PMRA
FIRST TEAMS CONFIRM QUICK 32 SPORTSMAN SERIES ENTRY AT EMPIRE DRAGWAY
Top Dragsters and Top Sportsman mark the return of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series
CAYUGA, ON – There’s a good mix of former Quick 32 Sportsman Series racers, from both Canada and the US, ready to do battle on the 
Empire Dragway in Central New York, during the upcoming NEOPMA/PMRA Pro Modified Challenge.
“We are excited to see the keen interest in the return of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series” said Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for the Series. “These events will be a great venue to showcase Top Sportsman and Top Dragster racing and I anticipate a full field of racers to join us.”
To date, the Top Sportsman entries of K&K Racing and Guenther Racing have signed on, as well as the Top Dragster teams of L&D Motorsports and Michael Kalin.
Based in Stratford, ON, K&K is the father and son team of Kevin and Kayden Wicke, who pilot a 604-cubic inch Mopar-powered Dodge Stratus. Kevin is a two-time Quick 32 Sportsman Series champion and multiple time IHRA Sportsman Champion, while Kayden is a former Junior Dragster, Mod, and ET champion. Kevin Zimmer has been crew chief for many years, with Kody Wicke and Dennis and Dan Culliton as long-time crew members.
Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment returns as Official Uniform Supplier
PMRA, Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and Pro Bike and Sled Series welcome Leaf’s return
LONDON, ON – Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment will return as the preferred and Official uniform supplier for the Pro Modified Racing 
Association (PMRA), the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series.
For over 37 years, Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment Inc. has been manufacturing and distributing high- quality fire resistant driver suits, undergarments, gloves, shoes, sublimated team shirts and seat belt harness systems worldwide. Its race suits and accessories have been designed to meet and exceed current SFI 3.2A/1, 3.2A/5, 16.1 specifications and requirements for virtually all forms of racing.
“Colin Grandy and Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment have supported our Series from the very beginning,” explained Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for all three Series. “Colin and Leaf have always been one of the first to offer support for the three drag race series.”
LARGE NUMBER OF ENTRIES EXPECTED FOR THE RETURN OF DRAGSTRIP MEMORIES
Event to be held April 16 at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
MT. HOPE, ON –Dragstrip Memories returns once again to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, to present the largest collection of 
historic drag racing cars and memorabilia in Canada. This year’s show will feature over 60 drag race vehicles, in most classes of straight-line racing, with a nod to the popular 1960s-style Gassers.
The museum’s vintage Warbird aircraft will be relocated to the large hangar, in order to present some of the most outstanding cars in this country. Along with the Gassers, a highly-modified Dodge Magnum capable of eight-second runs will be on display. Additionally, Canadian Hall of Famer Barry Poole will be in attendance. Barry drove the Ford products of the popular Border Bandits to many Super Stock wins, including the NHRA title at the 1970 Winter Nationals, the first Canadian to do so.
Young drag racers will take part in the show with their Junior Dragsters and the cars of the Can-Am Stock/Super Stock Series will also be on display.
There will be several car club displays with a nostalgic theme, a popular scale model display featuring many classes of drag cars, in a miniature setting of the former Dragway Park, and a host of vendors. There will also be movies and videos of drag racing, photos, magazines, and automotive art. It will also be a chance for you to meet many of your drag strip heroes and characters.
In the mid-plane Observation Dome at 11:00 am, the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA) will present The John Massingberd Award to this year’s deserving recipient.
The John Massingberd Award to be Presented at Dragstrip Memories
Event to be held April 16 at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
CAYUGA, ON – The Pro Modified Racing Association and what is represents to the teams, the sponsors, the media, its race venues and most 
importantly to its fans, is very pleased and honored to present The John Massingberd Memorial Award to a deserving individual again this year.
This year the award will be presented during the Dragstrip Memories Show April 16.
In keeping with the spirit of the PMRA, it is appropriate to recognize John Massingberd through this annual award. John was a national ambassador of Canadian Motorsport, in all disciplines of the sport, through his keen insight and entrepreneurial creativity.
In the late 1980’s, John co-established Promark Motorsport International, Raceline Motorsport Television and Snow Trax Television, with Bruce Mehlenbacher, two media ventures responsible for bringing Canadian motorsport to a greater audience and well deserved prominence. Along with coverage of drag racing, stock car racing, road racing, and tractor pulls with Promark and Raceline Television, he went on to co-found and co-anchor of Raceline Radio in 1993.
Raceline Radio Network Gears Up for The 2023 Edition of The Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo
TORONTO, ON – The Raceline Radio Network, Canada’s National Radio Motorsport Authority, working their 31st season in 2023, is looking 
forward to another appearance at the 8th Annual Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo March 10th, 11th and 12th at The International Centre in Mississauga, ON.
Raceline Radio Network anchor and Canadian Motorsport Hall of Famer, Erik Tomas will once again team up with fellow Canadian Motorsport Hall of Famer, Raceline Radio Network co-founder, and Pro Modified Racing Association principal Bruce Mehlenbacher, for a one-hour Raceline Radio Network podcast from The Racing Zone stage at Motorama, from noon to 1:00 pm on Saturday March 11th.
“That groundhog guy is inaccurate! The Motorama Custom Car and Motorsports Expo is the only sure sign of spring where we come from,” stated Raceline Radio Network anchor Erik Tomas. “Greg MacPherson and our Inside Track Motorsport News partners have assembled another record shattering Expo this year, with a dazzling collection of custom cars, race cars, celebrities and attractions second to none in Canada! Bruce Mehlenbacher and I look forward to another no-rules podcast on the Racing Zone stage. Nothing beats a live audience. Bruce’s drag racing tales and war stories are fascinating and simply too much fun,” Tomas added.
Tune in for Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge News
CAYUGA, ONTARIO – Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA) will once again be a featured guest on the Raceline Radio Network broadcast, hosted by Erik Tomas and heard coast-to-coast across Canada, the week of February 5, 2023.
The self-governing organizations of the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association (NEOPMA) and the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), are excited to announce the renewal of their partnership for the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge events at Empire Dragway, in Leicester, NY, for 2023.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series will participate with the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association (NEOPMA) and the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA) at both Empire Dragway / NEOPMA Challenges on June 30-July 1 and August 18-19, 2023. The Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) is also scheduled to compete at Empire Dragway on the September 23, 2023 weekend.
PMRA AND NEOPMA RENEW RACING PARTNERSHIP AT EMPIRE DRAGWAY FOR 2023
Marks the return of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS)
CAYUGA, ON – The self-governing organizations of the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association (NEOPMA) and the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), are excited to announce the renewal of their partnership for the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge events at Empire Dragway, in Leicester, NY, for 2023.
“We really enjoy working with John Mazzorana of the NEOPMA and Jerry Scaccia at Empire Dragway and their respective teams. So much so, that this year will mark the return of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS)” said Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for the PMRA.
“We believe the alliance between the NEOPMA and PMRA will result in making the Northeast Pro Mod Challenge at Empire Dragway one of the largest events in the country, with some of fastest Pro Modified fields in northeast” stated John Mazzorana of the NEOPMA. “We hope to have over 30 cars attending, breaking track records and giving fans one of the best shows ever. Empire Dragway is one of the best tracks in North America and, combined with our two associations, it is the perfect formula for an amazing race.”
“It is our intent to assist the events with marketing and public relations, through PMRA on both sides of the border. This should result in sponsor support for the series, the track and our teams, as well as increased spectator and racer attendance,” Mehlenbacher said.
Canada’s Scott Wildgust Victorious at Empire Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge III
LEICESTER, NY – In a side-by-side final round, Scott Wildgust nosed out Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association (NEOPMA) veteran Kevin 
McCurdy to pick up his first-ever NEOPMA win at the Empire Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge III Saturday night at Empire Dragway. Wildgust recorded a 3.705-second pass at 204.82 MPH in his screw-blown Smokie’s Garage ’67 Mustang to beat McCurdy’s 3.71 at 201.70 for a .006 margin of victory.
“That was probably one of the closest rounds I’ve been on the winning side of in a long time,” said Wildgust, who was making his NEOPMA debut at the series’ fifth race of its 30th anniversary season. “We both had killer lights. Just nipped him in the lights. It was tough to see at night when the win light came on. It was definitely a close race, that’s for sure.”
The Empire Dragway event was somewhat of a home race for Wildgust, who lives across the border in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Wildgust’s Mark Savage-tuned ’67 Mustang steadily improved through qualifying, ending up with a 3.7323 at 203.62 to edge out Mike “Hollywood” Decker III’s 3.7328 for the No. 4 spot.
Scott Wildgust and the Smokies Garage Race Team to compete at Empire Dragway’s Mid-Summer Mayhem
Large Pro Modified contingent from NEOPMA and PMRA return for round two of eighth-mile action August 5-6
CAYUGA, ON – The Pro Modified entry list continues to grow as this popular class of drag racing returns to Empire Dragway in Leicester NY 
August 5-6 for North East Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge III with cars from the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Association (NEOPMA) and the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA).
Running in conjunction with the NEOPMA will be PMRA teams which have competed in the Southern Ontario-based series and are making a return.
Southwestern Ontario native Scott Wildgust will be competing in this weekend’s event in the Smokies Garage Race Team entry, the 1967 Mustang Pro Modified owned by Mike Clark. Wildgust, along with Melanie Salemi of Buffalo, NY, and Spencer Hyde of Stratford, ON are former Top Dragster and Top Sportsman drivers who now compete in Pro Modified. Salemi and Hyde competed in the PMRA-associated Quick 32 Sportsman Series and Wildgust was a regular competitor in the PMRA.
Wildgust and his team have attacked the PDRA ranks with gusto, currently sitting eighth. The team also won the NMCA season opener in Bradenton, Florida, and qualified fifth at the Snowbirds event last December.
Empire Dragway’s Mid-Summer Mayhem to feature North East Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge III
Cars from NOPMA and PMRA return for round two of eighth-mile action August 5-6
CAYUGA, ON – Pro Modified racing returns to Empire Dragway in Leicester NY August 5-6 for round two with cars from the Northeast 
Outlaw Pro Mod Association (NEOPMA) and the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA).
Running in conjunction with the NEOPMA will be PMRA teams which have competed in the Southern Ontario-based series and are making a return.
Two prominent drivers who competed in the PMRA-sanctioned Quick 32 Sportsman Series are Melanie Salemi and Spencer Hyde.
Based in Buffalo, NY, Salemi drives the Eddie Whelan-owned, Jim and Jon Salemi-prepared Camaro with Melanie Salemi Motorsports.
A former Top Dragster driver, Salemi has become a prominent Pro Modified driver. Melanie currently sits as the PDRA Pro Boost record holder 3.568, 207 mph which she clinched at GALOT Motorsports Park earlier this season. She has held the Pro Boost record three separate times in her career. Not only was Melanie the first female to win in Pro Boost at Rockingham Dragway in 2015 but she comes into this race as the champion of the PDRA Summer Shootout at Virginia Motorsports park earlier this month and has also recorded notable wins at the last 1/4 mile Shakedown at The Summit In 2018 and at the 50th anniversary of the infamous Snowbird Outlaws race for $50,000.00 which was contested this past winter.
