PBSS
NHRA WELCOMES QUICK 32 SPORTSMAN SERIES, PRO BIKE & SLED SERIES AND 5.50 SUPER SERIES TO JOHN SCOTTI CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Teams to compete at the NHRA National Open at Toronto Motorsports Park, September 25 – 27
MONTREAL, QC – The John Scotti Canadian Championship Series welcomes the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, the Pro Bike & Sled Series 
(PBSS), and the 5.50 Super Series to the NHRA National Open double-header at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, September 25 – 27, 2025.
“Bruce Mehlenbacher’s Quick 32 Sportsman Series (Top Dragster and Top Sportsman) and the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) draw a great group of Canadian and American teams,” said Glenn Grow, NHRA Canadian representative. “They’re second to none, all first-class teams, and great competitors. It is natural to include them and the 5.50 Super Series in our program; we are doing this for the betterment of the Canadian Series.”
The event offers two complete days of qualifying and eliminations on Friday and Saturday, with a Test & Tune on Thursday. Continue reading
QUICK 32 SPORTSMAN SERIES, PRO BIKE & SLED SERIES AND 5.50 SUPER SERIES TO COMPLETE SEASON
Part of the John Scotti Canadian Championship Series NHRA National Open at Toronto Motorsport Park September 25 – 27
CAYUGA, ON – The Quick 32 Sportsman Series, the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS), and the 5.50 Super Series will compete and complete 
their season at the John Scotti Canadian Championship Series NHRA National Open double-header weekend at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, September 25 – 27, 2025.
The Series will complete its four-race Championship Point Award Series originally scheduled at Empire Dragway for 2025.
The event offers two complete days of qualifying and eliminations on Friday and Saturday, with a Test & Tune on Thursday.
“We are delighted to include the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS), and the 5.50 Super Series with the John Scotti Canadian Championship Series NHRA National Open,” said Glenn Grow, NHRA Canadian Representative. ” It is a sign of great things to come in the future.” Continue reading
POWERFEST PRO MODIFIEDS TO HIGHLIGHT EVENT AT EMPIRE DRAGWAY
Quick 32 Sportsman Series and Pro Bike & Sled Series to support the main event
LEICESTER, NY – This coming weekend, July 18-19, the Pro Modifieds will return to Empire Dragway in Leicester, NY, along with the Quick 
32 Sportsman Series and Pro Bike & Sled Series.
The event will feature a solid contingent of Pro Mod teams from Eastern Canada and the United States running over 200 mph in the eighth-mile.
Complete fields are expected in all divisions. Pro Modified cars expected are those piloted by Melanie Salemi, Johnny Camp, Steve King, Jay Santos, Mike Decker Jr., Mike Decker III, Mike Stawicki, Jack Grainy, Jason Kalso, Sal Cammisuli, Don Klooster, Claude St. Maurice, Robert Bauer, John Vergotz and Robert Bingham.
Top Dragster expected team entries include Brett Bennett, Craig Chadderdon, Buddy Forrest, Mike Kalin, Burt Lyon, Tony Platania, Cody Reome, Mark Romanofsky, Tyler Rudolph, Lucas Salemi, Ron Wightman, and Rich Yacos, Ron Wightman, all from New York, Art Cioffi from Ohio, John Vergotz Jr. III from Pennsylvania, and Ontario’s Ryan Harris and Shawna Woudstra. Continue reading
PAUL GAST PART OF EMPIRE DRAGWAY PRO BIKE & SLED SERIES PROGRAM
Famed “Fast by” Gast was Grand Marshall during recent PBSS weekend of racing
LEICESTER, NY – One of the highlights of the weekend was the presence of Paul “Fast By” Gast, he served as Grand Marshall of the Pro Bike 
& Sled Series (PBSS) participates in the PBSS team meetings, along with a special pre-race rider introduction, a session on the microphone during qualifying and elimination, and spent time with the PBSS teams.
“Thank you for having me, it was a great time. The racers sure seemed to enjoy our time together. You do a nice job on these events, meetings, and introductions. It adds class, and what a fine facility.” Yours in racing, Paul Gast FBG. “Good Luck in all future events!”
Gast won an NHRA Spring Nationals in 1990, is a many-time national champion, and holds the current Pro Mod Motorcycle National eighth-mile record at 3.93 seconds and 181 miles per hour. With his contributions to the sport as a racer and at a technical level, Gast has been one of the most influential people in the class’s history.
“I can’t think of a more appropriate person to be named Grand Marshal for PBSS than Paul Gast,” said PBSS competitor and multi-time series winner Josie Brooks. “The contributions he has made and continues to make to every level of motorcycle drag racing are endless. He’s a legend.” Continue reading
EMPIRE DRAGWAY WINNERS INCLUDE TYLER RUDOLPH IN QUICK 32 SPORTSMAN SERIES AND BRIAN BABIAK IN PBSS
Doug Lynden wins Top Sportsman and Runner-up in Quick 32 Sportsman Series, Haley Feher Runner-up in PBSS
LEICESTER, NY – Tyler Rudolph and his Top Dragster entry won the Quick 32 Sportsman Series at Empire Dragway over the weekend with a 
final round victory over Doug Lynden, the Top Sportsman division winner.
The unique Quick 32 Sportsman Series race format pits the Top Dragster against the Top Sportsman car in a final run-off to determine the overall winner. There are two sets of eliminations, one for each class; the winning Top Dragster entry faces off with the winning Top Sportsman entry to determine the overall event champion.
In the final overall run, Rudolph, from Hemlock, NY, ran a 4.36178-second pass at 150.20 mph on a 4.36 dial-in, with a .0175-second reaction time driving his Derrick Wolfe Trucking, Honeoye Auto Parts, Rudolph Motorsports 2010 American Race Cars entry. This Top Dragster is powered by a Wilson 582-cubic inch engine with a TBS 250 Blower. In the close final race, he defeated Doug Lynden’s 4.8197-second, 141.78-mph run on a 4.82 dial-in with a .0068-second reaction time. Lynden, from Bergen, NY, was piloting his 1955 Chevrolet Belair, powered by his Wilson Race Engines 632-cubic-inch Chevy engine. Continue reading
TEAMS READY TO KICK OFF THE 2025 SEASON AND BATTLE FOR SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP
Quick 32 Sportsman Series, PBSS and 5.50 Super Series Highlight Weekend
LEICESTER, NY – The Quick 32 Sportsman Series, the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS), and the 5.50 Super Series, along with the Box and No-
Box divisions, will kick off their season this coming weekend at Empire Dragway’s eighth-mile track surface and compete for their respective Championship Point Award Series on June 20 – 21, 2025, along with rounds of Box and No-Box eliminators.
Complete fields are expected in all divisions, including reining Quick 32 Sportsman Series 2024 Point Award Series Champions Charlie Emler from Spencerport, NY, driving his 738 CID 1968 Chevrolet Top Sportsman 1968 Chevrolet Camaro and PBSS rider Lee Burgess from Canton, PA, riding his 1340 CC 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa.
A partial list of entries will include the Top Dragster teams of Brett Bennett, Craig Chadderdon, Ashton Halas, Mike Kalin, Burt Lyon, Davy Markle, Dave Markle, Stephen Markle, Joe Masullo, Tony Platania, Cody Reome, Mark Romanofsky, Tyler Rudolph, Ron Wightman, Rich Yacos from New York, Art Cioffi from Ohio, John Vergotz Jr. III from Pennsylvania, and Ontario’s Ryan Harris and Shawna Woudstra.
Top Sportsman teams include New York State’s Dan Germano, Gary Grahner, Andy Gregoire, Matt Gregoire, Bobby Jaus Sr., Tony Madonia, Gary O’Connell, Allan Runions II, Tom Simone, Bill Stevens and Ron Szewczyk. Also making the trip to Empire will Bryan Borders from Pennsylvania and Ontario’s Dave Burchell, Luke DeJonge, Mike Wagg, and Kayden Wicke. Continue reading
QUICK 32 SPORTSMAN SERIES RACER A BIG PART OF FORTINOS FUEL FOR KIDS PROGRAM
Quick 32 Sportsman Series season opener at Empire Dragway June 20-21
CAYUGA, ON – Quick 32 Sportsman Series competitor Shawna Woudstra has drag raced for over 20 years, but when she climbs into the 
cockpit of her Top Dragster this season, she will be making her debut as the Fortinos Fuel for Kids driver.
As an ambassador for the grocery retailer, Woudstra will help raise funds for school initiatives by leading the Fuel for Kids programs at all 24 Fortinos locations in Southern Ontario.
“I’m super excited to be officially announced as the driver of the Fuel for Kids program,” she said. “Students get a presentation to learn all about racing, followed by a BBQ fundraiser at their local Fortinos store, where 100 percent of the proceeds go back to the school. Over the past decade, Fuel for Kids has raised over $250,000 which has helped strengthen community ties and hopefully inspired a few future racers. Look for the bright red race car at a Fortinos near you and join us for a hot dog to support your local community.”
Starting in the sport’s level-entry class of Junior Dragsters, the Burlington, ON native progressed to larger, faster cars with the help and guidance of parents Dan and Brenda. Vehicles of this class regularly perform with track times in the low six-second range at speeds approaching 200-plus mph in the quarter-mile. Continue reading
DRAG BIKE LEGEND PAUL ‘FAST BY” GAST HIGHLIGHTS PBSS OPENER
Famous Drag Bike Racer Paul Gast to serve as Grand Marshal at Empire Dragway
LEICESTER, NY – Paul “Fast By” Gast will highlight the season opener with a personal appearance as Grand Marshall of the Pro Bike & Sled 
Series (PBSS) at New York State’s Empire Dragway June 20 – 21, 2025.
“I appreciate the invitation and look forward to seeing the PBSS competitors,” said Paul Gast. “Many of them are customers, and all of them are friends.”
Gast, a championship drag bike racer and owner of Fast by Gast in Grand Island, NY, for 52 years, will participate in the PBSS team meeting, along with a special pre-race rider introduction, a session on the microphone during qualifying and elimination, and hang out with the PBSS teams. Continue reading
EMPIRE DRAGWAY EVENTS TO BE FEATURED ON BRACKETLIFE BRAND PODCAST
Tune in for Quick 32 Sportsman Series, Pro Bike & Sled Series and the 5.50 Super Series News
CAYUGA, ON – Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) and the 5.50 Super Series, will be a featured guest on the BracketLife Brand podcast, hosted by Brandon Barker and Andrew Stirk, the week of June 3, 2025.
The Quick 32 Sportsman Series, the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS), the 5.50 Super Series, along with the Box and No-Box divisions will compete on the Empire Dragway eighth-mile track surface and compete for their respective Championship Point Award Series on June 20 – 21, July 18 – 19, August 15 – 16 and September 19 – 20, 2025.
“We appreciate the opportunity to be featured on BracketLife; the Series is always looking for ways to promote our events, our series sponsors and participants,” explained Bruce Mehlenbacher. “Brandon and Andrew are very talented and established drag racers, second to none; trust me, they know what they are talking about.” Continue reading
Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment returns as the Official Uniform Supplier
PMRA, Quick 32 Sportsman Series, PBSS and 5.50 Super 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, the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) and the 5.50 Super Series.
For over 41 years Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment Inc. has been a trusted name in motorsports safety. It manufactures and distributes premium fire-resistant driver suits, undergarments, gloves, shoes, racing helmets, seat belt harness systems, and custom sublimated crew shirts to racers worldwide.
“From the beginning, Colin Grandy and Leaf Racewear & Safety Equipment have always been one of the first to offer support for our drag race series,” explained Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for the Series. “Quality, innovation and confidence, that is Leaf Racewear.” Continue reading
