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Born December 23, 1968 in Washington D.C., Ronnie
Procopio was born a homebuilder, literally. He came from a long line
of builders including his grandfather, father, and several uncles
and cousins. As many of us who have followed in our father’s
footsteps, even if in our early adulthood, Ronnie started working on
his father’s jobs in the summers starting at the age of 12 as a
laborer. When he was 17, he learned to lay brick, following in his
father’s footsteps. Only after one year, he became a brick
contractor for 10 years before building his first house. He’s been a
custom homebuilder ever since.
Ronnie grew
up on dirt bikes as a kid and in 1991 purchased his first streetbike,
a Kawasaki GPZ550. When he first took that bike to the track
(Maryland International Raceway), he was too intimidated to race it.
He would have a friend race it for him and the first two times out
his friend won both races. That’s when the fever began! Ronnie
started racing in 1992, on that same bike. After a few races, he
bought a 1992 Suzuki GSXR750. It started as a stock street bike and
as time went by, the bike got longer and lower. He even raced
it in Prostar's 10.50 Super Mod class and even won a couple times.
Once the slider and wheelie bars were added it was |
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goodbye street, hello
drag racing career.
Soon he started racing
the weekly points program at Maryland International Raceway. He was
now addicted to this sport and quickly ventured out to follow the
AMA/Prostar series for many years entering as many classes as he
could, including Top Gas, Super Comp and Pro-ET. At the same time,
he started racing in the MIROCK series at its inception, entering
Quick 32, Pro-ET, and 5.60 Super Comp. As if that was not enough,
his Legion of Doom team also attended many other races including
several SEMDRA, Piedmont, Farmington and others. Not content with
being a crew member, wife Robin Procopio started racing as well in
2001 and became a serious racer in her own right, but that’s another
story for the future.
In early 2007 his then ten-year-old son, Robbie, convinced Daddy to
buy an Outlaw bike to race in the MIROCK series, which he raced for
two years until the class was cancelled. The intense love for speed
led Ronnie to buy a Pro Mod bike from Dan Wagner, which he debuted
at the 2007 AMA/Prostar National Finals in Gainesville, Florida,
winning the event. That weekend would define Ronnie’s passion and
future of racing Pro Mod.
Other areas of interest:
RESIDENCE: Wake Forest, North Carolina
SPOUSE’S NAME: Robin Procopio
CHILDREN’S NAMES: Robbie, age 12 and Payton, age 10
OCCUPATION: Custom home builder
HOME TRACK: Maryland International Raceway
TEAM NAME: Legion of Doom
CREW MEMBERS: Mikey Procopio – nephew
SPONSORS: Worldwide Bearings
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2008 MIROCK Outlaw Series,
2008 MIROCK Quick 32 Series, 2007 AMA/Prostar Top Gas Series, 2007
MIROCK Quick 32 Series, 2006 MIROCK Quick 32 Series, 2004, 1995, &
1994 IHRA Bracket Finals, 2005, 2004, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1997, & 1996
MIR Yearly Points Series Champion,
Runner-Up in Points Chase: 2007 MIROCK Outlaw Series Points
Runner-up, 2006 AMA/Prostar Top Gas Series Points Runner-Up, 1999
IHRA Bracket Finals Runner-Up
National Event Wins: AMA/Prostar-Dragbike Pro Mod – 1, Top
Gas – 8, Super Comp – 5, Pro ET – 5; ADRL Pro-Extreme Motorcycle –
2; MIROCK Outlaw – 6, Quick 32 – 10, Super Comp (5.60) – 4, Weekly
Points races – over 100; SEMDRA Top Gas – 1; Piedmont Dragway
Sportsman Nationals – 1
Special Recognitions: 2007 AMA/Prostar Sportsman Rider of the
Year; 2004 , 2000, 1999, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 MIR – Rider of the
Year; 2002, 1997, 1996 MIR – Best Engineered; 1995 MIR Best
Appearing
CURRENT RACE BIKE / CLASS: Koenig Chassis, Suzuki GS: Pro
Mod, Athanas small tire chassis, Suzuki GS Top Gas, Quick 32, Pro-ET
GOALS: I intend to race at as many Pro Mod events as I can at
AMA Dragbike, ADRL and SEMDRA. I also plan to attend some bracket
races, as well, at MIROCK.
INTEREST OUTSIDE OF RACING: Family, Golf, Travel, Youth
Sports
FAVORITE FOODS: Italian, Steak, Seafood
FAVORITE MOVIE: Days of Thunder
DAILY DRIVER: A Chevy Truck
FIRST MOTORCYCLE: Kawasaki GPZ550 |
