This weekend is all about the points for drivers in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx. The swan-song event at the NHRA Virginia Nationals is the second-to-last event in the season and the last event for drivers to qualify for the $35,000 Matco Tools Pro Mod Clash, and it's the last time the tour will visit the Virginia Motorsports Park. The points battles are fierce for the World Champion title with four drivers vying for the top spot, and five competitors are battling for the last three available positions in the Matco Clash.
 

This weekend is all about the points for drivers in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx. The swan-song event at the NHRA Virginia Nationals is the second-to-last event in the season and the last event for drivers to qualify for the $35,000 Matco Tools Pro Mod Clash, and it's the last time the tour will visit the Virginia Motorsports Park. The points battles are fierce for the World Champion title with four drivers vying for the top spot, and five competitors are battling for the last three available positions in the Matco Clash.
 
Burton Auxier has fielded the most consistent car all season and has carried the first-place bragging rights since his victory in the fourth race of the season at Bristol, Tenn. in May, and is currently holding on to a 54-point margin over Roger Burgess and a 57-point lead over Danny Rowe. Mathematically, Auxier's teammate Mike Castellana along with Joe Baker also have a shot at snagging the top-spot, sitting just 103- and 117-points out with more than 230 points still on the table for the season in the two remaining races.
 
In the Matco Clash, No.'s 6-8 - Raymond Commisso, Jay Payne and Tim Tindle - sit precariously close to the qualifying edge and within striking distance at this race, the last possibility to make the top eight and qualify for their shot at the $25,000 grand prize to be won in Las Vegas at the end of October. On their heels are Brad Personett, Mike Knowles, and Rick Stivers - each of whom could jump into one of the last three spots as less than three round-wins of competition separate them from making the cut.
 
"Anything is possible," said Rick Stivers, the winner of the series' last event held at Charlotte, N.C. and currently just 59-points out of the top eight. "I don't remember ever seeing such a tight race to make the points. It just goes to show you how well-matched the top cars in this series really are. It doesn't matter if they are nitrous, blower-cars or even  turbo - they're all in the hunt.
 
"This truly is a winner-take-all weekend. I love it," Stivers said.
 
The track at Virginia Motorsports park has proven exceptionally fast in the past, producing record-times and a series-quickest bump-spot of 6.03 seconds just last year, and although the weather forecast looks stormy for Saturday of this week, Friday's forecast is cool, dry and fast.
 
Hoping to act as spoilers for the embattled leaders are a group of cars that represent the best of the rest. Scott Ray will field the Ohio Crankshaft entry once again, while Rick DiStefano, Dennis Radford, "Tricky" Rickey Smith, and Chip King all hope to crush some dreams this weekend along with 'Tombstone" Tommy Gray, Frank Patille, Sweden's Adam Flamholc, Kirk Kuhns and Melanie Troxel. In all, 21 drivers will be competing for 16 qualifying positions with the hopes of taking home their very own Pro Mod Challenge 'Warrior.'  
 
Qualifying rounds are scheduled for 1:00 and 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, and 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. Eliminations begin Friday evening with the B&J Transmissions Bonus round scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Saturday, and the balance of eliminations scheduled to run Sunday afternoon.
 
Track History:
2008 Jay Payne winner/ Scott Ray runner-up
#1 Qualifier: Josh Hernandez 5.900
Bump: 6.033 (only three cars in 6's, 13 cars in the five-second zone)
Low e.t. Hernandez
5.900 seconds
Top Speed Pontieri 243.99 mph
 
2007 Rick Stivers-winner/ Raymond Commisso runner-up
#1 Qualifier: Hernandez 5.99
Bump: 8.740 seconds
Low e.t. Hernandez 5.990
Top Speed Hernandez 241.67
 
Entry List for the NHRA Virginia Nationals Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx
 
1. Burton Auxier
2. Joe Baker
3. Roger Burgess
4. Mike Castellana
5. Raymond Commisso
6. Rick DiStefano
7. Adam Flamholc
8. Kirk Kuhns
9. Jay Payne
10. Dennis Radford
11. Scott Ray
12. Danny Rowe
13. Rickey Smith
14. Rick Stivers
15. Tim Tindle
16. Melanie Troxel
17. Tommy Gray
18. Chip King
19. Mike Knowles
20. Frank Patille
21. Brad Personett

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