FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Canadian Pro Mod sensation Eric Latino heads list of winners at Shakedown Nationals' 10th anniversary

ENGLISHTOWN, NJ – It doesn't matter which side of the border he races on. Canadian Eric Latino is a winner. The recently crowned PMRA champion and his Team Green hit the $20,000 Pro Modified jackpot Sunday at Englishtown, N.J.'s Old Bridge Township Raceway Park to cap the 10th edition of the SPEEDTECH Shakedown Nationals.

Latino, of Whitby, Ontario, plowed through a stout 32-car field and defeated Dwayne Wolfe with a 6.011-second, 243.24-mph pass in his G-Force Race Cars Built '69 Camaro. Wolfe, of Moorefield, W.Va., gave him a 6.120, 231.64 in his '02 Firebird.

"This time, it was the toughest field I've ever seen," Latino said. "I thought we were going to come here, hang out, and go home the first round. So it was pretty good to make it to the final." He not only made it to the final round, but he won against a hungry Wolfe, the No. 16 qualifier who already had upset No. 1 qualifier and 2011 Shakedown champion Jose "El General" Gonzalez, then respected veteran racers Tim O'Hare and Gary Courtier.

Photo Credit- Roger Richards. Competition Plus

Eric Latino wins final 2012 Pro Modified race at Grand Bend and with this win captures 2012 PMRA Championship

First PMRA championship for Team Green and its 1969 Camaro Pro Modified

GRAND BEND, Ontario (September 2, 2012) – It was a perfect weekend of racing for Eric Latino and his Team Green.

The 1969 Camaro team won the final event of the 2012 Pro Modified Racing Association during the “Thunder by the Beach” at the Grand Bend Motorplex, and it also picked up enough points to win the 2012 Pro Modified Racing Association Championship Point Award Series presented by Global Emissions Systems Inc.

The win was Latino’s second for the season. The PMRA championship is his first.

Team Green, owned by Rob and Anne Sporring of Guelph Ontario and Eric Latino from Whitby Ontario, qualified number one with a 6.055, 237.21 posting and the team and car went through the ladder to meet up and defeat Jay Santos in the final.

“The car was perfect all weekend,” noted Latino after the race. “The car was very consistent.”

With a pair of 6.05s and a 6.02, Latino’s G-Force Race Cars Camaro with a 521-cubic inch BAE Hemi built by Pete Olin with an Al Billes’ 14-71 Roots supercharger ran consistent throughout the meet. He eliminated number eight qualifier Rocky Di Lecce of Mississauga, Ontario in the first round, and number four qualifier Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ontario in the semi to meet up with Santos.

Meanwhile Santos, who won a postponed PMRA race the day before at Grand Bend, his first with his Camaro, qualified number two for the show, and took out Rob Atchison of London, Ontario in first-round action and Sam Andreacchi of Toronto, Ontario in a close match-up to get into the final.

In the final against Santos, Latino posted the fastest time of the weekend running a 6.029, 237.27 final pass for the win.

“I have to give credit to my entire team who were at the top of their game all weekend,” Latino mentioned after the race. “The track condition was tricky and Paolo (D’Alimonte, the team’s crew chief) read the track perfectly making it easier for me to get down fast and smooth every pass.”

Others on Team Green Latino wished to thank include car chief Peter Olin, Matt Latino, Gord Campbell, Nick Campbell, Rikkie Rumball, Paul Bassil, and Teri Cowl.

Latino also wanted to thank his sponsors, including Redline Automotive, Don Butt Auto Body, Quality Plus Compressors, Global Emissions Systems Inc., Vibrant Performance, Magnum Auto Parts, Ellesmere Fabricators Limited, NGK Spark Plugs, Hoosier Racing Tires, Pro Racing Fuels, Ressurection Custom Painting, ARK Compressor Parts and Kendall Motor Oil.

With his Grand Bend win, Latino took season-long points leader Bruce Boland out of top spot. Latino amassed 1756 points with this weekend win, while Boland, who qualified fifth and was out in the first round, finished the season with 1754 points. Hawker took third spot with 1714 points.

Jeff Roth of New Dundee, who qualified third but was also out in the first round at Grand Bend, placed fourth with 1699 points, and Di Lecce took fifth spot with 1681 points.

Photo Credit: Brennan Shortall ~ www.DragRaceCanada.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Santos Motorsports Captures First PMRA Win

 

Jay Santos Breaks Through For His First Win

MILTON, ON (Sept 3, 2012) Jay Santos, of Milton, Ontario and his Santos Motorsports 69 Camaro Pro Mod have been diligently laboring for the love of Pro Mod racing. Santos Motorsports dedication and hard work paid of on September, 1 2012 as the team netted its first Pro Mod win at the Grand Bend Motorplex during the rained out Cayuga Dragway event for the PMRA Series.

Santos drove his G-Force Race Cars built Camaro down the damp Motorplex ¼ mile strip in fine fashion running 6.18 @ 238 mph to beat fellow Ontarian Derek Hawker for his first PMRA win. A happy Santos stated, “Man I can’t say enough about my team, my Car Chief Tex, Crew members Jamie, Joe, Carlos, Josh, my tuners Jim and Jon Salemi, and my engine builder Mike Stawicki. With out every one of these people I couldn’t have achieved a win as quickly as I did”.

            With the PMRA season complete the Santos Motorsports team plans to head to the Shakedown at E-Town door car spectacular on October 12-14 in Englishtown, New Jersey. The team hopes to improve on its personal best of 6.07 @ 240 mph.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Eric Latino returns to winning ways

in PMRA Pro Modified drag racing

 

Team Green Camaro back in contention for 2012 season

 

WHITBY, ONTARIO (July 26, 2012) – After several attempts this season, Eric Latino and Team Green are back in winning form, capturing the Pro Modified Racing Association event during the IHRA MOPAR Nitro Jam Nationals at the Grand Bend Motorplex.

 

We’re pretty happy about the win, said Latino, who drives the 1969 Chevy Camaro. We figured out our set-up, and we’re back on track.

 

Now in his fourth year of PMRA competition, Latino has four event wins to his credit.

 

Team Green is owned by Latino and Rob and Ann Sporring, and the Camaro is a G-Force Race Cars unit with a Cynergy Composites Inc. body, powered by a 521-cubic inch BAE Hemi engine.

 

The Kobelco K-11 14-71 supercharger on the engine has been modified by Al Billes, as has the Leahy Fuel System with a water fuel pump. The power is transmitted through a Lenco CS2 gearbox.

 

This has been a strong combination, with a benchmark posting of 5.871-seconds at 244 mph to date.

 

Paolo D’Alimonte is crew chief for Team Green, and Peter Olin is the team’s car chief. Others on the crew include Matt Latino, Nick Campbell, Rikkie Rumball, Gord Campbell, and Paul Bassil.

 

A veteran of drag racing for 30 years, Latino is a staunch proponent of working towards a cleaner environment, and through his association with Global Emissions Systems Inc. has introduced programs to better the environment through racing.

 

Sponsorship for Team Green comes from Redline Automotive, Don Butt Auto Body, Quality Plus Compressors, Global Emissions Systems Inc., Vibrant Performance, ARK Compressor Parts, Ellesmere Fabricators Limited, NGK Spark Plugs, Hoosier Racing Tires, Pro Racing Fuels, Resurrection Custom Painting and Kendall Motor Oil.

 

Latino said he is especially thankful for the support of his sponsors and crew.

 

I have to thank all my sponsors, each and every one of them, he said. They all have made this come true. And I also have to thank all the people on the crew who work so hard to make it happen.

 

And I have to thank my wife Sue, he continued, for all of her support and putting up with all my late nights preparing before the races.

 

And with his experience, Latino believes winning this year’s PMRA championship will be a contest of drivers.

 

Good lights and good driving will win the title this year, he noted. The cars and competition are so evenly matched, and the teams have done such an awesome job, that the rest is up to the drivers.

 

With his win, Latino has moved into second place in the Pro Modified Racing Association 2012 Championship Point Award Series presented by Global Emissions Systems, Inc. with 1049 points. Leading at present is three-time PMRA champion Bruce Boland with 1074 points. Boland also set the low elapsed time (5.979) and top speed (240.47) of the meet. Third in the series is Jeff Roth with 1033 points fourth is Jack Grainy with 1016 points, and Rocky Di Lecce is fifth with 1014 points.

 

The next event is the South Coast Community Weekend August 3-5 at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park. The PMRA’s two companion series, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts and the Pro Bike & Sled Series presented by Wiseco Performance Products will also compete at this event, offering a colorful and exciting package of drag racing action.

 

Complimentary spectator event tickets are available at businesses in Cayuga and the surrounding areas, or by contacting the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, the Pro Modified Racing Association or the Pro Bike & Sled Series.

 

General parking is $20 per car load and weekend camping is available. 

 

Tickets can be downloaded at www.quick32.ca/schedule/

 

For information about Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario call (905) 772-0303 or visit online at www.torontomotorsportspark.com

 

The Pro Modified Racing Association, www.PMRA.ca competes with its two companion series, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, www.Quick32.ca and the Pro Bike & Sled Series, www.PBSS.ca travel and compete together throughout the racing season, offering an exciting and diverse package of drag racing action.

 

For more information contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher at Bruce@PMRA.ca

 

Photo Credit: Brennan Shortall ~ www.DragRaceCanada.com

Ep 500 Seg 4 - Top Doorslammer ft. Jim Salemi from insideSPEED on Vimeo.

Grainy Brothers motor to victory

at US 131 Motorsports Park

 

First PMRA win for veteran New York team and their 1967 Camaro Pro Modified

 

MARTIN, MICHIGAN (June 11, 2012) – There was a celebration in the Grainy Brothers Racing camp last weekend as the team won its first Pro Modified Racing Association event.

 

“We had a lot of good things going our way,” said Jack Grainy, driver of the G-Force built 1967 Chevy Camaro Pro Modified. “We got a lot of breaks for our first victory.”

 

The win, which came during the Summer Showdown event at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin Michigan, was the first trip to victory lane for the team, which has competed in the PMRA since its first season of 2005.

 

Grainy, from North Tonawanda, New York, qualified fifth in the field with a 6.1605-second, 230.10-mph pass. Leading the qualifying was Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Ontario with a 5.9916, 229.33.

 

In round one, Grainy eliminated number four qualifier Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ontario, and met up with Boland in the semi-final. Boland, a three-time PMRA champ, redlit, giving Grainy a spot in the final against number three qualifier Eric Latino of Whitby, Ontario, who had defeated Jeff Roth of New Dundee, Ontario in the other semi.

 

Unfortunately, Latino had mechanical problems at the line with his Camaro, and Grainy motored to his first victory.

 

Powered by a Mike Stawicki Racing / MSR Performance screw blown engine, the G-Force Race Cars Inc. chassis was tuned by Jon Salemi of Resolution Racing Services for the event, a teaming which proved successful.

 

“We had a lot of help from other teams this weekend, including the (Jay) Santos and Boland teams” said Grainy, whose brother Sonny acts as crew chief for the effort. “I want to thank Mike (Stawicki), Jim (Salemi), and Jon (Salemi) for all their work, as well as Sonny and the rest of the crew. We didn’t have a stellar weekend performance-wise but this new combination is a work in process. I feel confident,” he continued, “that we can run in the top half of the field and be a contender at the remaining races. We have a ton of hard work ahead of us but we are committed to succeed and will give it our best shot.”

Roth, who qualified number two for the race, and won the 2012 opener at the Cayuga Dragway, leads the PMRA Championship Point Award Series with 590 points, followed by Boland with 582. Grainy is third with 576 points, Latino is fourth with 564 points, and Hawker rounds out the top five with 556 points.

 

 

Photo Credit: Brennan Shortall ~ www.DragRaceCanada.com and Greg Bunsold

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Gregorini Strikes Back

(1-8-2012) KWINANA BEACH, WA – Night two of the Nitro Funny Car challenge produced some of the most entertaining Drag Racing as pristine conditions provided the assembled race teams with a race surface they could attack with confidence.

After the euphoria of the first ever AA/AP 5 second elapsed time (ET) the night before from Wayne Keys you could have been excused thinking that the private war of the AA/AP's between Wayne Keys and Daniel Gregorini was finally over.

While Keys may have won round 1, Gregorini came back with a vengence not only eclipsing Keys' stellar 5.979 with a 5.968 but recorded improving speeds during the night on his way to a win in K Trans Top Comp with top end charges of 386kmh (240mph), 387kmh (241mph) and a final round 390.38kmh (242mph).

The war continues!

Other amazing runs were recorded during the night including the quickest pass by a BB/FC when John McSweeney went 6.18 and in Harris Engines Super Comp Andrew Katavatis went 7.11 - the quickest time ever recorded by a B/AA on his way to his first ever win.

But it was the Nitro Burners who had the crowd on the edge of their seats with some of the quickest and fastest passes seen including the first ever side by side 300mph (482kmh).

Damien Harris won the event but not before a second round pairing with Matt Treasure in the Greenemachine with Harris winning the pairing with a solid 5.018 at 508.18kmh (315mph) in the Best Tractor Parts Funny Car with Treasure glued beside him crossing the finish line in 5.111 seconds hitting a top end speed of 486.02kmh (302mph).

The next event is in three weeks time and features more Nitro fueled mayhem with a round of the Pro Series Top Fuel Dragsters.

Eliminations Results

Photo by Phil Luyer - High Octane Photos

 Win in Canada proves Stawicki can drive 10.5 too!

Santos Motorsports, from Milton, Ontario Canada, had an impressive race weekend at the Canadian Street Car Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park August 26-28. Team owner and driver Jay Santos decided to place veteran pro mod driver Mike Stawicki in the seat for this race where the smaller 10.5 tires would be under the fenders of the G-Force Race Cars built 69 Camaro. Stawicki stated, “I’ve driven a lot of cars over my career but nothing ever with small tires and one of my MSR Performance built screw blown hemi’s. I told Jay that I would be more than happy to get in the seat and give it a shot.” A shot Stawicki definitely gave it, as on the Friday test session on just his second run down the track he set the new Outlaw 10.5 quarter mile record at 6.07 seconds at 237 mph! Jon Salemi from Resolution Racing Services said, “This is a testament to everyone’s hard work. My brother Jim from G-Force builds a great car, Mike build’s a solid engine that makes great horsepower and Jay Santos has put together a great team. He afforded Jim and I enough testing hits to learn about these tires and the new setup for this CSCN race. All in all it turned out to be a great experience.”

The team struggled through qualifying a bit and ended up qualifying in the second spot with a 6.27 @ 240 mph. First was Billy Glidden at a 6.25 @ 224 mph. Unfortunately the other cars in the field for this $10,000.00 race either succumbed to engine damage or crashed! So that placed Stawicki and Glidden in a best of 3 race series for the cash. Glidden took round 1 when Stawicki smoked the tires at the hit of the throttle. The second round was a great drag race as Glidden left on Stawicki and ran 6.20 only to get driven around by Stawicki’s 6.16 @ 237. This left the final round to decide who got to keep the cash money. Both drivers were a bit tardy of the line for the final but Glidden encountered traction problems and the Santos Motorsports team sped to the victory with another 6.16 @ 239 mph.

Santos Motorsports also thanks the hardest working crew in the sport. They have a "never give up" attitude and they showed that this CSCN weekend. They are led by Lazaro Teixeira (Tex), Jamie Bothelo, John Ulinskas and Irene Wu.

Also a special thanks to Joe Zito from Stawicki Racing and Don Bailey of DCB Ent.

Santos Motorsports is supported by Brampton Pallet Inc, J&M Recycling, G-Force Race Cars inc., MSR Performance, Resolution Racing Services, LAT Racing Oil, and M/T Wheels and Tires.

Photo Credit: Dave Erauw Photography. www.erauw-photo.com.

Jack Grainy blasts to victory during IHRA Mopar Nitro Jam Nationals

 

PMRA team wins Pro Modified Invitational during national drag race event at the Grand Bend Motorplex

 

GRAND BEND, ON (July 18, 2011) – Jack Grainy blasted his way to victory during the IHRA Mopar Nitro Jam Nationals at the Grand Bend Motorplex over the weekend.

 

The Pro Modified Racing Association regular competed with several other teams in the event’s Pro Modified Invitational, and the Tonawanda, New York driver won an IHRA Iron Man for his efforts, his second such title in 16 years.

 

“This has been a great win for us,” said Grainy after the win. “We are very happy to win, and we were proud to be a part of the PMRA at this race.

 

“Our next goal,” he continued, “is to win a PMRA race, hopefully this season.”

 

A veteran Pro Modified team, driver Jack and crew chief Sonny have competed for many years, and was one of the initial teams when the PMRA began in 2004.

 

PMRA competitor Eric Latino of Whitby, Ontario, qualified number one for the race with his 1969 G-Force Built Camaro with a 6.186, 235.15, and Grainy, in the Grainy Brothers 1967 G-Force Built Camaro was right behind with a 6.233, 230.33 pass. Next was the 1963 Corvette Pro Modified of PMRA driver Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ontario, who qualified third with a 6.294, 224.47.

 

In the semi-final, Grainy was slower off the tree than Hawker, but Grainy drove around him to win the race, posting a 6.143 in the process. Latino was unopposed in his semi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the final, the race was decided at the starting line, as Grainy cut a .092-second reaction time over Latino’s .143 second reaction time. Both drivers ran identical 6.117-second times for the race, with Latino running a 240.00 to Grainy’s 233.56, but could not catch Grainy.

 

In Top Sportsman action, Quick 32 Sportsman Series competitor Bill Wilson drove the Wilson & Gray entry to the event win.

 

Grainy, Hawker, Latino, and the rest of the PMRA competitors along with the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the PBSS will return to the next scheduled PMRA event, the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts at Grand Bend August 5-7. This will be round four on the 2011 tour. Presently leading the PMRA is Vito Montesano of Maple, Ontario, followed by Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Ontario, and third is Latino.

 

For information about the Stratford Spectacular Hot August National presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts at the Grand Bend Motorplex, call (519) 238-7223, visit www.grandbendmotorplex.com or www.stratfordspectacular.com

 

Photo Credit: Dale Boeru - Canadian Drag Racing Photos ~ www.canadiandragracingphotos.com

Latino wins PMRA final at Extreme Mayhem Nationals at TMP's Cayuga Dragway

With his new G-Force Race Cars 1969 Camaro Pro Modified, Latino, from Whitby, Ontario,  held off Vito Montesano in the final round to take the win with a 6.758-second, 232.95 mph run against Montesano’s 6.630-second, 157.76 mph. 

With his new Camaro, Latino eliminated Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ontario and Mark Nielsen of Brantford, Ontario before going up against Montesano in the final. Montesano shut down Gary Irving of Toronto, Ontario in the Al Hinds Corvette, and the Camaro of John Russo of Middletown, Massachusetts, who recorded top speed of the meet with a 245.81-mph pass.

Latino said after the race that it took the crew some time to adjust to the new car, but once they found the combination, the car responded well.