Drag racing champions to be determined this weekend at Grand Bend’s popular “Thunder by the Beach” August 29-31

CAYUGA, ON – The final race in the Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series Boland – PMRAtakes place this weekend, and this event could determine the 2014 champions.

Presented by Teamsters Canada and Local 879, the “Thunder by the Beach” racing weekend will be held at the Grand Bend Motorplex August 29-31, and promises an exciting climax to the drag racing season with a large contingent of cars in many classes.

Three-time PMRA champion Bruce Boland will be on his game trying for his fourth title. The Stoney Creek racer with the B&B Racing 1968 Firebird Pro Modified leads the Championship Point Award Series at present with 1072 points, but he will have his work cut out for him, as fellow racer Jeff Roth of New Dundee, Ontario is close behind with 1056 points with his 1941 Willys Pro Modified.

Corbyville, Ontario’s Derek Hawker is third with 995 points, and rounding out the top five in the PMRA are Jason Kalso of Clarkston, Michigan and Jack Grainy of Basom, New York, tied with 975 points.

In the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, presented by NAPA Auto Parts, Jon Schmid of Orchard Park, New York, leads that Championship Point Award Series with 711 points with his Top Sportsman entry. Two Top Dragster drivers, Tony Positano of Toronto, and Glen Vardy of Burlington, Ontario, are next with 696 and 659 points respectively. All three racers have event wins to their credit this season.

Scott Wildgust, Top Dragster driver from Wartburg, Ontario, is fourth in the series with 620 points, and 2013 champions Wilson & Gray with their Top Sportsman car out of Ingersoll Ontario are fifth with 597 points.

After his recent win at Grand Bend, Pro Bike Rider Dan Cryderman has a healthy lead in the PBSS Championship Point Award Series, which is presented by Wiseco Performance Products. Cryderman, of Thamesville, Ontario, and 2013 PBSS champion, has been dominate in the series in 2014, and holds the lead with 740 points.

Second in the PBSS is Ted Glinny with 656 points, while Mark Catanzaro is third with 633. Next is Curtis Beck with 617 points. All three teams compete in Pro Bike.

Rounding out the top five in PBSS is Pro Bike rider John Orfanidis with 600 points.

Some of the other highlights of the Thunder by the Beach show will be the appearance of nitromethane-burning race cars and crowd-pleasing jet-powered cars. Four Nitro Altereds will compete, while the Top Secret and GoJo Firebird Jet Funny Cars will light up the track along with the Jet Dragster Queen of Diamonds in the Saturday “Night of Fire” program presented by Performance Unlimited.

Continuing with the fire theme Saturday evening, a large fireworks display will also take place after the show’s racing.

Included in the three-day show will be Grand Bend’s regular program competitors in the Thunder Series, Junior Series, and Extreme 32 Series championship racing programs.

Gates for this event open Friday at 3:00 pm with qualifying in the PMRA, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series at 7:30 pm. Gates open at 8:00 am Saturday and Sunday with the racing program getting underway at 10:00 am and 9:00 am respectively. Camping on the grounds is available, and ticket prices range from $10 Friday to $30 Saturday and Sunday. A weekend pass is available for $55, and children 6-12 are $5 any day or $8 for the weekend.

For information about the Teamsters Canada Thunder by the Beach weekend with the Saturday Night of Fire presented by Performance Unlimited at the Grand Bend Motorplex, call (519) 238-7223, visit www.grandbendmotorplex.com

The Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), www.PMRA.ca enters its 10th season of popular Pro Modified racing this year, while the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, presented by NAPA Auto Parts, www.Quick32.ca will begin its sixth season, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) presented by Wiseco Performance Products, www.PBSS.ca begins its fourth year of operation. Several times during the race season all three series compete at the same weekend events, offering a colourful, diverse, and exciting package of drag racing action.

For more information contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher at Bruce@PMRA.ca

Photo Credit: Brennan Shortall ~ www.DragRaceCanada.com and Bruce Biegler ~ www.DragRaceCanada.com