Battle For The Belts Breakdown: Pro Extreme & Pro Nitrous

[NewsBot]

The biggest race of the season is upon us and everyone is excited 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 NitrousPRO EXTREMELet’s get one thing out of the way first: Joshua Hernandez is the top qualifier and has had a magnificent season. But it would be silly to tab anyone in this loaded class as the runaway favorite.The good news for him is the bye run, of course, but Hernandez is especially motivated to get a world championship this year. It’s been the one thing that has avoided him during his successful ADRL career, but this might be his most difficult opposition yet.He’ll get the winner of teammates KH Al-Thani and Todd Tutterow, which should be a thrilling race in its own right.Tutterow is the 2009 World Champion and is racing very well at the moment. Al-Thani has had a rookie season as good as anyone and already has numerous standout duels with Hernandez. Either way, that’s a great first-round race and the semifinal could be even better.On the other side, old friends and rivals Gaylen Smith and Frankie Taylor meet in the first-round and that is must-see racing. The winner there could easily take the world title.No. 2 qualifier Alex Hossler, who has been consistent all year, will get either Quain Stott or Jason Scruggs.Considering Scruggs and Stott is the race-in matchup should tell everyone just how loaded this field is.If Scruggs gets his new ‘63 Corvette on track, he could best the entire field, but winning four times will be difficult.Predicting a world champion - let alone the finals matchup - might be even more challenging, so let’s just leave it as everyone should be considered a favorite.PRO NITROUSTop qualifier Rickie Smith is hoping to recreate the magic that led to three straight wins during the middle portion of the season.He hasn’t been quite the same at the tail end of the season, but his car is capable of some incredible times. Smith also talked about possibly walking into the sunset should he win his first ADRL World Championship.Randy Weatherford might be considered the dark horse among some and he has a very interesting first-round matchup with No. 4 qualifier Burton Auxier.Of course, that winner gets Smith in the semifinals. Both Auxier and Smith struggled and didn’t make the field at the last race in Norwalk, but Smith is understandably happy about that first-round bye.On the other side of the bracket, the shuffling that started in Norwalk kept going right up until the race.Charles Carpenter withdrew from the field to be with his family during a trying time, opening a spot for Doug Riesterer in the No. 8 spot.He’ll race Steve Vick in a great race-in matchup. Riesterer has been red-hot to close the season, winning Simpson Dragstock.Stan Allen, meanwhile, moves up and will go against a familiar face in Shannon Jenkins in a matchup with tons of history behind it.Vick or Riesterer will get Jim Halsey in what should be another great matchup and any semifinal race with these four drivers will be memorable.Jenkins and Smith would be a finals pairing pitting two veterans against each other, but that’s certainly not a sure thing.(Photos by ADRL/Richards)

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