Bob Rahaim powered to the No. 1 qualifying position and a first round victory Saturday in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing at Bristol Dragway is presented by the Real Pro Mod Association. This is the fifth of 10 Pro Mod events on the 2016 season.

Rahaim pushed his late model TLC Waste Disposal Services Chevy Corvette to a 5.796-second pass at 246.48 mph to earn the second No. 1 qualifier of his career and first of the season. He went on to defeat Steven Whiteley in his late model Y-Not Racing / J&A Service Cadillac CTS in first round. Rahaim, who has one victory and one runner-up finish in his career, will meet local favorite Von Smith in the quarterfinals on Sunday.

“I’m just thankful for the help that I get and the people surrounding me,” said Rahaim. “The track got super hot out there, which was real tricky, but we were second low in the round. The guys made the right call again and we’re going into Sunday’s second round, so we’re really excited. We’re just going to take them one at a time and not look too far down the line.”

Reigning world champ and recent Englishtown, N.J., winner Troy Coughlin qualified second and raced past Gary Capano in the first round. Coughlin will meet Steve Matusek in the second round. Matusek defeated Danny Rowe in round one.

Mike Castellana qualified No. 3 and outlasted Doug Winters in the first round of eliminations. Castellana will face Chip King, who beat Daniel Stevenson in the opener.

Two-time world champ and points leader Rickie Smith qualified fifth and outlasted Jim Whiteley in the first round. In round two Smith will meet Michael Biehle, who defeated Mike Knowles in the first round.

The quarterfinals of the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway is scheduled to begin at approximately 1:15 p.m.
 
First round of results from the 16th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the fifth of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE -- Steve Matusek, Chevy Camaro, 9.471, 93.51 def. Danny Rowe, Chevy Corvette, Foul - Red Light; Von Smith, Corvette, 5.922, 243.50 def. Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.992, 243.72; Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 13.832, no speed def. Dan Stevenson, Camaro, Foul - Centerline; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.987, 244.60 def. Jim Whiteley, Chevy Chevelle, 13.286, 96.97; Michael Biehle, Ford Mustang, 5.942, 250.83 def. Mike Knowles, Mustang, 8.813, 106.70; Mike Castellana, Corvette, 5.947, 243.77 def. Doug Winters, Chevelle, 6.022, 240.64; Troy Coughlin, Corvette, 5.990, 218.02 def. Gerry Capano, Corvette, 6.052, 232.91; Bob Rahaim, Corvette, 5.926, 243.33 def. Steven Whiteley, Cadillac CTS-V, 10.549, 103.74;

Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Pro Modified at the 16th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, the fifth of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

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

  1  360 Bob Rahaim, Grosse Pointe MI, '15 Corvette     5.796 246.48  246.48

  2    1 Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH, '15 Corvette       5.831  251.44  251.72

  3   44 Mike Castellana, Muttontown NY, '15 Corvette   5.886  244.52  244.52

  4  318 Michael Biehle, North Vernon IN, '67 Mustang   5.890  251.06  251.06

  5    4 Rickie Smith, King NC, '15 Camaro              5.893  245.36  245.36

  6  213 Chip King, Semora NC, '69 Daytona              5.899  241.37  241.80

  7 5450 Steve Matusek, Olathe KS, '68 Camaro           5.908  244.43  244.43

  8 2377 Von Smith, Kingston TN, '16 Corvette           5.917  243.28  244.25

  9    2 Mike Janis, Lancaster NY, '13 Camaro           5.937  225.18  241.24

10    7 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, '15 Corvette      5.948  244.12  244.12

11  303 Dan Stevenson, Bolingbrook IL, '16 Camaro      5.980  252.05  252.05

12 5087 Jim Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, '69 Chevelle  5.993  241.45  241.45

13 5011 Mike Knowles, Grand Junction CO, '67 Mustang   6.018  237.46  237.59

14 2105 Doug Winters, Pleasant Garden NC, '69 Chevelle 6.019  239.19  239.19

15 1109 Gerry Capano, Greenville DE, '63 Corvette      6.030  237.25  237.25

16 5200 Steven Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, '14 CTS-V  6.047  239.82  239.82

 

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

 

17  327 Khalid alBalooshi, Marina Del Ray QA, '68 Cam  6.049  241.07  241.07

18   10 Pete Farber, Baldwinville MA, '69 Daytona      6.070  239.65  239.65

19 6967 Jim Bell, Edmonton AB, '69 Camaro              6.072  217.74  223.43

20  701 Clint Satterfield, Albuquerque NM, '68 Firebi  6.103  241.37  241.37

21 5012 Kenny Lang, Grande Pointe MB, '69 Camaro       6.128  238.51  238.51

22    6 Bill Glidden, Whiteland IN, '14 Camaro         6.515  177.63  177.63

23 1262 Chuck Little, Atkinson NH, '63 Corvette        7.247  146.30  146.30