Test session proves a winner for Manitoba racer at TMP's Cayuga Dragway
CAYUGA, ONTARIO (July 5, 2011) – He only came to test out some new equipment, but Pro Modified racer Kenny Lang ended up winning the Pro Modified Racing Association race during the Canadian Nitro Nationals at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park.
The event was the third in the 2011 PMRA schedule.And the win was not only Lang's first in PMRA competition, it was his first in the Pro Modified series.
"We had a good day," Lang said after his win. "We just came here to test a new converter, started picking away, and stayed with our game plan."
Lang, from Grand Pointe, Manitoba, is a regular competitor in the Get Screened America Pro Modified Series which competes at NHRA National events. Earlier this year Lang acquired major sponsorship from Summit Racing Equipment, a marketer of high-performance parts and accessories. Lang made history in 2010 at the NHRA Gatornationals in Florida as the first competitor to win an NHRA Pro Modified event and be awarded the coveted "Wally" trophy.
Lang qualified his 1969 Camaro-bodied, Tim McAmis car in fourth spot over the weekend. The team installed a new convertor in the Al Billes-powered car, was going to use the weekend testing, but felt the car was good enough to enter the event.
Lang eliminated Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ontario in the final with a 6.035-second, 239.57-mph pass. Hawker, who had not qualified for the race, was in the show as first alternate with his Corvette, and won his early rounds to meet up with Lang in the final. Hawker tried to get Lang on the start of the final, but red-lit in the process, giving the win to Lang.Once again, Vito Montesano set the pace in qualifying for a PMRA race. Montesano, of Maple, Ontario, ran his 1969 Corvette to a 5.907-second, 245.54 posting to take the number one qualifying spot. His run also recorded the meet's low ET and top speed.
Lang eliminated number five qualifier Jeff Roth of Kitchener, Ontario in the first round, and then Montesano in the semi-final to meet up with Hawker in the final. Hawker, who replaced number seven qualifier Rob Atchison of London, Ontario, took out number two qualifier Eric Latino of Whitby, Ontario, and then former PMRA champion and number six qualifier Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Ontario before meeting up with Lang.
Others who qualified for the field included John Russo of Middletown, Massachusetts, who started third, and Mark Nielsen of Brantford, Ontario, who started eighth. Both were eliminated in first-round action.
While the Lang team was without crew chief Rob Poirier for the race, the team was in the capable hands of Al Billes, the former driver who is now one of the top engine builders and tuners in the sport.Billes said after the win he was pleased with how the weekend went down.
"We came here just to test a new converter," he noted. "We went from nothing to a 6.03."
Billes added the team will be racing at the Get Screened America Pro Mod events, but would like to return to the PMRA, which may happen at the next event on the 2011 schedule, the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts August 5-7 at the Grand Bend Motorplex.
"It's a good series," he said. "Hopefully we can come back."
After some struggling earlier in the weekend, Jack Grainy of Tonawanda, New York was able to find the combination to win the PMRA Non-Qualifiers event. The Grainy Brothers Racing 1969 Camaro bested Gary Irving of Toronto, Ontario in the Al Hinds 2004 Corvette.
Winning his first Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts event was Bob Bauer Jr of Elma, New York. The Top Sportsman driver, who competes in his big-block powered 2007 Pontiac GTO, won in the final over Billy White of Gadshill, Ontario in his RE/MAX White & Wild Top Dragster entry. This series is comprised of 16 Top Sportsman cars and 16 Top Dragster cars, which compete in their respective divisions, and the top eliminator in each division goes into the final to determine an event champion.
In the PBSS presented by Wiseco Performance Products, Pro Bike racer Mike Konopacki rode his Kawasaki to a PBSS win over the Yamaha Pro Sled of James Miller of Orillia, Ontario. Konopacki, of Hampton, Ontario, qualified fifth in the Pro Bike field and Miller qualified fifth as well on the Pro Sled side. Konopacki ran an 8.547-second, 144.49-mph final for his win.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the PBSS will join the PMRA for the next event, the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts to be held August 5-7 at the Grand Bend Motorplex.
Presently leading the Pro Modified Racing Association Championship Point Award Series presented by Magnum Auto Parts and Patio Passport is Montesano with 817 points. Second is Boland with 811 points, and third is Latino with 788 points. Roth is fourth in points with 778, and fifth is Russo with 775 points. Following the top five are Nielsen, Irving, Hawker, Jay Dos Santos of Halton Hills, Ontario, and Sal Cammisuli of Markham, Ontario.
