Baker Blasts to Semifinal Finish in Richmond

Final Report - Joe Baker
Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx
 
NHRA Virginia Nationals
Virginia Motorsports Park
Dinwiddie, Va.
Oct. 9-11, 2009
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact: Matthew Brammer, Active Marketing - pr@activemarketing.com
  (602) 882-4290
 
Baker Blasts to Semifinal Finish in Richmond
 
DINWIDDIE, Va. (October 12, 2009) - Joe Baker had luck on his side this
weekend at Virginia Motorsports Park  in the Get Screened America Pro Mod
Challenge at the NHRA Virginia Nationals.  He qualified No. 15, set new
personal-best marks in both speed ant ET,  advanced all the way to the
semifinals with two hole shot wins, and even won an extra $500 in the B&J
Transmissions Bonus Round.
 
After taking the No. 15 spot in an ultra-quick field that saw 13 of 16
drivers with ET's less than six seconds, Baker faced Brad Personett in round
one.  Baker used a 5.873 at 244.34 mph and had an .038 reaction time to beat
Personett's .140 RT and 5.866 at 249.49, advancing to the next round. He
also won an extra $500 from B&J Transmissions by beating Personett because
his pair was selected at random before the event as the Bonus Round.

In round two, Baker faced off against No. 7 qualifier Danny Rowe and used an
.061 RT to Rowe's .124 to take the lead and never look back. On the
scoreboard, Baker showed a slower but winning 5.865 at 244.92 against Rowe's
5.854 at 248.43. both Baker's ET and speed were personal best marks and set
up his shot into the semifinals.
 
Baker said, "We've made it to a lot of semifinals here lately and that's
really encouraging.  We're just keeping our fingers crossed that we get a
win here soon."
 
In the semifinals Baker was paired with veteran and defending event champion
Jay Payne. The two left the line at the same time and were neck and neck
until Baker's car got shaky and he had to lay off the throttle and let Payne
pass him and take the win.
 
"Truth be told, we got greedy on that run.  We didn't detune the car enough
for the climate conditions.  With everyone clocking such great times we just
got carried away and tried to swing for the fence, but we shook the tires
and that's all she wrote."
 
While that eagerness to get in on the quick ET action may have cost Baker a
win, he said he still thinks it's a great thing.
 
 "I think that these quick ET's have been really good for our class as a
whole.  It gets the fans excited, it gets the drivers excited, it gets the
crews excited.  We've never quite seen a weekend like this before."
 
Baker leaves the event in fourth place with 532 points, having moved up one
position with his semifinal finish. He and his team will be in action one
more time October 29-November 1 at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals for the
final round of the 2009 Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by
ProCare Rx. Baker will also be competing in the Matco Tools $35,000 Pro Mod
Clash to be contested that weekend.
 
 
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