LAURITA EARNS TOP QUALIFYING POSITION AND FIRST-ROUND VICTORY IN NHRA PRO MOD SERIES RACING AT GATEWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK
MADISON, Ill. – Jim Laurita posted the quickest run of the weekend during the first-round of eliminations Saturday in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals.
Earlier on Saturday at Gateway Motorsports Park, the Morgantown, W.Va. driver earned his first career No. 1 qualifying position in the popular doorslammer touring series with a performance of 5.854 seconds at 245.36 mph in his nitrous-injected ’68 Camaro.
In taking the first-round victory, Laurita powered his machine to a performance of 5.820 at 245.90 to defeat alternate Steve Matusek, whose Ford Mustang broke at the start. Laurita will have lane choice over second round opponent Troy Coughlin, the defending series champ, when NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series eliminations resume Sunday, at approximately 2:30 p.m.
Other second round pairings include Robert Patrick vs. Kevin Fiscus; Harold Martin vs. series points leader Rickie Smith; and Mike Castellana vs. Dan Stevenson.
Several drivers in championship contention were defeated in the first round, including Charlotte winner Von Smith, who fell to Stevenson; Kenny Lang, who lost a fast side-by-side race to Patrick; and Danny Rowe, who lost on a holeshot to Martin.
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MADISON, Ill. -- First round from the Second annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park, the race is the ninth of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
ROUND ONE -- Troy Coughlin, Chevy Corvette, 7.246, 143.38 def. Mike Janis, Chevy Camaro, 11.096, 79.76; Kevin Fiscus, Ford Mustang, 5.949, 246.62 def. Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 5.979, 247.84; Dan Stevenson, Camaro, 5.904, 245.36 def. Von Smith, Camaro, broke; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.896, 243.02 def. Clint Satterfield, Pontiac Firebird, broke; Harold Martin, Corvette, 6.007, 235.35 def. Danny Rowe, Camaro, 5.938, 245.00; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.893, 243.59 def. Ron Muenks, Camaro, 8.532, 109.50; Robert Patrick Jr., Mustang, 5.934, 240.72 def. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 5.986, 244.56; Jim Laurita, Camaro, 5.820, 245.90 def. Steve Matusek, Mustang, broke;
MADISON, Ill. - Final order after three rounds of qualifying in Pro Modified at the Second annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals. The race is the ninth of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type---------------Qual-ET--Qual-Spd-Top Spd
1 1087 Jim Laurita, Morgantown WV, '68 Camaro 5.854 245.23 245.36
2 10 Kenny Lang, Grande Pointe MB, '63 Corvette 5.908 246.21 246.21
3 2 Mike Castellana, Muttontown NY, '13 Camaro 5.914 241.02 244.43
4 5 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, '68 Camaro 5.916 245.45 245.45
5 43 Rickie Smith, King NC, '12 Camaro 5.924 243.68 243.68
6 2377 Von Smith, Oak Ridge TN, '69 Camaro 5.930 242.32 242.32
7 220F Kevin Fiscus, Jacksonville FL,'12 Mustang 5.943 246.57 247.16
8 1 Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH, '12 Corvette 5.944 249.67 249.67
9 1456 Mike Janis, Lancaster NY, '12 Camaro 5.947 243.72 243.72
10 213 Chip King, Semora NC, '69 Daytona 5.949 248.25 248.25
11 303 Dan Stevenson, Bolingbrook IL,'13 Camaro 5.959 244.34 244.34
12 5011 Mike Knowles, Grand Junction CO, '68 Camaro 5.978 243.63 244.29
13 1277 David Hance, Inwood NY, '57 Bel Air 5.994 248.84 248.84
14 501 Ron Muenks, Springfield MO,'68 Camaro 5.995 238.98 238.98
15 262 Robert Patrick Jr., Fredricksburg VA,'12 Must 6.009 239.44 239.44
16 872 Adam Flamholc, Malmoe SW, '68 Camaro 6.010 240.59 240.59
------------ Not Qualified ------------
17 377 Harold Martin, New Hudson MI, '14 Corvette 6.042 236.34 236.34
18 701 Clint Satterfield, Albuquerque NM, '68 Firebi 6.047 240.81 240.81
19 205 Kevin Rivenbark, Wallace NC,'02 Firebird 6.054 235.15 235.15
20 9 Steve Matusek, Olathe KS, '12 Mustang 6.059 247.79 247.79
21 367J Jason Hamstra, Demotte IN, '10 Mustang 6.114 234.53 234.53
22 567 Chris Juliano, Iberia MO, '67 Mustang 6.179 228.65 228.65
23 8 Pete Farber, Baldwinville MA, '69 Daytona 6.367 237.50 237.50
24 202 Todd Tutterow, Lewisville NC, '67 Mustang 7.090 147.44 147.44
