Frigo had a bit of trouble on Saturday n the third qualifying session. At about 800 feet his engine let go, dumping oil under the car, which crossed the centerline just past the 1,000-foot mark. He moved behind Jackson and then went into the sand trap. Frigo lost 5 points for the first oil-down of the season. (Adam Cranmer photo)

The NHRA’s J&A Services Pro Mod class is the only one that runs its first round of eliminations on Saturday and then finishes up on Sunday with three rounds of eliminations. For the Pro Mod fans the first elimination round were delivered some spectacular racing. There were two spectacular laps in that session from Frigo and Latino. Frigo, the number two qualifier, ran an outstanding 5.786/256.36 but lost to number 15 qualifier Mike Castellana on a massive holeshot. In the upset of the event to that time number 16 qualifier Latino ripped off a 5.779/256.45 lap that put number one qualifier Stevie “Fast” Jackson on the trailer and headed home.

Rickie Smith’s car sported a new look and new sponsor. (Adam Cranmer photo)

Also gone in the first round was defending champ Rickie Smith the defending event winner and 2016 NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series champion who was ousted by #14 Michael Biehle in his ’13 Ford Mustang. Smith’s ’15 Camaro lost traction early in the run and Biehle was able to get the round win.

Michael Biehle (Ron Lewis photo)

After beating the champ Biehle said, "It feels good. I mean, every round I win feels good, no matter who it is. Obviously it feels great when you’re able to take somebody out that’s as great as Rickie. He’s got a lot of seat time and he does an awesome job with his car and his whole program. It just feels good to still be here."

The second round of Eliminations on Sunday saw track and weather conditions remain basically the same with 70 degrees of heat, 1,000-foot above sea level “air” and 90-degree track temperature. Despite good atmospheric conditions most racers and tuners continued to struggle to find a combination that would deliver a good ET in the left lane where traction was problematic. All of the quickest, fastest and winning laps of eliminations were in the right lane and only an absolutely brilliant bit of tuning and driving from Troy Coughlin and his crew got them the round win.

Troy Coughlin (Adam Cranmer photo)

In a historic race Coughlin cut a .008 RT and ran a 5.758/255.10 to defeat Latino who had a .089 RT and ET record setting 5.727/256.36. Latino's incremental times: 60ft - 0.966 sec., 330ft - 2.560, 660ft - 3.798/200.98 mph, 1,000 ft - 4.847.

For the running of the third round at about 2 p.m. the tuning numbers were about the same as they were for the second round except that track surface temp went up to around 90 degrees. Nitrous racer Mike Castellana had lane choice and took the preferred right lane and put Danny Rowe in the left.