(Chris Haverly photo)

NHRA Pro Mods at U.S. Nationals

‘Tricky’ Rickie Smith gets second U.S. Nationals title

Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Chris Haverly and Richard Muir

The 2014 U.S. Nationals was a defining moment for the fledgling Real Pro Mod group which controls NHRA’s Pro Mod division and its defending champ and nitrous races “Tricky” Rickie Smith who won the race for his second U.S. Nationals win.

Thirty-three of the best quarter-mile Pro Mods in the world were granted entries to the 60th U.S. Nationals, which made the Pro Mod class the largest professional class at the iconic event by more than ten entries.

Troy Coughlin (near lane) and Mike Knowles.  (Chris Haverly photo)

Despite a week-long battle with the weather that resulted in the Pro Mods getting cut to just two qualifying sessions instead of the usual four, the qualified 16-car field fell just one car short of an all 5-second field. Jimmy Keen from Parrish, Fla., was on the only “slow” qualifier with a 6.010/237 qualifying effort.

Turbo racer Don Walsh drove turbocharger guru Harry Hrudka’s brand new Larry Jeffers Race Cars ’69 Camaro to the number 1 qualifier with a 5.863/252.61. He was followed by another turbo racer, Troy Coughlin at 5.866/248.52. The JEGS company sponsored the RPM Pro Mod race at Indy.