Payne defeated Christiansburg, VA, rookie Matt Hagan (shown) with a 6.095 to a game 6.182. Kerunsky defeated fellow Canadian Rick DiStefano, tuned by former driver Al Billes, with a steady 6.144 timing. Both men continued their march to the winners' circle in the semi-finals. Payne took out AMS Staff Leasing-backed Troy Critchley and Kerunsky eased by Shelly Payne setting up a final round match-up between the late model Dodge of Jay Payne and the ’57 Chevy shoebox of Kerunsky.
In the final it was all Payne and Anderson power as Payne left first and drove to the stripe using a 6.155/231.95 to beat Kerunsky’s 6.161/229.59 to the line by just five feet. The win gave Payne back to back wins at the Gators and put him solidly in the lead for the Championship.
Next stop for the AMS Pro Mods is Houston on March 31-April 2.
PHOTO EXTRA
Rick DeStefano qualified No. 1 with a 6.050/233.88 run, also getting Low ET. (Ron Lewis photo)
Shelly Anderson Payne was eliminated by Glen Kerunsky in the semi-finals, but could celebrate when husband Jay got the event win. (Steve Gruenwald photo)
