J&A Services Pro Mod class car racing at Englishtown included a final round battle of class heavyweights…..

Rickie Smith powered his nitrous assisted ’17 Camaro to victory during the NHRA J&A Pro Mod Drag Racing Series at the NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The weekend’s Pro Mod racing, presented by Aquaball, marked the season half way point for the 12 events this season.

Wily class racer Rickie Smith earned his first circuit win of the season at Englishtown.

The defending world champion faced the No. 1 qualifier, Troy Coughlin, driver of the feared Jegs Mail Order turbocharged Corvette C7 in the final round. Smith posted a winning time of 5.884-seconds at 247.93 to the trailing time of 5.882 at 255.29.

“It’s just awesome to come back,” Smith stated. “People can like me or not like me; I race hard, I work hard, and I’ve got God on my side. That’s all that matters to me.”

Smith, who is from North Carolina had taken the measure of Canadian Eric Latino in round one and then defeated Shane Molinari and Steven Whiteley in the next two rounds to make the final.

Runner-up Coughlin had set low ET of the event when he qualified at 5.772 secs to earn the pole. Molinari – who is from the Pacific Northwest – set top speed again in the class – this time at 258.42 mph.

Canadian Pro Mod racer Eric Latino qualified solidly at E-Town (5.822 secs #7) but lost out to eventual winner Rickie Smith in round one.

Guest driver – (New Jersey-based engine building expert Carl Stevens Jr) drove Jim Bell’s 69 Camaro to it’s quickest run yet — 5.813 secs @ 254.33 – to qualify #5

J&A Services PM racing included a new class player – Dean Marinis who ran this new C7 – but was a DNQ at his first event

Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos by Steve Embling, Dave DeAngelis and Phil Hutchison