Hernandez looking to move up in ADRL points

JACKSON, SC – For much of the 2005 season, Josh Hernandez has raced within the strict confines of the NHRA AMS TLR Series. During this weekend’s ADRL Fatheadz .com Dragstock event, Hernandez gets to take off the gloves and battle it out with the nation’s top outlaw doorslammer pilots. Hernandez has raced in only three of the American Drag Racing League Pro Extreme events and has still managed a seventh place ranking headed into this weekend’s event. He’s only nine points out of fifth place.

Hernandez is ranked second in the NHRA AMS TLR Pro Modified Series.

“I’m looking forward to mixing it up with the Outlaw guys in their native domain,” Hernandez said. “We have a strong combination and I feel we have good shot at doing well this weekend. There are going to be some tough runners here that are going to make this an extremely tough challenge.”

The last time Hernandez competed in the Pro Extreme division, a class reserved for doorslammers with little or no performance limitations, he scored a runner-up finish to Bill Clanton during the ADRL’s Dragapalooza event.

Unlike the events Hernandez is used to competing in, this event contests eighth-mile competition instead of quarter-mile. That is a challenge to peaks the interest of Hernandez.

“It’s a different arena for sure,” Hernandez said. “This kind of an event forces you to change your combination to get after it early. Instead of 1320 feet to overcome and early mistakes, you have only 660. That leaves no margin for error.”

Hernandez is making quite a splash in his rookie season of driving behind the wheel of Tommy Lipar’s supercharged 1957 Chevy. He’s already claimed four straight final round appearances and that has pulled him to within 900 points of leader Mike Ashley. His most recent accolades came with a runner-up during the prestigious NHRA U.S. Nationals.

Hernandez will have three attempts to qualify for the eight-car Pro Extreme division. The first session is slated for Noon on Saturday with two more at 2 & 4 PM. Final eliminations will begin at 6 PM.

Sunday’s Outlaws versus NHRA AMS TLR Team Challenge will begin at Noon.

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