MUSI MAKING MOST OF FINAL PM APPEARANCE

In discussing his class-leading 3.873-seconds pass at 193.54 mph after day one of the ADRL World Finals VIII presented by CarSafe, Pro Mod championship contender Pat Musi confirmed he plans to take at least a year off from racing as he prepares for an off-season move from Carteret, NJ, to Mooresville, NC.

“This will be my last race for a while. I just think the time is right,” the 60-year-old doorslammer legend said. “I’m getting older and I want to set up my business to where hopefully my daughters can take over.”

In the meantime, Musi remains focused on trying to wrest the 2012 ADRL Pro Mod championship away from points leader Jeff Naiser, who after three rounds of qualifying were completed at the Texas Motorplex, remained not qualified for the World Finals.

With only Saturday’s lone qualifying session left, second-place points man Mike Castellana (129 points behind Naiser) slotted into second, just two-thousandths of a second behind Musi, followed by Pete Farber in a ’63 Corvette instead of his more familiar Dodge Daytona. Naiser was mired in 13th of 14 entries after managing a best of only 4.126 at 161.71 mph.

“I feel for the guy, I really do,” insisted Musi, who trails Naiser by 150 points (with 100 paid for each round win). “It’s really tough when you’re racing for an eight-car field. The bump is what, 3.94? He’s gonna’ have to come out set on kill just to get in, but he’s a good racer and I’m not counting anyone out yet. It’s going to be exciting, that’s for sure.

“We were trying for the record (Castellana; 3.845) with that pass and it might’ve got it if it had stayed straight. This thing is a real handful to drive; it’s got a lot of power,” Musi said of the number-one run in his nitrous-boosted, EFI-equipped 2010 Stratus. “But I’m in touch with Rickie (Smith) after every pass on the phone and we’ve got the car repeating now and that’s what’s important.

“We would really like to win this championship. What a great way that would be to finish up here.”

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