(Richard Muir photo)

NHRA Pro Mods at E-town

Smith, Von not Rickie, races to win at E-town

Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Richard Muir and Ron Lewis

The NHRA assessed their nitrous oxide-using Pro Modifieds a 50 lb. penalty after nitrous racer Rickie Smith’s class dominating 5.70/250 mph passes at Houston that put the defending champ in the winner’s circle and atop the championship points list. Whether the penalty accomplished that goal is yet to be determined.

Rickie Smith  (Richard Muir photo)

While Rickie Smith did not win the Englishtown race and Von Smith (no relation) in a supercharged car did, the fact remains that “Tricky Rickie” did set Low ET for the class with a 5.832, 249.35 losing effort to Jason Hamstra in the first round of eliminations. Hamstra had a respectable .040 RT to Smith’s uncharacteristic .100 RT and even a 5.832/249+ charge by Smith couldn’t reel in Hamstra, whose 5.866/244+ effort held off Smith for the upset win.