Saturday, July 06, 2013

NHRA NEWS: NHRA PRO MOD SERIES RESULTS SATURDAY FROM NORWALK

RICKIE SMITH EARNS NO. 1 QUALIFIER IN NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES DURING SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS

NORWALK, Ohio – Rickie Smith finished as the No. 1 qualifier in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Series, racing to his first No. 1 qualifier of 2013 during the seventh annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park. The race is the sixth of 10 races in 2013 for NHRA’s popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series.

Rain postponed Saturday’s scheduled first round of eliminations to Sunday at approximately 9 a.m.

Smith, who won the most recent Pro Mod event at Bristol Dragway, had the top time on Friday with a run of 5.910 seconds at 243.94 mph in his nitrous-injected IDG Chevy Camaro, and nobody could top that during Saturday’s qualifying session.

Smith, who is second in points, will face Chris Juliano in the first round of eliminations on Sunday.

Mike Castellana finished as the No. 2 qualifier in his nitrous-injected Al-Anabi Racing Camaro with a 5.918 at 240.77 and will meet Bill Lutz in the first round. Current points leader and defending world champion Troy Coughlin powered his turbo-charged JEGS.com Chevy Corvette to the third position with a pass of 5.922 at 244.07.

Following in the fourth spot is 2013 event winner Mike Janis, who drove his Valvoline Camaro to a 5.961 at 242.63. Harold Martin and his 5.962 at 237.25 rounded out the top five. Clint Satterfield, who finished seventh in qualifying in a BAC Enterprises Pontiac Firebird, maintained the fastest run at 245.27.

NORWALK, Ohio -- Sunday's first-round pairings for eliminations for the seventh annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park. The race is the sixth of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.  Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday.

Pro Modified -- 1. Rickie Smith, Chevy Camaro, 5.910, 243.94  vs. 16. Chris Juliano, Ford Mustang, 6.236, 233.80; 2. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.918, 240.77  vs. 15. Bill Lutz, Camaro, 6.144, 211.99; 3. Troy Coughlin, Chevy Corvette, 5.922, 245.23  vs. 14. Chip King, Dodge Daytona, 6.093, 239.87; 4. Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.961, 242.63  vs. 13. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.076, 242.32; 5. Harold Martin, Corvette, 5.962, 237.25  vs. 12. Von Smith, Camaro, 6.069, 234.82; 6. Kenny Lang, Corvette, 5.976, 243.94  vs. 11. Tim Tindle, Mustang, 6.036, 243.06; 7. Clint Satterfield, Pontiac Firebird, 5.984, 245.27  vs. 10. Steve Matusek, Mustang, 6.005, 242.67; 8. Danny Rowe, Camaro, 5.985, 244.07  vs. 9. Pete Farber, Daytona, 5.988, 243.46.