Eric Latino wins PMRA opener at Toronto Motorsports Park
Driver of 1938 Chevy bests strong field of Pro Modifieds for his first victory
CAYUGA, ONTARIO (May 23, 2010) - It was a close race, but Eric Latino won the
opening round of the 2010 Pro Modified Racing Association season.
Held on the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, Latino,
of Port Perry, Ontario, won with a 6.47-second, 206-mph pass over Derek Hawker of
Corbyville Ontario with a 6.51-second, 215 mph run.
The win was the first PMRA race for Latino and his 1938 Chevy Coupe. For Hawker,
driving his Atchison powered 1963 Corvette; it was his first race in PMRA
competition.
Latino qualified fifth in the field, and Hawker qualified in sixth spot.
"We had a good day," said Latino after the race, which opened the sixth season of
PMRA racing. "We played it safe. We were consistent, and the car went down the track
every single pass."
In the semi-finals, Jeff Roth of New Dundee, Ontario, lost the combination with his
1941 Willys, losing traction and the round to Hawker. In the other semi, Dave Kulik
Jr of East Aurora, New York with his 1967 Camaro lost to Latino.
Several PMRA regulars failed to qualify for the season opener, including three-time
and reigning champion Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Ontario, Mark Nielsen of Brantford,
Ontario, and Mike Cusimano of Rochester, New York.
Boland was having problems getting his new 1963 Corvette set up, Nielsen had
difficulties adjusting to the new Bruno automatic transmission in his 1968 Camaro,
and the 1994 Corvette of Cusimano was having traction problems.
Last year's Cayuga event winner, Ike Maier of Tottenham, Ontario, did qualifying
number three in the eight-car field, but clipped the wall on his run and could not
continue.
A record number of 21 entries were at Cayuga for the event.
While Roth took out Gary Mater of Petrolia, Ontario with his twin-turbo 1938 Chevy,
other first round losers included multi-time PMRA event winner Mike Stawicki of
Medina, New York, who led the qualifying, winning the Marydel Homes - Qualifying
Bonus with a 6.175-second pass; Dave Earhart of Strathroy, Ontario; and Sam
Andreacchi of Toronto, Ontario.
In the Quick 32 Sportsman Series event presented by NAPA Auto Parts of 2010, Paolo
Giust bested a large field to win in his Top Dragster over the Top Sportsman car of
Steve Corriveau.
For more information contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher at [email protected]
About the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA):
The Pro Modified Racing Association, PMRA ~ Pro Modified Racing Association, was organized late in 2004,
started racing operations in 2005, and is entering its sixth year of operation in
2010. The PMRA is a self-governing organization with input from its teams, and
adheres to the technical and safety rules as outlined by the International Hot Rod
Association (IHRA) and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
In 2010 the PMRA will compete at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario and the
South-western Ontario track of the Grand Bend Motorplex.
Cars in the PMRA capture the true spirit of hot rodding, and the class is one of
drag racing's most exciting and colorful classes, offering a diverse group of race
cars with 2,500-horsepower-plus engines in supercharged, nitrous-powered, or
turbocharged format.
Combining classic body styles and modern equipment, constructors are permitted,
within established rules and parameters, to modify and enhance the cars in both
appearance and performance. The cars are fuelled by gasoline or methanol, propelling
them down the quarter-mile in low six-second times at over 230 miles per hour. The
PMRA provides drag race fans the opportunity to see, hear, and experience the
popular Pro Modifieds, known as "the world's fastest door slammers".
Several of the PMRA events are run in conjunction with the Quick 32 Sportsman Series
presented by NAPA Auto Parts, Quick 32 Sportsman Series, offering fans a great show of drag
racing.
Driver of 1938 Chevy bests strong field of Pro Modifieds for his first victory
CAYUGA, ONTARIO (May 23, 2010) - It was a close race, but Eric Latino won the
opening round of the 2010 Pro Modified Racing Association season.
Held on the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, Latino,
of Port Perry, Ontario, won with a 6.47-second, 206-mph pass over Derek Hawker of
Corbyville Ontario with a 6.51-second, 215 mph run.
The win was the first PMRA race for Latino and his 1938 Chevy Coupe. For Hawker,
driving his Atchison powered 1963 Corvette; it was his first race in PMRA
competition.
Latino qualified fifth in the field, and Hawker qualified in sixth spot.
"We had a good day," said Latino after the race, which opened the sixth season of
PMRA racing. "We played it safe. We were consistent, and the car went down the track
every single pass."
In the semi-finals, Jeff Roth of New Dundee, Ontario, lost the combination with his
1941 Willys, losing traction and the round to Hawker. In the other semi, Dave Kulik
Jr of East Aurora, New York with his 1967 Camaro lost to Latino.
Several PMRA regulars failed to qualify for the season opener, including three-time
and reigning champion Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Ontario, Mark Nielsen of Brantford,
Ontario, and Mike Cusimano of Rochester, New York.
Boland was having problems getting his new 1963 Corvette set up, Nielsen had
difficulties adjusting to the new Bruno automatic transmission in his 1968 Camaro,
and the 1994 Corvette of Cusimano was having traction problems.
Last year's Cayuga event winner, Ike Maier of Tottenham, Ontario, did qualifying
number three in the eight-car field, but clipped the wall on his run and could not
continue.
A record number of 21 entries were at Cayuga for the event.
While Roth took out Gary Mater of Petrolia, Ontario with his twin-turbo 1938 Chevy,
other first round losers included multi-time PMRA event winner Mike Stawicki of
Medina, New York, who led the qualifying, winning the Marydel Homes - Qualifying
Bonus with a 6.175-second pass; Dave Earhart of Strathroy, Ontario; and Sam
Andreacchi of Toronto, Ontario.
In the Quick 32 Sportsman Series event presented by NAPA Auto Parts of 2010, Paolo
Giust bested a large field to win in his Top Dragster over the Top Sportsman car of
Steve Corriveau.
For more information contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher at [email protected]
About the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA):
The Pro Modified Racing Association, PMRA ~ Pro Modified Racing Association, was organized late in 2004,
started racing operations in 2005, and is entering its sixth year of operation in
2010. The PMRA is a self-governing organization with input from its teams, and
adheres to the technical and safety rules as outlined by the International Hot Rod
Association (IHRA) and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
In 2010 the PMRA will compete at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario and the
South-western Ontario track of the Grand Bend Motorplex.
Cars in the PMRA capture the true spirit of hot rodding, and the class is one of
drag racing's most exciting and colorful classes, offering a diverse group of race
cars with 2,500-horsepower-plus engines in supercharged, nitrous-powered, or
turbocharged format.
Combining classic body styles and modern equipment, constructors are permitted,
within established rules and parameters, to modify and enhance the cars in both
appearance and performance. The cars are fuelled by gasoline or methanol, propelling
them down the quarter-mile in low six-second times at over 230 miles per hour. The
PMRA provides drag race fans the opportunity to see, hear, and experience the
popular Pro Modifieds, known as "the world's fastest door slammers".
Several of the PMRA events are run in conjunction with the Quick 32 Sportsman Series
presented by NAPA Auto Parts, Quick 32 Sportsman Series, offering fans a great show of drag
racing.
