Stawicki captures PMRA event at TMP

Strong field of Pro Modifieds battle in heads-up racing

By Tim Miller

September 3, 2005, CAYUGA, ON - Mike Stawicki powered his way to a resounding victory in the fifth Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA) event at Toronto Motorsports Park at Cayuga, Ontario, over the Labor Day weekend.

The Medina, New York driver was the dominate force in the race in his G-Force Race Cars 1967 Camaro.

"This was a good win," said Stawicki after the final. "The track got better as the night went on, and the car was nice and straight."
 
The strong field of PMRA Pro Modifieds were one of the highlights of the weekend's KC Auto Parts Family Day Celebration at the Kohler Road track.

Stawicki was matched up against present PMRA series points leader Joe Lilienthal of Kenmore, New York in his 1968 Jeep for the final. Both drivers left the line with .142-second reaction times, but Stawicki pulled ahead mid-track winning with a 6.229-second, 227.08 run against Lilienthal's 6.749, 203.16-mph pass.

Stawicki, who qualified number one taking the Darren Mayer Performance Engineering (DMPE) Low Qualifier Bonus in the 12-car field with a 6.205-second, 225.88-mph effort, took out Luciano Querin of Toronto in the Quality Plus Racing Camaro in the semi-final with a 6.24-second, 221.58 mph pass over Querin's 6.85-second, 210.54-mph run. The other semi was a wild race as both Lilienthal and reigning IHRA Pro Modified World Champ Mike Janis of Lancaster, New York, left the line together, but as Lilienthal got a little out of shape about half-way, Janis backed off, giving Lilienthal the win, with a 7.748-second, 179.88-mph run against the champ's losing 8.684-second, 119.58-mph pass.

In quarter-final action, Stawicki took out Brantford, ON's Mark Nielson, Querin advanced after beating Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Janis eliminated number two qualifier Larry Sinke of Welland, Ontario, and Lilienthal beat Ralph Andreacchi of Maple, Ontario.

Winning the Bear's Performance Products Consistent Qualifier Bonus was Bruce Boland in the B&B Racing 1953 Chevrolet Corvette.
 
The TMP race was the final scheduled event in the 2005 season, but the PMRA is hoping to hold the rain-postponed Lancaster, New York race in October, and a decision will be made within the next few days.