MATUSEK BOUNCES BACK FROM WICKED CRASH TO TAKE ON THE PRO MOD WORLD AT DENVER
Steve Matusek prides himself on being relaxed and calm no matter the situation.
He proved that even a crash just over a month ago and a rush job to get the car repaired couldn’t make him flinch, and the Pro Mod veteran hopes a similar reaction will be apparent during this weekend’s high-stakes Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod race at Bandimere Speedway.
With $100,000 on the line in the pressure-filled Pro Mod race it will be difficult, but don’t expect Matusek to change an approach that has worked so well for so long.
“I’m a calm and methodical guy,” Matusek said. “Different people will take a different approach this weekend. Some people may take the approach of trying to go out there and hit a grand slam. Ours is to nitpick, fine tune things, be methodical and smart. We try to race smart as opposed to trying to race aggressively and high-risk. I’m looking forward to this. It’s going to be a great event.”
Even getting to the race with everything locked in was a feat in itself, even though Matusek had no problem staying calm.
Matusek was involved in a nasty crash in the first round of eliminations at the NHRA Pro Mod race in Norwalk in late June, suffering severe tire shake at the starting line. After going near the center stripe, Matusek’s Camaro darted back across the lane and struck the wall nearly head on, with the back of the car swinging around and also hitting the wall.
With an invitation already accepted for Saturday’s main event in Denver, Matusek had to get the car fixed quickly – not that he had any doubt.
“I hate to say it, but it was very relaxing,” Matusek said. “These guys are professionals and the guys at (Tim McAmis Race Cars) said they would get it done. But, for me, that’s why I got involved with (teammate) Danny (Rowe) and his team. My day job (at Aeromotive) is to run a business. When they said they would get it done, I had complete confidence they could get it done.”
That proved to be the case and Matusek’s confidence was backed up the moment the Camaro came off the trailer. He made two impressive test passes, including a strong one immediately out of the gate.
Nobody is sharing times, as the scoreboard is turned off during the weekend – one of the unique aspects of the WSOPM – but Matusek did confirm he was more than happy with the test session.
“The first pass down, it was the best we’ve ever ran in Denver,” said Matusek, who competed in a match race with Rowe at last year’s Night of Fire at Bandimere.
“We didn’t miss a beat. I think the crew was a bit nervous because they had to put the car together. I was probably the calmest guy in the pit because we’ve got the best team out there. I got in the car and it just went right down the racetrack.”
Though conditions will be different on Saturday when the first round of eliminations begins at 6:30 p.m., Matusek stayed sharp running in Super Gas and Super Comp at the NHRA Division 5 race last weekend, which he thought helped him return to his Pro Mod car without any apprehension.
Getting that extra work on the starting line won’t hurt either, even with Matusek battling a painful Achilles injury at the moment.
After rupturing his Achilles tendon eight years ago, Matusek has worked through a recurring infection. It has flared up this season and Matusek admits he hasn’t been at his best on the tree. He will likely have to get surgery, though a timetable hasn’t been set for that, but Matusek will try to put that out of his mind this weekend, especially with $100,000 on the line.
“I just have to go out there and try to do my job,” Matusek said. “ I feel like we’ve got the best car and the best time, but from a reaction time standpoint I’m not sure I’m at my best. Hopefully I can navigate that.
“With that unknown of what guys are running, there seems to be a little more tension here than a NHRA event. It’s been interesting. You’ll really start to see when what these cards can do when these conditions change (during the shakedown runs on Friday) and then it’s raceday.”