CECIL — The American Drag Racing League will be back by popular demand at South Georgia Motorsports Park in April.

American Drag Racing League officials announced today that round 2 of the 2009 National Guard ADRL tour will take place at South Georgia Motorsports Park on April 10-11.

When the 2009 National Guard ADRL event schedule was being drawn up, ADRL officials had looked into expanding the tour into Florida. But late last week, a package filled with a petition containing over 6,100 names of race fans from south Georgia and north Florida arrived at the ADRL’s O’Fallon headquarters. That petition had ADRL President and CEO Kenny Nowling placing a phone call to SGMP general manager Tim Fleming, wanting to return to Cecil.

“I told him that I had received a petition postmarked Cecil, Ga.,” Nowling said. “I felt compelled to ask him if there was a date available for the ADRL to return to SGMP, and fortunately, his answer was a resounding yes.”

For the fifth year in a row, race fans from south Georgia and north Florida are expected to jam the multi-purpose racing facility, located just a dozen miles north of Valdosta, for Georgia Drags V.

“I’m very happy that the ADRL is coming back,” said Fleming. “It means a lot to the track and the entire community to have them back. I believe what has our fans so excited about the ADRL is that their events are non-stop action from start to finish.”

The dragstrip’s all-concrete racing surface, one of only a few in the country, has traditionally been the site of some of the year’s best performances by ADRL competitors. The track also holds the distinction of having hosted more ADRL events, five, than any other facility.

“I want to acknowledge the efforts of (track) owners Kim and Rowland Wood in keeping the Georgia Drags at SGMP by giving us a multi-year deal,” said Nowling. “Our three-year agreement with them will guarantee that south Georgia and north Florida race fans will continue to enjoy the ADRL experience for years to come.”

The American Drag Racing League is the nation’s premier sanctioning body for the sport of eighth-mile drag racing. The five categories featured in the ADRL’s all-professional show are Extreme Pro Stock, Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme, the quickest full-bodied class in all of drag racing. The 2009 National Guard ADRL tour schedule consists of 10 national events run throughout the United States. For more information on the ADRL, visit the Web site www.adrl.us.

The National Guard, the oldest component of the United States’ armed forces, has sponsorships in the ADRL, NASCAR, IRL and AMA Superbike series.