Timely Wins = Timely Title
Some late season heroics produced a very rewarding PMRA Championship title for Eastern Canadian Pro Mod racer Jeff Roth…
Jeff Roth’s late season ownership of Grand Bend Motorplex produced a PMRA season championship.
Over the past Labour Day weekend – Jeff’s Roth Racing team won their second event in a row at Grand Bend Motorplex and with that clinched an extremely close and hard fought 2014 series title. The Championship came in a very special year too as the PMRA was celebrating it’s 10th Anniversary season.
In fact the title was not decided until driver Jeff Roth rolled his supercharged 1941 Willys Pro Modified to a victory in the very final round of the entire season for PMRA racing.
Roth had been in second place for most of the season behind three-time PMRA champ Bruce Boland, and the team knew they had to win the final race to slip ahead of the veteran Stoney Creek Ontario racer.
Jeff Roth
The high drama and deciding round came down to a battle between Jeff versus Sam Andreacchi’s Toronto-based supercharged Camaro. Simply put — if the win light came on in his lane — he would be champion — if not — it would be 4X PMRA Champion Bruce Boland.
In the tense and deciding round, Jeff gained a minor advantage at the start and posted a narrow 6.241 secs 228.02 mph to 6.240 secs 209.30 mph decision — and the season game ended.
Roth’s title came while running in his eighth year with the PMRA’s now decade long history. Jeff had won two events prior to this season — but they could not be compared to these convincing back-to-back wins.
“This season started off slow in spite of having a solid motor program from Atchison Machine Services,” Roth reflected. ” After working with Aaron from Penske we made some adjustments to the suspension, and we were able to get the car running they way we knew it could.”
“It (Championship) has been a team effort,” he continued. “The crew has dedicated many hours to the maintenance of the car and kept it running smoothly. The success of Roth Racing can be attributed to the expertise of Crew Chief, Dave Bankes, and crew, Larry Summerfield, Kyle McNeil, Ashley Roth, and Willy Kerr and to the generous support of our sponsors. That includes Shellbourne Race Fuels for not only product but for providing us with 6% more HP and reducing our engine maintenance costs, Oak Grove Cheese for providing the best cheese and their financial support, Bright Water Services for their financial support, D&J Sausage Factory and Euro Foods Kitchener for providing their tasty pork products.”
“We also want to thank the administration of the Pro Modified Racing Association for their organization and the drivers and crewmembers of all the teams for being fierce competitors on the track and friends off the track. I personally want to thank my wife and my parents. I am especially thankful that my dad (Jim) is still racing with me today.”
Roth’s title came driving what is arguably one of Canada’s all time cool drag racing machines. His immaculately-prepared 1941 Willys, which is a runaway fan favourite at all events attended, features an Alan Johnson 526 CID motor program what was refined by Atchison Racing (London ON) which which sits in the frame rails of a Canadian built chassis by Lowdown Hot Rods (Cambridge ON).
In the final points tally — Jeff Roth took the Championship Point Award Series with 1310 points, only three ahead of Boland with 1307. Canadian Corvette pilot Derek Hawker rounded out the top three with 1216 points. Fourth and fifth place in final points went to U.S.-based racers Jason Kalso of Clarkston, Michigan with 1204 points, and Jack Grainy of Basom, New York with 1183 points.
Posted with files by Bruce Biegler & Tim Miller
Photos by: Bruce Biegler & Brennan Shortall
