Rickie Smith Powers to Victory at Heartland Motorsports Park

TOPEKA, KS – May 21, 2018 – (Motor Sports Newswire) –  Rickie Smith drove to victory Monday during the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service portion of the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing, presented by Summit Racing Equipment is the fourth of 12 events this season.

Smith ran a 6.262-second pass at 233.52 mph in his Chevrolet Camaro to take down the No. 1 qualifier Chad Green in the final round and earn his second victory of the season and 13th of his career. Smith defeated Harry Hruska, Shane Molinari and Todd Tutterow on his to the win.

“I’m just glad we won the thing,” Smith stated. “I think every round we had to work for it. Everybody was tough competition. You hate to start watching points, but when you start getting going you hate to give any round up. As a driver I have to try the best I can.”

Green secured his first runner-up finish at the second race of his Pro Mod career. He is currently chasing his first victory.

The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service continues at the Virginia NHRA Nationals in Richmond, Va. On June 8-10.

TOPEKA, KS — Final finish order (1-16) at the 30th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park. The race is the fourth of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

PRO MODIFIED:
1. Rickie Smith; 2. Chad Green; 3. Mike Janis; 4. Todd Tutterow; 5. Khalid alBalooshi; 6. Shane Molinari; 7. Mike Castellana; 8. Sidnei Frigo; 9. Jeremy Ray; 10. Clint Satterfield; 11. Steven Whiteley; 12. Danny Rowe; 13. Jose Gonzalez; 14. Bob Rahaim; 15. Steve Jackson; 16. Harry Hruska.

TOPEKA, KS — Monday’s final results from the 30th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park. The race is the fourth of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

Pro Modified — Rickie Smith, Chevy Camaro, 6.262, 233.52 def. Chad Green, Camaro, 8.805, 107.70.

TOPEKA, KS — Final round-by-round results from the 30th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park, the eighth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE — Khalid alBalooshi, Chevy Camaro, 5.751, 247.43 def. Jose Gonzalez, Camaro, 8.610, 112.21; Sidnei Frigo, Chevy Corvette, 6.525, 168.05 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Shane Molinari, Pontiac Firebird, 9.341, 112.73 def. Jeremy Ray, Corvette, Foul – Red Light; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.800, 251.02 def. Bob Rahaim, Camaro, 9.080, 108.97; Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.911, 241.84 def. Danny Rowe, Camaro, 8.277, 113.89; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 7.021, 144.01 def.
Harry Hruska, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Todd Tutterow, Camaro, 5.809, 245.36 def. Steven Whiteley, Camaro, 7.271, 137.93; Chad Green, Camaro, 5.997, 245.23 def. Clint Satterfield, Camaro, 6.025, 252.00;

QUARTERFINALS — Smith, 5.760, 249.90 def. Molinari, 5.810, 252.47; Janis, 5.910, 240.00 def. Castellana, 5.961, 218.37; Tutterow, 5.769, 247.70 def. Frigo, 11.965, 66.76; Green, 5.761, 248.61 def. alBalooshi, 5.728, 250.00;

SEMIFINALS — Green, 5.775, 248.57 def. Janis, 5.798, 245.58; Smith, 5.770, 250.04 def. Tutterow, 5.879, 216.48;

FINAL — Smith, 6.262, 233.52 def. Green, 8.805, 107.70.

TOPEKA, KS — Point standings (top 10) following the 30th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park, the eighth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –

Pro Modified

1. Rickie Smith, 356; 2. Mike Janis, 276; 3. Steve Jackson, 263; 4. Chad Green, 233; 5. Jose Gonzalez, 231; 6. Mike Castellana, 200; 7. Khalid alBalooshi, 197; 8. Todd Tutterow, 189; 9. Jim Whiteley, 183; 10. Bob Rahaim, 147.

About NHRA

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 24 national events featuring the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, and E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers NHRA Jr. Street program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates four racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

Source: National Hot Rod Association

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