Because of the many branches and variations of Pro Modified’s inceptions, it’s difficult to pinpoint the first purpose-built chassis for the class. However, when it comes to the third largest island in the United States, finding the inaugural home-built Pro Mod isn’t as difficult.
Puerto Rican sport compact chassis builders, PMS Race Cars, has broken from their traditional roots to build their native Hector Estrada a brand new 1963 Corvette to race in the ADRL’s Pro Nitrous division. The car made its debut last weekend at the ADRL Hardee’s Georgia Drags in Valdosta, Ga.
“There’s a lot of racing down here, mainly sport compact,” said Erik Maldonado, half-owner of PMS Race Cars along with Georgei “Chucky” Gonzales.
Because of the many branches and variations of Pro Modified’s inceptions, it’s difficult to pinpoint the first purpose-built chassis for the class. However,
when it comes to the third largest island in the United States, finding the inaugural home-built Pro Mod isn’t as difficult.
Puerto Rican sport compact chassis builders, PMS Race Cars, has broken from their traditional roots to build their native Hector Estrada a brand new 1963 Corvette to race in the ADRL’s Pro Nitrous division. The car made its debut last weekend at the ADRL Hardee’s Georgia Drags in Valdosta, Ga.
“There’s a lot of racing down here, mainly sport compact,” said Erik Maldonado, half-owner of PMS Race Cars along with Georgei “Chucky” Gonzales.
When Estrada crashed his Jerry Bickel-built race car, Maldonado and Gonzales felt the time was right to put in their bid to build a replacement car.
How does a company, which specializes in drastically different styles of race car, find a good starting point to begin on their first chassis?
“We come to the races a lot and paid close attention,” said Maldonado. “We just built a car based on what we learned in that time.”
Just learning what the car wants has been the largest challenge.
“We built the car with a stiff chassis since it has the big engine in it,” added Maldonado. “It had to be light at the same time.”
Estrada runs one of the electronic-fuel injected, 903-inch engines from Pat Musi.
The car failed to qualify in Valdosta when rain shortened qualifying to just three sessions. However, no one is discouraged based on testing results leading into the event.
Estrada has tested the new car with .970 and .980 sixty-foot times in Bradenton.
“I knew these guys had the potential to build a good car,” said Estrada. “They used to tune my [Jerry] Bickel car back in Puerto Rico. When I wrecked my car, we got together and decided we could build a car in Puerto Rico. I really don’t see any difference with this car and the others built in the United States.”
And for Estrada, he’s looking for whatever edge he can get when he’s back on the island. Drag racing is very popular in Puerto Rico.
On an average night where the Pro Modified cars are running, the tracks can pack in at least 10,000 spectators.
“You will see the biggest name chassis builders and engines from the United States at those events,” Maldonado said. “It has slowed down a little with the economy but it will rebound.”
Estrada understand he, along with Maldonado and Gonzales, have etched their names into Puerto Rican drag racing history.
“This is an honor … getting to represent the good people of Puerto Rico,” said Estrada. “It’s an honor to work with people like Eric and Chuckie because not only have they built a good car, they are also my friends. It’s an honor to go head-to-head with the best in a car built in Puerto Rico.”
