Canada’s Pro Mod class racing subset gets a glimpse of the future…..
During last week’s NHRA Summit Racing Nationals in Ohio a very dedicated Western Canadian drag racer – Justin Bond – provided some percolating news.
Justin, who is from Mission BC, and who is already a well honed drag racer and proponent in his own right (as well as being a VP for Mission Raceway itself) took some laps in one of the most top echelon Pro Mod cars out there. Justin was a designated driver for one of the highly formidable Bahrain 1 Racing team cars – doing a stint behind the wheel of Rickie Smith’s turbocharged Mustang at that E3 Spark Plugs Series race.
For Bond, this was somewhat of a followup to that highly impressive placing (a final round finish) during the NHRA AAA Texas Nationals last fall – which came in his very first start in the class (!!!) Bond was then driving the JBS Limited/RAD Torque Systems Pontiac Firebird which he co-owned with Shane Molinari.
“At the end of last year Shane and I decided to wrap things up and we sold off our racing operation,” Justin confirmed. “Originally I wanted to take all of 2019 off to work on my business and spend more time with my family.”
“But then I heard that Rickie Smith wanted me to drive this race car – so we did a deal and I came out (to Ohio) to do this. I did have some longer term plans about getting back into Pro Mod and also building my relationship with Pro-Line Racing – so it was a nice fit — and it also accelerated some of my goals.”
At Ohio Justin ran well in the car – getting it into the Sunday’s tough 16-cars eliminator with a 5.79 secs qualifying run. In round one he did get beat by Mike Castellana by a 5.738 secs to 5.803 secs count.
“Before racing at Norwalk I did make a few test runs in the Mustang at Galot,” Justin added. “This is a newer car and chassis than the Firebird so that does take a little bit getting used to. But when I push down on the gas and let the buttons go — it really roars — with a smooth feel.”
Bond confirmed that his appearance at Norwalk would be the first of four driving Rickie’s race car – for this season. Due to a conflict he (at this point) will not enter Indy — but will be back in the RSR Mustang for NHRA Charlotte, St. Louis and Las Vegas.
As to what this is setting up to be for 2020 – that is still somewhat of a TBA.
“Ideally — I’d like to keep it going and be at all 12 NHRA E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Series races next season,” he added. “In a perfect world it would be my own deal with my own sponsors — but in conjunction with Rickie’s race team probably. We (my current crew) would do some off-season development and be fully ready to go for Gainesville next year. My objective would not be just participation — I want a “top 3″ car and to be able to win at any race I enter.”
Post and photos by Bruce Biegler