Both Mike Castellana and Shannon "The Iceman" Jenkins have experienced the effects of "being on a
roll" in their ADRL Pro Nitrous racing efforts this season, going onto say that there is nothing
that can do as much for a team's confidence than continued success. A record run, or a big win
always helps to get a team's mind right, but it's when records fall on an almost weekly basis, and
wins start to rack up that the magic really starts to happen.
Fresh off a win in St. Louis just two weeks ago, Mike Castellana's classic '70.5 Chevy Camaro has
struck fear in the hearts of all ADRL Pro Nitrous competitors with consistent runs in the low
3.90s, even in the heat of the day, and worse yet - mid 3.80s when the weather comes around. With
nothing short of bad intentions behind every run, Castellana, led by his crew chief and fellow
driver Shannon Jenkins, will being doing his best to blow holes in the current Pro Nitrous records
this weekend, as well as put his maroon and gold Chevrolet in the final round come Saturday night.
With two trips to the victory lane already this season, both in one historic weekend, Shannon "The
Iceman" Jenkins will again be behind the wheel of the fan-favorite SPEEDTECH Nitrous/Al-Anabi
Racing '68 Chevy Camaro that propelled him to the first 3.8-second run in nitrous-racing history,
working to whittle away Jim Halsey's point lead in the Pro Nitrous category.
"This category has come a long way over the course of the last five years," said Jenkins. "You have
to have your program together if you're going to go rounds out here. Right now, we know what we
have to run to be competitive, but we don't want to see things getting any more out of hand than
they are now. The focus for this Al-Anabi Racing team is to make complete runs, continue to show
consistency on race day. We know that's how to win out here."
Another member of the Al-Anabi Racing stable, K.A. Balooshi, led by world-champion racer and
world-renowned tuner "Tricky" Rickie Smith, has also seen his fair share of good fortune lately.
Often, though, the luck has worn off come the final round, which he has attended at the last two
ADRL national events in Richmond and St. Louis. Balooshi anticipates Columbus, Ohio being the place
where he earns his first win in ADRL Pro Nitrous competition; another Al-Anabi Racing milestone
that is of great importance to team-owner His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar.
Wiry veteran Burton Auxier will round out the Al-Anabi Racing team in Columbus, whose primary goal
will be to earn a berth in the SPEEDTECH Nitrous ADRL Battle for the Belts in Dallas, Texas this
October. Just 56 points out of title contention, Auxier will have to break past Pat Stoken,
currently occupying the eighth and final slot in the championship shootout ladder, to race on
Friday night, under the lights, at the Texas Motorplex for undoubtedly the biggest prize in all of
doorslammer drag racing - the National Guard ADRL Championship Belt.
The ADRL will debut a brand new race schedule during the Summit Racing Equipment Ohio Drags III
this weekend at National Trail Raceway with three qualifying sessions on Friday, followed by a
final qualifying shot early on Saturday and eliminations thereafter.
Follow Al-Anabi Racing this weekend with live, round-by-round coverage at http://www.DragRaceCentral.com.
