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(6-15-2008) BUDDS CREEK, Md. – Coming off a season in which the heavy-weight tag-team of Mike Castellana and Shannon Jenkins struggled in the midst of a in-depth R&D program, a situation that was hard to handle for a team that expects to qualify at the top and go rounds every weekend. So when Mike Castellana put his ’68 Pontiac Firebird in the winner’s circle today at Maryland International Raceway, it was a well-deserved change of pace for the newly formed Al Anabi Awesome Motorsports team.
Despite struggling in both qualifying sessions on Friday, Castellana laid out a 6.111 at a whopping 239.14mph – the fastest speed ever posted by a nitrous-assisted Pro Mod – to earn the No. 6 spot in qualifying for Sunday’s elimination rounds.
“This has been one of the biggest challenges we’ve ever faced as a race team,” Castellana said. “We had to step outside the box, get out of our comfort zone and try and make something happen – to try and breathe life back into a program [nitrous –assisted engines] that a lot of people had given up on. Last year was a struggle, but it looks like all our hard work is really starting to pay off. Now, we’re getting a handle on this Reher-Morrison/Speedtech horsepower and we’re going to be a contender.”
It’s not surprising, though, to see Castellana late in the day on Sunday with crew chief Shannon “The Iceman” Jenkins and Brandon Switzer making the calls on the Al Anabi Awesome hot rod. “There have been a lot of sleepless nights leading up to this,” said Jenkins. “Working with David Reher and bringing their knowledge and technology to the table, combined with our experience in nitrous racing, has made all the difference. Not to mention, the simple fact that we’re focused on a single car here in the IHRA. We’ve got the Firebird to concentrate on here and the ‘Black Ice’ car for the ADRL. This way Brandon and I can make collective tuning decisions on one car on race day.”
Castellana said that he never doubted the abilities of his team and sees continued success in the future.
“There’s no question about this team,” Castellana said. “I feel this is just the beginning as our partnership with Al Anabi is only going to let us maximize on what we’re already doing. The performance of this Firebird is proof positive that we’re making big power – 239mph speaks loud and clear. And we can’t forget that there are two other Speedtech Nitrous cars in the winner’s circle alongside us this weekend – Gary Koebbe in Top Dragster and Sandy Wilkins in Top Sportsman.”
Going into the first round of eliminations, Castellana faced off with fellow nitrous racer Pat Stoken, but came out on top in an on-and-off the throttle shootout between the quickest and fastest nitrous cars on the planet – Castellana’s 6.54/229mph besting Stoken’s 7.92/131mph run.
In Rd. 2 it would be Kenny Lang on the losing end of a matchup with Castellana, a rematch of the finals at the IHRA/Milan event, as a stout 6.056/239.74mph lap was simply too much for Lang’s 6.136/236.71mph run. Another 6.0-second pass against Mike Janis would set up a final round between Ed Hoover and Castellana.
“Lane choice has been critical this year,” explained Castellana. “We took the left-lane that we’d done well in all day and went into this round just wanting to make a good, clean run. I left on him [Hoover] and this Al Anabi AWESOME Motorsports Firebird went right down Broadway. After we got out of the cars on the return road, Ed came over to congratulate me and said, ‘It’s been a long, long time since a nitrous car has pulled away from me.’ Personally, I think that says a lot for this team and we couldn’t be happier.”
A 6.097 at 238.93mph pass was the key to success in Budds Creek, earning Castellana the win by a 22-foot margin over Hoover’s 6.102/232.31.
Racing has always been a big part of the marketing program at Speedtech Innovative Nitrous, which is co-owned by Castellana, Jenkins and Switzer. Jason Sharp, Vice President of Global Sales and Production, was elated to hear the news of the team’s success back in Tuscaloosa, Alabama – where the team is based.
“We’ve known that being successful on the race track equates to good business and it’s been our primary focus to do whatever it takes to put our customers and our own cars in the winner’s circle.” Sharp continued, “We know what we’re doing and what direction we’re going in how hard we’re working and I’m confident this won’t be the last time we see our cars going the distance on race day.”
Photo courtesy of Roger Richards
GETTING BACK TO THEIR WINNING WAYS
(6-15-2008) BUDDS CREEK, Md. – Coming off a season in which the heavy-weight tag-team of Mike Castellana and Shannon Jenkins struggled in the midst of a in-depth R&D program, a situation that was hard to handle for a team that expects to qualify at the top and go rounds every weekend. So when Mike Castellana put his ’68 Pontiac Firebird in the winner’s circle today at Maryland International Raceway, it was a well-deserved change of pace for the newly formed Al Anabi Awesome Motorsports team.
Despite struggling in both qualifying sessions on Friday, Castellana laid out a 6.111 at a whopping 239.14mph – the fastest speed ever posted by a nitrous-assisted Pro Mod – to earn the No. 6 spot in qualifying for Sunday’s elimination rounds.
“This has been one of the biggest challenges we’ve ever faced as a race team,” Castellana said. “We had to step outside the box, get out of our comfort zone and try and make something happen – to try and breathe life back into a program [nitrous –assisted engines] that a lot of people had given up on. Last year was a struggle, but it looks like all our hard work is really starting to pay off. Now, we’re getting a handle on this Reher-Morrison/Speedtech horsepower and we’re going to be a contender.”
It’s not surprising, though, to see Castellana late in the day on Sunday with crew chief Shannon “The Iceman” Jenkins and Brandon Switzer making the calls on the Al Anabi Awesome hot rod. “There have been a lot of sleepless nights leading up to this,” said Jenkins. “Working with David Reher and bringing their knowledge and technology to the table, combined with our experience in nitrous racing, has made all the difference. Not to mention, the simple fact that we’re focused on a single car here in the IHRA. We’ve got the Firebird to concentrate on here and the ‘Black Ice’ car for the ADRL. This way Brandon and I can make collective tuning decisions on one car on race day.”
Castellana said that he never doubted the abilities of his team and sees continued success in the future.
“There’s no question about this team,” Castellana said. “I feel this is just the beginning as our partnership with Al Anabi is only going to let us maximize on what we’re already doing. The performance of this Firebird is proof positive that we’re making big power – 239mph speaks loud and clear. And we can’t forget that there are two other Speedtech Nitrous cars in the winner’s circle alongside us this weekend – Gary Koebbe in Top Dragster and Sandy Wilkins in Top Sportsman.”
Going into the first round of eliminations, Castellana faced off with fellow nitrous racer Pat Stoken, but came out on top in an on-and-off the throttle shootout between the quickest and fastest nitrous cars on the planet – Castellana’s 6.54/229mph besting Stoken’s 7.92/131mph run.
In Rd. 2 it would be Kenny Lang on the losing end of a matchup with Castellana, a rematch of the finals at the IHRA/Milan event, as a stout 6.056/239.74mph lap was simply too much for Lang’s 6.136/236.71mph run. Another 6.0-second pass against Mike Janis would set up a final round between Ed Hoover and Castellana.
“Lane choice has been critical this year,” explained Castellana. “We took the left-lane that we’d done well in all day and went into this round just wanting to make a good, clean run. I left on him [Hoover] and this Al Anabi AWESOME Motorsports Firebird went right down Broadway. After we got out of the cars on the return road, Ed came over to congratulate me and said, ‘It’s been a long, long time since a nitrous car has pulled away from me.’ Personally, I think that says a lot for this team and we couldn’t be happier.”
A 6.097 at 238.93mph pass was the key to success in Budds Creek, earning Castellana the win by a 22-foot margin over Hoover’s 6.102/232.31.
Racing has always been a big part of the marketing program at Speedtech Innovative Nitrous, which is co-owned by Castellana, Jenkins and Switzer. Jason Sharp, Vice President of Global Sales and Production, was elated to hear the news of the team’s success back in Tuscaloosa, Alabama – where the team is based.
“We’ve known that being successful on the race track equates to good business and it’s been our primary focus to do whatever it takes to put our customers and our own cars in the winner’s circle.” Sharp continued, “We know what we’re doing and what direction we’re going in how hard we’re working and I’m confident this won’t be the last time we see our cars going the distance on race day.”
Photo courtesy of Roger Richards
