CAYUGA, ONTARIO (November 12, 2013) – It just couldn’t get much better for Rocky Di Lecce in 2013.
The Pro Modified racer from Mississauga, Ontario won a record-setting five events for one season in the Pro Modified Racing Association, winning the Championship Point Award Series in fine style.
Di Lecce also captured a special Pro Mod Invitational held at Maryland International Raceway in September in an inaugural Canada-versus-USA matchup, besting some of the finest Pro Mod teams in the Eastern US.
“This year went well, I’m happy with it,” said Di Lecce, who has now completed his second full year of PMRA competition. “But I’ve still a ways to go,” he continued. “I was still on a learning cycle this year.”
For a new racer in the Pro Modified ranks, Di Lecce, a former OSCA champion, has been a quick study with solid qualifying attempts at all PMRA events in 2013, and a consistency that brought he and the rest of the Metro Infrastructure Inc. team success.
And he said this success would not have happened without the help of his team. “These guys worked so well throughout the year,” he explained. “They were so thorough, provided a solid car, and helped so much.”
Di Lecce qualified fourth for the season opener at Martin, Michigan, and took the final round over fellow PMRA racer Jay Santos of Halton Hills, Ontario. For the next three events, all held on the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park, Di Lecce qualified number one on the ladder, and also powered his Camaro to victory at each race, eliminating Jeff Roth of New Dundee, Ontario, Bruce Boland of Stoney Creek, Ontario, and Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ontario in the final rounds.
For the fifth race, the first of two held at the Grand Bend Motorplex, Di Lecce started number two on the ladder, but went rounds, meeting up and beating Boland once again in the final. For the season closer, he qualified number one but was eliminated in the first round.
In two non-points PMRA races held in 2013, Di Lecce qualified number one during the IHRA MOPAR Nitro Jam Nationals at Grand Bend, racing until the semi-final, and then went laps with some of the best from the Eastern US in September to win the first International Pro Mod Challenge held at Maryland International Raceway.
When asked about his plans for 2014, Di Lecce said the focus will be on reducing weight in the car.
“We’re good for power,” he noted. “But we’re going to lighten up the car. We’re always looking to improve.”
With Angelo Aceto as crew chief, the others in the winning team include Emilio Aceto, Kevin Cooper, Tony Presto, Michael Aceto, Robbie Cesario and Nadia Di Lecce. The team is sponsored by Metro Infrastructure Inc. and Midway Automotive. The Camaro recorded trips down the quarter-mile in the 5.9-second range at over 242 mph this year.
The Camaro is powered by a 526-cubic inch Brad Anderson (BAE) supercharged hemi coupled to a Lenco Drive in the Tim McAmis Race Cars chassis. The car features a Waterman Racing Components fuel system and Kobelco supercharger.
“I want to thank my sponsors and especially my crew,” he said. “A special thank you to Al Billes for his reliable horse power, and I want to thank Hutch’s Transmissions and Neil Chance Convertors.”
The Annual “Night of Champions” Championship Point Award Series Banquet for the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the Pro Bike & Sled Series (PBSS) will be held at the Burlington Hotel & Conference Centre in Burlington, Ontario on Saturday, November 16, 2013.
The Pro Modified Racing Association, www.PMRA.ca competes with its two companion series, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, www.Quick32.ca and the Pro Bike & Sled Series, www.PBSS.ca travel and compete together throughout the racing season, offering an exciting and diverse package of drag racing action.
For more information contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher at Bruce@PMRA.ca
Photo Credit: Holloway Saunders, Brad Turk, Brennan Shortall ~ www.DragRaceCanada.com and Tara Bowker – RPM Magazine