Canadian Nitro Nationals at Cayuga, Ontario

Di Lecce continues PMRA domination; Bankes takes NDRA win

Results by Bruce Mehlenbacher, Brad Turk and courtesy NDRA
Photos by Brad Turk, Stacee Kenington and Brennan Shortall

The Canadian Nitro Nationals were held over the July 13-14 weekend at Toronto Motorsports Park’s Cayuga Dragway.

Winning his record-setting fourth consecutive PMRA race was Rocky Di Lecce. Melanie Simmons Salemi drove her Top Dragster to victory in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and Ted Glinny picked up his second win of the year in the PBSS.

(Brennan Shortall / www.DragRaceCanada.com)

Driving his 1968 Camaro, Di Lecce, of Mississauga, Ontario, who qualified number one in the PMRA event, once again dominated the race, running through the ladder and taking out number-two qualifier Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ont., in the final round. Di Lecce has been victorious in all PMRA events for 2013.

Semi-finalists in PMRA action included Paulo Giust of Osgoode, Ont., and three-time PMRA champion Bruce Boland of Stoney Creek, Ont.

(Brad Turk photo)

Qualifying number four on the Top Dragster side of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, Melanie Simmons Salemi of Orillia, Ont., won her second series race with her ERD-powered Top Dragster. She eliminated the Top Sportsman Dodge Stratus entry of two-time Quick 32 Sportsman Series champion Kevin Wicke of Stratford, Ont., in the event final that pits the top finalist from each side to declare an event winner.

Simmons Salemi eliminated number-three qualifier Michael Kalin of Niagara Falls, NY, in the Top Dragster final, while Wicke, who qualified number two in Top Sportsman, took out Dan Flanigan of Buffalo, NY, to meet up with Simmons Salemi in the final. 

Running on a 6.64-second dial-in, Simmons Salemi posted a 6.665-second, 199.91-mph pass over the 6.880, 202.06 run of Wicke, who was dialed in with a 6.82.

In Quick 32 action Scotty Wildgust set the world on fire with a 5-second pass in his Remax-backed dragster. Scotty ripped off a shocking 5.987 at a stunning 231.48 mph to take the number-one spot on the dragster side.  (Brad Turk photo)