Joe Baker won his second JEGS ProMod Challenge race of the season Sunday at Houston Raceway Park to maintain a firm grip on the JEGS championship points lead after two of 10 races on the 2008 schedule.

Driving the ProCare Rx Corvette borrowed from fellow racer Roger Burgess, Baker repeated his unlikely Florida victory with a much more dominant performance in Texas. He had the quickest elapsed time of all three elimination rounds run on Sunday, including a pair of 5.9s in the quarterfinals and semifinals, and dismissed Tony Pontieri in the finals with a 6.022 at 239.19 mph to Pontieri's 6.048 at 237.42 mph.

Joe Baker won his second JEGS ProMod Challenge race of the season Sunday at Houston Raceway Park to maintain a firm grip on the JEGS championship points lead after two of 10 races on the 2008 schedule.

Driving the ProCare Rx Corvette borrowed from fellow racer Roger Burgess, Baker repeated his unlikely Florida victory with a much more dominant performance in Texas. He had the quickest elapsed time of all three elimination rounds run on Sunday, including a pair of 5.9s in the quarterfinals and semifinals, and dismissed Tony Pontieri in the finals with a 6.022 at 239.19 mph to Pontieri's 6.048 at 237.42 mph.

In Florida, Baker was a last-minute replacement and needed some luck to get his Willys racecar to the winner's circle.

"It's been an incredible couple of weeks," Baker said. "Roger's team is first-rate and they made it very easy for me today. They definitely have their stuff together over there.

"The pressure is on for us now. We'll be back in my Willys for the next race and after a start like this we better be prepared. Gainesville was tough for us because we had no time to test so we'll make sure and get same runs on the car before we get to Atlanta.

"My thanks to Roger, Mike Ashley, and all of their crew for this weekend. We certainly won this as a group."

Baker is now a full 80 points clear of Pontieri in the JEGS points with Pontieri assuming second place with his runner-up finish. Raymond Commisso is third, 13 behind Pontieri.

The next JEGS ProMod Challenge event will take place April 24-27 at Atlanta Dragway with the 28th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals.


JEGS ProMod Challenge points

1.    Joe Baker     226
2.    Tony Pontieri    146
3.    Raymond Commisso    133
4.    Jay Payne    126
5.    Josh Hernandez    115
6.    John Russo    107
7.    Kirk Kuhns    107
8.    Eddie Ware    102
9.    Mike Ashley    89
10.    Danny Rowe    88



ROUND ONE -- John Russo, Pontiac Firebird, 6.081, 237.96 def. Kirk Kuhns, Willys, 6.141, 233.12; Jay Payne, Chevy Camaro, 7.801, 122.89 def. Rick Stivers, Shelby GT, 15.674, 50.25; Joe Baker, Chevy Corvette, 6.000, 241.11 def. Tim Tindle, GT, 6.139, 234.00; Tony Pontieri, Chevy Bel Air, 14.017, 60.53 def. Scott Ray, Corvette, foul; Danny Rowe, Camaro, 6.065, 238.76 def. Shelly Payne, Dodge Stratus, 8.840, 128.82; Mike Ashley, Camaro, 6.045, 240.34 def. Steve Engel, Corvette, 8.955, 119.16; Eddie Ware, Firebird, 6.423, 235.35 def. Raymond Commisso, Firebird, foul; Joshua Hernandez, Camaro, 5.998, 242.15 def. Harold Laird, Corvette, 6.088, 234.74;

QUARTERFINALS -- Ware, 6.109, 233.03 def. J. Payne, 10.635, 76.36; Pontieri, 6.060, 236.46 def. Ashley, 6.069, 238.05; Baker, 5.993, 239.61 def. Rowe, 6.016, 239.27; Russo, 6.084, 236.46 def. Hernandez, 6.149, 192.38;

SEMIFINALS -- Pontieri, 6.094, 237.46 def. Ware, 6.878, 229.59; Baker, 5.994, 240.77 def. Russo, foul;

FINAL -- Baker, 6.022, 239.19 def. Pontieri, 6.048, 237.42.