(Jeff Burk photo)
 (courtesy Danny Rowe Racing) |
Pontieri's second runner-up finish of the year helped him move into first place in the JEGS ProMod Challenge standings. He is now 26 points ahead of Joe Baker, whom he defeated in Round 2 (shown above). Eddie Ware is one back of Baker, while Hernandez jumped from 11th to fifth place on the day and now trails Pontieri by 81 markers.
During the Friday night qualifying session Danny Rowe’s Hottinger Group ’67 Camaro got loose towards the top end of the race track, got up on two wheels and impacted the left-hand guard wall. While Rowe was able to get out of the car under his own power and luckily suffered no injuries from the accident, it was a very wild, high-speed accident that left the team’s Camaro beyond repair.
“I’m very thankful that these cars are so safe and the track and NHRA Safety Safari are so good at what they do,” said Rowe after the accident. “I’m a little tender, but I’m fine. I think everyone was a little shook up after seeing the whole deal unfold from the starting line and for obvious reasons; we just have to stay focused and push forward.”
Semifinalist Danny Rowe got the New York Motorsports Top Speed Award of the event with a 242.52-mph clocking in a car borrowed from Mike Ashley. He'll pocket $500 for the achievement. (Jeff Burk photo)
The hours following would make “pushing forward” the understatement of the year as the Pro Mod driver and his crew united in an effort to get back on the track for Saturday’s final qualifying attempt. After being loaned a car from NHRA Nitro Funny Car pilot and Pro Mod pioneer Mike Ashley on Friday night and working tirelessly to install their drive train in Ashley’s hot rod, Rowe was able to make the call for the 3rd and final round of Pro Mod qualifying.
“I really can’t say enough about the whole Pro Mod community,” said Rowe. “We had calls from everywhere, checking to make sure that I was okay and see what they could do to help. From outlaw guy to IHRA guys, West Coast guys, East Coast guys and other racers here at the track, it was unbelievable to see how unified this group of racers really is. We ended up borrowing a car from Mike Ashley and the guys thrashed to get it put together for today. There aren’t words to describe this kind of generosity and friendship.”