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Roth Racing Evolution
Bruce Biegler - June 1, 2008
 Ontario’s J&J Roth Racing, who have campaigned a number of very interesting drag racing vehicles within their history, is the latest Canadian team to jump into Pro Modified warfare. While their initial 2008 Pro Mod class effort will be a calculated one and restricted mostly to a local racing level, their ’57 Chevy does have potential written all over it.
For 26-year old driver Jeff Roth, who last drove a spectacular and fan favorite ’48 Fiat Funny Car, the transition to Pro Modified will be a challenging, but it is a task he is certainly up for.
“We loved racing our Fiat Funny Car – we ran that for 2 years,” explained Jeff. “But it was hard for us to get to many IHRA events and the Top Dragster class we had to run in was pretty cut throat. We were also running out of places locally that we could run that car. This ’57 Chevy (ex Kirk Silbermann car) became available just down the road from us. We saw that the PMRA circuit was a good fit so we decided to go ahead with it.”
 After acquiring the car during the past off-season, Roth then took it to reputed LowDown Hot Rods (Cambridge, ON) where it received a number of safety upgrades as well as some new cosmetics. The car then went to the John Bear Collision Centre for a stunning new yellow paint scheme application.
“We basically took our engine program out of the funny car chassis and put it into the Pro Mod,” Jeff continued. “It is an Allan Johnson engine program by Atchison Machine and we will be working closely with the Atchison’s this season. It also has an all new fuel system.”
Roth admitted that driving the Pro Mod car will also require some adjustment on his part.
“This suspension car is a lot different to drive then our hard tail car,” he added. “It seems a lot less forgiving and is more temperamental. Our focus right now is just to get the car to go down the track safely so I can gain some driving experience.”
 Jeff Roth revealed that while his outrageous ’48 Fiat is currently for sale – the team may continue to dabble with that car which has run as quick as 6.05 secs at 230 mph.
“That car is still begging to run a five,” he mused. “So we may still have some unfinished business there to tend to -- but our primary focus is now Pro Mod.”
Jeff’s crew consists of his father Jim Roth (owner), crew chief Dave Bankes, as well as
Larry Summerfield, Ashley Medeiros and Tyler Scott. Based from New Dundee, Ontario, valuable associate backing is currently provided by John Bear GM Dealership and Oak Grove Cheese.
Team own Jim Roth has deep roots within Canadian drag racing with a variety of colorful machines that were sponsored by Wayco Multi-Lift a company he formerly owned.
More background information on those vehicles can be viewed within their DragRaceCanada Team Profile: HERE .
(Bruce Biegler Photos)
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