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Rickie Smith powers to victory at Heartland Motorsports Park

by Mike Haag | Posted on Monday, May 21st, 2018

Courtesy of the NHRA

TOPEKA, Kan. – Rickie Smith drove to victory Monday during the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service portion of the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park. This weekend’s Pro Mod racing, presented by Summit Racing Equipment is the fourth of 12 events this season.

Rickie Smith. NHRA photo

Smith ran a 6.262-second pass at 233.52 mph in his Chevrolet Camaro to take down the No. 1 qualifier Chad Green in the final round and earn his second victory of the season and 13th of his career. Smith defeated Harry Hruska, Shane Molinari and Todd Tutterow on his to the win.

“I’m just glad we won the thing,” Smith stated. “I think every round we had to work for it. Everybody was tough competition. You hate to start watching points, but when you start getting going you hate to give any round up. As a driver I have to try the best I can.”

Green secured his first runner-up finish at the second race of his Pro Mod career. He is currently chasing his first victory.

The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service continues at the Virginia NHRA Nationals in Richmond, Va. On June 8-10.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 30th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park. The race is the fourth of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

PRO MODIFIED:

  1. Rickie Smith; 2. Chad Green; 3. Mike Janis; 4. Todd Tutterow; 5. Khalid alBalooshi; 6. Shane Molinari; 7. Mike Castellana; 8. Sidnei Frigo; 9. Jeremy Ray; 10. Clint Satterfield; 11. Steven Whiteley; 12. Danny Rowe; 13. Jose Gonzalez; 14. Bob Rahaim; 15. Steve Jackson; 16. Harry Hruska.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Monday’s final results from the 30th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park. The race is the fourth of 12 events in the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

Pro Modified — Rickie Smith, Chevy Camaro, 6.262, 233.52 def. Chad Green, Camaro, 8.805, 107.70.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Final round-by-round results from the 30th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park, the eighth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series:

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE — Khalid alBalooshi, Chevy Camaro, 5.751, 247.43 def. Jose Gonzalez, Camaro, 8.610, 112.21; Sidnei Frigo, Chevy Corvette, 6.525, 168.05 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Shane Molinari, Pontiac Firebird, 9.341, 112.73 def. Jeremy Ray, Corvette, Foul – Red Light; Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.800, 251.02 def. Bob Rahaim, Camaro, 9.080, 108.97; Mike Janis, Camaro, 5.911, 241.84 def. Danny Rowe, Camaro, 8.277, 113.89; Rickie Smith, Camaro, 7.021, 144.01 def. Harry Hruska, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Todd Tutterow, Camaro, 5.809, 245.36 def. Steven Whiteley, Camaro, 7.271, 137.93; Chad Green, Camaro, 5.997, 245.23 def. Clint Satterfield, Camaro, 6.025, 252.00; QUARTERFINALS — Smith, 5.760, 249.90 def. Molinari, 5.810, 252.47; Janis, 5.910, 240.00 def. Castellana, 5.961, 218.37; Tutterow, 5.769, 247.70 def. Frigo, 11.965, 66.76; Green, 5.761, 248.61 def. alBalooshi, 5.728, 250.00; SEMIFINALS — Green, 5.775, 248.57 def. Janis, 5.798, 245.58; Smith, 5.770, 250.04 def. Tutterow, 5.879, 216.48; FINAL — Smith, 6.262, 233.52 def. Green, 8.805, 107.70.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Point standings (top 10) following the 30th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Motorsports Park, the eighth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –

Pro Modified

  1. Rickie Smith, 356; 2. Mike Janis, 276; 3. Steve Jackson, 263; 4. Chad Green, 233; 5. Jose Gonzalez, 231; 6. Mike Castellana, 200; 7. Khalid alBalooshi, 197; 8. Todd Tutterow, 189; 9. Jim Whiteley, 183; 10. Bob Rahaim, 147.
About the Author

Mike Haag has covered motorsports in San Antonio and South Texas for more than 35 years. In addition to covering motorsports for the San Antonio Express-News for nearly 28 years, Mike also has co-hosted TrackSmack with Dawn Murphy for 18 race seasons. In addition to being a writer, Mike taught high school English and Journalism for 30 years before retiring in May, 2020.