Armed with bonus points from competing on the full 2009 ADRL Nationals Guard tour, Patrick overtook the eighth place in points. He will compete in next month's ADRL Speedtech Battle for the Belts competition in Dallas, Tex., to determine the eliminator world champion.

"I would have like to have won it straight up on points but I'll take it," said Patrick of the bonus points awarded at the conclusion of his race day. "After the season we've had where we broke rods in four engines. The engine we had in the car this weekend was one that we blew up after St. Louis. My engine builder Bob Ingles did a helluva job putting it back together. We just had some part failures."

But, for Patrick, he believes those issues are in the past.

"We'll have our good motor back in time for Texas," Patrick said. "With the time off, we'll have even more time to freshen up all of our equipment."

Patrick came into the ADRL Dragstock event this weekend in Rockingham, N.C., with the objective of keeping pace with Cary Goforth, the eighth place ranked driver by four poin ts. The former world champion outqualified Goforth by one spot and was eliminated in the same round of competition.

Momentum has been on Patrick's side lately with a pair of No. 1 qualifying efforts as well as a pair of semi-final finishes.

"We're getting to running well when we needed to," Patrick admitted. "I think we've run exceptionally well considering the situations we've faced. Texas will give us a new and fresh opportunity."

Courtesy of Harley Communication