CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When the first 2012 event in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx concluded in Gainesville, Fla., veteran driver Rickie Smith had outlasted a tough field to take home his first NHRA Pro Mod victory. It was the second time that Smith had advanced to a final round in the series, and the breakthrough performance jump-started his season and helped put memories of a rough 2011 behind him.
“After the year I had last year, from surgery on my back to hitting the wall at Bristol (Tenn.) and having knee surgery, I guess you could say it was a disaster of a year,” Smith said. “This win is definitely a big boost in my confidence. It is a good way to start the year for sure.”
Smith’s King, N.C. residence is located a little more than an hour’s drive from zMAX Dragway, site of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, April 13-15. The race is the second stop in the 10-event NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx.
The veteran driver considers this world-class facility his home track, but admits there isn’t any extra pressure to perform there. He enjoys the level of passion that local fans have for the Pro Mod series.
“You are in the heart of Pro Mod racing here in the Carolinas,” Smith said. “North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia are where you get those fans. I would definitely say that this area is where you would find the most passionate fans for Pro Mod racing.”
No stranger to the winner’s circle, having scored Pro Stock victories in the 1990s and Pro Mod exhibition wins in Indianapolis and Gainesville, Smith said that the recent Gainesville triumph trumps them all.
“I have to say that this year’s win was at the top of the charts out of those wins,” he said. “That week before Gainesville, we were testing in Bradenton, Fla., and we blew up the engine, which caused a lot of damage to the car’s front end. We drove 17 hours to St. Louis, stayed at (Jerry) Bickel’s shop there, worked 12 hours straight, then at 12:30 that night, we drove straight back to Gainesville and got there that Thursday. It took a whole lot out of me and my crew, so this win will definitely stand out.”
Another racer preparing for the event at zMAX Dragway is the driver of the R2B2 ProCare Rx 2012 Ford Mustang, Leah Pruett, who posted her first Pro Mod victory at the facility in 2011. Pruett, who got her racing start in the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League, said that though the nerves were evident in that final last year, she worked hard to live in the moment and remember all the aspects of the title round.
“I was actually more nervous about doing everything right from a driving perspective in the car than worrying about winning the race,” she explained. “Most of my focus was on my new staging and launching procedure, as it was my first race in the turbo car, and I only had a few hits in the car before that event. As much as I tried to stay calm, I was super-pumped for the final round; you could see how hard I was breathing in the in-car camera by my chest moving, even under the supertight belts. I remember telling myself as I backed up from the burnout to remember and enjoy this moment for the rest of my life because you never know when it may come again.”
Other top Pro Mod drivers expected to compete in this weekend’s race at zMAX Dragway will be Mike Castellana, the No. 1 qualifier in Gainesville; Troy Coughlin; Jay Payne; and Danny Rowe.
Featuring the world’s fastest and most unique doorslammer cars with an extremely diverse collection of vehicles, including ’63 Corvettes, ’68 Camaros, ’67 Mustangs and ’68 Firebirds as well as late-model cars, the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx offers something for every kind of hot-rodding enthusiast.
• SCHEDULE: NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx qualifying sessions are scheduled for April 13 at 1 and 4 p.m. and April 14 at 1 p.m. The first round of eliminations begins on April 14 at 4 p.m. Eliminations continue on April 15.
• TICKETS: For tickets for the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, call (800) 455-FANS (3267) or log on to www.zmaxdragway.com.
• ON THE WEB: Get live timing, scoring, multimedia and the latest news updates from every NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx event at www.NHRA.com. Visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
* * *
NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES PRESENTED BY PROCARE RX FACT SHEET
WHAT: NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, the second of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx. The event will also showcase the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
WHERE: zMAX Dragway, Charlotte, N. C. The track is located at 6750 Bruton Smith Blvd., Concord, NC 28027
COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 630 feet above sea level; Track direction is west to east.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, April 13-15.
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, April 13
NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
SATURDAY, April 14
NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES qualifying at 1 p.m.; first round of eliminations at 4 p.m.
SUNDAY, April 15
Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m.
NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES eliminations continue at approximately 2:30 p.m.
TRACK RECORDS: 5.815 seconds by Melanie Troxel, Sept. ’11; 256.55 mph by Troxel, Sept. ’11.
NATIONAL RECORDS: 5.772 sec. by Melanie Troxel, June. ’11, Englishtown; 258.71 mph by Troxel, June ’11, Englishtown.
TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 455-FANS (3267). Tickets also available online at www.zmaxdragway.com.
GENERAL ADMISSION (includes pit pass) - DAILY: Friday: Adult, $20. Saturday: Adult, $40. Sunday: Adult, $40.
RESERVED SEATS (includes pit pass) - DAILY: Friday: Adult, $25-$35. Saturday: Adult, $45-55. Sunday: Adult, $45-$55.
* * *
NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES PRESENTED BY PROCARE RX POINTS STANDINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. -- Point standings (top 10) for the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx following the first of 10 races:
Pro Modified: 1. Rickie Smith, 101; 2. Mike Castellana, 82; 3. Donald Martin, 68; 4. Leah Pruett, 66; 5. Danny Rowe, 59; 6. Kenny Lang, 56; 7. Mike Knowles, 55; 8. Raymond Commisso, 54; 9. Troy Coughlin, 45; 10. (tie) Roger Burgess, 43. Pete Farber, 43; Steve Matusek, 43; Adam Flamholc, 43.
