Steve Jackson held on for his first career No. 1 qualifying position in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing, presented by Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Inc., is the first of 12 events on the season. His qualifying pass of 5.781-seconds at 251.58 mph on Friday secured the No. 1 position.

Jackson, in his Jerry Bickel Race Cars built Camaro, was unable to parlay the No. 1 qualifying position into success in eliminations as he was defeated by Eric Latino in the first round. Latino posted a winning time of 5.779 at 256.45 to Jackson’s losing run of 6.664 at 146.30. Latino will face Troy Coughlin in his JEGS.com Chevy Corvette when eliminations continue on Sunday.

Also in eliminations, Rickie Smith the defending event winner and 2016 NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series champion was ousted by Michael Biehle in his ’13 Ford Mustang. Smith’s IDG ’15 Camaro lost traction early in the run and Biehle was able to get the round win.

"It feels good. I mean, every round I win feels good, no matter who it is,” Biehle said. “Obviously it feels great when you’re able to take somebody out that’s as great as Rickie. He’s got a lot of seat time and he does an awesome job with his car and his whole program. It just feels good to still be here."

Biehle will match up with Danny Rowe; Mike Janis will race Steven Whiteley; and Mike Castellana will compete against Kevin Rivenbark on Sunday.

Pro Mod Series eliminations will resume on Sunday at approximately 12:30.

 
First round results from the 48th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the first of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
 

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE -- Troy Coughlin, Chevy Corvette, 5.807, 252.24 def. Steve Matusek, Chevy Camaro, 5.825, 252.38; Kevin Rivenbark, Corvette, 5.857, 245.76 def. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 5.837, 247.38; Danny Rowe, Corvette, 5.840, 246.57 def. Shannon Jenkins, Ford Mustang, 7.360, 135.88; Steven Whiteley, Cadillac CTS-V, 5.799, 252.19 def. Todd Tutterow, Camaro, 5.865, 247.16; Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.901, 247.16 def. Jim Whiteley, Chevy Chevelle, 5.903, 248.75; Michael Biehle, Mustang, 5.843, 253.90 def. Rickie Smith, Camaro, 7.948, 121.62; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.897, 249.72 def. Sidnei Frigo, Corvette, 5.786, 256.36; Eric Latino, Camaro, 5.779, 256.45 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 6.664, 146.30;
 

Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Pro Modified at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The race is the first of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
 

Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type---------------Qual-ET--Qual-Spd
 

  1  280 Steve Jackson, Evans GA, '17 Camaro             5.781  251.58

  2  288 Sidnei Frigo, Sao Paulo BZ, '16 Corvette        5.795  256.70

  3    1 Rickie Smith, King NC, '17 Camaro               5.798  252.05

  4 1456 Mike Janis, Lancaster NY,  '16 Camaro           5.803  248.25

  5 5200 Steven Whiteley, Grand Junction CO,  '14 CTS-V  5.805  251.58

  6    8 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA,  '15 Corvette      5.815  252.14

  7    7 Khalid alBalooshi, Ajman UA, '17 Camaro         5.820  249.49

  8    5 Steve Matusek, Olathe KS, '68 Camaro            5.821  253.85

  9    2 Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH,  '15 Corvette       5.828  253.33

 10  205 Kevin Rivenbark, Wallace NC, '15 Corvette       5.836  246.17

 11   77 Shannon Jenkins, Tuscaloosa AL, '16 Mustang     5.838  249.35

 12  202 Todd Tutterow, Yadkinville NC,  '69 Camaro      5.845  248.39

 13 5087 Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction CO,  '69 Chevelle  5.848  215.75

 14    4 Michael Biehle, North Vernon IN, '67 Mustang    5.854  250.64

 15   44 Mike Castellana, Oyster Bay NY, '17 Camaro      5.855  250.64

 16 1938 Eric Latino, Port Perry ON, '69 Camaro          5.855  235.76

 

       ------------ Not Qualified ------------

 

17  213 Chip King, Roxboro NC, '69 Daytona              5.856  248.89

 18  303 Dan Stevenson, Bolingbrook IL,  '16 Camaro      5.881  250.18

 19 220F Kevin Fiscus, Jacksonville FL, '10 Mustang      5.882  248.25

 20    3 Bob Rahaim, Grosse Pointe MI,  '15 Corvette     5.888  246.62

 21 1262 Chuck Little, Atkinson NH,  '63 Corvette        5.939  236.55

 22 5012 Kenny Lang, Grande Pointe MB,  '69 Camaro       5.953  243.63

 23 2105 Doug Winters, Pleasant Garden NC, '69 Chevelle  5.985  243.50

24  701 Clint Satterfield, Albuquerque NM,  '68 Firebi  6.026  245.05

25 275T Ruben Tetsoshvili, Wesley Chapel FL,  '17 Cama  6.203  243.33

 26 1518 Pete Farber, Baldwinville MA, '69 Daytona       6.313  170.13  170.13

27 6718 Shane Molinari, Battle Ground WA,  '68 Firebird 6.625  166.95  166.95