Words by Matthew Brammer
Photos by Ron Lewis and Chris Haverly

It was an historic race as for the first time in Thunder Valley Dragway history two Pro Mod cars ran side-by-side five-second runs and Burton Auxier scored his first Pro Mod Challenge victory while taking the points lead.

Only 12 Pro Mods competed at the Get Screened America Pro Mod Challenge presented by ProCare Rx during the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn. R2B2 owner and Pro Mod series driver Roger Burgess said on Friday, "It's a small field, but it's a competitive field. Everybody has got ashot at winning this weekend."

In Friday qualifying action, top-qualifier Mike Castellana was disqualified after his Al-Anabi nitrous-injected '68 Camaro weighed in light. Castellana's spot on the leader board was taken by his teammate, Burton Auxier, who clocked in just two thousandths of a second slower at 6.092/231.95. The balance of the field struggled in the muggy air, their superchargers gasping for a breath.

Danny Rowe and Tim Tindle, were both DQ'd in round two after crossing the center line and "bowling for cones."

"I was just checking to see if they were glued down," Tindle explained with a laugh when asked about his ride. "Seriously, though, it shook really hard, and I pedaled it once to try and get it back, but it was just too close to the line and I lifted.

"There's always another round to run, and I wasn't about to push it too hard," Tindle said.