Tony Pontieri said he plans to campaign in the National Hot Rod Association in 2010. And he delivered an impressive calling card Sunday from Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
 
The Canadian veteran from Bolton, Ontario, won the Lend America Pro Mod Blown class and picked up $20,000 with a solo pass of 5.914 seconds at 246.26 mph. Final-round opponent Kevin McCurdy's beautiful purple and silver entry broke and was pushed to the side before staging.
 
McCurdy, of Hamburg, Pa., received $2,000 as runner-up.  

Tony Pontieri said he plans to campaign in the National Hot Rod Association in 2010. And he delivered an impressive calling card Sunday from Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
 
The Canadian veteran from Bolton, Ontario, won the Lend America Pro Mod Blown class and picked up $20,000 with a solo pass of 5.914 seconds at 246.26 mph. Final-round opponent Kevin McCurdy's beautiful purple and silver entry broke and was pushed to the side before staging.
 
McCurdy, of Hamburg, Pa., received $2,000 as runner-up.
 
Pontieri, who led the 16-car field with a 5.906-second, 245.14-mph showing, said of his Quality Plus '69 Camaro, "This car was like a bracket car all weekend. It was in the 5.90s all weekend."
 
He'll have a warm feeling during those long, frigid Ontario nights, he said.
 
"All year we've been struggling with this car, and what a way to go through the winter. So the team's got something to work on," Pontieri, a first-time Shakedown winner, said. "Next year we're going to run NHRA, and hopefully we can play with those boys. I don't think we have a problem with that."
 
Pontieri reached the final round, despite a mental lapse on his part. He didn't do a burnout, because, he said, he forgot to put the car in gear. It didn’t matter, as his semifinal opponent, Larry Plummer, red-lit and was disqualified.
 
Just the same, Pontieri ripped off an elapsed time of 5.895 seconds in that freebie to earn the class' low E.T. of the race.

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