Fri, 26 Oct 2007, 01:12 PM More than $130,000 on the Line as AMS Pro Mods Hit The Strip

Courtesy of Matthew Brammer

LAS VEGAS -- More than $130,000 in prizes and purse money is on the table as the AMS Pro Mod Challenge presented by Tindle Enterprises, Inc. contests its last event of the season at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the ACDelco NHRA Vegas Nationals this weekend. In addition to the $30,000 event purse and the $50,000 BAE Championship Cup Championship purses which will be awarded after the event, eight drivers will compete for their share of the $50,000 ProCare Rx Pro Mod Clash awards.

Texan Josh Hernandez has already clinched the $25,000 top prize and World Championship title in the BAE Championship Cup, but the remaining $25,000 will be divided amongst the other top ten still vying for a position. Second place Raymond Commisso currently has a more than 200-point lead over 2006 World Champion Jay Payne, but with more than 500 points up for grabs - 100 points per round-win - the No. 2 spot is still up for grabs. In the hunt for the $5,000 third place purse are Canadian Tony Pontieri, series presenting sponsor Tim Tindle and Ohio trucking mogul Steve Engel.

The mood was jovial on the first-ever ProCare Rx Clash Public Pairings teleconference held Tuesday night. The eight drivers competing in the Clash joined together to learn their fate in the first round, and jabs were taken as each tried to position himself with any advantage possible. Since the ProCare Rx SuperNationals in Englishtown, New Jersey, competitors have been earning points based on their qualifying position and consistency in their qualifying efforts.

Tony Pontieri, who has faced 2007 Champion Josh Hernandez in eliminations several times this year said, "Go ahead and just give me Josh now. I know I'm going to get him. I told him the next time we meet, I was going to teach him a lesson - so let's just get it on."

As the names were drawn and the ladder was formed, Pontieri's prediction was unfulfilled - at least in the first round. It is possible he could face Hernandez in the semifinals of the Clash, but, he'll have to get past Steve Engel, and Hernandez will have to surpass Jay Payne in a Battle of the Champions in order for the two to meet.

Payne said, "We've had a tough year, but things are really starting to peak now, and I know Brad [Anderson, Payne's crew chief and father-in-law] has something to prove. We're all ready to go."

Shelly Payne, Jay's wife and teammate, qualified for the Clash in sixth place, but will be unable to compete because she is still recovering from injuries she sustained in a crash in Richmond, Va. Taking her place in the Clash is No. 9 qualifier Scott Ray.

Ray was drawn first, and will face Tim Tindle in round one, and Raymond Commisso and John Russo will do battle in the other leg of the ladder.

ProCare Rx Chairman and CEO Roger Burgess, who recently completed his licensing requirements and will be debuting in competition this weekend, said during the teleconference, "I'm excited for all of the drivers who have made it this far and proven their skills. It's a testament not only to their driving abilities but also the talent of their crews and tuners.

"In addition to the $25,000 cash prize, we have an incredible one-of-a-kind trophy we'll be presenting to the winner, something to commemorate our first of hopefully many Pro Mod Clashes to come," Burgess said.

The racing schedule has been modified from what was originally posted on the NHRA website.

The first round of qualifying on Friday for all cars competing in the event is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., and the first round of the ProCare Rx Clash is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., followed by the remaining cars in their second round of qualifying. Saturday's schedule begins with the semifinals of the clash scheduled at 11:15 a.m. followed by the final qualifying session for the remaining cars. The finals of the Clash will be contested at 2 p.m. between the nitro and Pro Stock qualifying sessions, and the first round of eliminations is scheduled for 5 p.m. The balance of eliminations will be completed on Sunday, October 28.

 
Eliminations Ladder for the $50,000 ProCare Rx Pro Mod Clash

Round One:
Scott Ray vs
Tim Tindle*
 
John Russo vs
Raymond Commisso*
 
Josh Hernandez* vs
Jay Payne
 
Tony Pontieri* vs
Steve Engel
 
* indicates lane choice
 
Semifinals:
Winner Ray v Tindle vs
Winner Russo v Commisso
 
Winner Hernandez v Payne vs
Winner Pontieri v Engel
 
 
 
ACDelco Vegas Nationals AMS Pro Mod Racing Schedule

Friday:
3:00 PM -  Q-1 for all 24 cars
5:30 PM -  R-1 ProCare Rx Clash (8 cars)
5:40 PM -  Q-2 for remaining 16 cars 
 
Saturday:
11:15 AM -  R-2 ProCare Rx Clash (4 cars)
11:20 AM -  Q-3 for remaining 20 cars
2:00 PM -  Final ProCare Rx Clash (2 cars) (will not count for event qualifying)
5:00 PM -  R-1 (16 cars)
 
Sunday:
Eliminations after 11 a.m.
 
Entry List:

Scott Bailey
Roger Burgess
Raymond Commisso
Troy Critchley
Kip Dupuis
Steve Engel
Billy Harper
Josh Hernandez
Glen Kerunsky
Chip King
Mike Knowles
Kirk Kuhns
Harold Laird
Kenny Lang
Gary Mason
Mike Moran
Jay Payne
Tony Ponteri
Dennis Radford
Scott Ray
Danny Rowe
John Russo
Rick Stivers
Tim Tindel
Raymond Vettel

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