The Carolina Kingpin claimed his first Wally in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing series presented by J&A Services over the weekend. Jeremy Ray piloted his "Carolina Kingpin" 63' Corvette to a holeshot win with a 5.785 ET at 248.07 mph to Justin Bond's faster 255.53 mph run his Pontiac Firebird during Sunday's finals. Ray was runner up at Norwalk earlier in the season but it was Bond's first appearance in a Pro Mod final. An exuberant Ray thanked his crew for staying ahead of everything all week to deliver the win in his inaugural season of the E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod series.
Brazilian driver Sidnei Frigo, who finished fifth overall in 2017 Pro Mod division, earned top honors in qualifying. In Round One, Frigo eliminated Danny Rowe with 251.25 mph pass. The driver of the Artivinco Racing 69' Camaro posted a 256.11 mph run to defeat Mike Castellana in the quarterfinals. On the other side of the bracket, Jeremy Ray defeated Gateway winner Steve "Fast" Jackson and Steven Whitelely to advance to the seminfinals. Frigo left early in semifinal run, so the red-light foul gave Ray a free ticket to final.
The weekend’s Pro Mod racing portion of the 33rd annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at Ennis, TX, was also presented by Bruce Lowrie Chevrolet. For the Pro Mod teams, the Texas Motorplex event was the tenth race of the twelve-race season. E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series continues next week at the NHRA Carolina Nationals, as race fans converge on zMAX Dragway located in Charlotte, N.C. Al Anabi Performance-sponsored Mike Janis continues to lead the 2018 points standings with Jeremy Ray moving up to seventh overall.
Pro Mod Drag Racing Series Points (thru the 33rd annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals)
1. Mike Janis, 683; 2. Rickie Smith, 658; 3. Steve Jackson, 595; 4. Mike Castellana, 593; 5. Chad Green, 546; 6. Khalid alBalooshi, 517; 7. Jeremy Ray, 497; 8. Jose Gonzalez, 435; 9. Todd Tutterow, 433; 10. Danny Rowe, 380.
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.
