Recently the NHRA announced that longtime pro racing supporter E3 Spark Plugs had inked a new sponsorship agreement with the National Hot Rod Association. The multi-year deal included designation as the Official Ignition Products of NHRA and title sponsor for the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. The manufacturer of the Diamondfire spark plug and high performance ignition products has been an integral partner with the NHRA for several seasons. Race fans easily recognize the brand's official green and black logo from the trackside inflatable signage, advertising materials and digital lane overlays from last season's televised events.
Since the development of the spark plug that was "Born to Burn", E3 has been actively involved in American racing series from dirt to pavement and from two-wheel to four-wheel. Not satisfied to be just a sponsor of racing events, E3 applied their DiamondFIRE technology to a complete line of racing spark plugs and racing ignition products. Now, with series level of sponsorship for a very exciting drag racing class, 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 12-event Pro Mod series will come to life March 15-18 at the Gatornationals in Gainesville, FL.
The series has been growing in popularity with Pro Mod teams presenting the best and most innovative combinations turbochargers, nitrous and superchargers in a broad array of car bodies. Bodies on the Pro Mod cars are just that "professional modified" with an extended flat trunk wing for additional down force. The front body of the cars, in this forward engine class, varies based choice of the team's forced induction system. Common body styles include just about any year of popular makes and models, such as the Corvette, Camaro, Mustang, VW Beetle and Studebaker. To hit top speeds of 250 mph, the engines create over 3,000 horsepower making for incredibly exciting side-by-side racing.
The designated presenting sponsor for the Gainesville event is J&A Service and the series is supported by the Real Pro Mod (RPM) Association. Pro Mod is scheduled for two qualifying sessions on Friday at Gainesville Raceway at 12:30 and 4:30 pm; and two qualifying sessions on Saturday at 1:30 and 4:30 pm. Sunday's Round 1 of Pro Mod eliminations is set for 12:15 pm followed by Round 2 at 1:40 pm. Pro Mod Semi-finals hit the track at 2:50 pm followed by the Pro Mod Finals at 3:45 pm. Missing from this season's list of entries is three-time Pro Mod champion Troy Coughlin Sr. Son of the legendary Jeg Coughlin Sr., Troy retired after winning the Pro Mod championship in 2012, 2015 and 2017 with runner-up seasons in 2013, 2014 and 2016.
Photo courtesy of dreamstime.com
