Rocky Di Lecce dominates PMRA Pro Modified action, winning his fourth in a row

CAYUGA, ON – Rocky Di Lecce continues to dominate the 2013 Pro Modified Racing Association season, winning his fourth consecutive event during the Canadian Nitro Nationals, held over the weekend at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park.

This was the fourth event on the 2013 PMRA tour. And with this fourth win, Di Lecce has established a new PMRA record for consecutive victories.

He will be joined by the rest of the PMRA teams to take part in race five on the schedule during the 14th Annual MOPAR Nitro Jam Nationals presented by Parts Canada at the Grand Bend Motorplex July 19-21.

The Mississauga, Ontario driver qualified number one in his 526 Al Billes-engined 1968 Camaro Pro Modified, and marched through the field once again during the Canadian Nitro Nationals at Cayuga.

His final round victim was Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ontario, who qualified number two with his new 1968 Firebird. Hawker cut a great .009-second reaction time light in the final, but backed off halfway down the track after losing traction, and Di Lecce went on to post a winning 6.107-second, 241.22-mph pass.

Di Lecce eliminated former IHRA Funny Car champion Rob Atchison of London, Ontario in round one, and then three-time PMRA champion Bruce Boland of Stoney Creek, Ontario fell to Di Lecce in his 1953 Corvette which was giving the former champ handling problems all weekend.

In round one, Hawker eliminated Tim Martin of Barrie, Ontario who has returned to the PMRA with his 1963 Corvette, and then PMRA rookie Paolo Giust of Osgoode, Ontario, also in another ’63 Vette, to advance to the final.

Aside from winning the Canadian Nitro Nationals event, Di Lecce also won the South Coast Community Weekend race, the final which had been postponed until last weekend, giving him a 4-0 record for the season so far. Di Lecce is now number four on the all-time PMRA event winners list, behind Boland (10), Mike Stawicki of Medina, New York (6), and Eric Latino of Whitby, Ontario (5).

Di Lecce presently leads the Championship Point Award Series with 1121 markers. Basom, New York’s Jack Grainy is second with 986 in the Grainy Brothers entry, and Hawker is third with 891 points. Boland is fourth with 889 points, and Atchison rounds out the top five with 688 points.

The 2013 IHRA Nitro Jam series returns to the Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, Ontario July 19-21 for the 14th Annual MOPAR Nitro Jam Nationals presented by Parts Canada presented by Parts Canada. This exciting 1/4 mile competition is one of the biggest drag races in Canada and will feature racing in several different classes with professional and sportsman racing taking place all three days.

For more information, go to www.GrandBendMotorplex.com or www.IHRA.com

The PMRA www.PMRA.ca, races in conjunction with its companion series, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts www.Quick32.ca, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series presented by Wiseco Performance Products www.PBSS.ca throughout the year, presenting an exciting and colorful package of drag racing action.

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

Photo Credit: Brennan Shortall ~ www.DragRaceCanada.com, Brad Turk and Dave Erauw Photography ~ www.erauw-photo.com