Two Races in One at Indy

Author's Profile · #1 08-30-2006, 09:52 PM

Two Races in One at Indy

INDIANAPOLIS – AMS Staff Leasing Pro Mod Challenge fans will get two for the price of one at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, where in addition to seeing the biggest race of the year – Indy – they'll be able to take in the last three rounds of the rained-out Memphis event, which will be run in conjunction with U.S. Nationals qualifying.

Drivers will be competing for an extra $10,000, thanks to Rick Stivers, a Pro Mod racer himself and one of the eight drivers still in contention for the Memphis title.

"I really thought, when I originally decided to put this money up back at Houston, that some others would chip in, too," Stivers said. "It didn't happen, but I want to support the class because I love it.

"Everybody gets a piece," Stivers said. "It's not like the whole 10 grand goes to the winner; we've divided it up among everybody. The low qualifier is even going to get some ($2,000)."

Instead of the usual $5,000, the winner pockets $6,250. Runner-up money is up 41 percent to $4,250, the semifinalists receive an extra $750 ($2,250), quarterfinalists receive an extra $500 ($1,500), and first-round money is also up 50 percent, to $750.

In addition to competing on the biggest stage in drag racing and running for the biggest purse of the year, drivers should face stiffer competition than they've seen anywhere all year. Joining points leader Jay Payne and second-place Joey Martin will be Ray Commisso, the upstart from Toronto who just last weekend won the biggest event of the IHRA season in Norwalk, Ohio. The No. 1 qualifier from that event, Tony Pontieri, also of Toronto, will be there, too.

Stivers, past event winners Troy Critchley and Josh Hernandez, and Payne's wife, Shelly, will be among the other 24 contenders at the Indy extravaganza. Following the Friday's first session of U.S. qualifying, Memphis eliminations pick back up on Saturday with the second and semifinal rounds, which will be run in conjunction with U.S. Nationals qualifying. The final will be Sunday, highlighting the last day of Indy qualifying.