TEAM REPORT NO.3 Compiled by Dwight Drum Images and web work by Larsen & Drum
Pro Modified Drag Racing Cars
Cool Old Cars with Big & Fast New Engines
Engel knows the simplest things can mean the most
Pro Mod racer Steve Engel knows exactly what turned his season around and allowed him to win the eighth annual O'Reilly Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals on May 18th, but he isn't willing to divulge any information.
No, it's not some elaborate tune-up or chassis setting he doesn't want to share with his rivals. It's something a little less significant. "It's almost embarrassing to be honest," he said. "Let's put it this way -- some times you can over-think these things and make the simplest of problems a big deal. I'd say we fall into that category."
You can call him Captain Obvious, but the bottom line is Engel and crew chief Brandon Pesz got their Diamond Heavy Haul '63 Corvette straightened out, and in doing so made Engel the 30th different winner in JEGS ProMod Challenge history.
"It's exciting," Engel said. "We'd been to the finals before (in Las Vegas '07 and Dallas '05) but never got the win. It's really quite a feeling when you get it done."
Entering Bristol, Engel had just one elimination round win on the year with a pair of unsightly DNQs to go with one first-round loss and a quarterfinal showing. Now he suddenly finds himself in the JEGS Top 10, just 139 points out of the lead.
"The really neat thing is that no one has run away with the points lead this year," Engel said. "Last year, by halfway along in the season we were all racing for second place because Josh [Hernandez] had just crushed it early on.
"Our season is pretty similar to last year in that we started slow and then got on a roll. Hopefully, the Bristol win will give us the momentum we need for the second half of the year."
Horsepower has never been a problem for Engel, as witnessed by his provisional low qualifying effort Friday night earlier this year in Houston. It was the simple task of getting the car down the track that was the team's foil. Now that appears to be solved.
"We really should be good from here on out," Engel said. "We're gonna do everything we can to make a run at the top and see what happens. We're sure having fun and we're thrilled that JEGS has added so much professionalism to the class. We're putting on a good show this year and people are really enjoying what we're doing, so that's a good thing."
New setting for next for PMRA Pro Modified Tour stop
First Annual PMRA Challenge June 7 at New York International Raceway Park
Teams of the Pro Modified Racing Association Presented by Torco Racing Fuels Ontario will be traveling to a new venue Saturday, June 7, and the new owners of New York International Raceway Park are excited to be hosting the popular Pro Modifieds.
"This is going to be a terrific show," said Vito Antonicelli, who along with wife Sylvia recently purchased the facility just south of Rochester, New York. "The PMRA has established itself as one of the top Pro Modified shows, and we are looking forward to having them with us."
The First Annual PMRA Challenge presented by Vito Antonicelli Race Cars and G-Force Race Cars will be held at NYIRP, and is the second stop of the six-race 2008 PMRA tour.
"We're looking forward to the race at New York International Raceway Park," said PMRA Director of Operations Bruce Mehlenbacher. "This is our first time at the track, and I know our teams are enthused about racing there. We're also happy about racing in front of new fans, and providing our sponsors with more exposure."
Opened in 1970, New York International Raceway Park is just south of Rochester, and has been known as Motor City Raceway and Dragway 36. It is an IHRA sanctioned facility and was home to the IHRA's Empire Nationals.
There will be three qualifying sessions on Saturday, June 7 at 3:00 p.m., 4:15 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. followed by Eliminations for the top eight qualifiers starting at 7:30 p.m
Scott Wildgust okay after serious crash in Cayuga
HANS device and well-built car provide protection from serious injury
Pro Modified Racing Association driver Scott Wildgust had a nasty ride during a qualifying attempt at the Third Annual PMRA Challenge event at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario May 17, and although he crashed heavily in the Ajax Engines/Torco Racing Fuels Ontario 1967 Chevrolet Camaro owned by Kirk and Maria Silbermann of Ajax, Ontario in the third round of qualifying, he is now recuperating after getting checked out in the hospital.
"We'll survive," said Wildgust who is resting at home from the crash. "I'm pretty sore, but I was given a clean bill of health."
Wildgust, an experienced drag racer of 17 years, including several seasons in the Pro Modified ranks and in Funny Cars, said he does not really remember what happened at Cayuga last Saturday before the car crashed into the left lane wall.
He was removed from the car by track safety and rescue team along with paramedics and firefighters, taken to West Haldimand General Hospital in Hagersville and then to Hamilton General Hospital for further observation.
Wildgust said two safety factors worked as intended, and without them the result could have been much worse. He said the HANS (head and neck restraint device) he was wearing, along with the solidly-built roll cage of the race car did their jobs.
"I think the HANS pretty well saved my life," he mentioned. "I don't even have a stiff neck."
Built by G-Force Race Cars, the Ajax team car was constructed with the most stringent of SFI safety requirements, certified for strength, and cocooned Wildgust during the incident as intended.
"We build our cars to the best of our ability," said G-Force's Jim Salemi, one of a handful of professional Pro Modified race car builders, and with close to 20 years experience.
He added that the roll cage and extra bars built into the chassis of the car did what they were supposed to do in protecting the driver.
Wildgust added he sincerely appreciated the efforts of track and rescue teams after the incident.
"I want to thank everyone that was there for me," he said. "It means a lot to me and my family."
While there were some qualifying runs at the event, the race had to be postponed due to inclement weather. PMRA Director of Operations Bruce Mehlenbacher is working with TMP officials in rescheduling the event later this season.
The PMRA will compete at several drag strips in 2008. There are two dates at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, June 28 and a date to be rescheduled. At New York International Raceway Park June 7 in New York State, then Dunn Tire Raceway Park July 26, also in New York State. An event is scheduled at the Sanair facility in Quebec August 16, and the season-closer will be held at the Southwestern Ontario track of the Grand Bend Motorplex August 30 and 31.
Second round loss for Carl Spiering at Milan IHRA event
Carl Spiering's day ended with a second round loss in final Torco Pro Modified eliminations Sunday at the Motor City Nationals at Milan Dragway in Michigan in the IHRA Knoll-Gas Motorsports Nitro Jam series.
"I'm pleased with the weekend, the Eaton Road Warrior was flawless in eliminations running 6.054-seconds 235.51-mph in the first round and 6.060-seconds 234.41-mph in the second round," explained Spiering. "We just got beat, it happens."
After winning the first round against Jason Stock's 1963 Corvette from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, Spiering, of Jordan Station, Ontario, lost in the second round to the number one qualifier and eventual event champion Kenny Lang from Grande Pointe, Manitoba driving a 1953 Corvette and was eliminated.
Spiering qualified fifth in the 16-car field with a 6.054-second 235.27-mph pass.
The 43-year old Spiering was driving a new Tim McAmis Race Cars manufactured 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray powered by an ERD (Engine Research & Development) 526-cubic inch Supercharged Hemi, built and maintained at the ERD facility in Jordan Station, Ontario, Canada.
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