The Southern California Pro Gas Assoc. would like to thank
JE Pistons and B&B Electric for sponsoring Race #9

Bothe wins 4th Pro Gas Championship, dominates Auto Club Dragway Finals
By Bob Johnson Auto Club Dragway Fontana, Calif. October 25, 2008

Anyone who makes fourteen quarter mile passes in one day-two qualifying passes and 12 rounds of eliminations, and goes to two finals-deserves to win a series championship! Pete Bothe pulled off another come-from-behind quest to win the 2008 Southern California Pro Gas Assoc., series championship, the second time the Long Beach, Calif., racer has won the title in the past two years and his fourth overall that also included titles in 1997 and 1999. Three races were contested in a single day at Fontana, with Bothe defeating Travis Balough in the first event, Paul Wiechmann stopped Bothe in the series final event of the year, and Randy Balough won the season-ending Vrbancic Bros. Racing-Carb Shop Pro Gas Shootout.

In 2007, Bothe went into the final weekend of the season in sixth place to win the title. This year he was in seventh place going into the double race day, and after winning eleven rounds with his Chevy-powered Porsche, he left Auto Club Dragway with a win, a runner-up, and the series title. Only one other racer won back-to-back Pro Gas titles, that being Scott Kendig in 1984 & 1985. The JE Pistons Fall Nationals presented by B&B Electric was the ninth event of the 10-race Pro Gas season. Brenden Herem was the number one qualifier with his '69 Camaro.

Bothe went to the final round by defeating Tim Daniel in round two, Mike Blodgett Jr., in the third round and Rich Okerman in the quarterfinals before getting a bye in the semi. Travis Balough claimed his second Pro Gas final of the season by stopping Dave Coapstick, his dad Randy Balough, in a 9.895 to 9.870 battle of '63 Corvettes, Russ Hester, and Fred Kondrotas in the semi. Bothe had a .020 starting line advantage on Balough in the final--.007 to .027-and used a 9.896, 143.47 to stop Balough with a 9.874, 152.55. Brenden Herem

Race #9 Top Qualifier Pete Bothe thanks sponsors Hughes Performance, Hot Rod Performance, Dick Munns Co., Vellios Machine, Aldan Shocks, Darrell Duncan at Goodyear Tires, and Gary and Nancy Mignacca for their support throughout the season.