction in the Winner’s Circle after beating Alexander Oppen in the finals and his youthful enthusiasm was heart-warming to see.Allen slipped past Kyle Dvorak by a mere seven feet to advance to the finals and his day started with a win against Ty Tutterow.For Allen, though, the ending was the best part.(Photos by ADRL/Richards)

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