“This is a facility that we’ve have a considerable amount of success at,” says Smith, checking in from his home in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. “So, we’re definitely excited to be back in Englishtown and we’re hoping to extend our string of good fortune here with a positive performance for everyone at Barwa.”
Smith, who pilots the Barwa Racing Pro Modified ’68 Camaro, comes into the fifth race of the 2010 season number-one in the Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series point standings, albeit by a narrow margin over Danny Rowe.
“We’re experimenting with a new engine combination and we’re really pretty excited about this weekend,” says Smith. “The performances we’ve seen so far this year have been nothing short of staggering and we want to be ever-improving as far as the performance of this Barwa Racing Pro Mod Camaro. Howard [Moon, crew chief] and the rest of the guys have been working their tails off and I think we’re set to widen the gap at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.”
Well into the heat of summer, the competition in the new NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series is tighter than ever as it becomes increasingly difficult to apply nearly 3,000 horsepower to the sun-drenched racing surface. Not only a historical and always memorable stop on the NHRA tour, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park has played a pivotal role in Pro Modified, especially in 2009 where the quickest side-by-side pass in the history of the category transpired in front of thousands of fans when Danny Rowe and Raymond Commisso went 5.856 and 5.899 in the final round.
“We know all too well what this track is capable of and considering we could still potentially see some favorable conditions in the evening, I think we’re all expecting a seriously fast race. I’m looking to put this Barwa Racing team back in the winner’s circle on Sunday, but I know we’ve got our work cut out for us.” Smith continues, “Like I’ve said before, though, I really wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The Barwa Racing Pro Modified team will take to the legendary quarter-mile at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey this Friday, June 11th, for two rounds of qualifying, followed by a final round and the opening round of eliminations on Saturday afternoon. Final eliminations will get underway on Sunday, June 13th, at 11:00 AM EST.
For more information on the Barwa Racing Pro Modified team and Al-Anabi Racing, log onto www.qrczone.com
ABOUT BARWA REAL ESTATE: A Qatar-based real estate conglomerate, BARWA has spent the past five years partnered with its home nation, developing and constructing new and maintainable environments in and out of the city of Doha. Local projects have included the construction of Barwa Al Khor, considered the “mother city” of the nation of Qatar, Barwa Financial District, Barwa City, a one of a kind residential complex, Barwa Commercial Avenue, and the city of Doha’s convention center.
OFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS, after four events:
1. Von Smith, 241
2. Danny Rowe, 227
3. Kenny Lang, 218
4. Jay Payne, 215
5. Troy Coughlin, 205
6. Melanie Troxel, 185
7. Dennis Radford, 183
8. Joe Baker, 182
9. Michael Gullqvist, 176
10. Rick Stivers, 167
11. Burton Auxier, 164
12. Mike Janis, 159
13. Tony Pontieri, 151
14. Ed Hoover, 140
15. Tim Tindle, 139
For more information on Barwa, log onto www.barwa.com.qa
