Monday, January 10, 2011

Roth Racing returns to Pro Modified Racing Association for 2011

Team back and ready with 1941 Willys Pro Modified
KITCHENER, ONTARIO (January 10, 2010) – Roth Racing is ready to return to racing for the 2011 Pro Modified Racing Association.
"Pretty well everything is the same as last season," noted team owner Jim Roth. "There will be some chassis changes, and we'll be detuning the car to comply with the new Series rule changes."
Roth's 1941 Willys Pro Modified has been running a state-of-the-art PSI Superchargers Screw-type Supercharger, and with some limitations placed on cars with this device over the Roots Supercharger, Nitrous and Turbocharged entries Roth and his group will be making the necessary adjustments.
Sitting on a Lowdown Hot Rods chassis, the popular Willys is powered by a 526-cubic inch Alan Johnson engine with input from Atchison Racing. A Bruno Automotive Products/Lenco three-speed sits behind the engine, which has a fuel system courtesy of Atchison.
With Jim's son Jeff Roth behind the wheel, the team placed seventh in the Pro Modified Racing Association Championship Point Award Series presented by Magnum Auto Parts
and Patio Passport, qualifying in the top five in several PMRA events, along with two semi-finals.
The Willys made its debut in 2009, placing third in PMRA Championship Point Award Series that season with an event victory at the Grand Bend Motorplex in September of that year. In 2008 the team ran their rookie year with the bright yellow 1957 Chevrolet Pro Modified, and placed fifth in the Championship Point Award Series.
Dave Bankes will continue as crew chief for the team for 2011. Others in the effort include Larry Summerfield, Marc McCrae and Ashley Roth. 
The Willys is sponsored by Oak Grove Cheese, NGK Spark Plugs, Fire Core 50, and Outer Limits Transportation and new sponsors are in the wings pending new rules.
The younger Roth has raced since 1992 when he piloted a Junior Dragster, and drove an alcohol Funny Car before the team went Pro Modified racing in 2008.
Roth said the coming season will be highlighted somewhat with the rule changes to cars using the screw blower setup. But he added that no matter the outcome of the year, they are there to enjoy themselves.
"It's going to be an interesting year," he mused. "But we've supported the PMRA Series and it's lots of fun and will continue to be fun."