The R2B2 Racing team of Roger Burgess, Raymond Commisso and Melanie Troxel could leave Las Vegas this weekend with more than $60,000 in prize money, and each of the team members and crew is ready to do their part to make all of that happen. At the top, Burgess is only 32 points behind current leader Burton Auxier, and has a remarkable chance of passing him to take the World Championship title and the $25,000 grand prize.  Burgess and Commisso both have a chance to win the $25,000 prize in the Matco Tools Pro Mod Clash, and all three drivers could take home the event winner's purse of $10,000 in this weekend's Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals.
 
With everything on the line, one man feels more pressure than any other - crew chief Al Billes. Formerly a driver and now a key architect of R2B2's success this season, Billes is no stranger to pressure. In fact, he recently shared honors with his friend Kenny Lang who became the IHRA World Champion, all with Billes calling the shots on the car, sometimes by phone, more than 2,000 miles away.  To add another Championship and a Clash win to his year's successes would be icing on the cake for the Canadian national.

The R2B2 Racing team of Roger Burgess, Raymond Commisso and Melanie Troxel could leave Las Vegas this weekend with more than $60,000 in prize money, and each of the team members and crew is ready to do their part to make all of that happen. At the top, Burgess is only 32 points behind current leader Burton Auxier, and has a remarkable chance of passing him to take the World Championship title and the $25,000 grand prize.  Burgess and Commisso both have a chance to win the $25,000 prize in the Matco Tools Pro Mod Clash, and all three drivers could take home the event winner's purse of $10,000 in this weekend's Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals.
 
With everything on the line, one man feels more pressure than any other - crew chief Al Billes. Formerly a driver and now a key architect of R2B2's success this season, Billes is no stranger to pressure. In fact, he recently shared honors with his friend Kenny Lang who became the IHRA World Champion, all with Billes calling the shots on the car, sometimes by phone, more than 2,000 miles away.  To add another Championship and a Clash win to his year's successes would be icing on the cake for the Canadian national.
 
"It's not like we're going to do anything differently this weekend," Billes said. "We always go up to the line with each of the cars with the intent of running the very best we can. Every lap is a lap to win, although with everything that's on the line, it'd be easy to get off focus."
 
Burgess added, "Al is really one of the most important keys to our success this year. He has performed so well all season with everything we've thrown at him, and I'm confident he'll do everything he has done all year and get us into winning form, quickly."
 
Commisso, who could face Burgess in the finals of the Clash should both win their respective ladders, said that there would be only a little change in the team's approach.
 
"We always focus on running the best we can, but with the extra incentive, we have to change our game a little, going for the win, and not just testing the track and preparing our setup for race day. It's really a strategic weekend for us, and there's a lot on the table.
 
"It's going to be intense," Commisso added.
 
Troxel, a veteran of other drag racing classes but is in just her first season behind the wheel of a Pro Mod, said she doesn't worry about the pressure.
 
"I know that everyone on the team will do their best, and I have to focus on my job of driving.  Each of us takes our jobs seriously, and the pressure isn't really an issue.  I'd just like to see us win big and sweep the event. Now that would be fun," she said.

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