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Canada Drag: Rocky Di Lecce leads the charge at Canadian Nitro Nationals

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Khatir Soltani
From Pro Modified Racing Association

The latest rounds in the Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series were held over the weekend as part of the Canadian Nitro Nationals at TMP's Cayuga Dragway.

Winning his record-setting fourth consecutive PMRA race in a row was Rocky Di Lecce. Melanie Simmons Salemi drove her Top Dragster to victory in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and Ted Glinny picked up his second win of the year in the PBSS.

Driving his 1968 Camaro, Di Lecce, of Mississauga, Ontario, who qualified number 1 in the PMRA event, once again dominated the race, running through the ladder and taking out number two qualifier Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ontario in the final round. Di Lecce has been victorious in all PMRA events for 2013.

Semi-finalists in PMRA action included Paulo Giust of Osgoode, Ontario, and three-time PMRA champion Bruce Boland of Stoney Creek, Ontario.

Qualifying number four on the Top Dragster side of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series presented by NAPA Auto Parts, Melanie Simmons Salemi of Orillia, Ontario won her second series race with her ERD-powered Top Dragster.

She eliminated the Top Sportsman Dodge Stratus entry of two-time Quick 32 Sportsman Series champion Kevin Wicke of Stratford, Ontario in the event final which pits the top finalist from each side to declare an event winner.

Simmons Salemi eliminated number three qualifier Michael Kalin of Niagara Falls, New York in the Top Dragster final, while Wicke, who qualified number two in Top Sportsman, took out Dan Flanigan of Buffalo, New York to meet up with Simmons Salemi in the final. Running on a 6.64-second dial-in, Simmons Salemi posted a 6.665-second, 199.91-mph pass over the 6.880, 202.06 run of Wicke, who was dialed-in with a 6.82.

Pro Bike rider and defending PBSS champion Ted Glinny picked up his second PBSS win of the season at the Canadian Nitro Nationals, defeating Dan Cryderman in the final round. Glinny, of Milton, Ontario rode to an 8.578, 144.67 winning pass over Pro Bike rider Cryderman, of Thamesville, Ontario, with an 8.033, 155.73. Glinny rides a Kawasaki and Cryderman a Suzuki.

Semi-finalists in this round of the PBSS, which is presented by Wiseco Performance Products, were former PBSS champion Pro Biker Randy Hope of London, Ontario, and the Pro Sled entry of Bill Anderson of Seaforth, Ontario.

Also held at Cayuga over the weekend were the final rounds in the postponed South Coast Community Weekend event. Winning the PMRA final was Di Lecce, over Rob Atchison of London, Ontario. The Ingersoll, Ontario-based Top Sportsman entry of Wilson and Gray with Rob Gray at the wheel won the Quick 32 Sportsman Series final over the Top Dragster of Lance Orr, of Shawville, Quebec, and Pro Bike rider Dave Vandereyken of Acton, Ontario powered his Suzuki to his first PBSS win over Cryderman in the final.

Leading in Championship Point Award Series in the PMRA is Di Lecce, with Jack Grainy of Basom, New York second, followed by Hawker, Boland, and Atchison. Top five in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series are Wicke, Spencer Hyde of Stratford, Ontario, Wilson and Gray, Simmons Salemi, and Jeff Moser of Bamberg, Ontario. And the top five in the PBSS are Cryderman, Glinny, Vandereyken, Marty Kuiack of Milton, Ontario, and John Orfanidis of Toronto, Ontario.

Next round for the PMRA is July 19-21 as the Pro Modifieds will take part in the 14th Annual MOPAR Nitro Jam Nationals presented by Parts Canada at the Grand Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, Ontario.


Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada