St. Louis (April 30, 2009) - The Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx once again returns to Madison, Ill. and Gateway International Raceway, a mere five minutes from downtown St. Louis and a stone's throw from the mighty Mississippi river. The premiere Pro Modified series joins the O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals this weekend and will feature 17 of the nation's best drivers all competing for a coveted Get Screened America Warrior and a $10,000 prize.
Contestants in the ninth Pro Mod Challenge event at Madison include: Burton Auxier, Joe Baker, Roger Burgess, Mike Castellana, Raymond Commisso, Chip King, Mike Knowles, Harold Laird, Kenny Lang, Taylor Lastor, Jay Payne, Brad Personett, Danny Rowe, Rick Stivers, Tim Tindle, Kirk Wilmes, and Andy McCoy.
Leading the nitrous-powered team from Al-Anabi and Qatar is current points-leader Mike Castellana - no stranger to the winner's circle in Madison, having won here in 2003. Castellana has already won once this season, and his hoping his familiarity with the track will give him the competitive advantage he needs to return to victory.
Still reveling in his win in the most recent Pro Mod Challenge event in Houston, Danny Rowe also has a victorious history at Gateway. Rowe won in 2001, the inaugural season of the Challenge, and again in 2004.
"I'm just excited to get back on the track, and I'm hoping the weather cooperates to give us a great weekend," Rowe said. Forecasts call for heavy rain on Friday and scattered showers Saturday and Sunday.
Floridian Tim Tindle is fresh from a victorious outing in IHRA competition and said he is more confident heading into this weekend.
"We are hoping to carry the momentum over into St. Louis," Tindle said. "We have been working really hard to deliver a competitive program and I think we are headed in the right direction. The win at Rockingham, more than anything, raised our confidence heading into this weekend's race.
"Our plan is to run consistent and focus on one round at a time," Tindle said.
Qualifying is scheduled for 2 and 4:30 p.m. Friday and 1:30 Saturday, with eliminations beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday evening and concluding Sunday afternoon. (Subject to change due to weather and scheduling.)
Fans can follow the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx on Twitter at GSA Pro Mods (GSAProMods) on Twitter and get all official releases, updates and sneak peek videos online at Get Screen Amercia Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx - NHRA Pro Modifieds. Visit NHRA.com and Drag Race Central | Presented by Summitracing.com 1-800-230-3030 for round-by-round results.
2008 Results:
Winner: Joshua Hernandez defeated Tony Pontieri
#1 qualifier: Hernandez 5.955 seconds
Bump spot: 6.437 seconds
Low e.t. - Jay Payne 5.920 seconds
Top Speed - Hernandez 242.36 m.p.h.
Current Points Standings:
1. Mike Castellana 187 (1)
2. Rick Stivers 169
3. Danny Rowe 152 (1)
4. Burton Auxier 123
5. Joe Baker 110
6. Harold Laird 104
7. Brad Personett 103
8. Taylor Lastor 102
9. Roger Burgess 95
10. Jay Payne 84
(number of 2009 wins)
Event History:
2001 Danny Rowe/ Ed Hoover #1 Dan Rowe 6.234/ 6.333 bump
Low e.t. Dan Rowe 6.234
2002 Shannon Jenkins/ Ed Hoover #1 Mitch Stott 6.285/ 6.373 bump
Low e.t. Mitch Stott 6.285
2003 Mike Castellana/ Thomas Patterson #1 Tim McAmis 6.231/ 6.349 bump
Low e.t. 6.220 Tim McAmis
2004 Danny Rowe/ Von Smith #1 Mike Janis 6.169/ 6.228 bump
Low e.t. Mike Janis 6.169
2005 Glen Kerunsky/ Zach Barklage #1 Jay Payne 6.140/ 6.404 bump
Low e.t. Jay Payne 6.128
2006 Mike Ashley/ Joey Martin #1 Shelly Payne 6.185/ 6.916 bump
Low e.t. Mike Ashley 6.100 Top Speed Critchley 237.09
2007 Joshua Hernandez/ Tony Pontieri #1 Critchley 6.154/ 6.638 bump
Low e.t. Commisso 6.003 Top Speed Commisso 241.37
2008 Joshua Hernandez/ Tony Pontieri #1 Hernandez 5.955/ 6.437 bump
Low e.t. Payne 5.920 Top Speed Hernandez 242.36
Contestants in the ninth Pro Mod Challenge event at Madison include: Burton Auxier, Joe Baker, Roger Burgess, Mike Castellana, Raymond Commisso, Chip King, Mike Knowles, Harold Laird, Kenny Lang, Taylor Lastor, Jay Payne, Brad Personett, Danny Rowe, Rick Stivers, Tim Tindle, Kirk Wilmes, and Andy McCoy.
Leading the nitrous-powered team from Al-Anabi and Qatar is current points-leader Mike Castellana - no stranger to the winner's circle in Madison, having won here in 2003. Castellana has already won once this season, and his hoping his familiarity with the track will give him the competitive advantage he needs to return to victory.
Still reveling in his win in the most recent Pro Mod Challenge event in Houston, Danny Rowe also has a victorious history at Gateway. Rowe won in 2001, the inaugural season of the Challenge, and again in 2004.
"I'm just excited to get back on the track, and I'm hoping the weather cooperates to give us a great weekend," Rowe said. Forecasts call for heavy rain on Friday and scattered showers Saturday and Sunday.
Floridian Tim Tindle is fresh from a victorious outing in IHRA competition and said he is more confident heading into this weekend.
"We are hoping to carry the momentum over into St. Louis," Tindle said. "We have been working really hard to deliver a competitive program and I think we are headed in the right direction. The win at Rockingham, more than anything, raised our confidence heading into this weekend's race.
"Our plan is to run consistent and focus on one round at a time," Tindle said.
Qualifying is scheduled for 2 and 4:30 p.m. Friday and 1:30 Saturday, with eliminations beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday evening and concluding Sunday afternoon. (Subject to change due to weather and scheduling.)
Fans can follow the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx on Twitter at GSA Pro Mods (GSAProMods) on Twitter and get all official releases, updates and sneak peek videos online at Get Screen Amercia Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx - NHRA Pro Modifieds. Visit NHRA.com and Drag Race Central | Presented by Summitracing.com 1-800-230-3030 for round-by-round results.
2008 Results:
Winner: Joshua Hernandez defeated Tony Pontieri
#1 qualifier: Hernandez 5.955 seconds
Bump spot: 6.437 seconds
Low e.t. - Jay Payne 5.920 seconds
Top Speed - Hernandez 242.36 m.p.h.
Current Points Standings:
1. Mike Castellana 187 (1)
2. Rick Stivers 169
3. Danny Rowe 152 (1)
4. Burton Auxier 123
5. Joe Baker 110
6. Harold Laird 104
7. Brad Personett 103
8. Taylor Lastor 102
9. Roger Burgess 95
10. Jay Payne 84
(number of 2009 wins)
Event History:
2001 Danny Rowe/ Ed Hoover #1 Dan Rowe 6.234/ 6.333 bump
Low e.t. Dan Rowe 6.234
2002 Shannon Jenkins/ Ed Hoover #1 Mitch Stott 6.285/ 6.373 bump
Low e.t. Mitch Stott 6.285
2003 Mike Castellana/ Thomas Patterson #1 Tim McAmis 6.231/ 6.349 bump
Low e.t. 6.220 Tim McAmis
2004 Danny Rowe/ Von Smith #1 Mike Janis 6.169/ 6.228 bump
Low e.t. Mike Janis 6.169
2005 Glen Kerunsky/ Zach Barklage #1 Jay Payne 6.140/ 6.404 bump
Low e.t. Jay Payne 6.128
2006 Mike Ashley/ Joey Martin #1 Shelly Payne 6.185/ 6.916 bump
Low e.t. Mike Ashley 6.100 Top Speed Critchley 237.09
2007 Joshua Hernandez/ Tony Pontieri #1 Critchley 6.154/ 6.638 bump
Low e.t. Commisso 6.003 Top Speed Commisso 241.37
2008 Joshua Hernandez/ Tony Pontieri #1 Hernandez 5.955/ 6.437 bump
Low e.t. Payne 5.920 Top Speed Hernandez 242.36
