RAHAIM SPRINTS TO PRO MOD QUALIFYING LEAD FRIDAY AT MIDWEST NATIONALS
Bob Rahaim powered to the qualifying lead Friday in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing at Gateway Motorsports Park is presented by Precision Turbo & Engine. This is the ninth of the 10 Pro Mod events on the 2016 season.
Rahaim, who won last weekend in Charlotte, N.C., powered his late model TLC Waste Disposal Services Chevy Corvette to a 5.840-second pass at 248.02 mph to earn the provisional No. 1 spot. Rahaim has three No. 1 qualifiers in his career and two so far this season, which came in Bristol, Tenn., and Norwalk, Ohio. He is currently second in the points standings.
"The whole team did a fabulous job of preparing the race car,” said Rahaim. “We had a little delay in the action and the track came back around and cooled way down. It really helped to be in the back of the pack."
Michael Biehle II is second with a 5.852 at 254.76 in his Biehle Motorsports ‘67 Mustang. Biehle has not qualified better than fourth so far this season and currently sits sixth in the points.
In third is Gainesville, Fla., runner-up Danny Rowe, who posted a 5.858 at 248.75 in his late model Agave Underground Tequila Chevy Corvette. Rowe is ninth in points.
Sidnei Frigo, who survived a wild crash in Houston, is fourth, while points leader Rickie Smith is fifth. Smith is a two-time 2016 event winner and a two-time world champion. He is making a strong push towards taking the crown from reigning world champion Troy Coughlin, who is currently qualified 14th.
The final qualifying session for the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, at 1 p.m. before the first round of eliminations begins at 3:45 p.m.
Friday's results after the first two of three rounds of qualifying for the fifth annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park, the ninth of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Saturday's first round of eliminations.
Pro Modified -- 1. Bob Rahaim, Chevy Corvette, 5.840, 248.02; 2. Michael Biehle, Ford Mustang, 5.852, 254.76; 3. Danny Rowe, Corvette, 5.858, 248.75; 4. Sidnei Frigo, Corvette, 5.876, 251.25; 5. Rickie Smith, Chevy Camaro, 5.876, 249.21; 6. Steven Whiteley, Cadillac CTS-V, 5.879, 247.66; 7. Von Smith, Corvette, 5.881, 246.03; 8. Steve Matusek, Camaro, 5.885, 246.89; 9. Todd Tutterow, Camaro, 5.899, 244.52; 10. Khalid alBalooshi, Camaro, 5.904, 246.66; 11. Doug Winters, Chevy Chevelle, 5.910, 242.80; 12. Jim Whiteley, Chevelle, 5.948, 235.43; 13. Chip King, Dodge Charger, 5.955, 242.89; 14. Troy Coughlin, Corvette, 5.968, 250.74; 15. Jay Payne, Camaro, 5.976, 244.47; 16. Kenny Lang, Camaro, 5.983, 244.74. Not Qualified: 17. Bill Glidden, 6.005, 241.20; 18. Harold Martin, 6.010, 240.59; 19. Gerry Capano, 6.015, 240.85; 20. Jim Bell, 6.015, 229.12; 21. Chuck Little, 6.036, 241.67; 22. Shane Molinari, 6.052, 249.58; 23. Clint Satterfield, 6.091, 241.93; 24. Mike Knowles, 6.402, 162.12; 25. Pete Farber, 6.409, 175.75; 26. Mike Castellana, 8.126, 117.39; 27. Eric Latino, 8.180, 114.79; 28. Mike Janis, 8.641, 99.59; 29. Dan Stevenson, 9.557, 96.38.