Ryan Boniferro Wins Saturday and Scores Runner-Up Sunday at IHRA Pro Am in Pittsburgh

Former TNT Super Series Rookie of the Year Earned Every Round!

NIAGARA FALLS, ON – Ryan Boniferro had an incredible weekend of racing as he advanced to both final rounds in Hot Rod at Pittsburgh’s IHRA Pro Am. The Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series 2013 Rookie of the Year earned his first Iron Man with Saturday’s win and then followed that up with runner-up finish on Sunday.

Out of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Boniferro felt good on Friday night when they unloaded and went 10.901 out of the box.

Saturday saw him march through the field taking out Kevin Orr in round one with an .016 starting line advantage. Then his .015 to Nick Karas’ .043 pushed Karas under in round two.

Round three had Boniferro posting an .011 10.895 package to Chris VanBaalen’s .016 10.882, letting VanBaalen take the stripe by .008.

A fourth round bye run set him up to face Rob Holden in the semi’s. In a re-match of a final round from two years ago at Grand Bend, this time Boniferro came out on top with only .004 separating them at the tree and .009 at the stripe.

The money round put Boniferro against 2013 IHRA Hot Rod Division 3 Champion Ricky Roe. Boniferro was .002 off the line and Roe was .007. At the stripe Roe came around him but Boniferro dropped anchor to let him go, lighting the final beacon and taking the event win with a 10.914 to Roe’s too quick 10.897.

Sunday saw Boniferro pick up right where he let off. First up was current IHRA Division One points leader Jan Winkowski. Dead even on the tree, Boniferro backed into Winkowski for the W. In round two, Boniferro’s .015 light bettered 2007 IHRA World Champion Damien Hazelton’s .021 and Boniferro lit that beacon with a 10.912 to a 10.911.

Jeff Sobczynski in round three was the first person all weekend to take the tree on Boniferro with a .002 to an .013. Didn’t matter as Boniferro won the double breakout contest 10.894 to 10.889.

A bye run in the quarters sent him to the semi’s to face Holly Burk. Burk hit the tree with a perfect .000 but couldn’t get there and Boniferro drove around her for the win by a mere .001, running 10.908 to a 10.922.

Ryan Boniferro – photog Holloway SaundersSunday’s final round was a repeat of Saturday with Ricky Roe once again in the other lane. This time Roe was .004 to Boniferro’s .018, both cars breaking out and Roe emerging your winner by an almost non-existent .000 margin of victory.

Boniferro was quick to thank his wife, Anastazie along with his mom, Cathy and dad, Joe for all their support. “Thanks to my brother Pat for helping me at the track. And I can’t thank Jimmy and RaeAnn Thomson enough for giving me the opportunity to drive their car.”

Car owner Jim Thomson couldn’t be happier. “This is why I wanted Ryan to drive my car. I knew he was good!”

“I also want to thank IHRA, Summit and Amsoil for putting these events on,” added Boniferro.

Sponsors include Joe’s Transmission Service, Boniferro Speed & Custom, Dilts Piston Hydraulics, Four Seasons Roofing and Royal Purple.

Boniferro is a regular in Joe’s Transmission TNT Super Series competition, currently sitting in the top 10 in the championship points standings.

The 1972 Nova is powered by a 383 small block Chevrolet with a Joe’s Transmission Powerglide. The car is no stranger to the winner’s circle with Thomson himself driving it to the 2014 TNT Super Series Driver of the Year title.

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Ryan Boniferro – photog Holloway Saunders