R & R Racing Products is proud to announce Melanie Sal
emi is your winner at the East Coast Nationals at GALOT Raceway Park in Benson NC. Mrs. Salemi was the 6th fastest out of 16 cars on the property by running 3.74, 3.72, Red light win over Jason Harris in the semis, & 3.80 in the finals against John Strickland. She uses R & R‘s Hemi Hybird connecting rods. This rod is one of our hot selling rods for Pro Mods, so 
If anyone is interested in this type of rod or any other rods please give us a all at 941-621-8143. We’ll be glad to help you.
Almost two full months after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) 2020 season opener, the all-eighth-mile series is set to get back to racing at the East Coast Nationals presented by FuelTech this weekend, May 27-30, at GALOT Motorsports Park in Benson, N.C.
“This is a big, big deal for the PDRA and our racers, fans and sponsors,” said Tyler Crossnoe, series director, PDRA. “We’ve all been eager to kick off the season, and now thanks to the hard work by the GALOT Moto
rsports Park and PDRA teams, we’re finally able to go racing.” The professional classes racing at the East Coast Nationals include Penske Racing Shocks/Precision Racing Suspension Pro Boost presented by WS Construction, Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous, Liberty’s Gears Extreme Pro Stock, $hameless Racing Pro Outlaw 632 and Drag 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle. Classic Graphix will again present the Pro Mod Challenge for non-qualifiers in Pro Boost and Pro Nitrous. (Copyright: Drag Racing Illustrated)
Melanie Salemi and her family-based team, led by her husband, Jon, and brother-in-law Jim, arrived at GALOT Motorsports Park a few weeks before the event to start testing for the 2020 season. Their efforts paid off Sunday afternoon, as Salemi took out hometown favorite John Strickland in the Pro Boost final round.
Strickland went red on a 3.70 at 203.61 pass in his ProCharger-boosted GALOT Motorsports ’69 Camaro, while Salemi sailed to the win with a 3.804 at 187.96 in her roots-blown “Purple Reign” ’68 Firebird.
“I feel like I live here,” Salemi joked. “We tested here three weeks ago, then went to Florida, raced the radial car and came back here to race this car. I tested a customer’s car here while we were here earlier that week too, so I’ve been doing a lot of racing on this racetrack. To be able to win after all this, it feels pretty good.”
Salemi used a holeshot advantage to defeat Strickland’s GALOT Motorsports teammate, Kevin Rivenbark, in a 3.741-to-3.731 first-round match. She improved to a 3.725 at 203.65 over Jeff Rudolf in the second round, then caught a break when two-time Pro Nitrous world champion turned Pro Boost rookie Jason Harris red-lit away a 3.674 to Salemi’s 5.263 at 92.56. (Copyright: Drag Racing Illustrated)
