John Montecalvo is back on track after the long winter break. He’s left the wind and cold of New York for some southern heat and sunshine to test before the Mountain Motor season starts next weekend. Montecalvo began testing Thursday at South Georgia Motorsports Park and has already laid down some good numbers. He has run consistently in the 6.30 range, with each pass progressively faster than the last. His best lap thus far in testing eclipsed the standing world record MPH, 223.95, when he laid down a 6.281 at 223.99. Montecalvo has spent the first part of his time in Georgia testing in IHRA legal form. He will also test the car in ADRL trim to get a good eighth mile tune up, since he plans to run with both sanctioning bodies.

 “This is the first time I’ve been in the car since the IHRA World Finals [Oct. 2008]. It feels good to be back. The car has been working great and we’ve laid down some good numbers so far. We’ve got more testing to do this year since we want to have a good quarter and eighth mile tune up to run both ADRL and IHRA. I’m looking forward to competing with both organizations. John Montecalvo is back on track after the long winter break. He’s left the wind and cold of New York for some southern heat and sunshine to test before the Mountain Motor season starts next weekend. Montecalvo began testing Thursday at South Georgia Motorsports Park and has already laid down some good numbers. He has run consistently in the 6.30 range, with each pass progressively faster than the last. His best lap thus far in testing eclipsed the standing world record MPH, 223.95, when he laid down a 6.281 at 223.99. Montecalvo has spent the first part of his time in Georgia testing in IHRA legal form. He will also test the car in ADRL trim to get a good eighth mile tune up, since he plans to run with both sanctioning bodies.

 “This is the first time I’ve been in the car since the IHRA World Finals [Oct. 2008]. It feels good to be back. The car has been working great and we’ve laid down some good numbers so far. We’ve got more testing to do this year since we want to have a good quarter and eighth mile tune up to run both ADRL and IHRA. I’m looking forward to competing with both organizations.

“The crew has been doing a great job, as always. Sonny [Leonard, Sonny’s Racing Engines] has given me a great motor to work with and I think we’re seeing some horsepower advancements here this weekend. Pat [Norcia, with Ram Clutches] and Doug [Schriefer, Braswell Carburetors] deserve a lot of thanks for all the hard work they put into this team, too. I’m very optimistic for our season. We’re going to get a good set up here in testing and go after it hard next weekend to start the season off right.”

Montecalvo has two choices of where to start his season- either the Mardi Gras IHRA Nationals in Baton Rouge, La. or the Safety-Kleen ADRL Dragpalooza V in Houston, Tx. The New York-based racer is undecided as to where to make his season debut, but plans to attend the non-conflicting events of both sanctioning bodies for the entirety of the season. “I haven’t made my decision just yet,” admits Montecalvo, “but, regardless of where I start off the season, I have the same goal in mind- to win. That’s what we’re going after.”