Sat, 12 Jun 2010, 07:24 PM Commisso Leads Eight Drivers into Get Screened America Pro Mod Series Quarterfinals

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2010 Auto Imagery, Inc.

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. --

Ray Commisso

Top qualifier Ray Commisso survived a close call in the first round of eliminations Saturday in the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the 41st annual NHRA SuperNationals.

Commisso was .043 behind at the tree against No. 16-qualifier Rickie Smith (.050 to .093) and he still trailed at 660 feet, but he delivered a 5.935 at 246.71 mph to catch and pass Smith (6.011, 237.38).

Commisso's R2B2/ProCare Rx Camaro was in victory lane at the most recent Get Screened America Pro Mod Series event, in Atlanta, but it was Michael Gullqvist and not Commisso who drove it to Victory Lane. Commisso couldn't attend the Atlanta event because he was home in Canada attending to family matters following the passing of his father.

Commisso will meet Pat Musi, who defeated Ed Hoover, in one of the four Sunday quarterfinal matchups. The other matchups are: Scott Ray vs. Von Smith, Danny Rowe vs. Kenny Lang, and Tony Pontieri vs. Mike Castellana.

Earlier Saturday, the field was set with the second and final round of qualifying and Commisso held on to the top spot when no one bettered his 5.815 at 250.64 mph from Friday night.

Houston winner and second-place-in-points Rowe was second in qualifying with a 5.848 at 249.26 in his Sterling Bridge '68 Camaro, and just behind him in the qualifying order were Castellana (5.906, 240.55) and Troy Coughlin (5.921, 239.44), who was upset by Smith in R1.

The final three rounds of Pro Mod eliminations will be completed on Sunday.