Smiley
Nitro Member
(5-12-2011) ATLANTA, Georgia – Perhaps more so than in any season prior, Danny Rowe is off to an incredibly strong start in 2011 having scored 7 wins in 10 rounds of competition, and will head into the fourth stop on the Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series tour this weekend in Atlanta ranked No. 2 in the championship point standings.
With back-to-back semifinal round appearances and a trip to the finals in the season-opener already under his belt in 2011, Rowe is looking to maintain his positive momentum and improve on last year’s second round effort at Atlanta Dragway.
“We feel like it’s very important that we gain some ground on [Khalid] Balooshi this weekend in Atlanta,” says Rowe, checking in during transit to Georgia from his California home. “We’ve had a fantastic start to the season – demonstrated the consistency and performance to get the job done, and that’s allowed us to go rounds and gain points on race day. We’re in second place, though, and that’s obviously not where we want to be.
“With all the rule changes, I think it’s getting clear where these different engine combinations are at on the Pro Mod food chain,” Rowe continues, “and I don’t believe our supercharged combination is at the top. They’ve done a lot to tighten things up, and we’re optimistic that what we lack in performance we can overcome with consistency.”
In 2010, Rowe qualified 5th for the NHRA Southern Nationals with a 5.980-second, 244.78mph effort in the Georgia heat amongst a 16-car field comprised almost entirely of supercharged Pro Mods. This year, however, more than a half-dozen turbocharged race cars will be trying to break into the field, as well as a handful of nitrous oxide-equipped hot rods that have been dominant so far this season.
“Every year we talk about it being the most competitive year ever in NHRA Pro Mod, and this one is no different,” says Rowe. “Honestly, this is as fierce as I think anyone has ever seen it. These are the top drivers, top teams and top cars in the world, and it’s going to be a dogfight from start to finish. We’re ready for battle, and we know that these races in the heat of summer are going to be what separate the men from the boys. We need a big weekend in Atlanta, and we’re going to do all we can to ensure that is exactly what we have.”
Led by veteran crew chief, Jimmy Rector, Danny Rowe and his Sterling Bridge ’68 Camaro will be joined again in Atlanta by new teammate Donnie Martin. Emerging on the Pro Mod scene at the NHRA event in Las Vegas this spring, Martin has broken into the Top 12 in the point standings with two straight quarterfinal round appearances in Vegas and Houston.
“Having Donnie onboard has been great for this team,” says Rowe. “He’s done a fantastic job driving, and the second car has been a big help to our program by letting us gather more data in qualifying and eliminations. We feel we’re doing the things necessary to win a championship, and we’re dedicated to that goal. Every round counts out here, and with this Sterling Bridge team behind me, I’m confident and excited.”
The Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will get underway this Friday, May 13th, with two qualifying sessions scheduled for 3:15 PM and 5:30. Qualifying continues on Saturday, April 2nd, at 12:45 PM and the opening round of eliminations at 3:15. Final eliminations will begin on Sunday, April 3rd, at 11:00 AM.
NHRA Pro Modified Points Standings (After 1 of 10 races)
Khalid Al-Balooshi, 282
Danny Rowe, 217
Roger Burgess, 177
Kenny Lang, 167
Rickie Smith, 158
Ed Hoover, 156
Raymond Commisso, 151
Brad Personett, 139
Scott Ray, 129
Melanie Troxel, 110
NHRA officials recently announced the 10-race television package for the Pro Modified series, which will air highlights and coverage of this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD on Saturday, April 22nd, at 6:30 p.m. EST.
Information regarding Danny Rowe Racing can be found at Danny Rowe Racing
With back-to-back semifinal round appearances and a trip to the finals in the season-opener already under his belt in 2011, Rowe is looking to maintain his positive momentum and improve on last year’s second round effort at Atlanta Dragway.
“We feel like it’s very important that we gain some ground on [Khalid] Balooshi this weekend in Atlanta,” says Rowe, checking in during transit to Georgia from his California home. “We’ve had a fantastic start to the season – demonstrated the consistency and performance to get the job done, and that’s allowed us to go rounds and gain points on race day. We’re in second place, though, and that’s obviously not where we want to be.
“With all the rule changes, I think it’s getting clear where these different engine combinations are at on the Pro Mod food chain,” Rowe continues, “and I don’t believe our supercharged combination is at the top. They’ve done a lot to tighten things up, and we’re optimistic that what we lack in performance we can overcome with consistency.”
In 2010, Rowe qualified 5th for the NHRA Southern Nationals with a 5.980-second, 244.78mph effort in the Georgia heat amongst a 16-car field comprised almost entirely of supercharged Pro Mods. This year, however, more than a half-dozen turbocharged race cars will be trying to break into the field, as well as a handful of nitrous oxide-equipped hot rods that have been dominant so far this season.
“Every year we talk about it being the most competitive year ever in NHRA Pro Mod, and this one is no different,” says Rowe. “Honestly, this is as fierce as I think anyone has ever seen it. These are the top drivers, top teams and top cars in the world, and it’s going to be a dogfight from start to finish. We’re ready for battle, and we know that these races in the heat of summer are going to be what separate the men from the boys. We need a big weekend in Atlanta, and we’re going to do all we can to ensure that is exactly what we have.”
Led by veteran crew chief, Jimmy Rector, Danny Rowe and his Sterling Bridge ’68 Camaro will be joined again in Atlanta by new teammate Donnie Martin. Emerging on the Pro Mod scene at the NHRA event in Las Vegas this spring, Martin has broken into the Top 12 in the point standings with two straight quarterfinal round appearances in Vegas and Houston.
“Having Donnie onboard has been great for this team,” says Rowe. “He’s done a fantastic job driving, and the second car has been a big help to our program by letting us gather more data in qualifying and eliminations. We feel we’re doing the things necessary to win a championship, and we’re dedicated to that goal. Every round counts out here, and with this Sterling Bridge team behind me, I’m confident and excited.”
The Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will get underway this Friday, May 13th, with two qualifying sessions scheduled for 3:15 PM and 5:30. Qualifying continues on Saturday, April 2nd, at 12:45 PM and the opening round of eliminations at 3:15. Final eliminations will begin on Sunday, April 3rd, at 11:00 AM.
NHRA Pro Modified Points Standings (After 1 of 10 races)
Khalid Al-Balooshi, 282
Danny Rowe, 217
Roger Burgess, 177
Kenny Lang, 167
Rickie Smith, 158
Ed Hoover, 156
Raymond Commisso, 151
Brad Personett, 139
Scott Ray, 129
Melanie Troxel, 110
NHRA officials recently announced the 10-race television package for the Pro Modified series, which will air highlights and coverage of this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD on Saturday, April 22nd, at 6:30 p.m. EST.
Information regarding Danny Rowe Racing can be found at Danny Rowe Racing
