Melanie Simmons Salemi takes honors during Canadian Nitro Nationals

CAYUGA, ON – There were records set during the latest round of Quick 32 Sportsman Series racing on the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park recently, but it was Top Dragster driver Melanie Simmons Salemi who won the race during the track’s Canadian Nitro Nationals.

Simmons Salemi bested a strong field of Top Dragster and Top Sportsman entries to win her second series event, which is presented by NAPA Auto Parts.

The Orillia, Ontario driver qualified her Toyrific Racing ERD-powered Mike Bos dragster in fourth spot and made the rounds to meet up with Top Sportsman finalist Kevin Wicke of Stratford, Ontario. In a close final, Simmons Salemi posted a 6.665, 199.91-mph pass with a 6.64 dial-in over Wicke’s 6.880, 202.06 losing effort.

Simmons Salemi bested Michael Kalin of Niagara Falls, New York in the Top Dragster final after eliminating Spencer Hyde (driving for sister Sydnie Hyde) of Stratford in round one, Gord Cooke of Orillia in round two, and Travis Gueguen of Shakespeare, Ontario in the semi-final.

On the Top Sportsman side, Wicke, in the K&K Racing Dodge Stratus, qualified number two, and eliminated Jon Schmid of Orchard Park, New York, Steve Corriveau of Fonthill, Ontario, and Tom Orr of Shawville, Quebec to meet up with and beat Dan Flanigan of Buffalo, New York in the Top Sportsman final.

The Quick 32 Sportsman Series races in drag racing’s Sportsman-style rules, each driver running on an index with dial-in quarter-mile times. Each side races against each other in a 16-car field, and the top eliminator from each side competes in a final round to determine an event winner.

Number one Top Dragster qualifier Scott Wildgust of Wartburg broke both the quarter-mile speed and time records, establishing a new time benchmark of 5.987 seconds, formerly held by Rick Kopp of Burlington with a 6.040 posting, and a speed of 231.48-mph, besting London, Ontario’s Paul Noakes 230.65, but Wildgust was eliminated in first-round action.

And on the Top Sportsman side, Fred DeJonge, of Puslinch, Ontario, had his twin-turbocharged 2008 Cobalt in top form, posting a 232.01-mph pass in qualifying, breaking Jack Brohman’s previous 213.54-mph set by the Jarvis, Ontario racer. Unfortunately DeJonge could not make the elimination rounds.

Aside from Gueguen, the other semi-finalist in Top Dragster side was Tony Positano of Toronto, Ontario, while Ben Grevers of Paris, Ontario made it to the Top Sportsman semi-final with Orr.

The final round of the postponed South Coast Community Weekend event took place during the Nitro Nationals, with the Wilson and Gray Top Sportsman entry with Rob Gray driving winning this final round over the Top Dragster of Lance Orr of Shawville, Quebec.

Presently two-time Quick 32 Sportsman Series champion Wicke leads in the Championship Point Award Series, followed by Spencer Hyde, Wilson and Gray, Simmons Salemi, and Top Dragster driver Jeff Moser of Bamberg, Ontario.

Next stop on the Series tour is the August 9-11 running of the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts at the Grand Bend Motorplex.

Complimentary spectator event tickets are available at businesses in Stratford and the surrounding areas, or by contacting the Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series or the Pro Bike & Sled Series.

General parking is $25 per car load and weekend camping is available.

Tickets can be downloaded at http://www.pmra.ca/uploaded-content/2013/06/2013-Hot-August-Nationals-Ticket.pdf

For information about the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts at the Grand Bend Motorplex, call (519) 238-7223, visit www.grandbendmotorplex.com or www.stratfordspectacular.com

The Quick 32 Sportsman Series www.Quick32.ca will compete at all these events in conjunction with its companion series, the Pro Modified Racing Association, www.PMRA.ca, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series www.PBSS.ca, providing an exciting, colorful, and complete show of the best in drag racing action.

For more information, go to www.grandbendmotorplex.com or www.stratfordspectacular.com

For more information contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher at Bruce@Quick32.ca

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