Meadors’ semi-final race against longtime friend Sean Renteria and the popular Renteria Bros ’64 Plymouth Valiant didn’t go as smoothly, but an on-again, off-again run of 6.21 @ 241mph was good enough to get a win-light against his equally-troubled nemesis. The two elimination wins set up a much anticipated rematch between Meadors and Pure Hell2 Tim McAmis built Camaro and West Coast Pro Mod standout Mike Maggio and his Tim McAmis built ’68 Camaro.  But Mother Nature’s 50mph wind gusts had other plans forcing the winner-take-all final round race to be postponed to a later date. The last time Meadors and Maggio locked horns – history was made with the quickest side-by-side door slammer race ever (5.759 for Meadors vs. a 5.778 for Maggio).

If things go according to plan, the final round rematch is scheduled to take place during the Super Chevy Show May 31-June 2^nd right back here at Auto Club Famoso Raceway. “We had an outstanding weekend here in Bakersfield,” Meadors said reflecting on the race. “We came here and accomplished our goals to make it to the final. We qualified #2 and will race our biggest rival, Maggio Motorsports for the spoils. We’ll have to wait to settle the score but we’re confident if we stick to our game plan we can give Maggio a great race for the win later this month.”

The Goodguys team had a chance to test new parts and pieces over the weekend with hopes of making the potent Camaro even quicker and faster. “We swapped out the three speed Lenco transmission in favor of a two speed to get the gearing more favorable,” Meadors said. “A few tweaks to the fuel system and JRi rear shocks made it fast – real fast!”

Meadors went on to thank his dedicated crew chief Jason Bunker and crew members Billy Fereira, Danny Miller and Greg Lee.

The Pure Hell2 Pro Mod is sponsored by…..Goodguys Rod & Custom Association, Red Line Oil, Neal Chance Converters, Fiber Optic Supply, Andy’s T Shirts, DMPE, JRi Shocks, Tim McAmis Race Cars and Speedway Motors.

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The X-DRL officially announced on Wednesday the “X-treme Shootout” for the Pro X-treme, Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous and X-treme Pro Stock classes. This shootout will award each class $25,000 ($75,000 overall) and will be contested at the X-DRL’s Thunder In The Heartland on Sept. 20-21 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

To qualify for the eight-car “X-Treme Shootout,” drivers in PX, PN and XPS must be a top eight points earner at the upcoming X-DRL Bash On The Bayou (not cumulative point standings), which takes place May 17-18 at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, La.

Winners of the “X-treme Shootout” in all three classes will earn $10,000 in addition to the regular purse at the event. If a driver wins both the “X-treme Shootout” and the Thunder In The Heartland event in their respective class, the X-DRL also announced it will award that driver an additional $5,000 double-up bonus.

In all, a driver in PX, PN, XPS could win $21,000 should they win both the eight-car shootout and event.

The incentive gets even bigger, too, as a number of X-DRL sponsors will award additional payout bonuses to the shootout winners and runner-up.

Those sponsor bonuses will be officially announced later this week.

“One of our top priorities since forming the X-DRL was to give competitors every opportunity to showcase their talents with something big on the line. The ‘X-treme Shootout’ is one of those chances and we’re extremely excited to offer this to drivers in Pro X-treme, Pro Nitrous and X-treme Pro Stock,” X-DRL Co-Owner Jeff Mitchell said.

“Indianapolis is the perfect location to have an 8-car shootout like this, and I know No Problem Raceway is just as excited to host the qualifying for our ‘X-treme Shootout.’”

The runner-up of the “X-treme Shootout” will earn $5,000 in each class, while semifinalists and first-round losers will take home $2,500 and $1,250, respectively.

“It’s going to be incredible to have a number of outstanding sponsors step up and add even more incentive to this exciting shootout,” X-DRL Account Executive Keith Goolsby said.

“It’s going to make our debut at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis even more memorable, and it’s also going to add a huge thrill to our upcoming debut at No Problem Raceway. I know our drivers will be doing everything possible at No Problem to try to get into the shootout, and that’s going to make for some amazing racing.”

As the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series rolls into the ultra-quick dragstrip located just east of downtown Houston, April 26-28, for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries, Rowe wants nothing more than to have history repeat itself. Rowe will seek his third win at Royal Purple Raceway with a new sponsor on the side of his famed black supercharged ’67 Chevy Camaro: Agave Underground Tequila.

“We have a good handle on the racing,” Rowe said. “We have won twice in Houston (2012 and 2010). So this weekend we would like to see a repeat win especially with our new sponsor Agave Underground coming out this weekend. They are new to the sport and are enjoying every bit of the racing excitement. There’s definitely added pressure when the sponsor is in town, but we’ll be ready to bring some great racing to Houston.”

Rowe is focused on race No. 3 in the 10-race series after qualifying No. 2 at the season-opener in Gainesville and No. 1 in Charlotte. This momentum has Rowe feeling positive that his team is ready to grab its first win of the season and improve on its current seventh place points position.

“We’re focused and ready to head into Houston,” Rowe said. “Royal Purple Raceway has a great racing facility and we love the people at Houston. Can’t wait to get out there and bring them some great side-by-side drag racing.”

Heavy-hitters like defending world champion Troy Coughlin, who won the most recent event at zMAX Dragway in North Carolina last weekend, series points leader Von Smith, Charlotte runner-up Kenny Lang, and cagey veteran driver Rickie Smith are all eager to grab a win in the popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series. Rowe is confident his Agave Underground Tequila Camaro team will bring their A-game to Houston.

“Overall, the quality of cars and drivers in the series is tremendous,” Rowe said. “We know what we’re up against and we’ll continue to do our very best. (Crew chief) Jimmy Rector and all the guys have done a terrific job in giving me a consistent car. It’s been a great start to the season. I know we’re all looking forward to Houston this weekend.”

“We just decided to take a few steps back in order to go forward,” said Knowles. I mean we’ve been having a rough time so we decided to put a completely different tune up in the car, one we ran mid-last season, and she responded but we hurt a main bearing on that run. Still, we knew we were onto something,” added Knowles.

With a wounded bullet in the car Knowles’ only back up was an unproven piece that promised plenty of power and she didn’t disappoint. Once she was in the car and the team fired her for the first time it was evident something was different.

“As soon as she lit we knew she was gonna be a beast. There was a different tone to her,” said Knowles.

On her maiden voyage the plan was to take it easy and not push her too hard. The light tune up posted a 6.15 in Knowles’ second round win over Clint Satterfield and set up a pairing with last season’s points champ, Troy Coughlin in the semi’s.

It was all or nothing on this pass. With timing knocked way out of her, she still started to haze the tires forcing Knowles to peddle. Coughlin took the win with a 5.882 at 248 but Knowles running a 5.96 at just over 247 on an interrupted pass has the entire team excited heading to Houston for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals.

“Man, my guys did a great job this weekend and with this new engine and us getting a solid baseline to build from; I’m really looking forward to Houston,” said Mike Knowles.

This history-making event will give fans the first look at the action-packed X-DRL, which features many of the top professional doorslammer and Pro Modified drivers in the world as well as nine exciting professional classes that will provide non-stop action over the two days, with cars going as quick as 3.60 seconds in the 1/8-mile at more than 210 mph.

The X-DRL, an 1/8-mile sanctioning body that has already drawn strong reviews from its debut event, is thrilled for its first event in Bristol, which has been the site of some of the best doorslammer in drag racing history.

“We are tremendously excited to be having our second event at such a prestigious track like Bristol Dragway. The amount of history at this track is incredible and we can’t wait to put on a great show in the heart of doorslammer country,” X-DRL Co-Owner Jeff Mitchell said.

“There’s so many great drivers in the X-DRL that will be racing at Bristol for this event, and I’m certain it’s going to be one of the best events of the year for the X-DRL.”

With an exciting manufacturer midway, special exhibition runs and pit access in one of the most incredible atmospheres in drag racing, fans can expect maximum value from their X-DRL ticket purchase.

“The main idea behind the X-DRL was to create a high-quality association that will bring plenty of excitement and we’re thrilled with what we’ve been able to accomplish in a short time,” said X-DRL co-owner Jeff Mitchell.

“It’s only the first year for the X-DRL but we’ve already been able to establish ourselves in the industry. We’ve done business the right way and the support we’ve received from sponsors has been proof of that. We believe the racing community is hungry for a product like what the X-DRL will present in 2013.”