RICKIE SMITH RUNS ROUGHSHOD OVER ATLANTA PRO MOD FIELD
Reigning NHRA Pro Mod world champion Rickie Smith raced to victory Monday during the Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the rain-delayed Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals Sunday.
Smith, the No. 1 qualifier, drove his IDG 13’ Chevy Camaro to a winning performance of 5.828 seconds at 249.21 mph, defeating No. 15 seed Von Smith. It was the first win of the year for Rickie Smith, who secured his fifth career victory and the first at the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series race in Atlanta, which was presented by the Real Pro Mod Association.
Reigning NHRA Pro Mod world champion Rickie Smith raced to victory Monday during the Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the rain-delayed Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals Sunday.
Smith, the No. 1 qualifier, drove his IDG 13’ Chevy Camaro to a winning performance of 5.828 seconds at 249.21 mph, defeating No. 15 seed Von Smith. It was the first win of the year for Rickie Smith, who secured his fifth career victory and the first at the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series race in Atlanta, which was presented by the Real Pro Mod Association.
Von Smith’s effort was highlighted by an upset of No. 2 qualifier Jim Laurita in the first round. Von Smith, the 2010 NHRA Pro Mod world champion, was looking for his first win since the second Charlotte race last season.
Mike Castellana won the season-opening event in Gainesville and raced to a second round appearance at Atlanta Dragway, while Mike Janis was eliminated in the first round following his victory in Houston.
The NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series continues May 29-June 1 with the Toyota NHRA SummerNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, N.J.
ROUND ONE -- Troy Coughlin, Chevy Corvette, 5.886, 241.63 def. Mike Knowles, Chevy Camaro, 5.918, 244.52; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 6.108, 208.84 def. Don Walsh, Camaro, 12.169, 57.46; Steve Matusek, Camaro, 5.896, 246.39 def. Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 6.061, 229.82; Dan Stevenson, Camaro, DQ def. Steven Whiteley, Camaro, no time; Danny Rowe, Camaro, 5.832, 249.12 def. Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.875, 248.11; Kevin Fiscus, Ford Mustang, 5.903, 248.98 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 5.949, 244.03; Von Smith, Camaro, 5.942, 240.94 def. Jim Laurita, Camaro, 9.812, 89.65; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.778, 250.04 def. Chip King, Daytona, 8.677, 91.46;
QUARTERFINALS -- Fiscus, 5.984, 239.95 def. Matusek, 9.051, 99.00; V. Smith, 5.929, 242.02 def. Castellana, 5.954, 238.76; Rowe, 5.871, 247.88 def. Whiteley, 10.988, 78.13; R. Smith, 5.814, 249.26 def. Coughlin, 10.990, 83.67;
SEMIFINALS -- V. Smith, 5.910, 242.45 def. Fiscus, 5.914, 248.48; R. Smith, 5.838, 248.39 def. Rowe, 5.941, 244.03;
FINAL -- R. Smith, 5.828, 249.21 def. V. Smith, 15.228, 54.74.
Point standings (top 10) following the 34th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, the third of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
1. Rickie Smith, 269; 2. Mike Castellana, 261; 3. Danny Rowe, 225; 4. Mike Janis, 202; 5. Steve Matusek, 178; 6. Kevin Fiscus, 164; 7. Troy Coughlin, 135; 8. Von Smith, 124; 9. Steven Whiteley, 119; 10. Dan Stevenson, 115.