KITCHENER, ONTARIO (October 28, 2011) – Long-time Pro Modified Racing Association competitor Roth Racing worked with a new combination in 2011, and placed fourth in the Pro Modified Racing Association Marydel Homes Championship Point Award Series presented by Magnum Auto Parts, Patio Passport and Global Emissions Systems Inc.
For team head and owner Jim Roth, the year was successful with the 1941 Willys-bodied Pro Mod.
"All in all we had a pretty good year," he noted. "We were shooting for and worked hard to get into the fives, and we came close. But we're getting a handle on it now. There is no end to what you can learn with these cars."
Driven by Jim's son Jeff Roth, the Alan Johnson 526-cubic inch Atchison Racing Supercharged engine in the Willys received a new PSI Superchargers screw blower for 2011, and the team of crew chief Dave Bankes along with Larry Summerfield, Marc McCrae, and the Roths worked to get the right set-up with the Lowdown Hot Rods-chassied car.
The team qualified for all six PMRA races in 2011, highlighted with a best showing in event four at Grand Bend with a final round appearance against eventual winner Eric Latino of Whitby, Ontario. While Roth's 231.28-mph was faster than Latino's 230.72, Latino recorded a 6.066-second final while Roth came in at 6.109.
The Willys' best for 2011 was a 6.06 clocking, and speeds were usually in the 235-240-mph range, but the team did run a 242.28.
Roth added that the level of racing has been stepped up significantly since the team entered the PMRA five seasons ago.
"The level of competitiveness has increased greatly," he said. "It's getting harder and harder."
Roth wanted to not only thank his crew for their efforts in 2011, but the team's sponsors that include Oak Grove Cheese, NGK Spark Plugs and Outer Limits Transportation. He also wanted to note the support of Marc McCrae and Dragstar with the Fire Core 50 ignition wire system in the Willys, and John Shane of Shelborne Fuels, who supplied fuels for the team in 2011 and welcomes him back for the 2012 season.
The Annual "Night of Champions" Championship Point Award Series Banquet for the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) will be held at the Burlington Hotel & Conference Centre in Burlington, Ontario on Saturday, November 19, 2011.
