NHRA GSA PRO MOD RACER COMMISSO ENCOURAGED BY RECORD RUN DESPITE FIRST ROUND LOSS
Mon, 2009-03-30 08:00
Drag racing is a sport of extreme highs and lows, and R2B2 Racing Pro
Mod driver Raymond Commisso experienced both this weekend in the Get
Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx at the
'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park.
After a frustrating day Friday of rain delays that netted no qualifying attempts, Commisso made a run Saturday morning that rocked the world. The Toronto, Canada restauranteur recorded the quickest legal Pro Mod pass ever in his Al Billes-tuned R2B2 Racing '68 Camaro Z/28 at 5.884 seconds and claimed the number one qualifying spot
After the run, Commisso said with a huge smile, "That was an amazing lap. When it hit third gear, it just threw me back into the seat and I was thinking, 'this thing is just hauling!' I knew Al [Billes, crew chief] had things ready to go, but that was just awesome."
Drag racing is a sport of extreme highs and lows, and R2B2 Racing Pro Mod driver Raymond Commisso experienced both this weekend in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx at the 'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park.
After a frustrating day Friday of rain delays that netted no qualifying attempts, Commisso made a run Saturday morning that rocked the world. The Toronto, Canada restauranteur recorded the quickest legal Pro Mod pass ever in his Al Billes-tuned R2B2 Racing '68 Camaro Z/28 at 5.884 seconds and claimed the number one qualifying spot
After the run, Commisso said with a huge smile, "That was an amazing lap. When it hit third gear, it just threw me back into the seat and I was thinking, 'this thing is just hauling!' I knew Al [Billes, crew chief] had things ready to go, but that was just awesome."
In order for the run to be counted as a world record, Commisso needed to record another lap within one percent: a 5.942 or better. Because only one round of qualifying was scheduled, the backup would have to be in eliminations, but Commisso said he knew had to focus not on the record, but winning the round.
"I knew it would be tough, because running a lap like that is so monumental, and owning the record would have been such an accomplishment, but our goal when we come to the races is to go rounds and win.”
Commisso faced off against No 14 qualifier Taylor Lastor in what on paper should have been a lop-sided race, but excitement got the best of Commisso who left the line early and handed the win to Lastor.
"I don't know exactly what happened, other than I just really wanted to race and I got too excited at the tree," Commisso explained. "I'm beating myself up, because I knew that I had to focus on winning the race, not setting the record, but I just lost my concentration for a split second - and that was all it took.
"It's so easy to go from hero to zero in drag racing, and that's really what happened this weekend. I know nothing can take that run away from us, and that we were the first NHRA-legal car in the '80's, but it would have been nice to have the record, too.
"Now we'll take a little time, and get everything put back together and then head to St. Louis for the next event. I'm sure we'll redeem ourselves there, because this is an awesome team, and Roger Burgess has put together such a great operation. Everything is the very best, I'm living a dream, and I can't thank him enough," Commisso said.
After a frustrating day Friday of rain delays that netted no qualifying attempts, Commisso made a run Saturday morning that rocked the world. The Toronto, Canada restauranteur recorded the quickest legal Pro Mod pass ever in his Al Billes-tuned R2B2 Racing '68 Camaro Z/28 at 5.884 seconds and claimed the number one qualifying spot
After the run, Commisso said with a huge smile, "That was an amazing lap. When it hit third gear, it just threw me back into the seat and I was thinking, 'this thing is just hauling!' I knew Al [Billes, crew chief] had things ready to go, but that was just awesome."
Drag racing is a sport of extreme highs and lows, and R2B2 Racing Pro Mod driver Raymond Commisso experienced both this weekend in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx at the 'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park.
After a frustrating day Friday of rain delays that netted no qualifying attempts, Commisso made a run Saturday morning that rocked the world. The Toronto, Canada restauranteur recorded the quickest legal Pro Mod pass ever in his Al Billes-tuned R2B2 Racing '68 Camaro Z/28 at 5.884 seconds and claimed the number one qualifying spot
After the run, Commisso said with a huge smile, "That was an amazing lap. When it hit third gear, it just threw me back into the seat and I was thinking, 'this thing is just hauling!' I knew Al [Billes, crew chief] had things ready to go, but that was just awesome."
In order for the run to be counted as a world record, Commisso needed to record another lap within one percent: a 5.942 or better. Because only one round of qualifying was scheduled, the backup would have to be in eliminations, but Commisso said he knew had to focus not on the record, but winning the round.
"I knew it would be tough, because running a lap like that is so monumental, and owning the record would have been such an accomplishment, but our goal when we come to the races is to go rounds and win.”
Commisso faced off against No 14 qualifier Taylor Lastor in what on paper should have been a lop-sided race, but excitement got the best of Commisso who left the line early and handed the win to Lastor.
"I don't know exactly what happened, other than I just really wanted to race and I got too excited at the tree," Commisso explained. "I'm beating myself up, because I knew that I had to focus on winning the race, not setting the record, but I just lost my concentration for a split second - and that was all it took.
"It's so easy to go from hero to zero in drag racing, and that's really what happened this weekend. I know nothing can take that run away from us, and that we were the first NHRA-legal car in the '80's, but it would have been nice to have the record, too.
"Now we'll take a little time, and get everything put back together and then head to St. Louis for the next event. I'm sure we'll redeem ourselves there, because this is an awesome team, and Roger Burgess has put together such a great operation. Everything is the very best, I'm living a dream, and I can't thank him enough," Commisso said.
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