NHRA O’Reilly Spring Nationals – Get Screened America Pro Mod Series
  April 9-11, 2010   Baytown TX

GSA PRO MOD NAME ET MPH CAREER WIN
         
Winner: Danny Rowe 5.936 248.90 1st
R/UP: Melanie Troxel 6.030 245.94  
         
Low ET: Jay Payne 5.813    
Top Speed: Raymond Commisso   251.30  
Bump Spot: 6.070      

Rowe Lassos Texan PM Field

Pro Mod Final -- Rowe Vs. Troxel

Pro Mod Final -- Rowe Vs. Troxel

Transplanted Canadian driver Danny Rowe scored victory at Houston Raceway Park at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals after defeating Melanie Troxel in commanding fashion with a 5.936-second, 248.93mph final round effort.

Moving into the No. 4 position in the Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series points standings, Rowe cemented his position as a front-runner in the series’ inaugural season with his win over the best the category has to offer and will climbs within 22 points of the No. 1 slot.

Jimmy Rector [crew chief] and the Sterling Bridge ’68 Camaro Pro Mod shined all weekend with consistent low 5.9-second laps in eliminations after qualifying No. 3 in the stout 16-car field with a 5.864 at 249.35mph.

“I just couldn’t be more impressed with this Sterling Bridge team,” said Rowe from the winner’s circle at Houston Raceway Park. “As always, it takes a team effort to come out here and win at this level of competition and I couldn’t be happier to be taking a NHRA Wally back home with me. We had a little luck on our side, that’s for sure, but I think you basically have to when you’re racing against the caliber of cars and teams that we have out here.

It wasn’t any easy win, by any means for Rowe, who qualified third for the event. Rowe drove past Pro Mod drivers Chip King, Mike Castellana, Joe Baker, and Troxel in the final round to earn the win.

The classes only female driver, Melanie Troxel, made it to her first final round appearance in the category after qualifying in the 16th and final spot in the field Saturday afternoon.

Canada’s Raymond Commisso set top speed in Pro Mod at the Houston area event hitting a 251.30 mph driving his R2B2-Racing Camaro.  California’s Jay Payne set low ET in the class with a titanic 5.813 secs blast during qualifying.   Both Commisso and Payne were however upset during round one of Pro Mod competition.

(Photo by: Randy Anderson)