Reigning NHRA Pro Mod world champion Rickie Smith (above) topped qualifying with a track record E.T. on Friday and followed that up with a first-round win in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
Smith set an Atlanta Dragway record with his 5.840-second pass at 248.52 mph. Smith would pilot his IDG ’13 Camaro against No. 16 qualifier Chip King, with Smith prevailing with a 5.778 pass at 250.04 to reach the second round of the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series race in Atlanta, presented by the Real Pro Mod Association at this event. Smith will have lane choice over No. 8 qualifier Troy Coughlin in the second round.
Jim Laurita qualified No. 2 with a 5.835 pass at 245.45 but fell to No. 15 qualifier Von Smith in the first round of eliminations. Smith ran a 5.942 at 240.94 to advance to the second round against Gainesville winner Matt Castellana. Castellana, the No. 7 seed, defeated No 10 qualifier Don Walsh with his 6.108 run at 208.84.
Other second-round matchups include No. 3 qualifier Kevin Fiscus against No. 11 seed Steve Matusek and No. 4 Danny Rowe against No. 5 Steven Whiteley.
Pro Mod Series eliminations continue on Sunday, May 17.
(Photo by Ian Tocher)
COMMERCE, Ga. — First round results May 16, from the 34th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, the third of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
ROUND ONE — Troy Coughlin, Chevy Corvette, 5.886, 241.63 def. Mike Knowles, Chevy Camaro, 5.918, 244.52; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 6.108, 208.84 def. Don Walsh, Camaro, 12.169, 57.46; Steve Matusek, Camaro, 5.896, 246.39 def. Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, 6.061, 229.82; Steven Whiteley, Camaro, no time def. Dan Stevenson, Camaro, DQ.; Danny Rowe, Camaro, 5.832, 249.12 def. Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.875, 248.11; Kevin Fiscus, Ford Mustang, 5.903, 248.98 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 5.949, 244.03; Von Smith, Camaro, 5.942, 240.94 def. Jim Laurita, Camaro, 9.812, 89.65; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.778, 250.04 def. Chip King, Daytona, 8.677, 91.46.
COMMERCE, Ga. – Final order after 3 rounds of qualifying in Pro Modified at the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, 34th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals:
Psn—Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type—————Qual-ET–Qual-Spd-Top Spd
1 1 Rickie Smith, King NC, ’13 Camaro 5.795@ 250.13 250.13
2 1087 Jim Laurita, Morgantown WV, ’68 Camaro 5.835 245.45 245.45
3 220F Kevin Fiscus, Jacksonville FL, ’12 Mustang 5.853 249.21 249.21
4 6 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, ’68 Camaro 5.872 247.29 247.29
5 5200 Steven Whiteley, Grand Junction CO, ’68 Camaro 5.877 246.17 246.17
6 8 Pete Farber, Baldwinville MA, ’69 Daytona 5.896 247.52 247.52
7 3 Mike Castellana, Muttontown NY, ’69 Camaro 5.901 241.67 241.67
8 2 Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH, ’12 Corvette 5.915 243.55 243.55
9 5011 Mike Knowles, Grand Junction CO, ’68 Camaro 5.920 240.55 240.55
10 3382 Don Walsh, Wixom MI, ’68 Camaro 5.925 247.02 247.02
11 5450 Steve Matusek, Olathe KS, ’68 Camaro 5.937 246.44 246.44
12 303 Dan Stevenson, Bolingbrook IL, ’13 Camaro 5.949 244.12 244.12
13 1456 Mike Janis, Lancaster NY, ’13 Camaro 5.951 246.08 246.08
14 1938 Eric Latino, Whitby ON, ’69 Camaro 5.951 240.08 240.08
15 2377 Von Smith, Oak Ridge TN, ’69 Camaro 5.976 239.44 239.44
16 9 Chip King, Semora NC, ’69 Daytona 5.985 245.81 245.81
———— Not Qualified ————
17 7 Kenny Lang, Grande Pointe MB, ’69 Camaro 5.988 237.13 237.13
18 324 Bill Glidden, Whiteland IN, ’10 Mustang 6.006 231.87 233.16
19 701 Clint Satterfield, Albuquerque NM, ’68 Firebi 6.109 243.63 246.12
20 2105 Doug Winters, Pleasant Garden NC, ’57 Bel Air 6.144 228.31 228.31
21 6967 Jim Bell, Edmonton AB, ’69 Camaro 6.272 203.03 203.03
22 377 Harold Martin, New Hudson MI, ’14 Corvette 9.084 100.61 100.61
23 567 Chris Juliano, Iberia MO, ’67 Mustang 9.989 88.79 88.79
