Last minute details and quick test sessions are being completed as drivers and teams in the Get
Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx prepare to compete for the crown jewel
of drag racing at the MAC Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals. With just four races left in the season and
four rounds separating the top six drivers, every round will count as drivers jockey for points and
position to claim the title of World Champion. Drivers are also trying to qualify for the $35,000
Matco Tools Pro Mod Clash, making the battle for eighth place as fierce as the battle for first.
Burton Auxier has led the field with his nitrous-assisted '67 Camaro since winning the race at
Bristol in May, swapping places with his Al Anabi-sponsored teammate Mike Castellana who led the
standings after winning the first event in Gainesville. The whole team, which also features 2001
Pro Mod World Champion Rickie Smith, is hoping to maintain their stranglehold on the lead heading
into the final stretch.
The series has yielded six winners in the six events thus far, and each of the other winners -
Danny Rowe, Tim Tindle, Roger Burgess and Raymond Commisso - is also trying to break into the top
spot and win the title.
Ohio Crankshaft, the featured Pro Mod sponsor for the event, will be represented by Scott Ray who
is coming back to competition after being sidelined by health issues. Also back from the sidelines
will be Trane-backed Rick Stivers behind the wheel of an all-new Brad Anderson-tuned Stratus.
Other front-runners include series regulars Joe Baker, B&J Transmission's Mike Knowles, Chip King
in the Strutmasters.com Dodge Daytona, the fastest man in Pro Mod racing - Brad Personett in his
Big 3 Turbo Camaro, and the quickest woman in Pro Mod racing, Melanie Troxel.
Boasting a truly international flavor, drivers from the countries of Canada and Sweden will be
represented at the event. Hailing from the Great White North are Commisso, Rick DiStefano, Ike
Maier, Tony Pontieri and Danny Rowe (by way of California). Adam Flamholc will be representing
Sweden, having recently purchased the rolling operation turnkey from series competitor Taylor
Lastor.
"To be able to come to an event like the U.S. Nationals for us is really a dream come true," said
Flamholc, a machine shop owner. "We are a very low budget team, and everybody on the team is doing
this just for the fun of it because we love it."
A father of three, Flamholc will be joined by some of Lastor's crew for the weekend as well as four
of his countrymen in his debut in the Challenge.
"This season is my first in Pro Mod, and I ended up number two in the Scandinavian series. I'm
really thankful to Taylor Lastor and TRE who builds my motors and MGP who built my car, as well as
Amalie oil in Europe, Custom Graphics and YIT, the companies that helps me to make this dream
became reality," he said.
Also making their first appearances in the Pro Mod Challenge this year will be Tommy D'April, Rick
DiStefano, Dennis Radford and John Russo.
ENTRY LIST
Burton Auxier
Joe Baker
Roger Burgess
Mike Castellana
Raymond Commisso
Tommy D'Aprile
Rick DiStefano
Adam Flamholc
Chip King
Mike Knowles
Ike Maier
Jay Payne
Brad Personett
Tony Pontieri
Dennis Radford
Scott Ray
Danny Rowe
John Russo
Rickey Smith
Rick Stivers
Jason Stock
Tim Tindle
Melanie Troxel
Kirk Wilmes
