MEDINA, NEW YORK (November 9, 2010) – After supporting the PMRA Series for its entirety of six seasons, Mike Stawicki returned to racing in the Pro Modified Racing Association for the 2010 season, and captured his first PMRA Championship in the Point Award Series presented by Magnum Auto Parts and Patio Passport.
"Our year went excellent," said Stawicki, who set several Pro Modified benchmarks during the season, including a Canadian record of 5.739 seconds for a quarter-mile pass, just one one-thousandth of a second behind the world Pro Modified elapsed time record. "Our year was one of the best."Stawicki qualified for all PMRA events, and took the number one Marydel Homes qualifying spot in four of five events, qualifying second in the remaining race. His 2010 PMRA record included one victory, a co-victory, two runner-up placings, and a quarter-final round.
Along with his record-setting 5.739 in August, Stawicki also posted the top PMRA speed record with a 255.75-mph run in September. He mentioned that consistency is a vital factor in winning.
"Consistency is real important," noted the professional racer. "You have to make laps and go right on down the boulevard every time."
"Consistency is real important," noted the professional racer. "You have to make laps and go right on down the boulevard every time."
Stawicki is the driver and owner of the G-Force Race Cars/MSR Performance 1968 Firebird. The team includes Jim Salemi and Jon Salemi, Pro Modified car builders and racers who are co-crew chiefs on the car. John Kage is the team's car chief, Betty Stawicki the team manager. Joe Zito, Lucas Salemi and Evan Salemi round out the team effort.
Stawicki started out drag racing in the early 1970s with a front-engined dragster he raced in Super Pro, and then raced a rear-engined dragster in NHRA Competition Eliminator. His first door-car came in 1989, and since that time he has been one of the major proponents of the popular Pro Modified class. Along with the PMRA, the New York State native has competed in NHRA, IHRA and ADRL racing.Between the rails of the G-Force Race Cars Firebird is a 521-cubic inch billet Brad Anderson (BAE) hemi engine, assembled and tweaked by Stawicki himself. A Lenco three-speed with a Leanders three-disk lock-up system transmits the power. The fuel system is courtesy of Resolution Racing Services, and a PSI Superchargers – C Rotor Screw Blower pumps the mixture into the engine.
Sponsors for the team include G-Force Race Cars Inc., MSR Performance, Resolution Racing Services, LAT Racing Oil, Isolation Systems, Cynergy Composites, Scott Jahren Paint, C.G. Composites, M/T Wheels and Tires, KW Motorsports, NGK Spark Plugs, Victory 1 Performance, Mastin Eng. and Hot Rods by Burke.
Stawicki's future plans include a lengthy trip to the Mid-East hotbed of drag racing in Qatar, where he will compete in an eight-race series between December of 2010 and March of 2011. The team's Firebird is ready to be packed and shipped across the Atlantic Ocean, and he along with the Salemis will be taking on the competition is the desert climate.
He said he can't wait to get on the airplane over to Qatar."I'm really looking forward to going," he said. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us."
Stawicki added that he plans to focus on ADRL racing upon his return in 2011, and has not committed to continuing in the PMRA for next season.
The PMRA and Quick 32 Sportsman Series Championship Point Award Series winners will be honored at the "Night of Champions" on Saturday, November 13, 2010 at The Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
