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CAYUGA, ONTARIO (May 20, 2007) – The Pro Modified Racing Association season opener was an interesting event with several firsts.
A record number of Pro Modifieds were entered for the first race of the 2007 PMRA tour, held over the Victoria Day weekend racing at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario.
The top four qualifiers were taken out in round one of eliminations.
The final round was between two US-based teams, each with a Canadian engine building-program.
The race winner was the tenth different winner in as many PMRA events since the series was started.
However, at the end of the day, John Russo of Middleton, MA, won the Victoria Day Weekend PMRA Challenge with his Russo Motorsports 1968 Camaro.
Engine tuner and crew chief of the Russo car, Al Billes of Barrie, ON, gave his driver a solid, consistent race car all weekend. Qualifying number six, Russo beat Billy Farmer of MD in the final with a 7.248-second, 150.68-mph win over Farmer’s 10.220-second, 80.07-mph run. Both cars experience problems in the final. Russo overcame traction problems on the track surface, and Farmer succumbed to a broken throttle cable in the Pullen Motorsports entry. The Farmer entry, powered by an engine from Jordan Station ON-based ERD (Engine Research & Development(, substituted for PMRA regular Carl Spiering, whose car was not yet ready to compete.
“The wheels never settled down,” said Russo after the final. “I never got in the groove.”
Russo said he was pleased with the racing at TMP. It was his first time at the track.
“The starting line was phenomenal,” he mentioned. “But the top end could use some more traction.”
He added his car was strong all weekend. “The car was great,” he said. “Al (Billes) puts together a terrific program.”
Welland, ON’s Larry Sinke qualified number one with a 6.35-second, 223.32-mph pass in the Hammer Racing 1967 Nova. Making a return to Pro Modified racing was Gary Irving of Toronto, taking number two spot in his Lowdown Hot Rods 1937 Chevy Coupe entry with a 6.410-second, 224.02-mph run. Third in the eight-car field was 2006 PMRA co-champ Joe Boniferro of Niagara Falls, ON. The Smokin’ Joe’s 1999 Avenger ran a 6.480-second, 212.93-mph lap, and fourth was 2005 PMRA champion Joe Lilienthal of Kenmore, NY in the KC Motorsports 1993 Lumina from St. Catharines, ON at 6.646-seconds at 207.18 mph.
Sinke was taken out in the first round by number eight qualifier Farmer, while Ike Maier of Tottenham, ON, driving his 1969 Camaro, took out Lilienthal. Driving the NitroMoose/Ajax Engines 1957 Chevy, Scotty Wildgust of Ajax, ON, eliminated Irving, and Russo eliminated Boniferro in what proved to be the closest race of the day. Russo posted a run of 6.600 seconds at 213.67-mph, with Boniferro a run of 6.658 seconds at 206.23 mph.
Wildgust performed some masterful driving after severe tire shake got him up on two wheels and almost sideways to open the second round against Russo. While Wildgust backed off to keep his car on the ground, Russo motored to a 6.38-second, 218.87-mph pass over Wildgust’s 10.29-second, 77.99-mph run.
Maier could not get his car to the line for the second round, so Farmer had a solo 6.74-second, 223.88-mph lap.
Not only did Russo win the Trailer Shop Longest Tow Award, he picked up the Event Winner Contingency awards from Auto Meter Products and Competition Tire Canada/Goodyear Racing Tire. He also won the Gulfway Insurers Gulfway Insurers Providing Motorsports Insurance for Race Cars, Collector, Vintage and Specialty Vehicles Best Reaction Time and Round prize, posting an .057-second light in the first round. Russo’s crew chief Al Billes took the Parts Pro Crew Chief of the Race award.
In other PMRA special awards, Sinke took home the Auto Meter Products, Competition Tire Canada/Goodyear Racing Tire, and Lowdown Hot Rods Low Qualifier Contingency awards, plus the Bear’s Performance Products Consistent Qualifier award. Taking the Needles at Work / Voted by Officials award was the entry of Scotty Wildgust.
The next event for the Pro Modified Racing Association will be the Third Annual KC Auto Family Day Thunder Fest PMRA Challenge presented by Paul Wolf Electric & Lighting Supply Inc., Osram Sylvania and Independent Electrical Distributors at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario on June 16.
For information contact Toronto Motorsports Park call (905) 772-0303 or visit online at Welcome to Canada's Newest Racing Facility - Toronto Motorsports Park
Now in its third year of operation, The Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), Pro Modified Racing Association, has enjoyed strong fan popularity and will present some of the best in Pro Modified racing for 2007.
The PMRA will travel to several drag strips in 2007, including two dates at Toronto Motorsports Park, Lancaster Raceway Park in New York State, Sanair in Quebec, and the Southwestern Ontario track of Grand Bend Motorplex.
In 2006, the tour was a great success, and during the past two seasons of the PMRA, each event finished with a different winner. Joe Boniferro and Kasey Janzen tied in points last year and were crowned co-champions over the other Ontario, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania teams. Wix Filtration Products, Valvoline, a division of Ashland Inc., Uni-Select, and Moen Incorporated will sponsor the PMRA point series in 2007.
For more information, contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher [email protected]
About the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA):
The Pro Modified Racing Association started late in 2004 and is entering its third year of operation. The PMRA is a self-governing organization, with technical and safety rules as outlined by the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). Cars in the PMRA capture the true spirit of hot rodding, and the class is one of drag racing’s most exciting and volatile classes, offering a diverse group of racecars with different types of 2,000-horsepower engines. 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 200 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".
Photo Credit: MG Digital Media - MG Digital Media - Home
Russo captures first PMRA race of 2007
Record number of Pro Modifieds highlight TMP event
CAYUGA, ONTARIO (May 20, 2007) – The Pro Modified Racing Association season opener was an interesting event with several firsts.
A record number of Pro Modifieds were entered for the first race of the 2007 PMRA tour, held over the Victoria Day weekend racing at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario.
The top four qualifiers were taken out in round one of eliminations.
The final round was between two US-based teams, each with a Canadian engine building-program.
The race winner was the tenth different winner in as many PMRA events since the series was started.
However, at the end of the day, John Russo of Middleton, MA, won the Victoria Day Weekend PMRA Challenge with his Russo Motorsports 1968 Camaro.
Engine tuner and crew chief of the Russo car, Al Billes of Barrie, ON, gave his driver a solid, consistent race car all weekend. Qualifying number six, Russo beat Billy Farmer of MD in the final with a 7.248-second, 150.68-mph win over Farmer’s 10.220-second, 80.07-mph run. Both cars experience problems in the final. Russo overcame traction problems on the track surface, and Farmer succumbed to a broken throttle cable in the Pullen Motorsports entry. The Farmer entry, powered by an engine from Jordan Station ON-based ERD (Engine Research & Development(, substituted for PMRA regular Carl Spiering, whose car was not yet ready to compete.
“The wheels never settled down,” said Russo after the final. “I never got in the groove.”
Russo said he was pleased with the racing at TMP. It was his first time at the track.
“The starting line was phenomenal,” he mentioned. “But the top end could use some more traction.”
He added his car was strong all weekend. “The car was great,” he said. “Al (Billes) puts together a terrific program.”
Welland, ON’s Larry Sinke qualified number one with a 6.35-second, 223.32-mph pass in the Hammer Racing 1967 Nova. Making a return to Pro Modified racing was Gary Irving of Toronto, taking number two spot in his Lowdown Hot Rods 1937 Chevy Coupe entry with a 6.410-second, 224.02-mph run. Third in the eight-car field was 2006 PMRA co-champ Joe Boniferro of Niagara Falls, ON. The Smokin’ Joe’s 1999 Avenger ran a 6.480-second, 212.93-mph lap, and fourth was 2005 PMRA champion Joe Lilienthal of Kenmore, NY in the KC Motorsports 1993 Lumina from St. Catharines, ON at 6.646-seconds at 207.18 mph.
Sinke was taken out in the first round by number eight qualifier Farmer, while Ike Maier of Tottenham, ON, driving his 1969 Camaro, took out Lilienthal. Driving the NitroMoose/Ajax Engines 1957 Chevy, Scotty Wildgust of Ajax, ON, eliminated Irving, and Russo eliminated Boniferro in what proved to be the closest race of the day. Russo posted a run of 6.600 seconds at 213.67-mph, with Boniferro a run of 6.658 seconds at 206.23 mph.
Wildgust performed some masterful driving after severe tire shake got him up on two wheels and almost sideways to open the second round against Russo. While Wildgust backed off to keep his car on the ground, Russo motored to a 6.38-second, 218.87-mph pass over Wildgust’s 10.29-second, 77.99-mph run.
Maier could not get his car to the line for the second round, so Farmer had a solo 6.74-second, 223.88-mph lap.
Not only did Russo win the Trailer Shop Longest Tow Award, he picked up the Event Winner Contingency awards from Auto Meter Products and Competition Tire Canada/Goodyear Racing Tire. He also won the Gulfway Insurers Gulfway Insurers Providing Motorsports Insurance for Race Cars, Collector, Vintage and Specialty Vehicles Best Reaction Time and Round prize, posting an .057-second light in the first round. Russo’s crew chief Al Billes took the Parts Pro Crew Chief of the Race award.
In other PMRA special awards, Sinke took home the Auto Meter Products, Competition Tire Canada/Goodyear Racing Tire, and Lowdown Hot Rods Low Qualifier Contingency awards, plus the Bear’s Performance Products Consistent Qualifier award. Taking the Needles at Work / Voted by Officials award was the entry of Scotty Wildgust.
The next event for the Pro Modified Racing Association will be the Third Annual KC Auto Family Day Thunder Fest PMRA Challenge presented by Paul Wolf Electric & Lighting Supply Inc., Osram Sylvania and Independent Electrical Distributors at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario on June 16.
For information contact Toronto Motorsports Park call (905) 772-0303 or visit online at Welcome to Canada's Newest Racing Facility - Toronto Motorsports Park
Now in its third year of operation, The Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), Pro Modified Racing Association, has enjoyed strong fan popularity and will present some of the best in Pro Modified racing for 2007.
The PMRA will travel to several drag strips in 2007, including two dates at Toronto Motorsports Park, Lancaster Raceway Park in New York State, Sanair in Quebec, and the Southwestern Ontario track of Grand Bend Motorplex.
In 2006, the tour was a great success, and during the past two seasons of the PMRA, each event finished with a different winner. Joe Boniferro and Kasey Janzen tied in points last year and were crowned co-champions over the other Ontario, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania teams. Wix Filtration Products, Valvoline, a division of Ashland Inc., Uni-Select, and Moen Incorporated will sponsor the PMRA point series in 2007.
For more information, contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher [email protected]
About the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA):
The Pro Modified Racing Association started late in 2004 and is entering its third year of operation. The PMRA is a self-governing organization, with technical and safety rules as outlined by the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). Cars in the PMRA capture the true spirit of hot rodding, and the class is one of drag racing’s most exciting and volatile classes, offering a diverse group of racecars with different types of 2,000-horsepower engines. 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 200 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".
Photo Credit: MG Digital Media - MG Digital Media - Home
