Bob Rahaim (far lane) got his first NHRA win. (Steve Gruenwald photo)

NHRA Pro Mods at Gainesville, Fla.

Rahaim gets first NHRA win at Gators

Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Steve Gruenwald and Adam Cranmer

The 2015 NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod series began their 2015 season at Florida’s Auto Plus Raceway at Gainesville, one of the races that the NHRA refers to as one of their “majors”, and the RPM racers delivered a race worthy of a major sports event.

The race was a series of firsts for many of its racers. It was the first career race for 87-year-old NHRA Pro Mod rookie Willard Kinzer from Allen, Ky., in a turbocharged '69 Camaro. It was also the NHRA debut for Pro Mod rookie Troy (TJ) Coughlin Jr., who was driving the turbocharged ‘Vette his dad, Troy, raced in 2014. And finally, it was veteran Pro Mod racer Bob Rahaim’s first career national event win and his first ever NHRA final.

Troy Coughlin Sr. (Steve Gruenwald photo)