It isn't a surprise to fans of the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Series that Rickie Smith is on track for another successful season. No one works harder or has more fun racing Pro Mod. However, the long weekend at Heartland Motorsports Park saw relative newcomer Chad Green waiting out the rain showers while holding on to the Number One qualifying position. In his second qualifying run on Friday, Green ran a 5.762 pass at 250.13 mph in the Bond-Coat 2017 Corvette. Steven Whiteley was seeded second with a faster speed of 252.28 mph but a slower ET of 5.782. Eventual winner Rickie Smith held the third place qualifying position with a 5.800 at 248.43 mph.
With racing postponed Sunday due to intermittent rain, Pro Mod teams had an extra day on the road before capping off the Heartland National on Monday afternoon. It was obvious that Chad Green came to race, but when the smoke settled, Rickie Smith became the first two-time winner of the Pro Mod season. Rain delays had left the track a bit green and Chad had to back off the throttle when his stylish Vette lost traction at the mid-track mark. The win moved Smith back to the top of the 2018 points. Baytown winner Jim Whiteley is 67 points back in fifth with Jose Gonzalez (the most recent Pro Mod winner at Charlotte) 41 points back in fourth place.
As a leading spark plugs manufacturer, E3 has been actively involved in American racing series for more than a decade. The Pro Mod class offers something for every kind of hot-rodding enthusiast and is highlighted by historic muscle cars, like ’67 Mustangs, ’68 Firebirds and ’69 Camaros, as well as late model American cars like the Corvette. As the sponsor for NHRA Pro Mod drag racing series, E3 has expanded the company’s product line to include racing distributors, spark plug wires, coils and 02 sensors under the company’s DiamondFIRE brand. The E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Series continues June 7-10 at the NHRA Virginia Nationals in Richmond VA.
Photo courtesy of RPM: Real Pro Mod
Featuring the world’s fastest and most exotic doorslammer racecars, the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service offers something for every kind of drag racing fan. With more than 3,000 horsepower, the suspended door pro mod cars travel the quarter-mile in less than six seconds at speeds exceeding 250 mph. Visit Real Pro Mod online to learn more.
