Rockingham Dragway has Rickie Smith’s number. He has its number, too.

Nearly thirty years ago, Smith, then a budding mountain motor Pro Stock star in the IHRA became the first driver to record a seven second run. Friday night he ran a five second pass on the second stop of the IHRA tour.

The seven-time IHRA Pro Stock world champion from King, N.C., was the class of the Pro Modified field at the IHRA Springnationals as he was the first and only doorslammer driver to dip into the five second zone with a 5.962 elapsed time at 234.37 miles per hour.

Rockingham Dragway has Rickie Smith’s number. He has its number, too.

Nearly thirty years ago, Smith, then a budding mountain motor Pro Stock star in the IHRA became the first driver to record a seven second run. Friday night he ran a five second pass on the second stop of the IHRA tour.

The seven-time IHRA Pro Stock world champion from King, N.C., was the class of the Pro Modified field at the IHRA Springnationals as he was the first and only doorslammer driver to dip into the five second zone with a 5.962 elapsed time at 234.37 miles per hour.

“This car has been awesome and the first couple of races we’ve run, the track hasn’t been prepared well – tonight this track is right on,” Smith said. “We know we have the potential to run well with this car … we’ve run fives before … but I have to say thanks to the Sheik. We put that Speedtech Nitrous on this car and it got out of here.”

Smith knocked off IHRA newcomer Tim Tindle (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.) who held down the top spot until late in Friday’s evening qualifying session. Tindle was bumped to second with a 6.029 pass at 234.74 mph. Ed Hoover (Gilbert, S.C.) put down the top speed of the night in Pro Mod at 237.50 mph and currently sits third with a 6.030 E.T.

Burton Auxier (6.032/234.53) and Scott Cannon (6.045/235.06) rounded out the top five in Friday’s Castrol “Night of Fire” qualifying.
 

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