A NEW HORIZON As the 2018 seasons begins, Melanie Salemi and her team are in the final steps of preparing for their next challenge: the NHRA Pro Mod Series.
for a 3-speed and non-lockup. And since many of the top NHRA Pro Mod teams have rigorous R & D programs, Jon and engine builder Mike Stawicki have ramped up their efforts in the dyno room.
Jon expects the move to have profound effects on the performance of the cars he tunes across the board. His customers, spread out across numerous regional series, will have his undivided attention when he’ s at the track with them, and the same goes for“ Purple Reign”, the lone car he’ ll tune on the NHRA tour – so far.
“ Right this minute, we don’ t have any customers running in the NHRA, so we can solely concentrate on our car,” he says.“ For our customers’ endeavors with PDRA, NMCA, Northeast Outlaws or any other organizations, we can go to those events with our customers and have more of a focus on their efforts because we’ re not so wrapped up with what our personal car is going to do. It was a huge business decision for us to make this move to also better serve our customers.”
Call it a strategic business move or a way to please sponsors, but there’ s no denying this venture over to the prestigious NHRA big stage is about more than improving time slips or passing out more hero cards. No, this is also about the chance to compete for the coveted Wally, an 18-inch-tall, bronze-plated, walnut-base trophy known the world over as the most sought-after prize in drag racing. As NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Steve Johnson once said,“ It’ s as real as a glass of water but as hard to get as a million dollars.” Countless drivers and team owners have spent well over that figure to get their hands on a Wally. While the Salemis aren’ t quite prepared to go that far, they’ re more than ready to put in the hard work and late nights to put their beloved’ 68 Firebird in the winner’ s circle.
“ It’ s such an undertaking to do this, it’ s crazy,” Jon says.“ Most people, our non-racing friends, just look at us like,‘ You guys are crazy.’ The money is one thing, to be able to afford it, but the effort dwarfs the money. If you’ re determined and you want it bad enough, you’ ll work hard enough for it.”
“ This is a huge effort between Jon, Jim, and Mike Stawicki, plus all of the guys at our shop and Mike’ s shop, the kids – they sacrifice a lot too,” Melanie adds.
Salemi is also quick to point out that Stawicki made one big sacrifice at the beginning of her
Pro Mod career. Rather than continue to drive the Resolution Racing Services / G-Force Race Cars / MSR Performance house car, Stawicki chose to pass on the honors to Salemi, who had just earned her Pro Mod license in Tommy Zarella’ s supercharged C5 Corvette.“ At the end of the day,” Melanie says,“ Mike Stawicki believed in me.”
Stawicki will soon have the chance to get behind the wheel again, as there’ s a brand-new chassis awaiting a’ 17 Camaro body on the jig at G-Force. He’ s set to take delivery of the car and the hit the track with it later this season. In the meantime, the Salemi gang will be doing everything in their power to showcase their abilities and reward the sacrifices of their supporters. Their mere participation in the NHRA Pro Mod Series will go a long way towards that goal, but winning? That would go a whole lot further. Plus, one of those Wallys sure would look nice in the trophy case.
“ Mike took himself out of the seat and put Melanie in the seat to further this whole racing adventure, both at the track and business-wise,” Jon explains.“ This will be one of the final steps to make that pay off.”- NATE VAN WAGNEN DI
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