NO. 1 QUALIFIER DANNY ROWE GETS OPENING ROUND WIN IN NHRA PRO MOD DRAG RACING SERIES AT FORD THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS AT BRISTOL DRAGWAY
BRISTOL, Tenn. – No. 1 qualifier Danny Rowe won his first-round matchup during the opening round of eliminations on Saturday in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series at the 13th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers at Bristol Dragway. The race is the fifth of 10 races in 2013 for NHRA’s popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series.
Rowe kept up his strong weekend pace in his Agave Underground Tequila Chevy Camaro, putting together a Saturday-best pass of 6.004 at 243.59 mph in his first-round win against the BAC Enterprises team of Clint Satterfield. That came on the heels of finishing as the No. 1 qualifier in his supercharger-powered entry, as his 5.958 at 243.37 from Friday stood up through the one qualifying session on Saturday.
It was Rowe’s second straight No. 1 qualifier and the third in four races as the Laguna Hills, Calif. native goes after his first win of 2013 when eliminations continue on Sunday. A victory would also get Rowe, who is currently ninth in points, back in the championship mix.
“We’re really, really happy right now. Our whole crew has been working hard and we’ve been consistent this year,” Rowe said. “We just want to continue doing a good job and finish well in the points. With the type of cars out there it’s really been competitive, but we’ve been consistent and that’s a good sign.
“It’s anybody’s race right now and if we have a great weekend in Bristol and go out and win, we’re going to be right back in the (championship) hunt.”
Rowe will meet Eric Dillard in the quarterfinals on Sunday after Dillard powered his Ford Mustang to a 6.103 at 246.26 in an opening-round win against Mike Castellana.
Defending Pro Mod world champion Troy Coughlin won his first round matchup against Mike Knowles, going 6.020 at 246.08 in his JEGS.com Corvette. He will meet the most recent Pro Mod event winner after Mike Janis and his Valvoline Chevy Camaro beat Chip King with a 14.643 at 68.29.
Defending event winner Rickie Smith, who qualified No. 3 in his IDG Camaro, will meet Pete Farber, who knocked off Von Smith with a pass of 6.017 at 241.41, in the second round.
The final quarterfinal matchup will feature points leader Kenny Lang, who drove his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Corvette to a 7.102 at 220.94 against Doug Winters, and Robert Patrick, who went 6.030 at 235.35 in his Ford Mustang to beat Steve Matusek.
NHRA Pro Mod Series eliminations will continue Sunday beginning at approximately 3:30 p.m.
BRISTOL, Tenn. -- NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series first round results from the 13th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers at Bristol Dragway. The race is the fifth of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
ROUND ONE -- Eric Dillard, Ford Mustang, 6.103, 246.26 def. Mike Castellana, Chevy Camaro, 7.719, 127.73; Robert Patrick Jr., Mustang, 6.030, 235.35 def. Steve Matusek, Mustang, 12.311, 68.88; Troy Coughlin, Chevy Corvette, 6.020, 246.08 def. Mike Knowles, Camaro, 6.118, 239.53; Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 6.017, 241.41 def. Von Smith, Camaro, 6.670, 155.08; Danny Rowe, Camaro, 6.004, 243.59 def. Clint Satterfield, Pontiac Firebird, 7.852, 183.67; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 6.230, 239.10 def. Chris Juliano, Mustang, DQ; Mike Janis, Camaro, 14.643, 68.29 def. Chip King, Daytona, broke; Kenny Lang, Corvette, 7.102, 220.94 def. Doug Winters, Chevy Bel Air, 7.270, 208.52;
Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Pro Modified at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, 13th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers:
Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type---------------Qual-ET--Qual-Spd-Top Spd
1 5 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, '68 Camaro 5.958 242.76 243.37
2 10 Kenny Lang, Grande Pointe MB, '63 Corvette 5.958 242.63 242.63
3 43 Rickie Smith, King NC, '12 Camaro 6.007 241.45 241.45
4 1 Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH, '13 Corvette 6.023 246.30 246.30
5 1456 Mike Janis, Lancaster NY, '13 Camaro 6.036 238.85 239.74
6 8 Pete Farber, Baldwinville MA, '69 Daytona 6.060 241.63 241.63
7 262 Robert Patrick Jr., Fredricksburg VA,'12 Must 6.064 234.53 234.53
8 2890 Eric Dillard, Bell Ground GA, '12 Mustang 6.070 243.02 243.02
9 2 Mike Castellana, Muttontown NY, '12 Camaro 6.085 223.21 223.21
10 9 Steve Matusek, Olathe KS, '12 Mustang 6.090 245.58 245.58
11 2377 Von Smith, Oak Ridge TN, '68 Camaro 6.104 235.06 235.06
12 213 Chip King, Semora NC, '69 Daytona 6.136 231.52 231.52
13 5011 Mike Knowles, Grand Junction CO, '68 Camaro 6.151 237.71 237.71
14 567 Chris Juliano, Iberia MO, '67 Mustang 6.227 227.15 227.15
15 2105 Doug Winters, Pleasant Garden NC, '57 Bel Air 6.297 215.48 215.48
16 701 Clint Satterfield, Albuquerque NM, '68 Firebi 6.928 158.95 158.95
