Pro Mod Eliminator

(James Drew photo)

The Pro Modified class had just eight entries, but they represented the best that the class has to offer. Pro Mod racers came from as far east as Paducah, Kentucky (Billy Harper) as far north as Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada (Dan Vogt) and as a far west as Yakima, Washington (Frank Tamez). There certainly was some star power in the field. ADRL national event winners and teammates Dennis Radford and Billy Harper were on hand, and premier Pro Mod engine builder Sonny Leonard made the trip from his Virginia shop to assist his engine customers.

(Jeff Burk photo)

(Jeff Burk photo)

The highlight of the Pro Mod racing had to be when Radford drove his new nitrous oxide-injected ’70 Duster to a new track speed record for Pro Mods. His 231.24 lap erased one of the oldest, if not the oldest, Firebird Raceway records, the 227.45 speed record set by Kirk Kuhns in 2001! Charlie Buck built the 854-inch nitrous motor that set the new record.

Qualifying was led by the Harper team with Radford getting the number one slot with a 6.199 and Harper in his Dodge Viper were right behind with a 6.215. Harper holds the track record at 6.193.

The only supercharged Pro Mod entry belonged to Oregonian Lee Smith and his ’58 Vette, who qualified with a 6.344/225.79. The number eight qualifier was Wayne Ryder who drove his beautiful ’55 Cameo Chevy pickup to a 7.273/185.95.