NHRA Pro Mod Round #1 to Smith

Wily veteran racer Von Smith scored the first major Pro Mod class title of the season during NHRA’s Amalie Oil Gatornationals held at Gainesville Florida.   The event marked the 2013 season debut for the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series…

Smith, who was the 2010 NHRA World Champion in the highly popular  250-mph doorslammer category, powered his supercharged “Dr. Moon’s Rage” ’68 Camaro to the win over Chip King Strutmasters-sponsored Dodge Daytona in the final round.

Von Smith won the Gatornationals Pro Mod title when Chip King (far lane) had a foul start in the final.

Smith recorded a winning time of  5.931 seconds at 244.60 mph to take his fourth career win in the class, while King fouled at the start in his much improved turbocharged entry during what was his first career NHRA final round appearance.  King’s final round loss did include a rather impressive 250.97 mph top end terminal speed which was the fastest of the category at this event.

The Tennessee-based Von Smith had qualified #7 (5.953 secs) outran defending NHRA world champ Troy Coughlin, No. 2 qualifier Danny Rowe and Pete Farber in the first three rounds.

The event was once again highlight rich with on track action including Mike Castellana’s pole qualifying and low ET of the meet effort of 5.844 secs.

New York’s Mike Janis provided the event’s most harrowing moment during Saturday’s first round  when his all new 2013 Chevy Camaro experienced a major top end fire when a fuel fitting broke.   Janis’s team, which won that round, then worked tirelessly after that to patch up the car in time to make the 2nd round on Sunday only to loose out to Eric Dillard who was driving Jim Bell’s incredible turbocharged Mustang from Canada at the event.

New York’s Mike Janis overcame a serious top end fire while advancing to round #2 in his new Camaro

With his victory,  Von Smith opens up an initial a 22-point lead over second place King in the 10-race series standings.

The NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series continues April 19-21 with the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, N.C. The category will compete in the traditional two-lane format at the event.

Jim Bell’s Mustang from Edmonton went to the “final four” in Pro Mod with Eric Dillard driving.