Pro Stocks returning to Rockingham Dragway
Contributed photo Pro Stocks, a
series that hasn’t raced at Rockingham Dragway since 2014, returns next
week for the third annual PDRA Spring Nationals.
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Two-time former IHRA Pro Stock champions John Montecalvo of Center Moriches, New York and Doug Kirk of Canton, Illinois, the former driving a fuel-injected Chevrolet Camaro and the latter a Ford Mustang, are among the early entrants in the category appropriately designated Extreme Pro Stock.
Among others expected to compete are veteran John Pluchino of Commack, New York, in a Ford and Dwayne Rice of Grove City, Ohio in another Chevrolet.
“Extreme Pro Stock is going to be a great part of our show at the Spring Nationals,” predicted PDRA Race Director Bob Harris of Pittsboro. “We know our fans missed them and we’re excited to have Pro Stock back (in the program).”
Extreme Pro Stock cars cover the standard eighth-mile distance in close to four seconds using massive V-8 engines displacing in excess of 800 cubic inches. The last time the Extreme Pro Stock cars raced at The Rock in 2014, Montecalvo was the No. 1 qualifier at 4.027 seconds. He also raised the track speed record at the eighth-mile distance to 180.81 mph, a mark likely to fall in the very first qualifying session this year.
The Extreme Pro Stocks provide an interesting contrast to the Pro Modifieds with which they share center stage. Divided into three distinct categories – Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous and Pro Boost, the Pro Mods rely on superchargers, nitrous oxide or turbochargers to add power that produces times and speeds once thought impossible in such a short distance.
Houston’s Frankie Taylor set the Rockingham record two years ago when he stopped the eighth mile timers in 3.485 seconds. Last year, Jose Gonzales of Ball Ground, Georgia, set the track speed record at a booming 227.84 mph.
In addition to the three Pro Modified classes and Extreme Pro Stock, the PDRA series also features Pro Extreme Motorcycles, Top Sportsman and Top Dragster classes, two Jr. Dragster categories, jet cars and wheelstander.