VINCENT NOBILE TO COMPETE IN MOUNTAIN MOTOR PRO STOCK

by Tracy Renck    Wed, 2019-04-24 19:15

 

Veteran Pro Stock driver Vincent Nobile is returning to NHRA drag racing.

The second-generation racer will be competing in the Mountain Motor Pro Stock class at this weekend’s Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, N.C.

Nobile will be driving Rocky Watford’s Jerry Haas-built Camaro with an 825-cubic inch Sonny Leonard engine.

“I have made zero laps in the car,” Nobile said. “Jerry Haas called me last Wednesday and asked me about driving the car and we had to see what was going on.  The only other time I’ve driven a Mountain Motor Pro Stock car was at a PDRA race three or four years ago, but it’s good to get back out here. Once drag racing is in your blood it is hard to get out. I can’t thank Rocky and Jerry for giving me this opportunity.”

On the afternoon of Nov. 14, 2018, Nobile was informed by his Pro Stock team owner Nick Mitsos that he was parking his team immediately. Mitsos, the boss of Mountain View Tire, sponsored Nobile’s Camaro.

Nobile drove Mitsos’ Mountain View Tire & Auto Center Pro Stock car for the past eight years. This past season he finished sixth in the points and he captured three wins. In his career, Nobile has competed in 188 NHRA Pro Stock national events and has 13 wins.

“More than the eight years I drove the Pro Stock car I’ve been around the sport since I was in diapers watching my dad (John),” Vincent said. “To not be out there racing is definitely a bummer, so when I got the call and was given this opportunity by Rocky and Jerry Hass I kind of jumped on it to come out and have a little bit of fun. Rocky owns the car and drives the car and he just had some surgery and he can’t drive the car right now. They are trying to get 16 cars at the rest of the NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock races (the next two are in Bristol, Tenn., and Epping), and that’s how this all came about.”

Vincent said this is a one-race deal and his father, John, will be part of his team as the crew chief.

“I hoping it is like riding a bike,” Vincent said about returning to driving. “I’m sure come Friday around 3 o’clock the nerves will start kicking in. As of right now, I know we have a lot of work ahead of us. On Thursday, we going to go over the car from front to back and make some changes we think have to be made and go from there. It’s good that my dad will be with me and I wouldn’t do it without my father. It has always been a family thing. Ever since the beginning if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t even know what drag racing is.”

John Nobile competed in plenty of Mountain Motor Pro Stock events in his career.

“My dad did a ton of Mountain Motor stuff, and that’s what he could afford,” Vincent said. “As everyone knows, NHRA Pro Stock isn’t an affordable class to race, and without sponsorship you can’t do it unless you’re a very wealthy person. What my father could afford was IHRA Pro Stock, and at the time he did well with it, won some races and won a championship. So, we’re looking forward to this weekend.”  

 

 

 

 
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