MATUSEK EARNS FIRST PRO MOD VICTORY AT NHRA SPRINGNATIONALS

 


Steve Matusek raced to his first NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series event win Sunday at the SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing was presented by Real Pro Mod Association and is the second of 12 races on the season.

Matusek cruised his Aeromotive ’68 Camaro to a 8.985-second pass at 124.96 mph after his opponent, Shane Molinari left the starting line before the Christmas Tree was activated.

“For me, it’s about family,” Matusek said. “The racing’s great, but it’s all about family. Danny Row, [his wife] Val, my wife Lori, our team, Jimmy Rector. For us, it’s family, and this is for the whole team. I couldn’t have done it without them and this is a special day."

Also during the day’s racing, Mike Castellana, who was the No. 1 qualifier, set the national elapsed time record with his second-round pass of 5.685 at 252.99. Castellana ultimately fell to Matusek in the semifinals.

Matusek defeated Danny Rowe in the quarterfinals before facing Castellana. Molinari took down Mike Janis and No. 2 qualifier Jonathon Gray before losing in the finals.

NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing returns April 28-30 at the eighth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte.
 

Final finish order (1-16) at the 30th annual NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway.  The second of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
 

PRO MODIFIED:

1.  Steve Matusek; 2.  Shane Molinari; 3.  Mike Castellana; 4.  Jonathan Gray; 5.  Danny Rowe; 6.  Mike Janis; 7.  Troy Coughlin; 8.  Shannon Jenkins; 9.  Chuck Little; 10.  Michael Biehle; 11.  Eric Latino; 12.  Steven Whiteley; 13.  Larry Morgan; 14.  Khalid alBalooshi; 15.  Sidnei Frigo.
 

Sunday's final results from the 30th annual NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway. The second of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
 

Pro Modified -- Steve Matusek, Chevy Camaro, 8.985, 124.96 def. Shane Molinari, Pontiac Firebird, Foul - Red Light.

 
Final round-by-round results from the 30th annual NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway.  The second of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
 

PRO MODIFIED:
 

ROUND ONE -- Bob Rahaim, Chevy Corvette, DQ vs. Sidnei Frigo, Corvette, DQ; Troy Coughlin, Corvette, 5.789, 251.77 def. Khalid alBalooshi, Chevy Camaro, 10.699, 82.60; Steve Matusek, Camaro, 5.817, 250.18 def. Steven Whiteley, Cadillac CTS-V, 6.273, 175.11; Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.825, 246.53 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 5.934, 224.06; Danny Rowe, Corvette, 5.811, 250.00 def. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.707, 161.83; Shane Molinari, Pontiac Firebird, 5.815, 254.76 def. Chuck Little, Corvette, 5.816, 247.34; Jonathan Gray, Camaro, 5.815, 223.17 def. Shannon Jenkins, Ford Mustang, 5.809, 240.68; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.722, 251.77 def. Michael Biehle, Mustang, 5.845, 254.66;

QUARTERFINALS -- Castellana, 5.685, 252.99 was unopposed; Gray, 5.801, 250.04 def. Coughlin, 10.018, 81.15; Matusek, 5.793, 251.77 def. Rowe, 5.944, 208.42; Molinari, 5.811, 255.92 def. Janis, 6.446, 167.72;

SEMIFINALS -- Molinari, 5.843, 240.38 def. Gray, 9.355, 94.35; Matusek, 5.804, 251.95 def. Castellana, 7.361, 130.30;

FINAL -- Matusek, 8.985, 124.96 def. Molinari, Foul - Red Light.
 

Point standings (top 10) following the 30th annual NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway, the second of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
 

Pro Modified
 

1.  Mike Castellana, 169; 2.  Steve Matusek, 147; 3.  Steven Whiteley, 146; 4.  Danny Rowe, 129; 5.  Troy Coughlin, 125; 6.  Shane Molinari, 106; 7.  Mike Janis, 104; 8.  Michael Biehle, 82; 9.  Eric Latino, 78; 10.  Jonathan Gray, 77.

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