Mike Knowles, driver of the Knowles Enterprises/B&J Transmissions '63 Corvette Pro Mod, is heading
into this weekend's Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge event at the NHRA Virginia Nationals
with the singular goal of moving into the top eight and qualifying for the Matco Tools $35,000 Pro
Mod Clash. To do that, he has to qualify better than Tim Tindle or Jay Payne and win at least two
more rounds than either.
After running with consistency and speed at the Charlotte event last month, Knowles has pulled
within 43 points of Tindle, and his Chuck Ford-tuned Corvette is delivering its best performances
of the season.
"We really kicked it into gear the last couple of races, and the results speak for themselves,"
Knowles said. "There was a little 'blip' in the quarterfinals in Charlotte, but Chuck, Mike
Strasberg and I have put our heads together and think we have it all figured out.
"This Richmond track has been so quick in the past, and this weekend looks to be no different. We
can definitely move up in the points, and we can make the Matco clash. We just have to be
consistent, and we've got everything in place to do that.
"It'll be a great weekend of Pro Mod racing," Knowles said. "We're all friends off the track, but
once we're in the cars and lined up, it's battle. And we're ready for the war."
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.
