[coverattach=1]INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Pro Mod drivers invited to the MAC Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals for the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx are anxiously preparing for what promises to be one of the most exciting marathons of Pro Mod racing. Each of the 24 available invitations was quickly accepted, assuring a full field of champions and record holders, along with a few surprises and an exciting international flavor.
Headlining the field are the nitrous warriors from the Al Anabi camp, including current points leader Burton Auxier, last year's U.S. Nationals champion Mike Castellana, and 2003 Indy winner and 2001 World Champion Rickie Smith. Smith and Castellana along with 2005 Indy champ/2006 World Champion Jay Payne are hoping to do something no one has yet been able to accomplish - win the Pro Mod Challenge at Indy twice.
Thus far this season, there have been six races in the Pro Mod Challenge, yielding six different winners - and each would like to double up at Indy and claim the crown jewel of drag racing. Most recent winner on tour, Raymond Commisso, who blasted to a new world record in Englishtown at 5.856-seconds is a heavy favorite, as is his teammate Roger Burgess who took the win in St. Louis. California-racer Danny Rowe has one win and one runner-up finish this season and is also looking for two in the "W" column, as is Topeka winner and long-time series racer Tim Tindle.
Ohio Crankshaft, the featured Pro Mod sponsor for the event, will be represented by Scott Ray who is coming back to competition after being sidelined by health issues. Also back from the sidelines will be Trane-backed Rick Stivers behind the wheel of an all-new Brad Anderson-tuned Stratus.
Other front-runners include series regulars Joe Baker, B&J Transmission's Mike Knowles, Chip King in the Strutmasters.com Dodge Daytona, the fastest man in Pro Mod racing - Brad Personett in his Big 3 Turbo Camaro, and the quickest woman in Pro Mod racing, Melanie Troxel.
Rookie Kirk Wilmes will once-again join the fray, as will Challenge newcomers Jason Stock and Ike Maier.
Another new face in the crowd will be Adam Flamholc representing Sweden and the FIA (European Championship Series) in the car he recently purchased from Pro Mod Challenge racer Taylor Lastor. After racing for more than 15 years in Europe, Flamholc broke onto the American drag racing scene in 2007 when he purchased a Pro Stock car and competed at the Gatornationals that year. This is his first season in Pro Mod.
Canadian bullet Tony Pontieri will make his first appearance in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge, marking the three-year anniversary of his first Challenge start. Others making their first appearances of the season to round out the field are racing veterans and heavy hitters Tommy D'April, Rick DiStefano, Dennis Radford and John Russo.
Interest in racing in the remaining races of the year is at an all-time high, with more than 30 racers vying for an alternate spot in the field at “The Big Go” as well as the events at Charlotte, Richmond and Las Vegas.
Pro Mod entries for MAC Tools U.S. Nationals:
1. Burton Auxier
2. Joe Baker
3. Roger Burgess
4. Mike Castellana
5. Raymond Commisso
6. Tommy D'Aprile
7. Rick DiStefano
8. Adam Flamholc
9. Chip King
10. Mike Knowles
11. Ike Maier
12. Jay Payne
13. Brad Personett
14. Tony Pontieri
15. Dennis Radford
16. Scott Ray
17. Danny Rowe
18. John Russo
19. Rickey Smith
20. Rick Stivers
21. Jason Stock
22. Tim Tindle
23. Melanie Troxel
24. Kirk Wilmes
Headlining the field are the nitrous warriors from the Al Anabi camp, including current points leader Burton Auxier, last year's U.S. Nationals champion Mike Castellana, and 2003 Indy winner and 2001 World Champion Rickie Smith. Smith and Castellana along with 2005 Indy champ/2006 World Champion Jay Payne are hoping to do something no one has yet been able to accomplish - win the Pro Mod Challenge at Indy twice.
Thus far this season, there have been six races in the Pro Mod Challenge, yielding six different winners - and each would like to double up at Indy and claim the crown jewel of drag racing. Most recent winner on tour, Raymond Commisso, who blasted to a new world record in Englishtown at 5.856-seconds is a heavy favorite, as is his teammate Roger Burgess who took the win in St. Louis. California-racer Danny Rowe has one win and one runner-up finish this season and is also looking for two in the "W" column, as is Topeka winner and long-time series racer Tim Tindle.
Ohio Crankshaft, the featured Pro Mod sponsor for the event, will be represented by Scott Ray who is coming back to competition after being sidelined by health issues. Also back from the sidelines will be Trane-backed Rick Stivers behind the wheel of an all-new Brad Anderson-tuned Stratus.
Other front-runners include series regulars Joe Baker, B&J Transmission's Mike Knowles, Chip King in the Strutmasters.com Dodge Daytona, the fastest man in Pro Mod racing - Brad Personett in his Big 3 Turbo Camaro, and the quickest woman in Pro Mod racing, Melanie Troxel.
Rookie Kirk Wilmes will once-again join the fray, as will Challenge newcomers Jason Stock and Ike Maier.
Another new face in the crowd will be Adam Flamholc representing Sweden and the FIA (European Championship Series) in the car he recently purchased from Pro Mod Challenge racer Taylor Lastor. After racing for more than 15 years in Europe, Flamholc broke onto the American drag racing scene in 2007 when he purchased a Pro Stock car and competed at the Gatornationals that year. This is his first season in Pro Mod.
Canadian bullet Tony Pontieri will make his first appearance in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge, marking the three-year anniversary of his first Challenge start. Others making their first appearances of the season to round out the field are racing veterans and heavy hitters Tommy D'April, Rick DiStefano, Dennis Radford and John Russo.
Interest in racing in the remaining races of the year is at an all-time high, with more than 30 racers vying for an alternate spot in the field at “The Big Go” as well as the events at Charlotte, Richmond and Las Vegas.
Pro Mod entries for MAC Tools U.S. Nationals:
1. Burton Auxier
2. Joe Baker
3. Roger Burgess
4. Mike Castellana
5. Raymond Commisso
6. Tommy D'Aprile
7. Rick DiStefano
8. Adam Flamholc
9. Chip King
10. Mike Knowles
11. Ike Maier
12. Jay Payne
13. Brad Personett
14. Tony Pontieri
15. Dennis Radford
16. Scott Ray
17. Danny Rowe
18. John Russo
19. Rickey Smith
20. Rick Stivers
21. Jason Stock
22. Tim Tindle
23. Melanie Troxel
24. Kirk Wilmes
