PMRA, Quick 32, and PBSS finish season at Grand Bend, Ontario

Season Finale for Three Series

Words by Bruce Mehlenbacher
Photos by Brad Turk

Race winners and 2013 season champions were declared during the Thunder by the Beach Weekend at the Grand Bend Motorplex for the Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series.

This Labour Day weekend event was the final for all three drag race series, and along with new event winners, the championship in each series was announced.

Rocky Di Lecce

After a stellar year with five victories in the PMRA, Rocky Di Lecce of Mississauga, Ontario, has been named champion, his first in the Pro Modified series. The Top Sportsman team of Rob Gray and Bill Wilson of Ingersoll, Ont., won their first Quick 32 Sportsman Series title, and Pro Bike rider Dan Cryderman of Thamesville, Ont., won his first championship in PBSS racing.

The Grand Bend race was the seventh and final points race for the PMRA, now in its ninth year. The race marked the sixth and final race for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, presented by NAPA Auto Parts, as well as the sixth and final race of the season for the PBSS, presented by Wiseco Performance Products.

Winning his first PMRA race was Paolo Giust (near lane) of Osgoode, Ont. Qualifying third with his 1963 Corvette Pro Modified, Giust caught a good light in the final round and eliminated Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ont., in his 1968 Firebird with a 6.330-second, 213.57-mph pass.