LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals VII To Span Three Days, Include Awards Gala

Courtesy ADRL Media

Annually regarded as the biggest weekend of the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) season, the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals VII will now lay claim to being one of the biggest events in ADRL history.

In another major move for the world’s premier eighth-mile drag racing league, the ADRL announced on Thursday that its 2011 season-ending racing will take place over three days, Friday through Sunday, Oct. 21-23, at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas.

In addition, the annual Racer Appreciation and Awards Gala will take place on Sunday, Oct. 23 following the conclusion of the LenMar Motorsports World Finals VII.

“The ADRL World Finals weekend has become such a fantastic event, with three competitions going on simultaneously, that we wanted to give each winner the time to celebrate that they so richly deserve,” ADRL Executive Vice President Jeff Fortune said.
“After the race, we now will all have a chance to celebrate the incredible 2011 ADRL season together.”

Friday will include qualifying, along with passes from the jet car and Summit Bigfoot Monster Truck, serving as an ideal precursor for one of the biggest weekends in the history of the ADRL.

On Saturday, final qualifying for the LenMar Motorsports World Finals VII will be held and the popular “Battle For The Belts” will also take place, crowning champions of the one-day shootout that features the top eight competitors in each class gunning for a championship belt.

For the conclusion of the grand three-day weekend, Sunday will feature eliminations for the LenMar Motorsports World Finals VII, awarding winners of the event and officially presenting the world champions in Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Extreme 10.5, Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme Pro Stock and Pro Junior Dragster.

That championship presentation will take place later Sunday evening when the ADRL holds its Racer Appreciation and Awards Gala at the spacious and stunning Texas Motorplex “Champions Club.”

It will take place from 8 to 11 p.m. in the Champions Club and will serve as the official conclusion to a historic 2011 ADRL season.

In addition to the championship presentation, the ADRL will also announce and award its 2011 Competitor of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Track of the Year.

“All of this is going to give fans and teams numerous unforgettable moments over three days,” Fortune said. “It’s going to be a thrilling and fitting way to end what we believe is the biggest year in ADRL history.”

The three-day event will also make for a unique and innovative final race weekend as the LenMar Motorsports ADRL World Finals VII will be chocked full of storylines.

The eight-spot elimination tournament “Battle For The Belts” has always featured standout racing and this one-day shootout will feature the ADRL’s top drivers and riders in the feature event on Saturday.

As part of landmark move that was announced in March, the world championship in each class will go to the competitor recording the most points throughout the 2011 season.

The points race is still up for grabs in each class with four races remaining, which will lead to spectacular racing throughout the stretch run of the 2011 ADRL Tour, capped off by one final spectacular weekend at Texas Motorplex.

“With everything that is at stake and that will be on the line, I cannot wait to experience the incredible racing that will take place in Ennis,” ADRL Director of Competition Tom Grooms said. “This will be the perfect stage for these amazing competitors to finish out the season in tremendous fashion.”

The ADRL will release details in the coming days regarding ticket and table purchases for the gala, as well as an official schedule for what will be an eagerly-anticipated three-day event in Ennis.

(Photos by ADRL/McCole/Richards/Bunsold)