MARTIN, Mich. -- The Quality Automotive Racing Team showed its strength during the Summer Showdown at US 131 Motorsports Park over the weekend, winning its first race in the Pro Bike & Sled Series presented by Wiseco Performance Products.

Always qualifying well in PBSS competition, the team has struggled with elimination rounds in the past, but found the winning combination at US 131.

We had an awesome time, said John Orfanidis, rider of the 1992 Suzuki GSX-R which races in Pro Bike. We played it right, tuned the bike properly, and it was well worth the trip.

The Toronto, Ontario team qualified number one for the race, the second in the six-race 2012 PBSS season, with a 7.7913-second, 166.64-mph posting. In eliminations, Orfanidis eliminated Pro Bike rider and number five qualifier Danny Staples of Ingersoll, Ontario in round one, and number three qualifier Bob McDonald of Woodstock, Ontario, also in Pro Bike, in round two to meet up with Bill Anderson of Seaforth, Ontario.

Anderson, a former PBSS event winner, qualified fifth with a 9.0903 139.85 on his Arctic Cat Z1 Pro Sled, but couldn't catch Orfanidis in the final.

The other semi-finalist was Jeff Lippert of Amherstburg, Ontario with his Pro Sled Polaris Storm, who qualified eighth.

Orfanidis said after the race that the team, with Mike Henriques as crew chief and a helping hand from Paul Gast from Fast By Gast, found the right gear ratio for the Suzuki, adding it was perfect for racing at US 131.

Not only do I want to thank my sponsors, Quality Automotive Services and Converter Man Ltd., I want to thank my crew for their efforts, the PBSS Officials and US 131 Motorsports Park.

And our thoughts go out to Randy Hope (2011 PBSS champion sidelined this season) and his family, he added.

Orfanidis has a slim lead in the PBSS Championship Point Award Series Standings with 460 points, while Pro Sled rider Chris Bondi of Aurora, Ontario is close in second at 457 points. Tied for third is the team of Danny Staples and Kevin McKay, and McDonald, both with 418 points, and next is Pro Bike rider Alex Cassels of Sundridge, Ontario with 414 points.

The PBSS returns to racing during the Canadian Nitro Nationals June 22-24 at the Cayuga Dragway of Toronto Motorsports Park.

The Pro Bike & Sled Series, www.PBSS.ca will race six times in 2012. The series also competes with its two companion series, the Pro Modified Racing Association, www.PMRA.ca and the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, www.Quick32.ca offering a solid and full package of drag racing action.

For more information contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher at Bruce@PBSS.ca

Photo Credit: Brennan Shortall www.DragRaceCanada.com