Castellana Prevails in NHRA GSA Round 3 

New York’s Mike Castellana was able to do what no one else had done the past two NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series races and that was to defeat Khalid Balooshi in a final round…..

This was the first NHRA final round appearance of the season for Castellana who was behind the wheel of his 1969 Al-Anabi-sponsored Camaro.  Castellana had won on the ADRL circuit previously in April at West Palm Beach, Florida.

In the final round the two similar nitrous injected team cars were evenly matched down the course.  But in the end, Castellana edged Balooshi (from Qatar) with a winning time of 5.920 secs at 243.15 mph compared to a 5.952 secs at 243.28 mph.  It was the first time in NHRA that the teammates raced each other in the finals.

Castellana, is a reputed star Pro Mod driver who has multiple event wins to his credit including previous titles when NHRA’s Pro Mod series was exhibition, and also during IHRA Pro Mod historical days.

Mike Castellana one of Pro Mod racings most skilled racers -- won at Houston

His event win also included round wins over Brad Personett, Pete Farber and Mike Janis.

With his runner-up finish Balooshi retains his lead in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series points by 65 over Canadian Danny Rowe after the third of ten events this season.

Event highlights also included GSA Series founder Roger Burgess being the quickest and fastest PM car during the event once again.   Burgess wheeled his Georgia-based R2B2 Racing turbocharged Corvette to a thrilling 5.873 secs at 253.47 mph while pacing the field during qualifying.

Burgess was however forced to shutoff his car during round one when the car’s  oil pressure gauge read zero.  That handed the round win to the New York’s Mike Janis.

Series founder Roger Burgess set low ET and top speed -- again!

Posted by:  Bruce Biegler

Photos by:  Marc Gewertz