Double Duty for Ike Maier Again @ NHRA Gainesville
Canadian to race in both Top Fuel and Pro Modified at upcoming Florida event — Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals presented by NapaFilters.com……
Courtesy: Tim Miller
Top Fuel Dragster driver Ike Maier (Tottenham ON) will be returning to the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series for 2012, competing in the upcoming NHRA race beginning next week at Gainesville, Florida.
He will also be racing in the NHRA’s Pro Modified series as well.We’re going to give it another shot, said Maier, who acquired his NHRA Top Fuel license last year. We are going to try and qualify at the Gators and make some rounds.
The race, known as the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals presented by NapaFilters.com, is the 43rd running of the Florida race, which has been the traditional NHRA East Coast opener.
Maier will be driving the Paton Racing Top Fuel entry once again. He drove a limited schedule in NHRA competition last season with the Paris, Ontario-based team headed up by Barry Paton and crew chiefed by James “Jimbo” Ermalovich. Maier added he will be driving his own Corvette Pro Modified at Gainesville as well as the 8000-horsepower Top Fueler.
We found some more horsepower for the Pro Mod, he noted. And we should be able to make some impressive runs with it.
Maier has raced Pro Mods for several years, and was successful in PMRA and IHRA competition before climbing into the seat of the fuel car. Maier’s Pro Mod will receive engine tuning from Kirk Silbermann of Ajax, Ontario. The noted engine builder will also act as crew chief with the Corvette.He raced both cars last year, and will continue to do double duty in 2012.
Qualifying for the race begins Friday March 9. Qualifying continues Saturday March 10, with eliminations in the NHRA pro Mod Drag Racing Series to start at 1:30 pm.
Eliminations in the Full Throttle Series are set to begin Sunday, March 11, at 11 am. This race will be the third in the 17-race national series.
In the past several years Maier has raced competitively in the Pro Modified class with his 1963 Corvette in the PMRA, the IHRA, and the NHRA, and will compete in selected NHRA national events in both classes for 2012.
Photo Credit: Dave Erauw Photography ~ www.erauw-photo.com and Roger Richards / www.CompetitionPlus.com
