NHRA’s amazing E3 Spark Plugs Pro Modified category produces another new winner…
Florida’s Rick Hord, who had previously for a number of seasons been a very competent racer with NHRA’s Competition eliminator category has risen fast since stepping into the ranks of the Pro Modified class this season.
Racing his latest version car “Maximum Effort IV” a Chevrolet C7, which features a turbocharged Xtreme Racing Engines program by Carl Stevens, Hord made another major mark last weekend during the NHRA Carolina Nationals.
After qualifying #1 with a sensational run at 5.681 secs, Hord powered past the field to his first career victory within the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service event portion.

Rick Hord’s “Maximum Effort” C7 ran the second quickest time in Pro Mod history while winning at zMax Dragway.
Hord, whose qualifying run post was the second-quickest pass in the history of the class, went an equally impressive 5.706 at 257.68 mph in his ’16 Corvette to knock off Brazil’s Sidnei Frigo in the final round, who slowed to a 5.952 at 253.75 in his ’69 Camaro.
This was Hord’s second career final round appearance. For runner-up Frigo, the event was the second consecutive NHRA event he was credited with setting top speed — this time at 259.56 mph.
“I thought we had a good chance,” Hord said. “In Dallas, we had the combination and we broke parts, and we really thought that was going to be our race. Here, we just tried for consistency and that worked real well for us. This is amazing.”

Former NHRA Competition eliminator racer Rick Hord has quickly established himself now as a top contender within Pro Mod class racing.
Hord defeated Bob Rahaim, Canadian racer Justin Bond and Michael Biehle to advance to the final round. His victory also came over a super speedy assembly of Pro Mod cars that showcased a bump spot being 5.769 secs.
The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series wraps up its 2018 season at the NHRA Toyota Nationals on Oct. 25-28 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
In that World Championship points race, leader Mike Janis now holds a 24-point lead over Rickie Smith heading into the final event. Both Janis and Smith were knocked out of competition at zMax Dragway during round two last weekend.
Posted by Bruce Biegler
Photos courtesy of NHRA and by Bruce Biegler