Recchia Continually Proving Himself Against Pro Extreme Elite

Mike Recchia still has a hard time believing he is one of the top drivers in the ADRL’s loaded Pro Extreme class.

With each race, though, Recchia continues to prove he belongs among the PX elite – even if he doesn’t believe it.

Recchia and his Chicago-area team has impressed since making their 2011 debut in May and his latest performance at Virginia Motorsports Park furthered that notion.

For the fourth straight race, Recchia advanced to eliminations and for the third time in his four 2011 appearances, he advanced to the second round, winning his latest first-round matchup at the recent Speedtech U.S. Drags IV at VMP.
Even while he continues to prove himself, Recchia still finds himself in “pinch-me” mode.

“Our goal when we came here was just to qualify for a race. We’re just shocked right now. We’re feeling awesome and this is just so much fun,” Recchia said.
“We’re racing against my idols. Frankie (Taylor), Jason (Scruggs), these guys are my idols. They’re all nice guys and just amazing racers. I have so much respect for all of them here. We’re just out here having fun and we’re on top of the world right now.”

Recchia has become a three-time quarterfinalist, qualifying No. 10 at VMP with a 3.74 at 201.73 miles per hour. He won his first-round matchup before falling to eventual winner Jason Scruggs in the second round.

His next goal is to go into the 3.60s and that could happen at next month’s Dragstock VII at Rockingham Dragway on Sept. 9-10.
Recchia went 3.70 at Maple Grove Raceway in May and his consistency makes it seems as if a strong finish will be in order.
As far as where he stands in the PX class, Recchia, who is 12th in points – and just 136 points out of eighth – despite missing the first two races of the year, said he still has work to do.

“The times some of these guys run are just insane. We’re somewhere in the the middle I would say. We’re not frontrunners right now,” Recchia said. “But I think we’re onto something.”

(Photos by ADRL/Richards)