It was another exciting weekend for the teams and drivers at the 2018 E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service. Featuring the world's fastest door-slammer racecars on the planet, the series is the only class that allows for multiple makes of cars, builders and engines to compete heads up. From historic muscle cars like a nitrous-powered '67 Mustang to late model classics with full-blown superchargers, Pro Mod is drawing 30-plus weekly competitors separated by hundredths-of-a-second at the finish line. 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.
Rumors of a driver change circulated mid-week with the announcement that the man who is responsible for the fastest turbo cars in the world (Proline's Eric Dillard) would be behind the wheel of Shane Molinari's turbocharged Pontiac at the Thunder Valley Nationals. Although the change of drivers was unexpected, Dillard was an ideal choice to sub for Molinari while the driver from the Northwest recovers from an illness. Dillard is an accomplished Pro Mod driver that works as a test driver for the Q80 Racing Team. Dillard was eliminated in Round 2 by finalist Todd Tutterow. Molinari is expected to return to the driver's seat next weekend in Norwalk.
Doug Winters got the crash-and-burn section of the show started during the final stage of Pro Mod qualifying when he crossed the centerline and smacked the retainer wall. Winters left under his own power. Steven Whiteley collected the Number One qualifying position Saturday during the E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod NHRA Drag Racing Series qualifying portion of the Thunder Valley Nationals. Driving the Y-Not Racing 2018 Camaro, this was Whiteley's first top qualifier this season. The on-track excitement continued when the parachutes on Chad Green's Camaro failed to deploy after a head-to-head elimination run sending Green flipping in front of round winner Danny Rowe.
Rowe's day ended in the semi final run when Khalid alBalooshi posted a 5.92 ET to Rowe's 5.94 ET for the day's closest victory. Driving the Bahrain 1 Chevy Camaro in the event final, Khalid alBalooshi posted a nearly identical 5.924 ET at 247.38 mph to defeat Todd Tutterow's Camaro. It was alBalooshi's first trip to the winner's circle in Pro Mod Series for 2018. Khalid alBalooshi has four previous wins in Pro Mod and four wins in Top Fuel. Mike Janis retains his points lead in the Pro Mod series but AlBalooshi moves to third following his win at Thunder Valley. The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service continues at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio June 21-24.
Photo courtesy of RPM: Real Pro Mod
Featuring the world’s fastest and most exotic door-slammer 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.
