Gainesville: Alan Pittman preview

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - If the pre-season of a sport can determine the quality of a driver's regular season then the Pro Modified contingent had better watch out for Lyman, SC.-based chassis builder Alan Pittman. The 40-year old driver of the Ken Westbrook-owned 1941 Willys is undefeated in of both of the two major Pro Modified pre-season tests under the Chicago Style format in Darlington and Virginia. This season is quickly turning into a blessing for the sophomore driver.

Pittman is anxious for a shot at the Gainesville Raceway racing surface.

"We've waited for this moment since the program was announced," explained Pittman, who was a finalist for the IHRA's rookie of the year award last year. "I think this show will be a positive for the Pro Modifieds. I'm proud to be a part of history this weekend."

Pittman has operated the Cannon & Pittman chassis shop since 1998 and first jumped into the Pro Modified ranks last year. He proved to be a natural by qualifying in his first outing and one race later posted an incredible 6.25 elapsed time.

Pittman attributes his success to his crew's relentless pursuit of excellence as well as a new engine program courtesy of Redline Design's Darren Mayer and Troy Critchley.

This past weekend on a tricky racing surface at Virginia Motorsports Park, Pittman unleashed the quickest time of the weekend with a 6.252/220.87, with the promise that more was soon to follow. Gainesville will provide the perfect setting.

The Pro Modified exhibitions will feature four qualifying attempts for an eight-car field. Each team will be afforded two qualifying attempts at 1:30 and 5:00 on Friday and Saturday. Final eliminations are slated for Sunday.

www.westbrookmotorsports.com.