Danny Rowe takes semifinal finish at zMax
(4-19-2012) LAGUNA HILLS, CA – As Danny Rowe and the Sterling Bridge Pro Modified team headed to zMax Dragwy, their intentions were quite clear: to make a run at the nitrous oxide-injected cars, which are quickly establishing dominance in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
With crew chief, Jimmy Rector, and crew working around the clock following the season-opener in Gainesville, Florida, Rowe arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina for the second stop on the Pro Mod series tour with high expectations. It only took one round of qualifying for Rowe and his supercharged, methanol-burning ’67 Camaro to show that they weren’t going down without a fight – posting a 5.887 at 248.61mph to take the provisional number one qualifying position. Rector turned up the wick slightly and picked up even more in the second qualifying session, using a 5.874-second quarter-mile pass to secure the No. 1 position on the elimination ladder.
Rowe met No. 16 qualifier, Stan Ray, in the opening round of eliminations and used a 5.958-second, 244.12mph pass to dispatch his opponent and advance to the quarterfinals. With Ike Maier in the opposite lane, Rowe dropped the clutch on his Camaro and laid down an impressive 5.919/245.85mph effort to move onto the semifinals and face nitrous frontrunner, Mike Castellana. Rowe and Castellana left the starting line within two-hundredths-of-a-second of one another, but Rowe’s 5.977-second, 243.50mph pass fell just short of Castellana’s 5.935/242.71mph effort.
“We really felt like we had the car to beat this weekend, but this is how it goes sometimes,” says Rowe. “We knew that anybody could step up and make a big run at any point; these cars are all capable of winning – it seems like every round is an absolute dogfight.
“More than anything, we’re just happy with how well the car is running,” Rowe continues. “We stayed over and tested on Monday and we’re hoping we can continue to find ways to be quicker and faster. I really have to thank the whole crew for all their help. We’re all looking forward to getting down to Houston for the Spring Nationals and picking up right where we left off. Houston Raceway Park is one place that we’ve had a lot of good fortune over the years, and I’m hoping we can continue that tradition in 2012.”
After two of 10 events, Rowe is fourth in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series championship point standings.
The NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx will return to action at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries on April 27-29.
The Danny Rowe Racing team unveiled a new website (DannyRoweRacing.com) to start the 2012 season. Loaded with photos, behind-the-scenes videos and more, the new DannyRoweRacing.com is designed to provide as much insight into the team as possible so that fans can follow the action all year. The new site also showcases Danny Rowe Racing’s family of sponsors and marketing partners, as well as the charities and foundations the team supports like Fuel The Cure for Diabetes and Don’t Worry Be Happy.
Check out the brand-new Danny Rowe Racing website at
www.dannyroweracing.com.
Visit Danny Rowe Racing Sponsors:
www.hottingergroup.com,
www.sterlingbridge.ca,
www.gainsboroughcapital.com,
www.rcdengineering.com,
www.impactracing.com,
www.hoosiertire.com,
www.redlineoil.com,
www.ngksparkplugs.com,
www.weldracing.com,
www.permatex.com,
www.promodzone.com,
www.competitionproducts.com,
www.fstopaerialmedia.com,
www.mr-horsepower.com
Visit Danny Rowe Racing supported charities and foundations:
www.dwbhshirts.com,
www.rustyunlimited.com.
Threaded Mode
