This weekend is all about the points for drivers in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge
presented by ProCare Rx. The swan-song event at the NHRA Virginia Nationals is the second-to-last
event in the season and the last event for drivers to qualify for the $35,000 Matco Tools Pro Mod
Clash, and it's the last time the tour will visit the Virginia Motorsports Park. The points battles
are fierce for the World Champion title with four drivers vying for the top spot, and five
competitors are battling for the last three available positions in the Matco Clash.
Burton Auxier has fielded the most consistent car all season and has carried the first-place
bragging rights since his victory in the fourth race of the season at Bristol, Tenn. in May, and is
currently holding on to a 54-point margin over Roger Burgess and a 57-point lead over Danny Rowe.
Mathematically, Auxier's teammate Mike Castellana along with Joe Baker also have a shot at snagging
the top-spot, sitting just 103- and 117-points out with more than 230 points still on the table for
the season in the two remaining races.
In the Matco Clash, No.'s 6-8 - Raymond Commisso, Jay Payne and Tim Tindle - sit precariously close
to the qualifying edge and within striking distance at this race, the last possibility to make the
top eight and qualify for their shot at the $25,000 grand prize to be won in Las Vegas at the end
of October. On their heels are Brad Personett, Mike Knowles, and Rick Stivers - each of whom could
jump into one of the last three spots as less than three round-wins of competition separate them
from making the cut.
"Anything is possible," said Rick Stivers, the winner of the series' last event held at Charlotte,
N.C. and currently just 59-points out of the top eight. "I don't remember ever seeing such a tight
race to make the points. It just goes to show you how well-matched the top cars in this series
really are. It doesn't matter if they are nitrous, blower-cars or even turbo - they're all in the
hunt.
"This truly is a winner-take-all weekend. I love it," Stivers said.
The track at Virginia Motorsports park has proven exceptionally fast in the past, producing
record-times and a series-quickest bump-spot of 6.03 seconds just last year, and although the
weather forecast looks stormy for Saturday of this week, Friday's forecast is cool, dry and fast.
Hoping to act as spoilers for the embattled leaders are a group of cars that represent the best of
the rest. Scott Ray will field the Ohio Crankshaft entry once again, while Rick DiStefano, Dennis
Radford, "Tricky" Rickey Smith, and Chip King all hope to crush some dreams this weekend along with
'Tombstone" Tommy Gray, Frank Patille, Sweden's Adam Flamholc, Kirk Kuhns and Melanie Troxel. In
all, 21 drivers will be competing for 16 qualifying positions with the hopes of taking home their
very own Pro Mod Challenge 'Warrior.'
Qualifying rounds are scheduled for 1:00 and 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, and 2:00 p.m. Saturday,
Oct. 10. Eliminations begin Friday evening with the B&J Transmissions Bonus round scheduled for
4:00 p.m. Saturday, and the balance of eliminations scheduled to run Sunday afternoon.
