Smiley
Nitro Member
(6-2-2011) ENGLISHTOWN, New Jersey – Hoping to put a lackluster weekend at the NHRA Southern Nationals behind him, Danny Rowe and the Sterling Bridge Pro Modified team have high expectations rolling into the fifth stop on the Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series tour. Considering the locale – Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey – there’d be no better time or place to earn a trip to the winner’s circle than in one of the sport’s most prestigious and history-rich events.
After just two qualifying sessions for the 2010 running of the NHRA SuperNationals, Rowe held down the No. 2 qualifying spot with an incredible 5.848-second, 249.26 mph effort, and while those numbers may be hard to come by this season with the modified rules and regulations, the 42nd running of the event is sure to be a quick-and-fast one.
“Englishtown never fails to deliver some of the best racing of the year,” says Rowe, who currently occupies the No. 3 spot in the Pro Modified championship point standings. “This year I’m sure will be no different, and we’ve certainly got an uphill battle on our hands against these turbocharged and nitrous oxide-injected race cars, but we’re game. I’ve got all the confidence in the world in Jimmy Rector [crew chief] and this Sterling Bridge team to get the job done.
“As usual, though, we’ve got to take it one step at a time. Historically, we’ve been able to run very well in Englishtown, so hopefully we will be able to lean on the data we’ve acquired over the years from racing at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park and qualify up in the top half of the field. Once we get into the show we’ll start thinking about race day, and from there it’s just one round at a time. With a little bit of luck, maybe we’ll be getting our picture taken in the winner’s circle and make a run on Ed Hoover and K.A. Balooshi in the points chase.”
A stalwart of the supercharged, methanol-burning engine combination for his Pro Modified entry, Rowe is still taking stock of the current rule structure for NHRA Pro Mod, especially the reduction in blower overdrive for cars such as his.
“This weekend will mark the halfway point for our 2011 season,” says Rowe, “and I feel like we’re going to start to see some of these new turbocharged teams come on strong. They’ve had a little time now to get things sorted out and I think it’s safe to say that we’re really going to see where everyone stands here in the heat of the summer – in terms of nitrous, turbo- and supercharged cars. The diversity is great to see, especially for the fans, and I think we’re seeing the class as tight performance-wise as it has ever been between the different combinations. This weekend will be interesting for everyone, and I’m looking forward to getting out there on the track and getting after it. We went to the finals in 2009, the semifinals in 2010, and I’m hoping we can win this deal in 2011.”
The Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will get underway this Friday, June 3rd, with two qualifying sessions scheduled for 4:15 PM and 5:30. Qualifying continues on Saturday, June 4th, at 1:45 PM and the opening round of eliminations at 3:15. Final eliminations will begin on Sunday, April 3rd, at 11:00 AM.
After just two qualifying sessions for the 2010 running of the NHRA SuperNationals, Rowe held down the No. 2 qualifying spot with an incredible 5.848-second, 249.26 mph effort, and while those numbers may be hard to come by this season with the modified rules and regulations, the 42nd running of the event is sure to be a quick-and-fast one.
“Englishtown never fails to deliver some of the best racing of the year,” says Rowe, who currently occupies the No. 3 spot in the Pro Modified championship point standings. “This year I’m sure will be no different, and we’ve certainly got an uphill battle on our hands against these turbocharged and nitrous oxide-injected race cars, but we’re game. I’ve got all the confidence in the world in Jimmy Rector [crew chief] and this Sterling Bridge team to get the job done.
“As usual, though, we’ve got to take it one step at a time. Historically, we’ve been able to run very well in Englishtown, so hopefully we will be able to lean on the data we’ve acquired over the years from racing at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park and qualify up in the top half of the field. Once we get into the show we’ll start thinking about race day, and from there it’s just one round at a time. With a little bit of luck, maybe we’ll be getting our picture taken in the winner’s circle and make a run on Ed Hoover and K.A. Balooshi in the points chase.”
A stalwart of the supercharged, methanol-burning engine combination for his Pro Modified entry, Rowe is still taking stock of the current rule structure for NHRA Pro Mod, especially the reduction in blower overdrive for cars such as his.
“This weekend will mark the halfway point for our 2011 season,” says Rowe, “and I feel like we’re going to start to see some of these new turbocharged teams come on strong. They’ve had a little time now to get things sorted out and I think it’s safe to say that we’re really going to see where everyone stands here in the heat of the summer – in terms of nitrous, turbo- and supercharged cars. The diversity is great to see, especially for the fans, and I think we’re seeing the class as tight performance-wise as it has ever been between the different combinations. This weekend will be interesting for everyone, and I’m looking forward to getting out there on the track and getting after it. We went to the finals in 2009, the semifinals in 2010, and I’m hoping we can win this deal in 2011.”
The Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will get underway this Friday, June 3rd, with two qualifying sessions scheduled for 4:15 PM and 5:30. Qualifying continues on Saturday, June 4th, at 1:45 PM and the opening round of eliminations at 3:15. Final eliminations will begin on Sunday, April 3rd, at 11:00 AM.
