Wily veteran racer Von Smith prevailed to win over what was arguably the most ferocious Pro Modified class field in NHRA history….

Smith, who is from Tennessee, raced to victory during the concluding round for the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. Last weekend’s Pro Mod racing at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis was presented by JEGS and was the seventh of 10 Pro Mod events on the NHRA 2016 season calendar.

Von Smith roared to the Pro Mod title racing his supercharged C7!

Von Smith roared to the Pro Mod title racing his supercharged C7!

Smith collected over the quickest and largest assembly of Pro Mod cars ever seen at a NHRA national event race.  He prevailed over 32 other machines who had collectively lowed the NHRA’s all time record quick bump spot (for the 16-car field) to an amazing 5.892 secs!

In the all C7 final round Smith raced his supercharged Al-Anabi Racing Chevy Corvette (which is turned by Frank Manzo) to shut off final round pass of 11.726-second pass at 73.67 mph to defeat Troy Coughlin, who had a -.0001 red light in his turbocharged JEGS.com Chevy Corvette.

PM points leader Troy Coughlin Jr - qualified #1 with low ET of the event at 5.773 secs.

PM points leader Troy Coughlin Jr – qualified #1 with low ET of the event at 5.773 secs.

Smith tallied his first victory of 2016 and seventh of his career Pro Mod career. He outlasted Danny Rowe, 2011 champ Khalid alBalooshi and Doug Winters in the earlier rounds.

“My hat’s off to the whole crew because this car has been up and down for us all season,” said Smith, won the Pro Mod championship in 2010. “The best thing about everything is I didn’t know that I had won. I’m coasting down through there and not liking it, going ‘We almost did it, we’ll get another shot in a couple weeks.’ I come around the corner and the guy’s pointing me to the left and I’m like ‘What? Are you kidding me?’ I threw my hands up like ‘Did I win?’ He threw up the number one and I was like, ‘How about that.”

Coughlin, who qualified #1, beat Steven Whiteley, Bob Rahaim and Billy Glidden in the earlier rounds before leaving the starting line early in the final. Coughlin, the reigning and two-time world champion, won earlier this year in Englishtown, N.J and with his runner-up finish maintained his overall championship points lead.

Billy Glidden had a "final four" finish

Billy Glidden had a “final four” finish

Next up for the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series is at the NHRA Carolina Nationals, Sept. 16-18, at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, N.C.

Eric Latino was the only Canadian car to crack the quick field - running 5.859 secs for #8.

Eric Latino was the only Canadian car to crack the quick field – running 5.859 secs for #8.

Great to see Brazil's Sidnei Frigo back in action following his nasty crash earlier this season.

Great to see Brazil’s Sidnei Frigo back in action following his nasty crash earlier this season.

"Street Outlaws" TV reality star Justin Shearer entered at Indy but his best run of 6.361 secs was distant from qualifying.

“Street Outlaws” TV reality star Justin Shearer entry was big news at Indy but his best run of 6.361 secs was light years away from qualifying.

California's Michael Bowman set top speed of the race at 256.89 mph racing his mega cool turbocharged Chenille.

California’s Michael Bowman set top speed of the race at 256.89 mph racing his super cool turbocharged Chevelle.

Posted with files by NHRA Communications and Bruce Biegler
Photos by Bruce Biegler & Brennan Shortall