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Castellana Settles For Semi-Final Finish; Al-Anabi Racing Keeps Top Spots In Pro Mod Points |
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(6-01-2009) TOPEKA, Kansas - Once again leading the charge for the nitrous contingent was veteran Pro Mod pilot and New York native Mike Castellana who qualified No. 2 for the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Summer Nationals with a 6.013-second, 234.90mph-blast despite the sultry heat that is prevalent in the Midwest this time of year. As was to be expected, the intense summer heat was accompanied by a equally staggering track temperatures and Dixie, Virginia's own Burton Auxier struggled to navigate the tricky track, but jumped into the fray with a 6.414 at 220.69mph to take the No. 12 qualifying spot for Sunday's eliminator.
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Rowe In The Midst Of Tight Points Battle Going Into Latter Half Of Season |
 (6-1-2009) TOPEKA, Kansas – Many a season has been decided by the efforts of a team, player, or in this case, driver, going into the latter portion of the year. Danny Rowe and his veteran race team are no strangers to high-pressure situations, and unfortunately for the competition, tend to perform at their absolute best when they know they have to.
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Competition tightens in Matco Tools Clash |
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 TOPEKA, Kan. (June 1, 2009) - Competition is heating up for qualifying in the $35,000 Matco Tools Pro Mod Clash after five of nine qualifying events in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx. Beginning at the NHRA Gatornationals in March, drivers have earned points for the "race-within-a-race" which pits the top Pro Mods against each other with the chance to race for a $25,000 top prize.
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Commisso makes quarterfinal finish in Topeka |
 TOPEKA, Kan. (May 31, 2009) - R2B2 Motors/ProCare Rx Pro Mod driver Raymond Commisso blasted to a quarterfinal finish Sunday in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx at the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka.
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Burgess Qualifies No. 3 but Exits Early in Topeka |
 TOPEKA, Kan. (May 30, 2009) - R2B2 Racing driver Roger Burgess blasted to the No 3. qualifying spot but took an early exit from eliminations Saturday in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx at the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan.
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Baker blasts to semifinal finish in Topeka |
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 31, 2009) - Joe Baker, driver of the Matco Tools/Lend America Pro Mod, earned his very first No. 1 qualifying position and drove to a semifinal finish Sunday in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge at the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan. Baker also set Heartland Park Topeka track records for both fastest speed at 241.76 MPH and quickest ET at 5.971 seconds in his Mike Ashley Racing '68 Camaro.
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 TOPEKA, Kan. (May 31, 2009) - Pro Mod racer Tim Tindle found his way through the uncharted fields of Heartland Park Topeka all the way to the winner's circle in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx.
Marking the first time the Challenge has visited the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals, the drivers and teams were greeted with full stands of fans and treated them to a show of fast runs and close races all under the sunny skies of Kansas.
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Baker's dozen down to seven as Pro Mods sizzle in Topeka |
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 30, 2009) - The field was full of excitement and competition was sizzling in the heartland as the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx raced the quarter-mile Saturday in the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka. At the end of qualifying, Matco Tools driver Joe Baker was on top and a model of consistency, advancing to the second round of eliminations, having a bye in round one.
"I'm just thanking the Good Lord that we're doing so well here this weekend. With all the changes we've made on this car, I'm really excited to be running so consistently and quickly. We knew we had the car, but just couldn't get it dialed in - and now we're right where we knew we should be," Baker said.
Also advancing into the second round was No. 2 qualifier Mike Castellana who dispatched a struggling turbo-powered Brad Personett 6.087/234.53 to 6.714/177.81.
Personett said, "We had to make some big moves with the setup because we weren't having a lot of luck with what we were doing, and I guess we just found out what not to do next time. I'm not discouraged, though, we have a great car, and we've really got a lot of things working together well."
Castellana will have a bye round two and advance to the semi-finals.
Number three qualifier Roger Burgess' 67 Camaro took a hop and a jump when he faced off against points-leader Burton Auxier, landing Burgess on the trailer early and giving the leader an easy lap.
Auxier said, "We've been having a little trouble since we won Bristol, and I'm just starting to get things figured back out. These nitrous cars are touchy, and I think we've got things set for tomorrow. We dodged a bullet on that round, because I'm not sure what we would have run if Roger hadn't lifted, but a 'W' is a 'W' and we'll take it however it comes."
Knowles Enterprises and B&J Transmissions-backed Mike Knowles dropped a close race to former World Champion Jay Payne, giving up the win at the starting line despite having the quicker time. After qualifying No. 9, Knowles ran a 6.167/236.22 to Payne's slightly slower 6.169 235.97 but gave up almost six hundredths of a second in reaction time, .141 to Payne's .085.
R2B2 Racing-backed Raymond Commisso had a psychic .013-second reaction to slap a holeshot win on Taylor Lastor, 6.142/238.13 to the quicker-but-losing 6.080/237.21.
Lastor said, "You can't win when you give up almost a tenth on the tree. I can usually cut a really good light, but I must have gotten distracted or been sleeping, and he just had an amazing light."
Also advancing into round two were Tim Tindle who had a single run when Chip King failed to make the call due to a broken linkage, and Danny Rowe who took out rookie Kirk Wilmes, 6.100/238.72 to 6.257/230.45.
Eliminations will conclude Sunday beginning with round two action where Baker will take on Commisso, Rowe will face Tindle, and Auxier will meet Payne.
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Baker on Top in Topeka after Day One |
 TOPEKA, Kan. (May 29, 2009) - If first impressions are everything, the drivers of the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge are very impressed. The skies were sunny and clear and the stands were full for the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kansas, marking the first time the Challenge has raced at Heartland Park Topeka. A baker's dozen of cars took to the quarter-mile and Matco Tools driver Joe Baker took the provisional bragging rights.
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