NHRA Pro Mods at Englishtown, NJ

Bill Glidden drives to first NHRA Pro Mod win

Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Richard Muir and Ron Lewis

Bill Glidden put a massive holeshot on the quicker and faster turbocharged entry driven by Don Walsh in the final.  (Richard Muir photo)

Glidden family scion Bill Glidden drove his Mickey Thompson Tire-backed, nitrous-injected Ford Mustang to his first NHRA Pro Mod victory June 7 at Englishtown Raceway Park where his father won many races in NHRA Pro Stock competition. Glidden was a genuine super star in the 10.5 tire classes before stepping up to NHRA Pro Modified competition in the J&A Services-sponsored RPM Pro Modified Drag Racing Series.

Don Walsh boils the Goodyears before he makes another 254+ lap.  (Richard Muir photo)

Twenty-nine Pro Mods teams were at Englishtown trying for one of the 16 available positions. A combination of determined drivers and great weather and track resulted in an all time 16-car record bump spot of 5.944 seconds for the quarter mile.

Glidden not only won his first NHRA Pro Mod "Wally" at the E-town race but he did it by getting through four rounds of racing against drivers and teams that made up the quickest qualified 16-car Pro Mod field in NHRA history. Walsh was the No. 2 qualifier with a 5.799/254.14 and Glidden was in the field at the 13th spot with a 5.908/240.51.