PMRA
THE John Massingberd Memorial Award presented at CANADIAN DRAG RACING HALL OF FAME INDUCTION GALA
John Scotti honoured as newest recipient
MONTREAL, QC – The John Massingberd Memorial Award has been presented by the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA) to a new, 
deserving individual who represents the same commitment, dedication and passion that John Massingberd conveyed for the sport of auto racing.
Massingberd, a long-time motorsports media personality, was instrumental in promoting Canadian motorsports until his passing in December of 2008 after a long and courageous battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
This year’s award was presented to John Scotti on November 8 at the 10th Anniversary Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala at the Armon Plaza Montreal Airport Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.
John Scotti has been passionate about the sport since he was 16, working as a mechanic for his mentor, John Dingman, who was one of the leading mechanics for performance racing engines. This led Scotti to pursue a career in the automotive industry, in which he has become an icon. Continue reading
THE JOHN MASSINGBERD MEMORIAL AWARD TO BE PRESENTED AT CANADIAN DRAG RACING HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS
Presentation to take place November 8 during the 10th Anniversary CDRHF Gala in Montreal
CAYUGA, ON – The Pro Modified Racing Association and what it represents to the teams, sponsors, media, race venues, and most 
importantly, its fans, is very pleased and honoured to present The John Massingberd Memorial Award to a deserving individual again this year.
The award will be presented this year during the 10th Anniversary Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala on November 8 at the Armon Plaza Montreal Airport Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.
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 through his keen insight and entrepreneurial creativity.
In the late 1980s, John co-established Promark Motorsport International, Raceline Motorsport Television, and Snow Trax Television with Bruce Mehlenbacher, media ventures that helped bring Canadian motorsport to a broader audience and well-deserved prominence. Along with covering drag racing, stock car racing, road racing, and tractor pulls with Promark and Raceline Television, John co-founded and co-anchored Raceline Radio in 1993. Continue reading
QUICK 32 SPORTSMAN SERIES AND PBSS FINISH NON-CONTESTED AT EMPIRE DRAGWAY
Mike Stawicki wins Pro Mod Powerfest over Jay Santos
LEICESTER, NY – Semi-final and final rounds in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series of Top Dragsters and Top Sportsman, along with the final 
Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) race, were cut short this past weekend at Empire Dragway.
The final rounds did not take place due to time constraints at the Western New York strip.
In the Pro Mod Powerfest final, Mike Stawicki of NY defeated Ontario’s Jay Santos. Stawicki earlier defeated NY’s Bob Bauer in his semi-final while Santos eliminated Melanie Salemi, also from NY, to advance to the finals.
Johnny Camp was the number one qualifier in Pro Modified with a 3.6049-second, 206.04-mph pass in qualifying.
There were complete fields of teams in the Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, Pro Bike, Pro Sled, and Pro Sled divisions.
Rich Yacos from Cambria, NY, with his 540 CID Chevy / ProCharger Supercharged 2018 Mike Bos dragster, was set to run against Vince Musolino from Bridgeport, NY, in the Top Dragster final in his 540 CID 2022 Race Tech dragster. 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
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
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
The John Massingberd Memorial Award to be Presented at Drag Strip Memories
Event to be held April 13 at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
CAYUGA, ON – The Pro Modified Racing Association and what it represents to the teams, sponsors, media, race venues, and most importantly, its fans, is very pleased and honored to present The John Massingberd Memorial Award to a deserving individual again this year.
The award will be presented this year during the Drag Strip Memories Show on April 13.
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 through his keen insight and entrepreneurial creativity.
In the late 1980s, 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 covering drag racing, stock car racing, road racing, and tractor pulls with Promark and Raceline Television, John co-founded and co-anchored Raceline Radio in 1993. Continue reading
ANTHONY PLATANIA WINS THE QUICK 32 SPORTSMAN SERIES WHILE JOSIE BROOKS CAPTURES PRO BIKE & SLED SERIES AT EMPIRE DRAGWAY
Mike “Hollywood” Decker Jr. wins Pro Modified, Charlie Elmer Jr. Top Sportsman and Brandon MacCombie PBSS Consolation Feature at the Empire Dragway Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge VII
LEICESTER, NY – Anthony “The Shoe” Platania from Rochester, NY, wheeled his Dream Team 2021 Power Chassis Race Cars Top Dragster 
entry to the Quick 32 Sportsman Series win at Empire Dragway in Leicester, New York, this past weekend.
Charlie Emler Jr. from Spencerport, NY, won in the Top Sportsman division, but could not make the Quick 32 Sportsman Series overall Top Dragster vs. Top Sportsman final round in his 1968 Chevrolet Camaro, which is powered by a 738 cubic inch Buck Racing Engine on Nitrous.
In the Top Dragster division final, Platania defeated Brett Bennett from Avon, NY, with a 4.79 second 141.46 mph pass on a 4.79 dial-in vs. Bennett’s 4.54 seconds 151.46 mph on a 4.52 dial-in. Semi-finalists were Tyler Rudolph’s 2010 American Race Cars Dragster from Hemlock, NY and Rich Yacos’s 2018 Mike Bos Dragster from Cambria, NY and quarter-finalists were Mike Kalin, Craig Giordano, Buddy Forrest and Lucas Salemi.
The number one qualifier in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series Top Dragster division was Mike Kalin from Niagara Falls, NY, leading the field of 16 entries with a 3.88-second 187.89-mph pass in the eighth mile. Continue reading
LARGE NUMBER OF QUICK 32 SPORTSMAN SERIES AND PRO BIKE & SLED SERIES ENTRIES EXPECTED AT THIS WEEKENDS NORTHEAST OUTLAW PRO MOD CHALLENGE VII
NEOPMA/PMRA Pro Modifieds, Quick 32 Sportsman Series and Pro Bike & Sled Series return to Empire Dragway
LEICESTER, NY – Empire Dragway will host the Northeast Outlaw Pro Mod Challenge VII this weekend, August 16-17, in Leicester, NY. The 
event will include NEOPMA/PMRA Pro Modifieds and a large contingent of Quick 32 Sportsman Series and Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) entries.
Some of the expected Pro Modified entries for this weekend’s program include Pierre Chicoine, Gary Courtier, Mike Decker Jr., Mike (Hollywood) Decker III, Pete Farber, Jack Grainy, Andy Jensen, Kenny Lang, Louis Ouimette, Jay Santos, Dave Texido and Derek Ward.
Current confirmed Quick 32 Sportsman Series entries in the Top Dragster class include Raymond Agro Jr., Brett Bennett, Jessica Bennett, Quick 32 Sportsman Series Top Dragster winner in June Craig Chadderdon, Buddy Forrest, Mike Kalin, Greg Kerl, Don Kiekel, Burt Lyon, Anthony Platania, two time Quick 32 Sportsman Series winner Cody Reome, Mark Romanofsky, Tyler Rudolph, fresh off his PDRA US 131 Motorsports Park, Northern Nationals Top Dragster win Lucas Salemi, and Rich Yacos, all from New York State, and Art Cioffi from Ohio. Continue reading
