VETERAN RICKIE SMITH LEADS QUALIFYING AND ADVANCES TO QUARTER-FINALS IN PRO MOD SERIES AT FORD NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS PRESENTED BY TRI-CITIES AREA FORD DEALERS

Veteran Rickie Smith powered his IDG ’12 Camaro to No. 1 qualifying position and advanced past the No. 16 qualifier in the first round of eliminations in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx portion of the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers Saturday at Bristol Dragway.

Smith ran two mid 5.9-second range qualifying passes, but his 5.900 second pass at 240.85 mph Friday night earned him the qualifying lead heading into Saturday afternoon’s eliminations. Smith’s 5.966 second pass at 239.82 mph pass was too much for the No. 16 qualifier Doug Winters’ Chevy Bel Air’s 6.709 second pass at 163.24 mph. in the opening round of eliminations Saturday. Smith will face Mike Knowles in the second round Sunday afternoon and Smith will have lane choice.

The most recent Pro Mod winner and No. 2 qualifier Troy Coughlin, in his JEGS.com Chevy Camaro, outran Kenny Lang in a close opening round match-up, 6.079 seconds at 247.75 to Lang’s 6.164 seconds at 223.32 mph. The No. 3 qualifier Donald Martin and No. 5 qualifier and 2012 race winner Danny Rowe both were upset in the first round of eliminations Saturday.  

Pro Mod eliminations continue Sunday at approximately 3:30 p.m.

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BRISTOL, Tenn. -- First round-by-round results from the 12th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers at Bristol Dragway, the fifth of ten events in the  NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx:

ROUND ONE -- Scott Ray, Chevy Corvette, 6.329, 226.70 def. Rick Stivers, Chevy Camaro, foul; Troy Coughlin, Camaro, 6.079, 247.75 def. Kenny Lang, Camaro, 6.164, 223.32; Mike Knowles, Camaro, 6.721, 227.80 def. Leah Pruett, Ford Mustang, 8.270, 116.28; Donald Walsh, ford Mustang, 5.977, 250.13 def. Donald Martin, Camaro, 11.901, 73.97; Mike Janis, Mustang, 6.019, 240.81 def. Pete Farber, Dodge Daytona, foul; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 6.009, 239.02 def. Roger Burgess, Corvette, 6.078, 247.88; Jay Payne, Camaro, 6.094, 238.72 def. Danny Rowe, Camaro, 13.984, 66.70; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 5.966, 239.82 def. Doug Winters, Chevy Bel Air, 6.709, 163.24;

NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare Rx final order after 3 rounds of qualifying at the 12th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers:

Psn---Num-Driver, Home Town, Car Type---------------Qual-ET--Qual-Spd-Top Spd

  1   43 Rickie Smith, King NC, '12 Camaro               5.900  240.85  240.85

  2   24 Troy Coughlin, Delaware OH, t'68 Camaro         5.951  251.06  251.06

  3  770 Donald Martin, Lake Forest CA, *'68 Camaro      5.955  242.67  242.80

  4  213 Chip King, Southport NC, t'69 Daytona           5.967  246.89  246.89

  5    2 Danny Rowe, Laguna Hills CA, *'68 Camaro        5.971  242.28  242.28

  6 1794 Mike Castellana, Muttontown NY, '69 Camaro      5.974  238.01  239.19

  7 1456 Mike Janis, Lancaster NY, '10 Mustang           5.993  241.76  241.76

  8  777 Leah Pruett, Cherry Valley CA, t'12 Mustang     6.005  251.02  251.02

  9 5011 Mike Knowles, Grand Junction CO, *'68 Camaro    6.025  240.42  240.42

10 1518 Pete Farber, Baldwinville MA, *'69 Daytona      6.025  240.17  240.17

11  272 Roger Burgess, Duluth GA, '53 Corvette          6.050  247.38  247.38

12    9 Jay Payne, Ontario CA, '12 Camaro               6.093  238.60  238.60

13  314 Rick Stivers, Lexington KY, '69 Camaro          6.110  233.96  233.96

14 3382 Donald Walsh, Wixom MI, t'11 Mustang            6.119  247.20  247.20

15    4 Kenny Lang, Grande Pointe MB, '69 Camaro        6.167  236.67  236.67

16 2105 Doug Winters, Kernersville NC, '57 Bel Air      6.455  217.25  217.25