GRAND BEND, ONTARIO (September 1, 2013) – The Pro Modified Racing Association celebrated its final points race of the season for 2013 with a first-time winner during the “Thunder by the Beach” Weekend event at the Grand Bend Motorplex.
Winning his first PMRA race was second-year driver Paolo Giust, who drove solidly and consistently to win his first Pro Modified event.
“We are certainly happy with the win,” Giust said after the race. “We struggled a bit at the start of the season but we have it figured out now.”
Qualifying the Paolo & Shannon Giust Racing 1963 Corvette powered by a BAE supercharged hemi engine, Giust, of Osgoode, Ontario, qualified third in the field with a 6.369-second, 229.06-mph pass behind Rocky Di Lecce of Mississauga, Ontario and Jeff Roth of New Hamburg, Ontario.
Giust eliminated Jack Grainy of Basom, New York, and Roth to meet up with number five qualifier Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ontario in the final. Although Hawker posted a 6.277 at 230.76 against Giust’s 6.330, 213.57, Giust was first off the line with a .049-second reaction time over Hawker’s .130 which gave him the winning edge and the victory.
Semi-finalists were Roth and number eight qualifier Sam Andreacchi of Toronto, Ontario.
Giust was quick to thank the efforts of Jim Salemi of G-Force Race Cars, Jon Salemi of Resolution Racing Services, and Mike Stawicki of MSR Engines for their efforts in his success.
“Jim and Jon and Mike got it all figured out,” Giust said. “They got me to the winner’s circle.”
Giust also wanted to thank his crew, crew chief Jamie Clarmo, along with Shannon Giust, Jamie Petric, Matt Maxsom, Sherri Clarmo and Joe Kavanagh.
“I certainly have to thank my team,” he noted. “Without them I could not go Pro Modified racing.”
“I also want to thank Bruce (Mehlenbacher, Series Director of Operations) for putting this series together and letting guys like us from Canada and New York race our Pro Modifieds,” he continued. “We would have to travel all over to race, but we have the PMRA which has allowed us to race in a great environment.”
The 2013 PMRA points championship was decided before racing began at Grand Bend. With five wins this season, Di Lecce had amassed a large lead in points and all he had to do was to attend this race to win his first PMRA title. Although he qualified number one, he was eliminated in the first round by Andreacchi.
Di Lecce won the 2013 title with 1838 points, with Grainy second at 1621 points. Former PMRA champion Bruce Boland of Stoney Creek placed third with 1595 points, followed by Hawker with 1575 points and Giust with 1235 points. Rounding out the top ten are Roth, Andreacchi, Jason Kalso of Clarkston, Michigan, Tim Martin of Barrie, Ontario, and Steve Legare of Trois Rivieres, Quebec.
The next race on the 2013 PMRA schedule is the inaugural International Pro Mod Challenge September 20-21 at the Maryland Int’l Raceway, Mechanicsville, Maryland. This non-points event will feature the PMRA racing against the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association (NOPMA).
Several times each year the PMRA competes with its two companion series, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the Pro Bike & Sled Series.
While the 2013 season is over for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the PBSS, the PMRA will take part in the inaugural International Pro Mod Challenge September 20-21 at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, Maryland.
The Pro Modified Racing Association, www.PMRA.ca competes with its two companion series, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, www.Quick32.ca and the Pro Bike & Sled Series, www.PBSS.ca travel and compete together throughout the racing season, offering an exciting and diverse package of drag racing action.
For more information, please contact:
Bruce F. Mehlenbacher/ Director of Operations
Telephone: (905) 772-1800 Ext. #22
Cellular: (905) 517-5345
E-mail: Bruce@PMRA.ca
Tim Miller/ Media Director
Telephone: (905) 870-1456
E-mail: Tim@PMRA.ca
{fcomment}
Discussion about this post