PMRA Round #2 – Xtreme Mayhem Nationals – Cayuga ON (June 11-12^th)

New Canadian Connection Sends Message

The second event in the Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series was held over the weekend during the Xtreme Mayhem Nationals at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park….. 

The event’s marquee PMRA final round was a first in the Pro Modified series, as both competitors were entering the final with sub-six second postings. After a bit of a wild ride, Eric Latino of Whitby, Ontario, took the win over Vito Montesano of Maple, Ontario.

Latino’s win came driving his all new G-Force Camaro which he is racing in conjunction with Rob Sporring.  Thus this win for that new team alliance may well be a telling one for the rest of the PMRA competitors this season.

Eric Latino put his all new Camaro into victory lane -- during only it's 2nd weekend out!

Latino recorded a 6.758-second, 232.95 mph pass over Montesano’s 6.630, 157.76 mph in the final round. Montesano qualified for the race in number one spot with his 1969 Camaro with a 5.889, and Latino started in the number two spot with a 5.898.

Semi-finalists in the PMRA race were John Russo of Middletown, Massachusetts who set top mph of the event, and Mark Nielsen of Brantford, Ontario.

US-racer John Russo was the fastest Pro Mod at Cayuga - 245.81 mph

The Pro Modified Racing Association teams compete for the Championship Point Award Series presented by Patio Passport and Magnum Auto Parts.

Darren Grubb scored in Q32 driving his nitrous-injected Chevy Cavalier

Also capturing his second event win was Darrin Grubb of Kincardine, Ontario, who won the final round in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts. Grubb’s Top Sportsman 2004 Cavalier bested the Top Dragster of Mike Hinbest of Orangeville, Ontario with a 7.207-second, 194.86 posting over Hinbest’s 6.361, 212.46. 

Mike Hinbest's very fast dragster placed R/UP in Q32

This series features a ladder of Top Dragster cars and Top Sportsman cars, which race in their own division, and the two finalists are matched up for an event winner.

 Placing second on the Top Dragster division was Tony Positano of Toronto, Ontario, and Phil Sampson of Brampton, Ontario, was runner-up in the Top Sportsman division.

Riing his Pro Bike 1978 Kawasaki, Randy Hope of London, Ontario won the event final in the PBSS presented by Wiseco Performance Products over the Pro Sled Yamaha snowmobile of Michael Swartz of Woodstock, Ontario.

 Hope took out Swartz with an 8.723-second, 141.37 mph run over Swartz’s 8.717, 164.87.

This series is also structured on a Sportsman-style, dial-in format.

 Taking second in the Pro Bike division was Dan Cryderman of Thamesville, Ontario, and Dave Marshall of Prescott, Ontario was runner-up in the Pro Sled division.

All three series will return to action at Cayuga July 1-3 as a feature par of the Canadian Nitro Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. That event will be the third race in the six-race 2011 season circuit.

(Bruce Biegler Photos)