Emotional Motivation for Commisso

Raymond Commisso’s motivation for winning the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series race at this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals go far beyond moving up in the points, winning a trophy, or defending the home turf of his team, R2B2 Racing…..

 “It was a year ago this weekend that my dad passed away,” Commisso, from Toronto said. “So I’m going to be racing for Dad.”

 Micke Gullqvist won the Atlanta race last year filling in for Commisso. Now, the Toronto-based racer is hoping there’s more Georgia magic in his supercharged ProCare Rx Camaro.

Raymond Commisso

 “We’re going to focus on qualifying well and going rounds,” Commisso said. “One step at a time. That’s how Micke got it done last year and it’s a good formula for success. Hopefully, we all do that. It would be great if two R2B2 Racing cars meet in the final.”

Team owner/driver Roger Burgess, currently a lofty fourth in the championship points, thinks one of his team cars is due for a deep run through eliminations.

“Our cars have shown they can be quick,” Burgess said. “We’ve just not had the lucky break it seems to take to make it through four rounds. 

“Atlanta Dragway was a good place for us last year, and I don’t expect it to be different this time around. It’s home for us and we’ll have all the support a team could ever ask for so we need to be ready to show everyone a good time.”

Burgess and his turbocharged ’53 ProCare Rx Corvette hope to keep points leader Khalid Balooshi in range. Teammates Commisso and Brad Personett, who has been battling parts issues for the last few races, are tied for seventh in the standings and are equally anxious to gain ground on Balooshi, who has been near-perfect in the first three races of the Pro Mod season.

Before racing gets underway Friday, R2B2 Racing will have a free open house at its Duluth, Ga., shop from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday. Commisso said he’s as excited about that event as he is about racing.

“I can’t wait to meet all the fans from Atlanta and hang out with my race team,” Commisso said. “Every time I go to the shop, I’m like a kid in a candy store with all the different custom cars inside. That place is just incredible.”

Raymond Commisso's powerful R2B2 Racing Pro Mod Camaro

Get Screened America Pro Mod Series racing gets under way Friday at 3:15 p.m. with two qualifying rounds. There will be one more qualifier on Saturday before eliminations start at 3:15 p.m. The champion of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals will be crowned on Sunday afternoon.

Posted by:  Rob Geiger

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Bruce Biegler Photos