Sat, 26 Jun 2010, 09:54 AM Commisso Races to Qualifying Lead in Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2010 Auto Imagery, Inc. At Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

NORWALK, Ohio --

Ray Commisso

Raymond Commisso raced to the qualifying lead Friday in the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

Commisso, who failed to get his '68 Camaro down the track in the day's first qualifying session, covered the quarter-mile distance at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in 5.910 seconds at 248.20 mph in the second session to take the top spot in the 16-car field.

"I do feel fortunate to be the No. 1 qualifier," Commisso said. "It will probably stay that way because the final round of qualifying will be in the sunshine so it shouldn't be as quick. I know every time I step off the clutch in my racecar that I can go to the No. 1 spot. We have the horsepower and the people to get it done."

The second qualifying session was interrupted by two spectacular crashes. Tony Pontieri's '68 Camaro went out of control and impacted the guardwall and crashed, as did Roger Burgess' '63 Corvette, which also hit the wall and barrel-rolled before coming to an upright stop. Both drivers were checked and released at the track.

"It's always a little tough when you see two of your fellow racers, two of your friends, wreck their cars," Commisso said. "It kind of takes the excitement out of being No. 1 tonight. Thank God they're OK. Credit the NHRA Safety Safari, the guys that build these racecars, and all the safety equipment we wear."

Melanie Troxel was second in her new In-N-Out '67 Camaro with a 5.940 at 245.40. Three-time tour winner and current series points leader Von Smith was third in his Al-Anabi Racing/Dr. Moon '68 Camaro with a 5.951 at 245.05. Veteran racer Pat Musi, who topped the first session in his '09 Dodge Stratus, moved to fourth with his performance of 5.961 at 229.98.

One round of qualifying remains for the Pro Mods on Saturday at 11 a.m., followed by the first round of eliminations, scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

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