Despite some weirdo stuff happening to Steve Matusek this year behind the wheel of the Agave Underground Tequila Pro Mod Camaro, including chute problems, window issues, and oh yeah the fact that he’d never raced a blower car until this year, he and teammate Danny Rowe are excited to get into the lanes in Bristol this weekend. Despite all the weird luck, these two cars are some of the best in the NHRA Pro Mod Series right now. Of course Matusek, co-founder and head honcho over at Aeromotive Fuel Systems, has been a personal friend and longtime BangShift supporter since before it was called BangShift. We will arguably be as happy to see him win his first NHRA Pro Mod National Event as he Steve.
Danny Rowe, a bad ass in his own right, has a positive attitude rolling into Bristol, just like Matusek. If the team were struggling to be quick and fast, keeping a positive attitude when strange things happen would be a lot harder. But because they are kicking ass on the ET and MPH front, the smiles just keep coming.
We wish them both luck this weekend in Bristol.
For more information, including some cool quotes from both drivers, read their team report below.
Rowe & Matusek Poised to Make Noise in Thunder Valley
(6-12-2014) BRISTOL, Tennessee – Coming off their first collective rough weekend at the drag strip in 2014 – a pair of first round exits at the recently completed NHRA Summernationals – Danny Rowe and Steve Matusek, drivers of the menacing flat-black Agave Underground Tequila Pro Mod Camaros, are bound and determined to make something happen at Bristol Dragway.
Perennial frontrunners early in 2014, the Pro Mod tag-team heads into the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals fourth and seventh in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series points standings, respectively, and know that going rounds this Sunday will make a run at the championship much more realistic come October.
“First and foremost, Thunder Valley is one of my absolute favorite places to race,” says Rowe, checking in from the pits of the scenic, picturesque Bristol Dragway. “We look forward to our trip here every season. It’s a running joke on our team that I enjoy taking a look around at the stands and scenery when I pull out onto the race track, but it’s hard not to when you’re racing at a place as pretty as this.
“Scenery aside, though, we’re here to do some damage,” continues Rowe, who qualified number-one and lasted until the semifinal round during the 2013 running of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. “We ran well down here last year, and I know this is another one of the tracks that Jimmy [Rector, crew chief] really has a handle on, so I’m pretty excited to get out there and get after it. We’ve got some ground to make up in the points and with every race in this NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series being so important, we want to start closing the gap on Rickie [Smith, points leader] right now.”
Matusek, who has endured more than his fair share of new-car-blues in 2014, remains upbeat as to the potential of his debut campaign behind the wheel of a supercharged Pro Mod.
“We’ve had a couple close calls with the ‘chutes not opening, a window blow out and who knows what all else,” starts Matusek, the co-founder and President of high-performance fuel system manufacturer Aeromotive, “but I’ve got to say that throughout it all there has been one common thread, and that’s that we have a seriously fast race car.
“Jimmy and this team have been phenomenal, and it’s hard to put into words what it’s like to come out here and not hope – actually know – that you’ve got as good a shot at winning the deal as anyone,” he continues. “NHRA Pro Mod has established itself as the ultimate proving ground for fast doorslammer racing and being able to run at the front, be competitive and consistently have a shot at winning amongst this level of competition is beyond rewarding.”
In 2013, while driving his twin-turbocharged Ford Mustang, Matusek was able to qualify in the No. 10 spot with a 6.090/245.58mph, demonstrating that even though it will be his first time at Bristol Dragway in a blower car, it’s not a place that he’s not had some success.
“We’ve always enjoyed racing in Bristol. Last year we won Best Appearing Car at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, but this year were more focused on winning the race,” says Matusek with a laugh. “It’s time to close the deal and put one of these Agave Underground hot rods in the winner’s circle.”
Qualifying for the 14th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee starts at 4:30 PM on June 13th with a second session scheduled for 6:45 PM. Qualifying continues with a final session at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 14th, and the opening round of eliminations at 4:30 PM. Final eliminations begin at 1:15 PM EST on Sunday, June 15th.
To learn more about Agave Underground Tequila products, sweepstakes and hosted events, visit www.agaveunderground.com, Facebook.com/AgaveUnderground or Follow @AgaveUground on Twitter.
To keep up with the latest news and results from Danny Rowe Racing, log onto www.dannyroweracing.com
