Rick Hord got the weekend off to a good start at the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the Carolina Nationals earning the Number One spot in Saturday's qualifying rounds. He piloted his 2016 turbocharged Corvette to a 5.681 ET at 258.67 mph to lay claim to the second-fastest pass in Pro Mod history. Dallas Pro Mod winner Jeremy Ray qualified second overall on his Friday run in the "Carolina Kingpin" 63' Corvette at 5.683 ET at 251.91 mph, making it the third-quickest run in the history of the class. Series points leader Mike Janis qualified seventh at 249.03 mph to earn a first-round match up against Stevie "Fast" Jackson.
This year's portion of the NHRA Carolina Nationals was presented by Mr. Race Oil and was the eleventh of 12 races for the 2018 E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod season. In Round One of eliminations on Sunday, Hord ran a 5.718 at 256.89 mph to defeat the Camaro of Bob Rahaim that coasted across the finish line. In the Quarterfinal round, Hord grabbed a holeshot win with a 5.713 ET to Justin Bond's 5.744 ET and continued his win streak by eliminating Michael Biehle's Ford Mustang in Semifinals. On the other side of the bracket, Sidnei Frigo eliminated Khalid alBalooshi in Round One and followed it up with a Quarterfinal win over Rickie Smith and Semifinal win against Jeremy Ray.
It was Hord's second career Final Round and his first career Wally in the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service. Hord posted a 5.706 ET at 257.68 mph to knock off Frigo who slowed at the line to a 5.952 ET at 253.75 mph. Mike Janis continues to lead in the points race with a 24 point lead over Rickie Smith as teams prepare for the final Pro Mod event of the year. The E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Series wraps up its 2018 championship at the NHRA Toyota Nationals on Oct. 25-28 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Pro Mod Drag Racing Series Points (thru the 11th Annual NHRA Carolina Nationals presented presented by WIX Filters at zMax Dragway)
- Mike Janis, 736; 2. Rickie Smith, 712; (tie) 3. Steve Jackson, 627; Mike Castellana, 627; 5. Chad Green, 578; 6. Jeremy Ray, 574; 7. Khalid alBalooshi, 548; 8. Rick Hord, 491; 9. Todd Tutterow, 484; 10. Jose Gonzalez, 435.
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.
