Veteran Rickie Smith earned a very emotional and gratifying NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx victory Sunday at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers at Bristol Dragway.
Last season at Bristol Dragway Smith suffered a spectacular crash that caused him to take a hiatus from the sport due to a knee injury but the veteran driver came back to Bristol with on a mission, claiming the No.1 qualifying position and earning his second win of the season. Smith and his IDG Camaro’s 6.055 second pass at 241.24 mph beat Donald Walsh’s 7.393 second pass at 171.99 mph in the final round of eliminations.
Smith also beat veteran driver Jay Payne in the semifinals, Mike Knowles in the quarterfinals and Doug Winters in the opening round of eliminations.
Smith’s win moves him into second place in the championship point standings.
(DI.com file photo by Ian Tocher)
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Final round-by-round results from the 12th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers at Bristol Dragway, the fifth of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx:
ROUND ONE — Scott Ray, Chevy Corvette, 6.329, 226.70 def. Rick Stivers, Chevy Camaro, foul; Troy Coughlin, Camaro, 6.079, 247.75 def. Kenny Lang, Camaro, 6.164, 223.32; Mike Knowles, Camaro, 6.721, 227.80 def. Leah Pruett, Ford Mustang, 8.270, 116.28; Donald Walsh, ford Mustang, 5.977, 250.13 def. Donald Martin, Camaro, 11.901, 73.97; Mike Janis, Mustang, 6.019, 240.81 def. Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, foul; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 6.009, 239.02 def. Roger Burgess, Corvette, 6.078, 247.88; Jay Payne, Camaro, 6.094, 238.72 def. Danny Rowe, Camaro, 13.984, 66.70; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.966, 239.82 def. Doug Winters, Chevy Bel Air, 6.709, 163.24;
QUARTERFINALS — Payne, 7.991, 121.04 def. Ray, foul; Janis, 5.935, 242.45 def. Coughlin, 5.893, 250.97; Walsh, 5.926, 250.83 def. Castellana, 7.362, 135.95; Smith, 8.183, 117.43 def. Knowles, foul;
SEMIFINALS — Smith, 5.888, 242.41 def. Payne, 6.029, 239.48; Walsh, 5.978, 251.58 def. Janis, 5.999, 241.45;
FINAL — Smith, 6.055, 241.24 def. Walsh, 7.393, 171.99.
Pro Modified point standings (top 10) following the 12th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers at Bristol Dragway, the fifth of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx:
1. Danny Rowe, 376; 2. Rickie Smith, 363; 3. Mike Castellana, 357; 4. Leah Pruett, 282; 5. Donald Walsh, 278; 6. Troy Coughlin, 277; 7. (tie) Kenny Lang, 250; Donald Martin, 250; 9. Pete Farber, 238; 10. Steve Matusek, 213
This story was originally published on June 18, 2012. 
