With the threat of rain increasing as the afternoon wore on, the only rumble heard in Bristol, Tenn. was coming from Thunder Valley.  A lucky dozen braved the weather and the economic storms to race in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx Friday at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.  Despite an abbreviated field there was no shortage of action.
 
R2B2 owner and Pro Mod series driver Roger Burgess said, "It's a small field, but it's a competitive field.  Everybody has got a shot at winning this weekend."  After the 4:30 qualifying rounds that certainly seemed to be the case. 

Pro Mods rumble for the numbers in day one at Bristol

With the threat of rain increasing as the afternoon wore on, the only rumble heard in Bristol, Tenn. was coming from Thunder Valley.  A lucky dozen braved the weather and the economic storms to race in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx Friday at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.  Despite an abbreviated field there was no shortage of action.
 
R2B2 owner and Pro Mod series driver Roger Burgess said, "It's a small field, but it's a competitive field.  Everybody has got a shot at winning this weekend."  After the 4:30 qualifying rounds that certainly seemed to be the case. 
 
In round one action, top-qualifier Mike Castellana was disqualified after his Al-Anabi nitrous-injected '68 Camaro weighed in light. Castellana's spot on the leader-board was taken by his teammate, Burton Auxier, who clocked in just .002 thousandths of a second slower at 6.092/231.95.  The balance of the field struggled in the muggy air, their super-chargers gasping for a breath.
 
The evening session saw the temperature drop and the performances improve. Castellana came in with a solid run and landed back on top with a 6.050/234.90. R2B2 Racing's Raymond Commisso jumped from last place to the provisional No. 5 with a 6.108/240.42 after spending some time readjusting in the pit after first session.
 
Brad Personett once again delivered monster MPH in his turbo-powered '68 Camaro and landed No. 2 with a 6.077/246.44, and 2006 Bristol event winner Jay Payne landed third for the super-charged entries with a 6.091/231.95.
 
Danny Rowe and Tim Tindle, were both DQ'd in round two after crossing the center line and "bowling for cones."
 
"I was just checking to see if they were glued down," Tindle explained with a laugh when asked about his ride. "Seriously, though, it shook really hard, and I pedaled it once to try and get it back, but it was just too close to the line and I lifted.
 
"There's always another round to run, and I wasn't about to push it too hard," Tindle said. 

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