GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 13) -- The opening day of the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx met expectations of excitement and thrilling racing, ending with R2B2 Racing team owner Roger Burgess on the provisional pole.
Burgess' field-leading salvo in his '67 Camaro registered 5.993/243.55, the quickest run of his career and the fastest thus far of the event. Smiling from ear-to-ear, Burgess said, "that was a lot of fun."
"Al [Billes, Burgess' tuner] had the car 'hopped up' as he calls it, and we were able to record our first five-second run with me as a driver."
Just behind Burgess was Danny Rowe in his Sterling Bridge '67 Camaro. Rowe said, "We had a tough time in the first round, but Jimmy Rector [crew chief] made some adjustments on the car and we ran a six-flat. He did everything he needed to do, settled the car down and it went right down the track."
Leading the nitrous-powered fraternity, 2001 Gatornationals Pro Mod winner Ricky Smith put his Al Anabi-sponsored '68 Camaro in the provisional No. 7 spot with teammate Burton Auxier at No. 12 and nitrous-stalwart Mike Castellana outside the field at No. 18.
After struggling with a hot track drung the first round, Smith said he used a safe approach in round two and ran a 6.052/234.45. "We just wanted to get in the show and get down the track," Smith explained.
"There's more left in it, at least another two or three hundredths," he said.
Orlando-resident Brad Personett used his turbo-power to take the tenth spot, delivering a 6.086/242.32 in front of cheering family and friends.
Personett said, "We've put so much into this, it feels so good. We're real excited. We've got the parts, pieces and tools to make stuff happen to get down the racetrack.
"There was a lot of beating our head against the wall, but we're finally getting somewhere," he said.
Qualifying in the first of ten events in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge concludes with one final round scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Eliminations are scheduled to begin at 4:30 Saturday evening and conclude Sunday.
Burgess' field-leading salvo in his '67 Camaro registered 5.993/243.55, the quickest run of his career and the fastest thus far of the event. Smiling from ear-to-ear, Burgess said, "that was a lot of fun."
"Al [Billes, Burgess' tuner] had the car 'hopped up' as he calls it, and we were able to record our first five-second run with me as a driver."
Just behind Burgess was Danny Rowe in his Sterling Bridge '67 Camaro. Rowe said, "We had a tough time in the first round, but Jimmy Rector [crew chief] made some adjustments on the car and we ran a six-flat. He did everything he needed to do, settled the car down and it went right down the track."
Leading the nitrous-powered fraternity, 2001 Gatornationals Pro Mod winner Ricky Smith put his Al Anabi-sponsored '68 Camaro in the provisional No. 7 spot with teammate Burton Auxier at No. 12 and nitrous-stalwart Mike Castellana outside the field at No. 18.
After struggling with a hot track drung the first round, Smith said he used a safe approach in round two and ran a 6.052/234.45. "We just wanted to get in the show and get down the track," Smith explained.
"There's more left in it, at least another two or three hundredths," he said.
Orlando-resident Brad Personett used his turbo-power to take the tenth spot, delivering a 6.086/242.32 in front of cheering family and friends.
Personett said, "We've put so much into this, it feels so good. We're real excited. We've got the parts, pieces and tools to make stuff happen to get down the racetrack.
"There was a lot of beating our head against the wall, but we're finally getting somewhere," he said.
Qualifying in the first of ten events in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge concludes with one final round scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Eliminations are scheduled to begin at 4:30 Saturday evening and conclude Sunday.
