Eric Latino – Fourth Place
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO – When long-time Sportsman racer Eric Latino stepped up into the wild world of Pro Modified racing late in 2008, his debut with the 1938 Chevy Coupe in the Pro Modified Racing Association was a big learning curve.
Latino enlisted the valuable help of Tony Pontieri and Paulo Delemonte at the first PMRA race of 2009 and the team got in the show at Cayuga. But for the next two races, Latino and the team were having some problems getting the Jerry Bickel-built race car down the track.
Then the services of G-Force Race Cars’ Jim Salemi were employed, the pieces of the puzzle started falling into place.
“For the first three races, we were still learning,” said Latino, who placed fourth in the PMRA Championship Point Award Series for 2009. “Jim came on board and we really started to get the car sorted out. We then went from eighth in points to fourth. Jim is calm and cool at the track, and his knowledge is endless,” Latino continued. “He worked along well with everyone and brought out the best in them.”
Powered by a Veney 526-cubic inch Hemi Supercharged engine, Latino and the team, which consists of crew chief Peter Olin, Rachael Olin, Matthew Latino and Ryan Olin, started to show its potential. While the team qualified for the first two shows of the 2009 season, they demonstrated the car’s possibilities when Latino drove the Chevy to the PMRA final at Grand Bend in July of 2009, held during the IHRA MOPAR Canadian Nationals.
“We were now getting down the track every time,” commented Latino. “We were getting the car sorted out, thanks to Jim’s help.”
Latino also mentioned he was pleased with the efforts of his crew.
“My thanks go out to Peter, Rachael, and the others,” he said. “They have been on this learning process with me from the start, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without their time and hard work.”
The team finished the season on a good note, qualifying third in the sixth and final race at the Cayuga Dragway losing in the semi to eventual event winner Bruce Boland of Hamilton, Ontario.
Sponsored by Redline Automotive, Global Emissions Systems, Magnum Auto Parts, NGK Spark Plugs, Hoosier Racing Tire, Pro Racing Fuels, Don Butt Auto Body and Ellesmere Fabricators, Latino hinted a new car may be in the works for 2010, but he added he will return to the PMRA for the next season.
“We’re talking about a new car,” he said, “but that depends on things. But we will be back with the PMRA for sure.”
The PMRA and Quick 32 Sportsman Series Championship Point Award Series winners will be honored at the Champions Banquet on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at The Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel in the Oak Room in Niagara Falls, Ontario.