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BROWNSBURG, Ind. – Defending NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series world champion Rickie Smith raced to the qualifying lead Friday at the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, the seventh of 10 events on the Pro Mod schedule. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis is presented by JEGS.
Smith powered his late model IDG nitrous-injected Camaro to a leading performance of 5.901 seconds at 246.48 mph. Smith, who won his first race of the year at Bristol Dragway in June, is looking for his second No. 1 qualifier of the season and sixth of his career.
“Luckily, we ran a little better down the back half,” Smith said. “It was a little tricky out there; you didn’t know what to do. The clouds had come in, the air was starting to blow and the track was starting to cool down. I didn’t think I had enough clutch, but I ended up having too much clutch. Luckily we made a pretty good call and made a good run.”
Former Pro Mod world champion Khalid alBalooshi was second in his Precision Turbo and Engine 1969 Camaro with a 5.908 at 245.09 and Steve Whiteley was third in his Cadillac CTS-V with a 5.920 at 245.76.
Series points leader and Gainesville winner Bob Rahaim was 10th after the first session with a 6.005 at 243.90 while second place points sitter Troy Coughlin qualified fifth in his Corvette.
Two rounds of Pro Mod qualifying will be held Saturday at 2 and 5:30 p.m. The fourth and final round of qualifying will be held on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. before the first round of eliminations at 2 p.m.
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