Battle For The Belts Breakdown: Extreme 10.5 & Pro Extreme Motorcycle

[NewsBot]

The biggest race of the season is just days away as the ADRL prepares for the Speedtech “Battle For The Belts” at the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals VI at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, TX.Only the eight best drivers in each of the ADRL’s six classes get a chance at a coveted World Championship and it’s time for a little breakdown, as in a “Battle For The Belts Breakdown.”We’ll look at all the matchups in every class and dive into how it could all pan out on what will surely be a memorable night in Ennis.TUESDAY: Extreme Pro Stock and Pro Junior DragsterTODAY: Extreme 10.5 and Pro Extreme MotorcycleTHURSDAY: Pro Extreme and Pro NitrousEXTREME 10.5As far as first-round matchups go, it’s going to be hard to top this class, especially considering all these drivers seem to be peaking at the right time.Six of the eight qualifiers have made 3-second runs this season and another - Jeff Naiser - has done so in testing.The top qualifier, Gary White, gets a first-round bye and he was excited as any of the ADRL top qualifiers to get that bye.Since dominating the class early in the year, earning two straight wins, things haven’t been as easy for White. A solo pass in the first round might let him and his Titan Motorsports team get things on point, which could make him dangerous on Friday.He’ll get the winner of Naiser and Todd Moyer, who was feverishly putting his car back together after it caught fire during a testing session on Sunday.The race between Kenny Doak and Dan Millen just to get into the field should be extremely exciting as well. Millen is on quite a roll, setting a new class E.T. record with a 3.82 and going as quick as a 3.78 in Norwalk. Doak, though, can’t be ignored and is also capable of advancing.The winner there gets Billy Glidden (pictured), who is racing well after he made his first 3-second pass in Norwalk.But the biggest first-round matchup might be No. 3 Spiro Pappas meeting No. 6 qualifier Chuck Ulsch. The pair have the last three ADRL event wins, with two coming from Ulsch.Pappas, though, is the 2009 World Champion and is poised to repeat. Of course, it’s also a repeat of last year’s finals matchup. The winner here might be the favorite to advance to the finals considering how well it has come together late in the season for each.A matchup with White in the finals would likely be the majority prediction, but anything can happen in a class that has made such dramatic strides in 2010.PRO EXTREME MOTORCYCLEIt doesn’t take a genius to figure out the favorite in this class. Anyone that has paid an ounce of attention to PXM knows that Ashley Owens has been the dominant force since March. Owens has won five straight races - a new ADRL record - has eight wins during the 2010 calendar year and has gone as quick as a 4.02 during this magical season.As amazing as all that is, all it takes is one upset for Owens to be removed from the World Championship chase.He gets a first-round bye, but will face the winner of Travis Davis and Eric McKinney in the semifinals.Davis, of course, is the only rider to beat Owens this year, as he topped the Fast by Gast rider at Houston Raceway Park en route to a win this season.Davis is the only PXM competitor other than Owens to get a win this year, but McKinney also has plenty of power in his bike. On the other side of the ladder, Terry Schweigert, the No. 2 qualifier, and No. 3 qualifier Kim Morrell (pictured) wouldn’t mind unseating Owens, either.Schweigert has lost four finals to Owens this season, but he has to win a first-round matchup against Lance Hines or Charlie Prophit.Morrell, who advanced to her first two finals appearances late this season, meets Ronald Procopio, who has also raced well late in the season.Schweigert and Morrell might seem like the favorites on that side of the ladder, but anything can happen.Even Owens can’t be called a lock when all it takes is one memorable run to post an upset.(Photos by ADRL/Richards)

More...