PMRA
Inaugural Summer Showdown set for June 8-9 at US 131 Motorsports Park
Courtesy of PMRA, Quick 32 and PBSS
MARTIN, MI – US 131 Motorsports Park will be celebrating its 50th year of operation in 2012, and the Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series will be part of those celebrations.
The three popular drag racing series will race at the south-western Michigan track June 8-9, for the second event on the 2012 calendar.
The race at US 131 Motorsports Park, to be known as the Summer Showdown, will be the first for the PMRA, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, or the PBSS.
“We’re very excited in going to US 131 Motorsports Park,” said Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for the three Series. “This is our first time in Michigan, and US 131 is a perfect fit for our three Series. Not only will it give each Series and its teams a chance to showcase in a new market, but also an opportunity for new competitors to tryout our Series. Michigan is a hot-bed of serious and very competitive race teams.”
PMRA, Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and PBSS announce 2012 race dates
Courtesy of PMRA, Quick 32 and PBSS
CAYUGA, ON – Three of the top drag racing series in North America have announced their 2012 schedules.
The Pro Modified Racing Association, The Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series will take to the strips
next season starting with the Victoria Day Weekend Challenge May 18-20.
This traditional opener is held on the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park. The race will mark the start of the eighth season for the PMRA, the fourth season for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the second year for the PBSS.
A new event will take place in 2012, as all three series head to Martin, Michigan June 8-9 to compete at US131 Motorsports Park for an inaugural race at the IHRA facility.
NGK Spark Plugs returns to PMRA, Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and PBSS
Courtesy of PMRA, Quick 32 and PBSS
MARKHAM, ON – NGK Spark Plugs, one of the world leaders in spark plugs and related items is returning to the Pro 
Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series in support of these three popular drag racing series.
“We are grateful for the involvement of NGK Spark Plugs,” said Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations for all three series. “They produce an excellent product, and are renowned for their commitment to auto racing.”
Started in Japan in 1936, NGK has established itself not only as a major supplier of new automobile spark plugs and wiring sets, it is also a leader in motorsports around the globe. Along with its involvement in drag racing, NGK manufactures product for Formula One, NASCAR, and the IZOD IndyCar series. The company has 15 facilities around the world, including three in North America.
Auto Meter returns to PMRA and Quick 32 Sportsman Series for 2012!
Courtesy of PMRA and Quick 32
SYCAMORE, IL – One of the world’s largest and most popular names in motorsport instrumentation will be returning to the Pro Modified Racing Association and the Quick 32 Sportsman Series as a Contingency sponsor for 2012.
Auto Meter Products, manufacturers of a wide range of automotive and racing instruments, will provide contingency awards for both drag race series at all events for the upcoming season.
Auto Meter has been a part of the popular drag race series since 2006.
“We are pleased once again to be a part of both the PMRA and the Quick 32 Sportsman Series,” said Marc Erickson, Director of Motorsports for Auto Meter. “Both series have done a great job in the promotion of drag racing during the past several years.”
Night of Champions held for PMRA, Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and PBSS
Courtesy of PMRA, Quick 32 and PBSS
BURLINGTON, ON – The Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series held their annual Night of Champions at the Burlington Hotel & Conference Center in Burlington, Ontario last
night.
The event marked the seventh Night of Champions for the PMRA, the third such night for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the first night for the PBSS.
Along with presentations for the top five competitors in each of the three drag race series, rookie, achievement, and sportsmanship awards for all series were presented, along with the John Massingberd Memorial Award.
With over 300 in attendance, series announcer Larry Satchell presided as Master of Ceremonies for the evening.
The Pro Modified Top Five for 2011 – PMRA Champion Vito Montesano
Courtesy of PMRA
MAPLE, ON – For Vito Montesano, winning the 2011 Pro Modified Racing Association Marydel Homes Championship Point Award Series presented by Magnum Auto Parts, Patio Passport 
and Global Emissions Systems Inc. was a nail-biter right until the last race in the last event, but the Maple, Ontario-based driver held on to win his first PMRA championship.
And he won the title by a mere margin of only one point.
“This has been a great year,” said the driver of the 1969 Chevy Camaro Pro Modified. “We are very happy,” he continued. “Not only did we win our first PMRA race, we also won the championship. We are just ecstatic.”
In his second year of PMRA competition, Montesano stayed at the top of the points race throughout the six-race season, but it was close as second-place finisher Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Ontario, and third-place Eric Latino of Whitby, Ontario, whittled into Montesano’s lead. When Boland won over Latino in the final of the last race at Cayuga, the points were tallied, and Montesano won over Boland 1534 points to 1533.
The Pro Modified Top Five for 2011 – Eric Latino and the Team Green Camaro – Number Three
Courtesy of PMRA
WHITBY, ON – A new car and a new partner gave Eric Latino a fast and winning combination, placing the Whitby, Ontario driver third in the Pro Modified Racing Association Marydel Homes Championship Point Award Series presented by
Magnum Auto Parts, Patio Passport and Global Emissions Systems Inc. this year.
Trading in his 1938 Chevy coupe for a new G-Force Race Cars 1969 Camaro, Latino qualified number one at three of the PMRA meets, and second in two other events in 2011. He was only eight points behind PMRA champion Vito Montesano of Maple, Ontario when the season ended at the Cayuga Dragway in September.
Driving the Team Green Camaro, Latino consistently put down laps in the sub six-second range after he teamed up with prominent Pro Modified car owner Rob Sporring.
The PMRA Top Five for 2011 – Jeff Roth – Number Four
Courtesy of PMRA
KITCHENER, ON – Long-time Pro Modified Racing Association competitor Roth Racing worked with a new combination 
in 2011, and placed fourth in the Pro Modified Racing Association Marydel Homes Championship Point Award Series presented by Magnum Auto Parts, Patio Passport and Global Emissions Systems Inc.
For team head and owner Jim Roth, the year was successful with the 1941 Willys-bodied Pro Mod.
“All in all we had a pretty good year,” he noted. “We were shooting for and worked hard to get into the fives, and we came close. But we’re getting a handle on it now. There is no end to what you can learn with these cars.”
Solid specialized off-track insurance for PMRA and Quick 32 Sportsman Series competitors
Courtesy of PMRA
MARKHAM, ON – The Pro Modified Racing Association and the Quick 32 Sportsman Series is pleased to announce the involvement of ChampionsEdge.ca – Race Car Insurance, a tailor-made insurance policy for competitors in the two drag
racing series.
Based through Insureit Group Inc. of Markham, this service will provide specialized off-track insurance for racers.
The program provides coverage from fire, theft, vandalism, hail, derailment while your race car, trailer, tools, and spare parts are being transported, along with earthquake, tornado and other types of coverage’s.
The major highlights of this program include low rates, a monthly payment plan and FREE $5000 tool coverage.
The PMRA Top Five for 2011 – Mark Nielsen – Number Five
Courtesy of PMRA
BRANTFORD, ON – Placing fifth in the Pro Modified Racing Association Marydel Homes Championship Point Award Series presented by Magnum Auto Parts, Patio Passport and Global Emissions Systems, Inc. for 2011 was long-time Series
competitor Mark Nielsen. He noted that he would have preferred to have finished higher in the standings, but was upbeat about his season.
“Overall I’m pleased we finished in the top five,” noted the Brantford racer. We were hoping for better results, be more consistent, and be able to make some quicker runs.”
Nielsen qualified his Nielsen Motorsports 1968 Camaro Pro Modified at each PMRA race in the season, but suffered with mechanical woes during the year. His best showings were a pair of semi-final rounds in event two and event five for 2011.
Powering the Camaro in the G-Force Race Cars product is an ERD (Engine Research & Development) 526-cubic inch Brad Anderson (BAE) Supercharged Hemi backed with a Lenco three-speed transmission. A PSI supercharger sits atop the engine, which is fueled through an ERD fuel system. Randy Gronlund, Richard Ruysseveldt, Dave Ross, Natalia Kalivodova and Rachel Ross crewed for the team this season, whom he thanked for their efforts.
