[1]
As a former series champion, the winningest driver in ADRL history (tied with PXM’s Ashley Owens at 13 wins), and the driver with the most career final round appearances in series history (18), Billy Glidden has had plenty of great moments since bursting into the Extreme 10.5 category in 2008. But on Saturday night at Maple Grove Raceway, he had perhaps one of his finest hours to date.
[2]Glidden, the popular and outspoken second-generation racer from Whiteland, In., has spent much of the last two-plus seasons getting his tried-and-true nitrous oxide combination kicked around by the likes of Dan Millen, Chuck Ulsch, Alan Pittman, Grant McCrary, and others.
But at the ADRL’s Northeast Drags II, Glidden let it be known that enough was enough.
Glidden put his Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels [3]-backed Ford Mustang in the third slot in qualifying at a 3.996 and then turned up the proverbial wick in eliminations, disposing of Dan Myers in round one with a 3.93 and Alan Pittman – who was undefeated on the season – in round two with a stout 3.883.
In the final, Glidden drew his old nemesis Chuck Ulsch and his screw-blown ’68 Camaro that had started from the pole with a 3.90. In vintage Billy Glidden form, the Mickey Thompson Mustang rocketed out of the gate with an .020 advantage and lit the scoreboards ahead of Ulsch with Glidden’s career best performance: a stunning 3.862 at 192.63mph. The boards on Ulsch’s side flashed a 3.855. Ol’ Billy had stolen one.
For more information on Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels and their leading tire and wheel products, like the 33×10.5W tires and Pro-5 Drag wheels used on Billy Glidden’s Ford Mustang, visit mickeythompsontires.com [3].