Marking the half-way spot in the ten-race season, drivers in the Get Screened America Pro Mod
Challenge presented by ProCare Rx will venture into uncharted territory this weekend as they
compete for the first time ever on the venerable quarter-mile at Heartland Park Topeka in the
O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kansas.
Smack-dab in the middle of the country, the Topeka event will feature a baker's-dozen of the best
Pro Modified cars in the land, all vying for the Get Screened America Warrior trophy and the
$10,000 purse as well as the extremely valuable championship points in a tightly-contested race.
Scheduled to compete this weekend are: Burton Auxier, Joe Baker, Roger Burgess, Mike Castelana,
Raymond Commisso, Chip King, Mike Knowles, Taylor Lastor, Jay Payne, Brad Personett, Danny Rowe,
Tim Tindle, and rookie Kirk Wilmes.
"It's make-or-break time," said Joe Baker, driver of the Matco Tools/Lend America '68 Camaro for
Mike Ashley Racing. "If a team is going to be in the running for the championship or the Matco
Tools Clash at the end of the year, you've got be hitting your stride right now - otherwise, you're
just along for the ride."
Currently tied for fourth place and more than six round-wins out of the lead, Baker knows he's
talking about himself just as much as any other driver. Trying to get into the top spot is a
challenge in itself, but with a $25,000 top-prize on the line for the Matco Tools Clash, making the
top eight is just as important. The Clash pits the eight best cars in the class against each other
in a "race-within-a race" when the series contests its final event October 29-November 1 at The
Strip at Las Vegas.
The hottest team in the Challenge to date is the nitrous-powerhouse from the Al-Anabi Awesome
Motorsports stable, lead by veterans Burton Auxier and Mike Castellana. Auxier scored his first win
of the season at the last event in Bristol, Tenn., while Castellana made his move early, taking the
first race of the season at Gainesville, Fla.
Also on a tear this season is the R2B2 Racing team of Roger Burgess and Raymond Commisso, with
Burgess claiming bragging rights for the St. Louis event and Commisso scoring a runner-up finish in
Bristol. Not to be counted out, however, are Houston winner Danny Rowe, turbo-powered and
high-speed record-setting Brad Personett, and Brad Anderson-tuned Jay Payne - all powerful teams
with monster experience onboard.
With a bright weather forecast of 90-degree temperatures and sunny skies all weekend long, drivers
and teams are gearing up for a battle in what is sure to be a pivotal race in the standings.
Qualifying is scheduled for 3:30 and 6:00 p.m. Friday and 11:00 a.m. Saturday. Eliminations are
slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon and conclude Sunday.
