PRICE OF PRO MOD RACING GOING UP!

The Agent was talking to a couple of Pro Mod car builders recently and the subject of the cost of a new Pro Mod, specifically a new ADRL-dedicated supercharged or nitrous car, came up. The price tag for one of these cars turn-key less engine almost made the Agent spill his cocktail. According to one team owner the cost at one prominent builder has risen to an astounding $180,000! And that doesn’t include the drivetrain.

And guess what? There are no fewer than four of those cars on order as we speak. Several car builders we talked to say the price isn’t out of line. Add a state-of-the-art nitrous or supercharged engine, and the cost for a roller is approaching $300,000. YIKES!

And the fuel guys think they need a raise. The Pro Mod cars more often than not race for less than $20,000 to win. [5/12/2008]

BURNOUT FOR BRUTON AT CHARLOTTE?

Rumor has it that the JFR folks will be doing some kind of PR smoky burnout at Charlotte Motor Speedway prior to the opening of O.B. Smith’s new drag racing speed palace. What could go wrong? [5/12/2008]

VERGOTZ BROS. READY FOR PMRA SEASON

The Erie, Pennsylvania-based Pro Modified team of John and Brian Vergotz will be entering their first year of Pro Modified Racing Association competition in 2008.

“We’re local people and this is purely a hobby with us,” said Brian Vergotz, who wrenches on the 2000 Corvette driven by his brother John. “Sure, we enjoy racing, but we also want to have fun at it.”

Sitting on a Vanishing Point Race Cars 2000 Corvette is a 746-cubic inch nitrous-fed engine by Buck Racing Engines, fueled with a Barry Gant system and hooked up to a three-speed Lenco Drive. The team has raced since 1983, and has operated its own car for about the past ten years. The car has seen several engines between the frame rails, all larger and more powerful than the previous power plant, but the brothers feel the present setup is right for them.
The WAR (World Alcohol Racers) 2005 Pro Modified champion team plans to run all the 2008 PMRA races, including at the newly renamed Dunn Tire(formerly Lancaster) Raceway Park in Buffalo, NY. [5/12/2008]