Making one of the biggest changes to his standout Pro Mod career, Mike Castellana wasn’t sure how the adjustment from racing a nitrous car to a supercharged car would go. Through five races of the 2017 NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series season, it’s safe to say the transition has been a smooth one.

Castellana has put together a dominant start in his Al-Anabi Racing ’17 Camaro, winning two races and advancing to four final rounds. His 15-3 record during eliminations this year is even more impressive considering the depth and talent level of the class, and now Castellana will enjoy racing at his home track, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, as part of this weekend’s 48th annual NHRA Summernationals.

Working with standout crew chief and championship-winning driver Frank Manzo, the transition to a supercharged engine has gone quicker than expected.

“I was new to driving this type of car,” Castellana said, “but Frank has helped a tremendous amount. He made me feel comfortable, I got familiar driving it and he helped make everything a lot easier.”

There are 30 Pro Mods entered for the New Jersey race.  (Ron Lewis photo) [06/09/17]

The Southwest Heritage Racing Association was at San Antonio Raceway on Saturday, June 3, and there were some new faces in the winner’s circle.

Steve Dunkin was the top qualifier with a 4.66 at 152 mph in Alkydigger NE1, but a first-round loss ended his day. Andy Mears in the ’57 Chevy “Dragon Slayer” took the final win over Chris Graves in a tire spinning “Blown Inheritance”

In NE2, Jeff Cameron’s ’48 Austin was the top qualifier with a 5.012 at 128 mph and went on to win the class over Bruce Dodson. Cameron took a slight edge at the start and went on to a 5.02/135 to Dodgson’s close 5.04/135. It was the first SHRA win for the Be An Angel racer. (Wes Ramsey photo)

Gary Mitchell in the “Makin’ Majic” altered was at the top of the NE3 qualifying list with a 5.5001/125, but exited in round one. Last year’s class champion, Josh Moseley, got the final-round win after Jacob Reeves went red.

Vic Corlett driving a ’67 Dodge Dart led the Nostalgia Super Stock competitors, but lost in the semifinal. Garry Durham in his ’65 Plymouth Satellite got the final win over a red-lighting Ronnie Smith.

Next on the SHRA schedule is the Nostalgia Drags for all six SHRA classes at Little River Dragway on June 24. [06/09/17]

Abruzzi will return to IHRA competition in his orange 1968 Camaro with a 706-ci nitrous aided engine.  (Richard Muir photo)

After 10 years away, Marco Abruzzi plans to return to IHRA racing at this weekend’s Summit Sportsman National Championship event at US 131 Dragway.

Abruzzi is a two-time IHRA Top Sportsman World Champion (2003 and 2006), ADRL Top Sportsman Champion (2012) and NHRA Top Dragster Champion (2015).

The owner of Abruzzi Racing Transmissions plans to go after the IHRA Top Sportsman championship, but will also compete in select NHRA events as well as some bracket races.

He added racing in Top Dragster in 2005 and will also be at the wheel of his 2015 Miller Race Cars Pro-Charged dragster.  [06/09/17]