Compiled from press releases by Kay Burk
Photos by Joe McHugh and Ron Lewis

anny Rowe made his first visit to a Pro Mod Winner's Circle since 2004 by defeating NHRA Pro Mod veteran Rick Stivers in the final round of the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx at the O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park.

Just 14 teams paid the $1,000 entry fee that is required for the teams for the first time in NHRA Pro Mod Challenge history. It also is believed to be the first time the NHRA Pro Mod exhibition series has had less than a full field of cars. 

The frustrating first day was marred by rain and all Pro Mod qualifying sessions were cancelled. The second day brought incredible atmospheric and track conditions and resulted in the large crowd witnessing the quickest run ever in Pro Mod history by the Canadian driver and tuner team of Ray Commisso and Al Billes.  The Houston Raceway Park quarter-mile surface improved throughout the entire event, setting up a final that was ultimately decided by a margin of less than 20 inches.

The R2B2 teammates, Raymond Commisso and Roger Burgess, qualified one and two but both were gone after the first round of Eliminations on Saturday.

Danny Rowe’s ’67 Camaro got off the line first and took the win over  Rick Stivers’ 2006 Stratus.  (Joe McHugh photo)

In the final round on Sunday, Danny Rowe, tuned by veteran racer and tuner Jimmy Rector (tuner of the first North American five-second Pro Mod pass) and air conditioning mogul Rick Stivers faced off for a true battle. Stivers had served up a stunning 5.911/236.55 in the first round that made him the third car that weekend that could have set a new NHRA Pro Mod ET record. Rowe had a string of passes in the 5.90 region en route to the money round.

At the stripe, Stivers had the better numbers but Rowe took the prize based on the strength of an unreal .015 reaction time that easily covered Stivers' good but not great .069 RT. The victory went to Rowe 6.016/244.43 to a quicker but losing 5.966/243.68 from Stivers.

Rowe was quick to give credit for his victory to his crew chief Jimmy Rector and his crew. "It takes a whole team to get here, and Jimmy and the entire team earned this honor this weekend. It's been since 2004 since we've won a final here, and all I can say is, it's about time. Hopefully the next one won't take nearly as long," he said.