DQ’D RUNS GET THE BEST OF RICKIE SMITH

by Bobby Bennett    Tue, 2019-04-23 08:34

 

Saturday morning, NHRA’s technical department disqualified the runs of three cars provisionally qualified in the Pro Modified field at the NHRA Heartland Nationals.

Friday’s provisional No. 1 Khalid alBalooshi (5.735), No. 5 Rickie Smith (5.845), and No. 11 Harry Hruska (5.923) went into Saturday’s final day of qualifications without an official run on the board.

Their runs were thrown out due to each of their cars being out of compliance on their ECU (Electronic Control Unit) firmware.

Smith withdrew his turbocharged Mustang and reentered the event with his trusty nitrous Camaro, the car with which he’d won championships and last year finished runner-up in the points chase. However, the nitrous car didn’t pass tech either.

Apparently, the car which had passed tech for the last three seasons with the same firmware in place was determined to no longer comply with the firmware either.

Smith, who was visibly upset with the NHRA’s decision, declined to comment on the situation.

Of the trio of racers, only alBalooshi earned his way back into the field during the Q-4 season.

 

 

 

 
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