The cloudy skies and cool temperatures on Sunday did nothing but heat up the action in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn. For the first time in Thunder Valley Dragway history, two Pro Mod cars ran side-by-side five-second runs, and Dixie, West Va.-resident Burton Auxier scored his first Pro Mod Challenge victory while overtaking the points lead.
 
After blasting to the No. 5 qualifying spot with a 6.092/231.95, Auxier got an easy run in round one against a broken Taylor Lastor, and then drove around turbo-powered Brad Personett 6.020/236.34 to 6.138/236.71 to advance to the semifinals. He then used his quickest lap of the event to edge St. Louis winner, Roger Burgess, 6.008/235.68 to 6.098/241.45, finding his way to the finals for the second time this season and hoping for his first win.
 
Auxier faced R2B2 Racing's Raymond Commisso, another driver searching for his first Challenge win, and as the two staged their cars, Auxier lit both lights quickly but held onto the brakes, while nerves got the best of Commisso who left before the green light, handing Auxier the win and the title.

Cool Temps on Sunday lead to Hot times in Bristol; Auxier wins his first

The cloudy skies and cool temperatures on Sunday did nothing but heat up the action in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn. For the first time in Thunder Valley Dragway history, two Pro Mod cars ran side-by-side five-second runs, and Dixie, West Va.-resident Burton Auxier scored his first Pro Mod Challenge victory while overtaking the points lead.
 
After blasting to the No. 5 qualifying spot with a 6.092/231.95, Auxier got an easy run in round one against a broken Taylor Lastor, and then drove around turbo-powered Brad Personett 6.020/236.34 to 6.138/236.71 to advance to the semifinals. He then used his quickest lap of the event to edge St. Louis winner, Roger Burgess, 6.008/235.68 to 6.098/241.45, finding his way to the finals for the second time this season and hoping for his first win.
 
Auxier faced R2B2 Racing's Raymond Commisso, another driver searching for his first Challenge win, and as the two staged their cars, Auxier lit both lights quickly but held onto the brakes, while nerves got the best of Commisso who left before the green light, handing Auxier the win and the title.
 
"I just rolled in a bit too deep and staged really quickly, which isn't something I ever do, but I knew I had to have a great light if I was going to have any chance against Raymond," Auxier said.
 
"This win has been a long time coming, and it feels really good now that it's here," he said.
 
"I remember when we had the old Corvette and used to come out here and just barely qualify, knowing we were going to be out after first elimination.  Now that we're with Al-Anabi, and the new car it's been picking up a little bit.  It feels really good," he said
 
As Auxier's wife asked him the order of events at the Winner’s Circle ceremonies, an excited Auxier said, "I don't know honey, this is my first time here.  This is a whole new ball game!"
 
Commisso's road to the finals included a win over Danny Rowe Saturday night and then one of the best matchups of the weekend, seeding Commisso against top qualifier Mike Castellana. Commisso sent Castellana packing early, blasting off a 5.952/242.45 to a nitrous-assisted 5.998/235.64 - the first side-by-side five-second Pro Mod matchup Bristol Dragway history. With the win, Commisso advanced all the way to the finals, drawing a bye in the semi's due to the short field.
 
Extremely disappointed by his red light start in the finals, Commisso said, "All these guys out here are great racers, very competitive.  I got a bit anxious and just jumped the gun.  Al [Billes, crew chief] and the team did a great job giving me the fastest car on the track and this one just falls on my shoulders." Commisso said.
 
The weekend was highlighted by the contribution of more than $5,700 to the Southern Appalachian Ronald McDonald House in memory of fallen Pro Mod driver Steve Engel, who won this Bristol event last year.
 
Next up for the Get Screened America Pro Mod challenge is the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals, May 29-31 at Heartland Park Topeka, in Topeka, Kansas.
 
Points Standings (After 4 of 10 events)
1 Burton Auxier 330
2 Mike Castellana 299
3 Roger Burgess 284
4 Joe Baker  217
4 Danny Rowe  217
6 Rick Stivers 200
7 Brad Personett 196
8 Jay Payne  177
9 Raymond Commisso 174
10 Taylor Lastor 167
11 Tim Tindle  156
12 Harold Laird 155
13 Mike Knowles 147
14 Kenny Lang  140
15 Andy McCoy  63
16 Rickie Smith 52
17 Billy Gibson 42
18 Chip King  35
19 Kirk Wilmes  31
20 Tommy Gray  10
20 George Landis 10  

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