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Future of Pro Mod racing series
in serious doubt
Pro Mod photo by Zak Hawthorne
11/01/05
Editor's Note: DRO received the following
press release from the AMS Pro Mod Challenge series this morning.
As it states, Dave Wood, the owner of the company, has decided
to withdraw his support of the series after Torco Race Fuel’s
owner and DRO Man of the Year Evan Knoll decided to withdraw
his offer of backing the series along with Mr. Wood. NHRA
has been very clear in recent years that they wouldn’t
fund a Pro Mod Exhibition series themselves under any circumstances.
Based upon that information it would appear that the future
of a series of Pro Mod races at NHRA National Events is very
much in doubt, unless a company or individual decides to fund
the series.
Pro Mod Challenge Canceled
for 2006
DALLAS (Nov. 7, 2005) — After an investment
of millions of dollars and thousands of hours, AMS Staff Leasing
President Dave Wood announced Monday that his company will
no longer be a sponsor for the Pro Mod Challenge that has
competed at NHRA national events for the past five seasons.
“AMS Staff Leasing has gladly invested in the Pro Mod
Challenge over the past several years, but always with the
hope of finding other sponsors who would join us in the effort,”
said Wood, whose company took over as the Pro Mod Challenge’s
title-rights sponsor before the 2002 season and also backed
various entries driven most recently by Troy Critchley. “At
this point, I feel that our company can no longer justify
the expense, time, and effort that would be needed to maintain
the series at the high level to which it is accustomed.
“This is one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever
had to make. I have made many good friends and have many wonderful
memories from racing with the NHRA. It is my sincere hope
that another sponsor will step up in the near future to build
on the work we did to make the Pro Mod Challenge a success.
I would also like to personally thank all of the drivers,
teams, fans, and sponsors who have supported our series for
the last four years: I wish them all nothing but the best.”
Wood’s announcement comes just days after Torco Race
Fuels owner Evan Knoll, through PR representative Bobby Bennett,
withdrew his offer of future sponsorship for the Pro Mod Challenge,
leaving AMS Staff Leasing without a financial partner and
effectively canceling the 2006 season.
“This is a day I hoped would never come, both personally
and professionally,” said Kenny Nowling, the Pro Mod
Challenge series administrator since 2002. “Like Dave
Wood, I have poured countless hours into making the NHRA Pro
Mod class the best that it could be, and I have treated the
Pro Mod Challenge like my fourth child. The success we’ve
enjoyed, along with the many wonderful relationships I’ve
established over those years, will always be memories I cherish.
“I think all Pro Mod drivers, teams, sponsors, and
fans owe Dave Wood an enormous amount of gratitude: his investment,
in both time and money, has been second-to-none. At the same
time, as someone who is in business for himself, I can understand
both Dave and Evan needing to make decisions that they feel
are best for their companies and their futures.”
Wood and Dallas-based AMS Staff Leasing began sponsoring
the Pro Mod Challenge in 2002, following NHRA’s limited
one-year, five-event experiment with the class in 2001. Beginning
with the 2002 season, the Pro Mod Challenge competed in at
least 10 NHRA national events per year and steadily raised
its profile through purse increases, rules changes, exciting
championship battles, and some of the best side-by-side drag
racing found in any class. The recently concluded 2005 season
featured Mike Ashley winning his second consecutive AMS/TLR
Cup world championship and Jay Payne posting the quickest
and fastest Pro Mod runs ever recorded (6.000 at 239.23 mph).
“I had hoped that by working with [presenting sponsor]
Tommy Lipar in 2005 and Torco Race Fuels in 2006 and beyond,
we would ensure the continued development of the class,”
Wood said. “However, much like I hope Pro Mod fans respect
my decision, I respect the fact that Evan Knoll has a business
to run. As a businessman, he had to make the decision that
he felt was best.” 
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