ARTICLE REPOSTED FROM NHRA.COM
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BRISTOL, Tenn. – Rickie Smith claimed his first win of the season in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. This weekend’s Pro Mod competition, presented by the Will Kinzer Foundation for Autism Research in association with the Autism Society of East Tennessee, was the fifth of 10 events in the season.
Smith, the two-time and defending world champ, powered his IDG 2015 Chevy Camaro to a winning performance of 5.944-seconds at 244.52 mph over Gainesville winner Bob Rahaim’s TLC Waste Management 2015 Corvette. The win was the King, N.C. native’s eighth career victory and third at Bristol Dragway. He is now fifth in points.
“It was a good time to start making rounds,” said Smith of the switch to his new Camaro. “There are still a lot of races left. We gave up on it a couple of races ago but this may get a little fire back in the old guy’s eyes again.”
Rahaim, the No. 1 qualifier with the ninth fastest Pro Mod run ever in qualifying, fouled out with a red-light during the final, negating his 5.962 at 230.72. He was searching for his second career win. Rahaim is second in points.
The NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series next heads to Norwalk, Ohio for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, July 2-5.
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BRISTOL, Tenn. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 15th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The fifth of 10 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
PRO MODIFIED:
1. Rickie Smith; 2. Bob Rahaim; 3. Troy Coughlin; 4. Kevin Fiscus; 5. Danny Rowe; 6. Bill Glidden; 7. Kenny Lang; 8. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 9. Khalid alBalooshi; 10. Jim Whiteley; 11. Pete Farber; 12. Steve Matusek; 13. Clint Satterfield; 14. Don Walsh; 15. Mike Janis; 16. Eric Dillard.
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