[coverattach=1]BATON ROUGE, La. (March 8, 2009) - R2B2 Racing pro Mod driver Raymond Commisso gave an exhibition of skill and horsepower en route to winning the Summit Racing Equipment Inaugural IHRA Mardi Gras Nationals Sunday. The only racer to break into the five-second zone all weekend, Commisso saved his quickest lap for the finals when he dispatched No. 2 qualifier Tommy Gray 5.955/244.83 to 6.105/237.42.
"What an amazing weekend," Commisso said. "I can't thank Roger Burgess enough for the opportunity to drive such an awesome car. Al [Billes, crew chief] and the team had everything dialed in, and it was like we were running a bracket car."
After taking a bye in the first round, Commisso rattled off three consecutive 5.90-passes: 5.985/243.19 in round two, 5.984/243.15 in the semifinals, and 5.955/244.83 in the finals.
"This is absolutely the way we expected to start off the year. Our main goals were to come into this event and test our combinations in race-day conditions, and I think we were extremely successful. We definitely won the battle this weekend," Commisso said.
Commisso also set the IHRA speed record with his qualifying run of 246.08 mph.
"To come out of this with the number one qualifier, an Ironman AND a speed record is truly awesome," he added.
Commisso's teammate Roger Burgess echoed the sentiments, saying the team was running like a well-oiled machine. Burgess qualified No. 6 with a 6.116/237.25, and lost first round to Taylor Lastor.
Burgess said, "We came here to test the car and the driver and we leave knowing we're very close to getting all of the cross hairs aligned."
Burgess, Commisso and the R2B2 "Warriors" take aim next at the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. where the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx will contest its first of ten events.
"What an amazing weekend," Commisso said. "I can't thank Roger Burgess enough for the opportunity to drive such an awesome car. Al [Billes, crew chief] and the team had everything dialed in, and it was like we were running a bracket car."
After taking a bye in the first round, Commisso rattled off three consecutive 5.90-passes: 5.985/243.19 in round two, 5.984/243.15 in the semifinals, and 5.955/244.83 in the finals.
"This is absolutely the way we expected to start off the year. Our main goals were to come into this event and test our combinations in race-day conditions, and I think we were extremely successful. We definitely won the battle this weekend," Commisso said.
Commisso also set the IHRA speed record with his qualifying run of 246.08 mph.
"To come out of this with the number one qualifier, an Ironman AND a speed record is truly awesome," he added.
Commisso's teammate Roger Burgess echoed the sentiments, saying the team was running like a well-oiled machine. Burgess qualified No. 6 with a 6.116/237.25, and lost first round to Taylor Lastor.
Burgess said, "We came here to test the car and the driver and we leave knowing we're very close to getting all of the cross hairs aligned."
Burgess, Commisso and the R2B2 "Warriors" take aim next at the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. where the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx will contest its first of ten events.
