GRAND BEND, ONTARIO (July 18, 2010) – Mike Stawicki has made it known that he is the force in Pro Modified racing this season.
The veteran driver of the G-Force Race Cars MSR Performance powered 1968 Firebird from Medina, New York, qualified number one for race three in the 2010 Pro Modified Racing Association tour, and went the distance to win his first PMRA event of the year and the first IHRA Ironman of his career.Stawicki beat former Alcohol Funny Car driver Paul Noakes of London, Ontario in the final. Noakes, who has settled nicely behind the wheel of the Noakes and Martin Racing 1963 Corvette, qualified seventh, and ran a stout 6.293, 223.28 final but it was no match for Stawicki's 5.820, 253.28 victory run.
While Stawicki qualified number one, to win the Marydel Homes Qualifying Bonus with a 5.881, 252.05 lap, it was the New Yorker's final run that set low ET and top speed during the IHRA Nitro Jam Nationals held at the Grand Bend Motorplex. Stawicki has been running in the five-second range since he set the PMRA Series record with a 5.803 at 255.15 during the previous event at the Cayuga Dragway.
Noakes took out number three qualifier Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Ontario in the semi round and in the other semi, PMRA season opener winner Eric Latino of Port Perry, Ontario had suffered some engine troubles in his 1938 Chevy, and was unable to get to the line for his next run, giving a solo run and the win to Stawicki. Latino had qualified fourth.
Winner of the previous PMRA event, Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ontario, suffered a fuel leak during his burnout in the first round, so he and his 1963 Corvette watched as Boland, also in a 1963 Corvette, made a 6.290, 228.15 solo pass.
In other first round action, Noakes won over Gary Irving of Toronto, who qualified number two in the Al Hinds 2004 Corvette. Latino took out PMRA rookie driver Vito Montesano of Maple, Ontario, with his 1968 Camaro, and Stawicki shut down Jack Brohman of Jarvis, Ontario, who qualified number eight with his 1969 Camaro. With his victory, Stawicki leads the Pro Modified Racing Association 2010 Championship Point Award Series presented by Magnum Auto Parts and Patio Passport with 828 points. Hawker is second with 812 points, and Latino has 806 points for third spot.
Fourth in the standings at present is Boland with 760 points, while Irving rounds out the top five with 759 points.
The next event on the 2010 PMRA tour is the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts, to be held at Grand Bend August 6-8.
