Full Circle Win for Rickie Smith 

Veteran racer Rickie Smith, from North Carolina,  returned the track at which he had his most serious career racing accident and produced a very dramatic come back victory…

Smith earned that very emotional and gratifying win during the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx victory during the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers at Bristol Dragway. 

Rickie Smith earned an emotional comeback victory at Bristol last weekend

In 2011 at this race, Smith suffered a spectacular crash that caused him to take a hiatus from the sport due to a knee injury but the veteran driver came back toBristolon a mission.  

After first claiming the No.1 qualifying position he earned his second win of the 2012 season.  Smith and his IDG-sponsored nitrous-injected Camaro ran a 6.055 second pass at 241.24 mph beat Donald Walsh’s turbocharged Mustang which slowed to a 7.393 secs at 171.99 mph in the final round of eliminations. 

Donald Walsh had his best finish yet in NHRA's Pro Care RX Pro Mod series

Smith also beat veteran driver Jay Payne in the semifinals, Mike Knowles in the quarterfinals and Doug Winters in the opening round of eliminations. 

With his win, which included low ET of the event at 5.888 secs, Smith has moved into second place in the Pro Care RX Championship chase, right behind Canadian Danny Rowe.

Troy Coughlin's ever improving turbocharged Camaro qualified #2 with a 5.951 secs

Photos by:  Bruce Biegler