Wily Pro Mod class veteran “Trickie Rickie” Smith emerges as latest NHRA PM Series victor…

Rickie Smith drove to victory during the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service portion of the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park. That weekend’s Pro Mod racing, presented by Summit Racing Equipment was the fourth of 12 events scheduled for this season.

Wily veteran Rickie Smith scored his 13th career NHRA Pro Mod class win

Smith. from North Carolina, ran a 6.262-second pass at 233.52 mph in his nitrous injected Chevrolet Camaro to take down the No. 1 qualifier Chad Green in the final round and earn his second victory of the season and 13th of his career.

Smith defeated Harry Hruska, Shane Molinari and Todd Tutterow on his to the win after qualifying in the #3 position.

“I’m just glad we won the thing,” Smith stated. “I think every round we had to work for it. Everybody was tough competition. You hate to start watching points, but when you start getting going you hate to give any round up. As a driver I have to try the best I can.”

Chad Green secured his first runner-up finish at the second race of his Pro Mod career. The Texas based racer was re-emerging on the NHRA Pro Mod scene driving an all new Chevy Camaro – which was a rebound from a vicious crash he endured with a Corvette during the season-opening E3 Spark Plugs event back at Gainesville Raceway’s Gatornationals last March.

PM Class racing at Topeka attracted 24 machines for the 16 car field who produced a bump spot of 5.860 secs. Khalid alBalooshi was the event’s low qualifier (at 5.728 secs) and Shane Molinari set top speed for the breed at 252.57 mph racing his super swift Pacific Northwest based turbocharged Firebird.

As he often does — speedy Shane Molinari – set top speed of the event in Pro Mod – during NHRA’s event at Topeka KS

The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service continues at the Virginia NHRA Nationals in Richmond, Va. On June 8-10.

Posted with files and photos by NHRA Communications and Bruce Biegler