From the start of the day with a cruel April Fool's joke and learning why pits are called pits, to the final addition to the AMS Five Second Club and a final round under the full moon, the AMS Staff Leasing Pro Modified Challenge presented by Tindle Enterprises, Inc. proved once again to be a stellar performance of top talent in the Pro Modified world.
 
Conroe, Texas resident, Josh Hernandez, made it two in a row for 2007 and a three-peat in Houston as he won the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park and the coveted AMS eagle, defeating Scott Cannon, Jr. in a peddle-fest final round under the lights, 6.208/225.26 to 6.227/233.72.

 

From the start of the day with a cruel April Fool's joke and learning why pits are called pits, to the final addition to the AMS Five Second Club and a final round under the full moon, the AMS Staff Leasing Pro Modified Challenge presented by Tindle Enterprises, Inc. proved once again to be a stellar performance of top talent in the Pro Modified world.
 
Conroe, Texas resident, Josh Hernandez, made it two in a row for 2007 and a three-peat in Houston as he won the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park and the coveted AMS eagle, defeating Scott Cannon, Jr. in a peddle-fest final round under the lights, 6.208/225.26 to 6.227/233.72.
 
"All I can say is that I love racing at this track - regardless of the mud and rain," Hernandez said.
 
The mud came from the torrential rains that pounded the area all day Saturday, turning the Pro Mod pits into swamps and forcing teams to work on sheets of plywood, plastic tarps and any patch of dry asphalt or pavement they could find.
 
The rustic conditions failed to hinder the competition and performance, however. Scott Cannon, Jr. became the final member of the AMS Five Second club when he ran a 5.998 238.85 in his first round defeat of Tony Pontieri.
 
Cannon said, "It's ironic, really. My dad [Pro Mod racer Scotty Cannon] was the last driver to join the Six Second club, and I'm the last member of the Five Second club. Pretty cool."
 
The day began for the racers with the promise off running a second qualifying run before NHRA Pre Race ceremonies, but the hopes were dashed in what seemed like a bad practical joke after spending almost 40 minutes in the lanes waiting for the Safety Safari to dry the track. As the tractors were pulling around for a final round of prep, the skies once again opened up, forcing series administration to set the field based on the only qualifying run.
 
"We tried everything we could to give the teams another shot down the track, but we really wanted to finish the race here in Houston instead of carrying any rounds over to the next event," series director Matthew Brammer said. "As it was, we were the very last cars to run down the track today, and if we had needed another lap, there wouldn't have been enough time to safely make a pass."
 
Raymond Commisso earned low qualifying honors and a $1,000 check from Ohio Crankshaft for his 5.985 elapsed time in the only round of qualifying.
 
The AMS Pro Modified Challenge presented by Tindle Enterprises, Inc. moves next to Atlanta, Ga. and the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, April 26-29.
 
 
 
SUMMARY of ELIMINATIONS
Round 1:
 
Scott Ray, (0.031) 14.234 69.67 def. Steve Engel, (-0.103 foul) 6.099 237.92
 
Bryan Seward, (0.105) 6.193 231.12 def. Chip King, (0.100) 6.908 158.17
 
Jay Payne, (0.046) 6.060 237.92 def. Matt Hagan, (0.068) 10.408 85.41
 
Troy Critchley, (0.072) 6.122 239.14 def. Brandon Pesz, (0.058) 6.149 238.09
 
Josh Hernandez, (0.033) 6.009 241.67 def. John Russo, (-0.132 foul) 6.197 238.43
 
Scott Cannon Jr., (0.053) 5.998 238.85 def. Tony Pontieri, (0.055) 6.107 239.14
 
Raymond Commisso, (0.109) 6.016 230.84 def. Danny Rowe, (0.061) 6.129 230.76
 
Tim Tindle, (0.042) 6.020 238.68 def. Eddie Ware, (0.045) 6.158 230.96
 
 
Round 2:
 
B Seward (0.075) 6.209 229.90 def. T Tindle, (-0.002 foul) 6.127 235.76
 
R Commisso, (0.165) 7.781 118.92 def. S Ray, NT-Broke Before Staging
 
J Hernandez,(0.009) 6.076 239.82 def. J Payne, NT-Broke Before Staging
 
S Cannon Jr., (0.091) 6.018 237.84 def. T Critchley, (0.024) 11.961 70.80
 
 
Round 3:
 
J Hernandez, (0.028) 6.022 240.51 def. B Seward, (0.095) 6.207 229.94
 
S Cannon Jr., (0.082) 6.044 236.01 def. R Commisso, (0.146) 6.018 244.43
 
 
Round 4:
 
J Hernandez, (0.061) 6.208 225.26 def. S Cannon Jr., (0.058) 6.227 233.72
 
BAE Championship Cup Points:
1. Josh Hernandez     1168
2. Troy Critchley     778
3. Raymond Commisso     677
4. Bryan Seward     458
5. Scott Cannon     438
6. Tony Pontieri     368
7. Steve Engel     368
8. Tim Tindle     368
9. Dan Rowe     361
10. Mike Bell     330
11. John Russo     276
12. Jay Payne     261
13. Mike Janis     238
14. Scott Ray     233
15. Chip King     160
16. Matt Hagan     156
17. Eddie Ware     152
18. Mike Stawicki     133
19. Shelly Payne     132
20. Cody Barklage     131
21. Brandon Pesz     130
22. Zach Barklage     129
23. Rick Stivers     127
24. Isaias Rojas     25
25. William Rojas     25
26. Angel Garcia     25