(Photo by Brandon W. Mudd)
Veteran Pro Mod driver Rickie Smith raced to his first
career victory in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx
Monday during the rain-delayed Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals presented by
NAPAFilters.com.
Smith, a former multi-time winner in NHRA Pro Stock
competition, held off event top qualifier Mike Castellana in the final round
after defeating Adam Flamholc, Raymond Commisso and Leah Pruett in the first
three rounds. In his only other NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series final round
appearance, Smith lost to Khalid alBalooshi last spring in Las Vegas.
In the final round at historic Auto-Plus Raceway at
Gainesville, Smith powered his trademark red '68 Camaro past Castellana's '68
Camaro with a performance of 5.913 seconds at 240.29 mph. Castellana left the
starting line first with an amazing .006 reaction time, but his car got loose
near mid-track and slowed to a run of 6.435 at 189.79.
The key round for Smith was his semifinal victory over Leah
Pruett. Smith won that race on a holeshot, using a quicker reaction time at the
starting line with his performance of 5.926 at 239.95 to cross the finish line
about seven feet in front of Pruett, who had the quicker time and speed in her
late-model Ford Mustang, posting a 5.919 at 251.34.
With the victory, Smith opens the season in the series lead,
19 points ahead of Castellana.
The NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx
continues April 13-15 at zMAX Dragway near Charlotte, N.C. with the third annual
NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.
