NHRA/AMS PRO MODS: Record setting day for AMS Pro Mods at Gatornationals
Press Release For Immediate Release Media Contact: Matthew Brammer - Active Marketing pr@activemarketing.com 623-879-4290 Record setting day for AMS Pro Mods at Gatornationals GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 17, 2007) - Speechless. Stunning. Awesome. Incredible. It's how fans and drivers alike have described the AMS Pro Modified show at the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. After witnessing the five-second barrier being shattered by two Howard Moon-tuned cars, the matchless display of tuning and driving continued through the first round of eliminations. Coming out on top in qualifying, Troy Critchley, driver of the AMS Staff Leasing '70 Plymouth Barracuda, delivered a stunning 5.946/245.27 pass to earn the Ohio Crankshaft Top Qualifier honors and a $1,000 check. The Jack Hammer from Australia didn't stop there, however - running a blistering 5.924/245.81 in his defeat of the Parker's Partners/HITnRUNtravel.com-sposored 2004 Mustang piloted by Naples, Fla. resident, Bryan Seward. Not to be outdone, Josh Hernandez, driver of the Dr. Moon's Rage '68 Camaro, ran a 5.951/243 in qualifying for the No. 2 qualifying spot, and ran an the quickest pass ever in a Pro Mod at 5.912/242.63 as he took out Rick Stivers and his BAE/Stivers HVAC '68 Camaro. In all, four drivers joined the exclusive AMS Pro Mod Five Second Club today, leaving only one vacancy. Critchley and Hernandez were joined by Toronto, Canada's Raymond Commisso and Lancaster, NY's Mike Janis as the first four members, each to receive a $500 check from a fund sponsored by their peers. Other winners for the day were Steve Engel, Danny Rowe, Mike Bell, and Tony Pontieri, of whom three of four ran in the 6.0X second range. AMS Staff Leasing owner Dave Wood was on the starting line for the amazing display of record-setting runs, and said that this is exactly what makes Pro Mod racing his absolute favorite. "Where else can you see a car that actually looks like a car run such incredible times in side-by-side competition. All of the teams that ran this weekend have put so much into this series, I'm proud to be associated with every one of them," Wood said. Notably absent from eliminations today was two-time event champion and 2006 World Champion Jay Payne. After struggling all weekend with the setup on his car, Payne failed to make the 16-car field. Shelly Payne represented the family in eliminations, pairing up against Danny Rowe and his '63 Corvette, but gave up the race before it started, leaving the line early and forfeiting the run. Eliminations conclude tomorrow at 11 a.m., Sunday March 18 at Gainesville Raceway, in the first of the ten scheduled events in the AMS Pro Modified Challenge presented by Tindle Enterprises, Inc. On the line is more than $30,000 in purse and contingency money, along with commemorative eyeware presented by Fatheadz for the winning team. Summary of Eliminations, Round One Steve Engel (6.009 239.36) def. Mike Stawicki (6.038 237.38) Danny Rowe (6.006 225.33) def. Shelly Payne (foul) Raymond Commisso (5.986 242.63) def. Cody Barklage (7.803 139.73) Mike Bell (6.049 235.64) def. John Russo (6.101 238.89) Mike Janis (5.964 237.67) def. Zach Barklage (6.090 230.33) Tony Pontieri(6.120 201.49) def. Tim Tindle (15.483 50.39) Josh Hernandez (5.912 242.63) def. Rick Stivers (7.120 186.25) Troy Critchley (5.924 245.81) def. Bryan Seward (6.524 222.80) Final Qualifying Order 1 Troy Critchley 2 Josh Hernandez 3 Tony Pontieri 4 Mike Janis 5 John Russo 6 Raymond Commisso 7 Dan Rowe 8 Steve Engel 9 Mike Stawicki 10 Shelly Payne 11 Cody Barklage 12 Mike Bell 13 Zach Barklage 14 Tim Tindle 15 Rick Stivers 16 Bryan Seward ### About AMS Pro Mods: The AMS Staff Leasing Pro Modified Challenge, presented by Tindle Enterprises, Inc. pits the very best blown, nitrous, and turbo-charged Pro Modified drag racers against one another for the coveted BAE Championship Cup and a combined a purse and championship fund of more than $365,000. On a national platform at ten NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series national events, the AMS Pro Mods are at the pinnacle for Pro Mod racers worldwide. Often called some of the most challenging straight-line racing in the world by drivers and crew chiefs alike, the cars utilize different combinations of methanol-burning engines in late-model full-body chassis and produce around 2.500 horsepower. The cars also utilize full suspension and must be equipped with working doors on each side of the vehicle to maintain aesthetically "car-like" appearance. Top performance numbers for the quarter-mile races are in the low six-seconds at speeds in excess of 230 mph. AMS Staff Leasing is the title sponsor and original founder of the series, now in its seventh year with the NHRA. AMS is one of the nation's largest Professional Employer Organizations (PEO), primarily serving the construction industry. AMS specializes in providing integrated and cost effective services by contractually assuming substantial employer rights, responsibilities, and risks with employees assigned to its clients. Founded in 1991 in Dallas, Texas, AMS currently assists thousands of clients and more than 40,000 employees through their specialized PEO program. AMS helps contractors outsource non-revenue-producing tasks, saving their clients time and money. For more information about the AMS Pro Mod Challenge, please visit the series website: www.AMSpromods.com.