If you are going to win your first race in the E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Drag Racing series presented by Hoosier Tire, then there's no better place than at the 50th annual Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals. That's what North Carolina native Todd Tutterow did to take home a special edition "Gold" Wally trophy for his first ever NHRA win in Pro Mod. But, Tutterow's holeshot win was only part of the record-breaking Sunday afternoon at Gainesville Raceway.
In the same final event that Tutterow won, Fast Stevie Jackson set an E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod national speed record with a quicker 5.643 ET at 253 mph, but didn't get the win. The incoming Pro Mod record holder, Mike Castellana, had a scary moment during qualifying on Saturday, when his AAP Camaro came off the tree sideways and crashed. Castellana was not injured in the incident. Tutterow had defeated Mike Janis, Chad Green and Marc Caruso on his way to the first Pro Mod final in 2019, while Jackson took out Eric Latino, Steven Whiteley and Jeremy Ray.
Although racers always want to win the opening event of the season, this year's race was a milestone event. Not just the traditional season opener for E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Drag Racing series, the 2019 edition was the 50th anniversary of the historic event. Friday, Saturday and Sunday saw sellout crowds in attendance at the newly paved Gainesville Raceway. The cool spring weather and new track surface helped to produce record-breaking elapsed times as well as photo finishes down to the thousands.
The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service continues at the NHRA SpringNationals in Houston TX on April 12-14.
Photo courtesy of Real Pro Mod.
