Ricky Smith Earns First NHRA Pro Mod Victory

(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.

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GET SCREENED AMERICA EXERCISES OPTION TO CANCEL TELEVISION BROADCASTS OF SERIES ON ESPN2 AND ESPN2HD

Get Screened America has informed NHRA that it will no longer fund the television broadcast of the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series beginning with the 2012 season. Get Screened America also confirmed its commitment to remain as series sponsor until the end of 2014, fulfilling the terms of the initial deal which began in 2010. 

The formation of the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series was made possible by the financial commitment and support of ProCare Rx and Get Screened America, led by Roger Burgess.  NHRA hopes to find a new series sponsor to replace Get Screened America and continue the series beyond 2014. However, if a sponsor is not found before December 2012, the Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will be discontinued after the 2014 race season.

Beginning in 2012, Get Screened America opted out of funding television coverage of the series, which currently airs on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD.  Get Screened America provided 100 percent of the financial support necessary for these programs.

“We are glad that we were able to create the series, however, for it to continue, another entity will need to get involved,” said Roger Burgess. “The series can offer a lot to a new sponsor and I will work hand-in-hand with NHRA to search for a new one.”

After the first seven races of the 2011 NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, Khalid Balooshi leads the championship standings, 23 points ahead of Danny Rowe.  Rounding out the top five are Ed Hoover, Ken Lang, and Mike Castellana.   In Englishtown, N.J. last month, Melanie Troxel set both ends of the NHRA national record with a pass of 5.772 seconds at 258.71 mph in her turbocharged ProCare Rx ’53 Corvette.  The next race that will include the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series is the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31 – Sept. 5 in Indianapolis.

“We can’t thank Roger and his team enough for everything they have done and NHRA will continue to work with him through the 2014 season,” said Tom Compton, president, NHRA. “Roger’s financial support made the series and television broadcast possible and for that we are grateful.”

The NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series was formed in 2010 with the financial commitment of ProCare Rx and Get Screened America, who agreed to a multi-year commitment to fund the series.  As announced when the series was formed, continuation of the series depends on dedicated sponsorship. The 2012 NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series schedule will be announced later this year.

Pruett-Leduc ready for Pro Mod debut in Englishtown

(Leah Pruett-Leduc. Photo Courtesy of Go2Geiger PR)

After several successful test runs in the RoadRage.com Camaro, R2B2 Racing's newest addition, Leah Pruett-Leduc, will make her Get Screened America Pro Mod Series debut June 3-5 at the NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown, N.J.

"Pro Mod is the most difficult car I've ever driven," said Pruett-LeDuc, the reigning Nostalgia Funny Car champion. "I feel fully prepared for Englishtown. I'm very comfortable in the car, but it definitely keeps you on your toes."

Pruett-Leduc's addition to the team will cause some shuffling around the R2B2 Racing pits. Pruett-Leduc will drive the supercharged RoadRage.com Camaro previously driven by Melanie Troxel, who will take over the silver turbocharged ProCare Rx Corvette driven by team owner Roger Burgess through the first part of the season. Burgess moves into a blue turbocharged Firebird for the remainder of the season.

"There's a lot going on," Pruett-Leduc said. "For my part, I'm just going to take it slow. I don't anticipate lighting the world on fire, but at the same time I am a competitive person so when I get out there I'm going to want to win.

"I know I'm going to have to be cautious at first because I'm still new to this class and these cars. Being a smart driver is just as important at this point as qualifying for the race."

On top of her duties in her new Pro Mod ride, Pruett-Leduc is starting a driver training program with newly hired R2B2 VP of research and development John Medlen in a Funny Car. The goal with that particular project is to be ready to race and have plenty of laps under her belt if and when a sponsor for a second R2B2 Racing Funny Car is secured.

"It's a point of pride for me to bring a sponsor to Roger," Pruett-Leduc said. "Right now, it's all about getting laps so that when something does come along, we'll be ready to go.

"We’re using a restrictor plate on the engine and making passes whenever we can. I'm just tickled about it. I hadn't been in a real nitro car for more than two years, and when I got back in one, it was amazing."

Pruett-Leduc's first competitive pass in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series will come next Friday at Old Bridge Township Raceway.