Newsletter by Bob Johnson 877-221-1419 May 2019
Blodgett Jr takes early points lead—Bothe wins Champion Cooling Systems Pro Gas race.
Greg Martin wins
Russ Harris
Memorial Pro Gas
Race with win over
Val Torres Sr.
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Martin wins Russ Harris Memorial Pro Gas drags at Fontana By Bob Johnson Auto Club Dragway April 27, 2019
Fresh off a win at the recent NHRA National Open in Fontana, Greg Martin added another win
to his ’19 slate when he defeated Val Torres Sr., in the final round of the Russ Harris Memorial
Pro Gas Race. Martin had a .017 better light than Torres in the final, and took the win with a
9.911, 144.83 to a losing 9.940, 153.53. In the semifinal, Torres defeated Ryan Zermeno in a
double-breakout race, while Martin got a bye. Harris Family Racing sponsored the event.
After winning Super Gas at the Fontana National Open a month
earlier, Martin beat Val Torres Sr in the Pro Gas final series opener.
Ryan Zermano went to the semifinals of Race #1, losing to
Val Sr. Ryan is 6th in the Pro Gas points going into race #3.
Greg Martin won the season-opening Russ Harris Memorial Race at Fontana.
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Bothe wins Champion Cooling Systems Pro Gas Race at Fontana
By Bob Johnson Auto Club Dragway April 28, 2019
In the 41 year history of SoCal Pro Gas, Pete Bothe is the only driver to score four series championships—the last one coming in 2008—and he won Sunday’s Champion Cooling Systems-sponsored race with the same Chevy-powered ’78 Porsche he won the cham-pionships with. In the semifinals, Mike Blodgett Jr defeated Matt Treadway. Bothe got a bye into the final but had a throttle-stop adjustment screw break
on the pass, after a short thrash, he found a replace-ment screw, paired up with Blodgett, and won the race, 9.954, 139.11 (.006 r.t.) to Blodgett’s losing 9.896, 141.09 (.065 r.t.).
Doug Sedmak had a great weekend with his ’92 Cor-vette, qualifying on top both days with a 9.900 and 9.901, and he will take a very early lead in the Pro Gas Shootout standings.
The Pro Gas season continues June 15 & 16 for the third and fourth races of the 10-race schedule. All races will be at Auto Club Dragway.
Pete Bothe ended the 2018 Pro Gas season with a win, and he started
‘19 by winning the Champion Cooling System event at Fontana.
Pete Bothe had his ‘Chevy-powered ‘78 Porsche working great, as the
4-time Pro Gas champ logged another event title.
Mike Blodgett Jr defeated Matt Treadway. Doug Sedmak—#1 qualifier both days! Bothe defeated Blodgett in the PG final.
Special Thanks to Champion Cooling Systems
And the Harris Family
For sponsoring the Champion Cooling Systems
“Super Sunday Pro Gas Drags”
www.socalprogasracing.com
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2018 SoCal Pro Gas Awards Banquet
Larry Bradshaw presented Rodney Scarlett with his “Top Ten”
jacket . Rodney finished eighth in the series final standings.
Brandon Harris had a remarkable Pro Gas season, finishing in 2nd
place in his rookie season driving the Harris Family Camaro.
Randy Kersey not only won the annual Pro Gas shootout, he
also claimed tenth place in the final standings.
Despite very wet weather at Auto Club Dragway that caused cancellation of
the races, a great crowd was on hand for the banquet to honor the racers and
sponsors.
2018 Pro Gas Top Ten—Kevin McClelland, Brandon Harris, Hollis Colleasure,
Paul Wiechmann, Matt Treadway, Mark Fenton, Mike Lang, Rodney Scarlett,
Larry Bradshaw, and Randy Kersey.
Pro Gas president Larry Bradshaw presented series champ Kevin
McClelland several awards for his 2018 accomplishments.
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2019 Pro Gas Points
Pos. Driver R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 R 5 R 6 R 7 R 8 R 9 R 10 Drop Race
1
Drop Race
2 Total
1 Mike Blodgett Jr 504 717 1221
2 Greg Martin 815 402 1217
3 Pete Bothe 311 820 1131
4 Matt Treadway 414 603 1017
5 John Ross 406 509 915
6 Ryan Zermeno 606 300 906
7 Doug Sedmak 316 518 834
8 Mike Lang 509 312 821
9 Vince Campa 410 411 821
10 Damon Bustamante 300 513 813
11 Gary Mignacca 508 305 813
12 Michael Boner 401 404 805
13 John Sapone 401 401 802
14 Kevin McClelland 405 304 709
15 Val Torres 704 0 704
16 Bob Hefley 300 401 701
17 Steve Parsons 315 308 623
18 Greg Bonds 308 314 622
19 Paul Wiechmann 314 306 620
20 PJ Giacalone 312 302 614
21 Larry Scarth 300 309 609
22 Gary Cooke 300 300 600
23 Wes Anderson 300 300 600
24 Ernie Macias 301 0 301
2019 Pro Gas Shootout Points
Pos Driver R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 R 5 R 6 R 7 R 8 R 9 Total
1 Doug Sedmak 16 16 32
2 Pete Bothe 11 15 26
3 Steve Parsons 15 8 23
4 Greg Bonds 8 14 22
5 Paul Wiechmann 14 6 20
6 Vince Campa 9 10 19
7 Mike Lang 7 12 19
8 Mike Blodgett Jr 2 13 15
9 PJ Giacalone 12 2 14
10 Matt Treadway 13 13
11 John Ross 5 7 12
12 Greg Martin 10 1 11
13 Gary Mignacca 6 5 11
14 Damon Bustamante 11 11
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Race Date Winner Runner-up #1 Qualifier Event Sponsor
1 04/27/2019 Greg Martin Val Torres Sr Doug Sedmak Harris Family Racing
2 04/28/2019 Pete Bothe Mike Blodgett Jr Doug Sedmak Champion Cooling Systems
3 06/15/2019
4 06/16/2019
5 6/29/2019
6 6/30/2019
7 08/10/2019
8 08/11/2019
9 09/14/2019
10 09/15/2019
Shootout 09/15/2019
Pro Gas Scoreboard
www.socalprogasracing.com
Southern California
Pro Gas Champions
1980 ED SIGMON
1981 RONNIE MARCUM
1982 ALAN FILLEBROWN
1983 RICK ABOOD
1984 SCOTT KENDIG
1985 SCOTT KENDIG
1986 CRAIG COVE
1987 SKIP BELK
1988 ROGER FILLEBROWN
1989 GARY MIGNACCA
1990 SKIP BELK
1991 JED BOURQUIN
1992 ED SELLNOW
1993 RICK WEBB
1994 BILL WELCH
1995 BOB HARRIS
1996 RAY CORDEIRO
1997 PETE BOTHE
1998 GARY MIGNACCA
1999 PETE BOTHE
2000 DAVE MEZIERE
2001 DAVE COAPSTICK
2002 GREG VENTURA
2003 GARY MIGNACCA
2004 MIKE BLODGETT SR.
2005 ALAN HOEFER
2006 JIM ISRAEL
2007 PETE BOTHE
2008 PETE BOTHE
2009 GLEN SMITH
2010 VAL TORRES SR.
2011-2013 Did not complete
2014 VAL TORRES JR.
2015 MIKE BLODGETT JR
2016 VINCE CAMPA
2017 JOHN ROSS
2018 KEVIN McCLELLAND
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www.KNFilters.com www.LucasOil.com
Pro Gas Sponsors
Harris Family
Racing
Les and Jeannette Harris
B & B Electric
Gary and John Ross