Torrid Pro Mod Season Wraps at Las Vegas
Georgia-based R2B2 Racing continued their turbo terrorizing season and a World Champion was crowned during the NHRA’s GSA Pro Mod Series concluding event held at Las Vegas….
Team effort = Another Score for R2B2 Racing’s Pruett
California-based Leah Pruett ended the 2011 Get Screened America Pro Mod Series season with back-to-back victories, but she didn’t win the Las Vegas hosted Big O Tires NHRA Nationals alone.
Pruett’s ProCare Rx turbo Mustang ate up some parts on the way to her ultimate victory over Danny Rowe, but the R2B2 crew was always there to fix the damage and keep the car consistent.
“This race is where the crew stood out,” Pruett said. “This R2B2 Mustang does have problems sometimes, but when you have the best crew in the world, that’s how you win. They shined through the thrashes we had to go through between the rounds.”
In the final, the Mustang’s consistency in the face of adversity shone through as Pruett ran a 5.910 second pass at 253.04 mph to more than handle series runner-up Rowe, who ran a 5.940 at 243.55 mph.
It’s the third straight victory for this particular car, and R2B2 Racing cars won three of the final four events of the season. The Mustang has yet to be beaten this season – a point in which Pruett takes great pride.
“Mission definitely accomplished. I think we ran Las Vegas out of its luck,” Pruett said. “I’m so happy to end the season with a win. I can’t wait for next season to start. I love this turbo Mustang.”
Pruett dodged some close calls along the way to her victory. She was the beneficiary of her opponent (Joe Lepone Jr) fouling out in the first round on Saturday after her car struggled to get the motor started.
On Sunday, she was a holeshot winner over teammate Melanie Troxel in the semis. In that race, Pruett used a .012-second advantage at the starting line to hold off a hard-charging Troxel.
Troxel’s ET was quicker – 5.892 seconds at 253.85 mph to Pruett’s 5.897 at 251.20 mph, but the edge at the starting line translated to a .005-second margin of victory.
In the second round, Pruett beat Pete Farber with a run of 5.927 seconds at 249.95 mph. Farber was late off the line and ran a 6.152 at 237.38 mph.
“We’ve got the best hot rod in the class,” Pruett said. “It’s proven it over and over again – I can say over 12 times for every consecutive round win this car has made. It’s an in-house car, which makes us proud. If anyone is in the market for a Pro Mod car, our R2B2 Race Cars shop builds the best.”
GSA PRO MOD | NAME | ET | MPH | CAREER WIN |
Winner: | Leah Pruett | 5.910 | 253.04 | 2nd |
R/UP: | Danny Rowe | 5.940 | 243.55 | |
Low ET: | Brad Personett | 5.848 | ||
Top Speed: | Brad Personett | 256.70 | ||
Bump Spot: | 6.117 |
Series Championship to Khalid!
The season-ending NHRA event also determined the overall series points champion for 2011. Dohar Qatar’s Khalid Al Balooshi mathematically clinched the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing world championship title when he won his first round match over Mike Janis on Saturday evening.
The very talented middle-eastern racer collected a $50,000 champion’s prize when he powered his nitrous injected Speedtech ’68 Camaro to a 5.956-seconds at 240.59 mph past Mike Janis’ supercharged Mustang.
“This was such a great season for us,” said Balooshi. “I appreciate everyone who’s worked with us, our team, my team owner and everyone involved. I had such an amazing year and this just tops it off. I’m very excited.”
Balooshi’s world championship-winning season included race wins at the first two events of the season (in Gainesville and the Las Vegas spring race) as well as a final round appearance at Houston. He also qualified No. 1 qualifiers twice — at Gainesville and Atlanta.
Posted by: Craig Wack & Bruce Biegler
Photos by: Bruce Biegler
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