MULLIGAN & LaMANTIA TO CAMPAIGN PRO MOD

Former Top Dragster driver Joe Mulligan will team up with Jeff LaMantia to campaign a 1968 Camaro bodied supercharged Pro Mod in 2006. The New Jersey-based team will take delivery of the new car in late spring and hope to be testing by mid-summer to catch the last half of the 2006 IHRA season. Jim Salemi's G-Force Race Cars will build the car and Cynergy Composites, owned by Tim Hodgins, will produce the body. Power for the Pro Mod Camaro will be provided by two-time Pro Mod World Champion Mike Janis and Jan-Cen Racing Engines.

The team will utilize a pair of 526 TFX Hemi's to power the classically appearing '68. Mulligan says, "I've always had wild paint on all my hot rods. Jeff has convinced us to go with the classic look. We always loved the Hugger Orange with the classic SS stripes. We have added our own flair, but the public will have to wait to see the car in person to notice all the subtle details". (illustration by Hot Rods by Burke)  [1-27-2006]

'THE ROCK' READIES FOR SPRING BLAST

National record holder Robert Patrick of Fredericksburg, Va., (shown) and chassis builder-turned-racer Rick Jones of Galesburg, Ill., are the first Pro Stock entrants for the Feb. 25th Raceworks.com Spring Blast at Rockingham Dragway, the first major tune-up for the 2006 IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series.

Featuring mountain motor Pro Stock cars and Pro Modifieds, the Spring Blast offers race teams in all IHRA classes a pre-season opportunity to test on the quickest quarter mile in the series. 

“We’re expecting a full field of Pro Stocks and Pro Modifieds,” said track owner Steve Earwood, “and we’re inviting racers in every class to take advantage of the chance to test

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on a racetrack prepped to national event specifications.”

The event will begin with open testing for registered Pro Stock and Pro Modified teams on Feb. 23 and 24 followed by a “Chicago-style” race on Saturday, Feb. 25.

In addition to Pro Modified and Pro Stock, testing will be free for Outlaw 10.5, Big Dog and other heads-up competitors who agree to participate in Saturday’s program. Testing fee for sportsman cars and drivers will be $100 per day. While Pro Stock and Pro Modified are the featured categories, Saturday racing also will crown champions in Top Eliminator, Footbrake and Jr. Dragster classes with $2,000 to win in Top Eliminator and $1,000 in Footbrake. Also at stake will be points applying to berths on the ET Bracket team that will represent Rockingham Dragway at the IHRA’s Southeast Bracket Finals next November.  (Richie Downs photo) [1-27-2006]