NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals PRO MOD

Pro Mod

Friday

Saturday

Sunday
Friday

Results for Qualifying Round 1
BRISTOL, Tenn. - BRISTOL - Notes from round 1 qualifying in Pro Modified at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Ninth annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time, top speed, and position in order following run:
 
     Right Lane: Andy McCoy       Runs 6.220/228.92, Now #1
4:33 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 82 degrees, relative humidity 50 percent, barometer 28.53 inches, adjusted altitude 3,861 feet, track temperature 114 degrees.
Classic early Vette gets the single to start the Pro sessions.

Straight and true pass right down the track to set the mark for the rest of the field. Nice 1.047 sixty foot time.
     Right Lane: Raymond Commisso Runs 15.809/61.89, Now #2 

Commisso gives it up and coasts on down the track.      Left Lane: Tim Tindle       Runs 6.156/234.98, Now #1
     Right Lane: Mike Knowles     Runs 6.261/234.86, Now #3
Our first side by side and a Mustang vs. Vette match up.

Nice pass and a big advantage for Tindle, as Knowles has a little smoke off the tires right off the line. He drives through it and still gets a respectable mid-twenties ET at almost the same speed as Tindle.

Tim Tindle's incremental times: 60ft-1.038 sec., 330ft-2.709, 660ft-4.048/184.70 mph, 1,000ft-5.191.
Mike Knowles' incremental times: 60ft-1.082 sec., 330ft-2.800, 660ft-4.158/184.50 mph, 1,000ft-5.301. 4:39 p.m. Looks like a little "Stuff" in the right lane after the lights.
      Left Lane: Taylor Lastor    Runs 6.330/179.90, Now #4
     Right Lane: Brad Personett   Runs 14.082/77.20, Now #5
4:43 p.m. ... and we are back.

Personett is running the hair dryer and Lastor the blower.

No joy for the Big Stuff team, as the engine goes flat at the hit and he motors on down the track.

Lastor gets a full pull and good numbers for tuning for the evening session.      Left Lane: Jay Payne        Runs 6.152/234.17, Now #2
     Right Lane: Danny Rowe       Runs 6.139/235.51, Now #1
OK, two great looking passes and a new #1 and #2 qualifiers. 

Payne may have lost a little ET near mid-track, as the Valvoline Camaro moved around in the lane.

Jay Payne's incremental times: 60ft-1.025 sec., 330ft-2.709, 660ft-4.045/184.75 mph, 1,000ft-5.190.
Danny Rowe's incremental times: 60ft-1.016 sec., 330ft-2.707, 660ft-4.045/185.72 mph, 1,000ft-5.182.      Left Lane: Joe Baker        Runs 6.252/236.38, Now #5
     Right Lane: Roger Burgess    Runs 6.311/222.44, Now #7
Another pair of Camaros comes to the line. They have similar sixty foot and three-thirty numbers and Burgess may have had to feather the throttle near the 1000 foot mark, as the car moves continuously towards the center line. 

Stright down the track for Baker and into the current
#5 spot on the ladder.      Left Lane: Burton Auxier    Runs 6.092/231.95, Now #2
     Right Lane: Mike Castellana  Runs 6.090/232.19, Now #1 


       
Friday

Order for Qualifying Round 1
BRISTOL, Tenn. - SUMMIT FastNews - Order after one round of qualifying in Pro Modified at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Ninth annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals:
 Psn  Driver               Vehicle                            ET   Speed
   1. Burton Auxier        Al-Anabi '67 Camaro             6.092  231.95 
   2. Danny Rowe           *'67 Camaro                     6.139  235.51 
   3. Jay Payne            Valvoline/BAE *'68 Camaro       6.152  234.17 
   4. Tim Tindle           *'67 Mustang                    6.156  234.98 
   5. Andy McCoy           *'53 Corvete                    6.220  228.92 
   6. Joe Baker            Mike Ashley *'68 Camaro         6.252  236.38 
   7. Mike Knowles         *'63 Corvette                   6.261  234.86 
   8. Roger Burgess        ProCare RX *'67 Camaro          6.311  222.44 
   9. Brad Personett       Big Stuff '68 Camaro           14.082   77.20 
  10. Raymond Commisso     *'67 Camaro                    15.809   61.89 
  11. Taylor Lastor        *'67 Camaro                      DQ   
  12. Mike Castellana      Al-Anabi '68 Firebird            DQ   
 
 * = Supercharged Engine
Friday

Results for Qualifying Round 2
BRISTOL, Tenn. - BRISTOL - Notes from final, round 2 qualifying in Pro Modified at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Ninth annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:
 
      Left Lane: Mike Castellana  Runs 6.050/234.90, Now #1
                                  No Prior Run 
7:00 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 75 degrees, relative humidity 56 percent, barometer 28.53 inches, adjusted altitude 3,396 feet, track temperature 101 degrees. Dark clouds are converging on the track from the West. Hopefully we can complete all of the Pro sessions tonight.
The Al-Anabi Firebird was DQ'ed for being too light after his great pass in session one.

Looks like the tune up likes the cooler weather. Nice straight pass in the Nitrous car into the new top spot.

Mike Castellana's incremental times: 60ft-1.001 sec., 330ft-2.658, 660ft-3.971/189.04 mph, 1,000ft-5.094.
      Left Lane: Raymond Commisso Runs 6.108/240.42, Now #3
                                  Best prior run: 15.809/61.89, Was #11 
Big improvement for Commisso's blown Camaro, with a great looking pass well up the ladder and into the current #3 spot. The car bobbled a little at the 2-3 shift, but he straightened it out to complete the run.
      Left Lane: Brad Personett   Runs 6.077/246.44, Now #2
                                  Best prior run: 14.082/77.20, Was #11
     Right Lane: Taylor Lastor    Runs 6.207/234.98, Now #8
                                  No Prior Run 
Personett's turbo runs the big numbers on the top end and is six MPH faster than the rest of the field.

Lastor was another car too light after the first session, but makes another clean pass to get a tune up time for tomorrow this session.
      Left Lane: Roger Burgess    Runs 9.969/88.81, Now #12
                                  Best prior run: 6.311/222.44, Was #12 
Burgess' car has a great 1.023 sixty foot time and then starts to move around a bunch, at the shifts. It gets way too sideways and he has to lift. He'll stay #12.
      Left Lane: Mike Knowles     Runs 11.028/75.68, Now #11
                                  Best prior run: 6.261/234.86, Was #11
     Right Lane: Tim Tindle       No Time, Now #7
                                  Best prior run: 6.156/234.98, Was #7 
More wild Pro Mod action, as Tindle cards the better RT and is well out in front right away.

Knowles' 63 Corvette has second best sixty foot time for the session and then over powers the track before the 330 lights. He gives it up and coasts on down the track.

Tindle was on a nice pass until the car made a hard move towards the centerline and punched the 660 timing block to DQ the pass.
      Left Lane: Andy McCoy       Runs 6.454/218.69, Now #9
                                  Best prior run: 6.220/228.92, Was #9
     Right Lane: Jay Payne        Runs 6.091/235.89, Now #3
                                  Best prior run: 6.152/234.17, Was #6 
The remains of the cone are cleaned up and the call goes out to start the next pair.

McCoy is waay late off the line and slows down track.

Payne left hard with a 1.009 sixty foot time and then snaked down the track to take over the current #3 spot.
      Left Lane: Danny Rowe       No Time, Now #6
                                  Best prior run: 6.139/235.51, Was #6 
Last car of the session and he has great numbers early with a strong 1.001 sixtyfoot time. He looked to be on a quick pass until the Camaro made a hard move and took out the same six-sixty timing block as Tindle.
No bump spot and Castallana is #1 with a 6.005 ET.
       
Friday

Order for Qualifying Round 2
BRISTOL, Tenn. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 2 rounds of qualifying in Pro Modified at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Ninth annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals:
 Psn  Driver               Vehicle                            ET   Speed
   1. Mike Castellana      Al-Anabi '68 Firebird           6.050  234.90 
   2. Brad Personett       Big Stuff '68 Camaro            6.077  246.44 
   3. Jay Payne            Valvoline/BAE *'68 Camaro       6.091  235.89 
   4. Burton Auxier        Al-Anabi '67 Camaro             6.092  231.95 
   5. Raymond Commisso     *'67 Camaro                     6.108  240.42 
   6. Danny Rowe           *'67 Camaro                     6.139  235.51 
   7. Tim Tindle           *'67 Mustang                    6.156  234.98 
   8. Taylor Lastor        *'67 Camaro                     6.207  234.98 
   9. Andy McCoy           *'53 Corvete                    6.220  228.92 
  10. Joe Baker            Mike Ashley *'68 Camaro         6.252  236.38 
  11. Mike Knowles         *'63 Corvette                   6.261  234.86 
  12. Roger Burgess        ProCare RX *'67 Camaro          6.311  222.44 
 
 * = Supercharged Engine
Saturday

Results for Qualifying Round 3
BRISTOL, Tenn. - BRISTOL - Notes from final, round 3 qualifying in Pro Modified at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Ninth annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals listing lane, driver name, elapsed time/top speed this round, position in order following run, best prior elapsed time/speed, and position in order prior to run:
 
     Right Lane: Roger Burgess    Runs 6.195/235.60, Now #8
                                  Best prior run: 6.311/222.44, Was #12
2:06 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 81 degrees, relative humidity 47 percent, barometer 28.49 inches, adjusted altitude 3,765 feet, track temperature 112 degrees. No bump stop this weekend.
Burgess gets a full pull this time and moves well up the ladder into the new #8 position
      Left Lane: Joe Baker        Runs 14.603/73.63, Now #11
                                  Best prior run: 6.252/236.38, Was #11
     Right Lane: Mike Knowles     Runs 6.625/166.39, Now #12
                                  Best prior run: 6.261/234.86, Was #12 
Baker strikes the tires after the sixty foot lights.

Knowles had stronger numbers this pass, but had to work hard to keep the Corvette off the center line at mid-track. He clicked it early.
      Left Lane: Taylor Lastor    Runs 6.120/234.98, Now #7
                                  Best prior run: 6.207/234.98, Was #9
     Right Lane: Danny Rowe       Runs 6.108/237.17, Now #6
                                  Best prior run: 6.139/235.51, Was #6 
Very nice!

The two Camaro's leave together and run side by side to the finish line.

Two spots up the ladder for Lastor, but Rowe stays #6 with an improved ET and MPH.

Taylor Lastor's incremental times: 60ft-1.011 sec., 330ft-2.685, 660ft-4.021/185.54 mph, 1,000ft-5.161.
Danny Rowe's incremental times: 60ft-1.011 sec., 330ft-2.693, 660ft-4.023/186.79 mph, 1,000ft-5.156.
      Left Lane: Tim Tindle       Runs 6.078/245.36, Now #3
                                  Best prior run: 6.156/234.98, Was #8
     Right Lane: Raymond Commisso Runs 6.161/238.72, Now #6
                                  Best prior run: 6.108/240.42, Was #5 
A little spin off the line for Commisso costs him.

Tindle gets all he can for the track conditions and jumps up to the new #3 position on a clean pass.

Tim Tindle's incremental times: 60ft-1.028 sec., 330ft-2.670, 660ft-3.992/188.57 mph, 1,000ft-5.123.
      Left Lane: Burton Auxier    Runs 9.199/96.86, Now #5
                                  Best prior run: 6.092/231.95, Was #5
     Right Lane: Brad Personett   Runs 6.295/236.96, Now #2
                                  Best prior run: 6.077/246.44, Was #2 
Auxier gets away well with a 1.012 sixty foot time and then the car gets waaay sideways before the 330, moving hard towards the center line. He wisely lifts and coasts on down.

Personett's Turbo car is lazy off the line and can't improve on his #2 position.
      Left Lane: Jay Payne        Runs 6.135/236.05, Now #4
                                  Best prior run: 6.091/235.89, Was #4
     Right Lane: Mike Castellana  Runs 6.087/233.16, Now #1
                                  Best prior run: 6.050/234.90, Was #1 
Wow!

A little moving around going down the track, but two great looking passes for the conditions to end the session.

Jay Payne's incremental times: 60ft-1.023 sec., 330ft-2.707, 660ft-4.040/185.77 mph, 1,000ft-5.178.
Mike Castellana's incremental times: 60ft-1.002 sec., 330ft-2.676, 660ft-3.997/188.23 mph, 1,000ft-5.125.
2:20 p.m.
       
Saturday

Order for Qualifying Round 3
BRISTOL, Tenn. - SUMMIT FastNews - Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Pro Modified at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Ninth annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals:
 Psn  Driver               Vehicle                            ET   Speed
   1. Mike Castellana      Al-Anabi '68 Firebird           6.050  234.90 
   2. Brad Personett       Big Stuff '68 Camaro            6.077  246.44 
   3. Tim Tindle           *'67 Mustang                    6.078  245.36 
   4. Jay Payne            Valvoline/BAE *'68 Camaro       6.091  236.05 
   5. Burton Auxier        Al-Anabi '67 Camaro             6.092  231.95 
   6. Raymond Commisso     *'67 Camaro                     6.108  240.42 
   7. Danny Rowe           *'67 Camaro                     6.108  237.17 
   8. Taylor Lastor        *'67 Camaro                     6.120  234.98 
   9. Roger Burgess        ProCare RX *'67 Camaro          6.195  235.60 
  10. Andy McCoy           *'53 Corvete                    6.220  228.92 
  11. Joe Baker            Mike Ashley *'68 Camaro         6.252  236.38 
  12. Mike Knowles         *'63 Corvette                   6.261  234.86 
 
 * = Supercharged Engine
Saturday

Results for Elimination Round 1
BRISTOL, Tenn. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Modified at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Ninth annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals:
 W/L  Driver                                     R-Time    E-Time  Speed
 
 (W) Raymond Commisso (*'67 Camaro)              0.075      6.101 239.61
 (L) Danny Rowe (*'67 Camaro)                    -0.126(R)  9.609  92.09
4:59 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 80 degrees, relative humidity 50 percent, barometer 28.40 inches, adjusted altitude 3,848 feet, track temperature 117 degrees.
Tough conditions for TF and FC.
It's all over with a whimper, as Rowe goes red by -0.126
Nice clean pass by Commisso, as he runs close to his weekend best in the easy win.
 (W) Burton Auxier (Al-Anabi '67 Camaro)         0.036      6.070 235.39
 (L) Taylor Lastor (*'67 Camaro)                 -9.999(R) NT-Broke Before Staging
Nitrous vs. Blower.
Lastor makes the burn out and then is pushed away before going up to stage.
Auxier runs his career best in the free pass to round two.
 (W) Roger Burgess (ProCare RX *'67 Camaro)      0.080      6.139 237.71
 (L) Jay Payne (Valvoline/BAE *'68 Camaro)       0.145      6.109 236.55
Hole shot win for Burgess, running his best pass of the weekend.
Payne was second off the line and then had to chase the front end of the car going down the track.
 (W) Tim Tindle (*'67 Mustang)                   0.063      6.069 238.76
 (L) Andy McCoy (*'53 Corvete)                   0.244     11.367  66.91
McCoy is waaay late with a 0.244 RT and then has engine problems to boot. He slows and coasts on down the track.
Tindle joins the best run of the weekend club with a clean pass and an easy win.
5:06 p.m. The track folks are doing some dusting and cleaning on the starting line in McCoy's lane.
Tindle will have lane choice over Burgess in round 4.
 (W) Brad Personett (Big Stuff '68 Camaro)       0.076      6.640 204.01
 (L) Joe Baker (Mike Ashley *'68 Camaro)         0.076     10.624  81.64
5:09 p.m. ...that didn't take long.
Lots of "not so straight" in both lanes. Baker first and most. Personett is next, but not a violent.
He'll give up lane choice to Auxier tomorrow in round two.
 (W) Mike Castellana (Al-Anabi '68 Firebird)     0.026      6.078 234.41
 (L) Mike Knowles (*'63 Corvette)                0.004      8.355 109.87
Knowles gets a nice RT advantage and then has the car go wacky before the 330 lights. He pumps and then has to shut it down.
Castellana is dead even at sixty feet and never looks back to take the easy win. Nice looking pass to keep lane choice over Commisso next round.
5:15 p.m.
 * = Supercharged Engine

       
Sunday

Results for Elimination Round 2
BRISTOL, Tenn. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 2 eliminations in Pro Modified at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Ninth annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals:
 W/L  Driver                                     R-Time    E-Time  Speed
 
 (W) Raymond Commisso (*'67 Camaro)              0.047      5.952 242.45
 (L) Mike Castellana (Al-Anabi '68 Firebird)     0.029      5.998 235.64
3:33 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 66 degrees, relative humidity 42 percent, barometer 28.56 inches, adjusted altitude 2,498 feet, track temperature 91 degrees.
Both cars ET's were within 0.050 in round one.
Number six qualifier, Commisso, shows his driving skills in stealing the win with big power. Castellana was off the line first, but could keep the pace.
Raymond Commisso's MOV: 0.0281 seconds (approximately 10 feet).
Raymond Commisso's incremental margins (negative if behind): 60ft(-0.031), 330 ft(-0.017), 660ft(-0.005), 1,000ft(0.007). MOV: 0.0281 seconds (approximately 10 feet).
Mike Castellana's incremental times: 60ft-0.987 sec., 330ft-2.633, 660ft-3.935/190.92 mph, 1,000ft-5.047.
Raymond Commisso's incremental times: 60ft-1.000 sec., 330ft-2.632, 660ft-3.922/192.55 mph, 1,000ft-5.022.
 (W) Burton Auxier (Al-Anabi '67 Camaro)         0.056      6.020 236.34
 (L) Brad Personett (Big Stuff '68 Camaro)       0.075      6.138 236.71
Auxier is never headed as he improves on his round one times.
Personett can't match the pace.
 (W) Roger Burgess (ProCare RX *'67 Camaro)      0.068      5.968 242.76
 (L) Tim Tindle (*'67 Mustang)                   0.073      7.434 130.18
They leave almost together and then Tingle has to pump it near mid-track to gather his wandering Mustang back into the center of his lane. He clicks it off shortly after that.
Burgess was off the line first and uses the big power to take the win and lane choice over Auxier in round three.
 * = Supercharged Engine

       
Sunday

Results for Elimination Round 3
BRISTOL, Tenn. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of round 3 eliminations in Pro Modified at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Ninth annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals:
 W/L  Driver                                     R-Time    E-Time  Speed
 
 (W) Burton Auxier (Al-Anabi '67 Camaro)         0.034      6.008 235.68
 (L) Roger Burgess (ProCare RX *'67 Camaro)      0.021      6.098 241.45
4:50 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 66 degrees, relative humidity 42 percent, barometer 28.54 inches, adjusted altitude 2,560 feet, track temperature 92 degrees.
The winner of this race will meet Commisso in the final round.
Burgess is away first, only to watch Auxier drive on my before sixty feet. The car starts to snake around on the track and he has to pump it to straighten it out. He still makes a low six second pass at over two hundred and forty one MPH.
Straight and clean for Auxier with almost a thirty foot lead at the finish line. He gets at #6 qualifier in the finals.
 (W) Raymond Commisso (*'67 Camaro)              0.053     11.077  75.64
     was unopposed
Bye run for Commisso. He takes the green and drives on down.
 * = Supercharged Engine

       
Sunday

Results for Final Round
BRISTOL, Tenn. - SUMMIT FastNews - Results of final, round 4 eliminations in Pro Modified at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, Ninth annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals:
 W/L  Driver                                     R-Time    E-Time  Speed
 
 (W) Burton Auxier (Al-Anabi '67 Camaro)         0.049      6.028 234.09
 (L) Raymond Commisso (*'67 Camaro)              -0.229(R)  5.955 241.24
5:42 p.m. Weather conditions: air temperature 63 degrees, relative humidity 44 percent, barometer 28.53 inches, adjusted altitude 2,322 feet, track temperature 83 degrees.
Nitrous vs. Blower in the final round with the #5 and #6 qualifiers. Auxier was in the finals last week in St. Louis.
Two clean passes, but it's all over at the starting line.
Auxier is the 2009 Thunder Valley Pro Modified Champion after a huge red light by a quicker and faster Commisso.
 * = Supercharged Engine

       