Sat, 27 Jun 2009, 12:02 PM Campa and Torres Win SoCal Pro Gas titles at Fontana

By Bob Johnson Photo copyright 2009 Bob Johnson Photography

FONTANA, Calif. --

Campa vs. Gunther

Vince Campa improved on his Super Gas runner-up finish at the NHRA-Lucas Oil divisional race at Las Vegas in April, winning the third race of the 2009 Southern California Pro Gas Association, event at Auto Club Dragway. Val Torres picked up the Sunday afternoon race title with his Val Torres Construction Corvette. Sunday's race was dedicated to the memory of Audrey Israel, who died in May. Audrey raced with the SoCal Pro Gas Association since 1980. She was the wife of '06 Pro Gas champion, Jim Israel.

Fifty-seven cars entered the King's Hawaiian-sponsored Saturday race, with Russ Hester taking the number one qualifying position with his '57 Corvette posting a perfect 9.900. Campa qualified second, off by .001, followed by Joe Galati, Darryl Mitchell Jr., John Ross, and Mike Blodgett Sr.

Campa defeated Randy Fabbro in the first round; he got a bye in the second round, and beat Greg Martin in round three when Martin broke-out. Campa used a .008 starting line advantage to beat Dave Coapstick in the quarterfinals, 9.907 to a losing 9.905. In the semifinals, Campa was good by .02 for the win as Tony Broussard's wheelstanding '69 Opel was too quick.

Rick Gunther went to the finals by stopping Bill Lockhart, point's leader Glen Smith, and Val Torres Jr., before recording a perfect 9.900 to defeat John Ross for a .013 margin-of-victory.

Kato vs. Torres

In the final round, Campa drove his roadster to a 9.922, 158.56 win over Gunther, losing with a 9.913, 136.81. Campa thanks his Mom & Dad for the opportunity to drive a race car, and his brother Junior for keeping the car dialed-in. He would also like to thank Richard, Mary, and Ryan Diosdado, Martin Vasquez, John Reed, and Kerry Novak at Crower Cams. Special thanks to Mike Bolden at Helix Motorsports and MPT for supplying a fast and consistent engine.

2007 NHRA Pacific Division Super Gas Champion Val Torres went to the final by defeating reigning and 4-time SoCal Pro Gas champion Pete Bothe in the first round when Bothe's Porsche broke, in the second round he ran a perfect 9.900 with a .008 reaction time to beat 2001 Pro Gas champ Dave Coapstick. Torres then defeated top qualifier Willie Herem in round three and advanced to the quarterfinals when Chris Newman's Cobalt failed to fire. In the semifinal Torres used a 9.903 and .005 light to stop Campa, who broke-out.

Roger Kato went to the final with wins over Mike Blodgett, Pete Jimenez, Randy Baluogh, and he took a .001 win over Anthony Matassa. Kato defeated Sonny Butler when he broke in the semifinals.

Kato had a superior light in the final round--.017 to a .049-but he was .005 too quick at the finish line and Torres picked up his first win of the season with a 9.924, 157.28.

When the Pro Gas series resumes on July 4 and 5 at Auto Club Dragway, Glen Smith holds the points lead with 259 points, followed by Vince Campa (248), Chris Newman (237), Steve Parsons (226), Val Torres (215), and Dave Stafford (205). The 2009 Pro Gas Shootout standings have Ray Cordeiro (30 points) first, followed by Wayne Newman (25), Ryan Priddy (24), and Tom Grueser (22).

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