Smiley
Nitro Member
(8-31-2011) BROWNSBURG, Indiana – Having been to four final rounds thus far in 2011, including the last three in a row, Danny Rowe and the Sterling Bridge Pro Modified team are sticking with what works as they roll into the granddaddy of them all, the 57th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals this coming Labor Day weekend.
“We’ve worked hard this year and focused all our energy on having a consistently fast race car,” says Rowe, who parlayed race day repeatability into a victory at the NHRA SuperNationals in New Jersey in June. “It’s paid off, too. So, I think we have to stick with what’s worked for us so far – keep working hard, and keep going rounds.”
Rowe, who is just 23 points out the number-one spot in the Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series point standings, will need to pick up right where he and his supercharged ’68 Camaro left off – in the final round – if they want to continue closing the gap or surpass points leader, Khalid Al-Balooshi, in Indianapolis. Widely considered the hottest driver in the category right now, Rowe has to feel good about his chances.
“Winning Indy is everybody in drag racing’s dream, and we’re going to do everything in our power to do just that this weekend,” Rowe continues. “We’ve been testing, we’ve been making good runs, and I feel like we’re going into the U.S. Nationals with a car that’s capable of winning. It’d be huge for us to take home a Wally this weekend, but it’d be even bigger to leave with the points lead, and as close as things are right now, that’s a real possibility.”
Close competition has been the name of the game in 2011, with each of the three engine combinations in Pro Modified – nitrous oxide-injected, turbocharged and supercharged – displaying their winning potential. Though the Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series season is winding down, there are still a multitude of teams capable of earning a trip to the winner’s circle.
“The key is going to be consistency and making good clean runs in every round,” says Rowe. “We have so many competitive cars out here that everyone is a threat. Like always, we have to take it one step at a time and keep our focus. The way we’ve been running as of late, I think that’s a solid approach.”
Qualifying for the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series gets under way with one round of qualifying at 4:30 p.m. EDT on Friday. Qualifying continues Saturday with two sessions starting at 2:30 p.m. and the last chance to make the U.S. Nationals will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Eliminations begin Sunday at 4:30 p.m. and continue on Monday afternoon.
“We’ve worked hard this year and focused all our energy on having a consistently fast race car,” says Rowe, who parlayed race day repeatability into a victory at the NHRA SuperNationals in New Jersey in June. “It’s paid off, too. So, I think we have to stick with what’s worked for us so far – keep working hard, and keep going rounds.”
Rowe, who is just 23 points out the number-one spot in the Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series point standings, will need to pick up right where he and his supercharged ’68 Camaro left off – in the final round – if they want to continue closing the gap or surpass points leader, Khalid Al-Balooshi, in Indianapolis. Widely considered the hottest driver in the category right now, Rowe has to feel good about his chances.
“Winning Indy is everybody in drag racing’s dream, and we’re going to do everything in our power to do just that this weekend,” Rowe continues. “We’ve been testing, we’ve been making good runs, and I feel like we’re going into the U.S. Nationals with a car that’s capable of winning. It’d be huge for us to take home a Wally this weekend, but it’d be even bigger to leave with the points lead, and as close as things are right now, that’s a real possibility.”
Close competition has been the name of the game in 2011, with each of the three engine combinations in Pro Modified – nitrous oxide-injected, turbocharged and supercharged – displaying their winning potential. Though the Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series season is winding down, there are still a multitude of teams capable of earning a trip to the winner’s circle.
“The key is going to be consistency and making good clean runs in every round,” says Rowe. “We have so many competitive cars out here that everyone is a threat. Like always, we have to take it one step at a time and keep our focus. The way we’ve been running as of late, I think that’s a solid approach.”
Qualifying for the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series gets under way with one round of qualifying at 4:30 p.m. EDT on Friday. Qualifying continues Saturday with two sessions starting at 2:30 p.m. and the last chance to make the U.S. Nationals will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Eliminations begin Sunday at 4:30 p.m. and continue on Monday afternoon.
