Sun, 01 Sep 2013, 20:53 PM Top Qualifier Rickie Smith Gets Opening Round Win

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2013 Auto Imagery, Inc. In NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series at Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals

BROWNSBURG, Ind. --

Rickie Smith

No. 1 qualifier Rickie Smith won his first-round matchup and stayed red-hot during the first round of eliminations on Sunday during the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the 59th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. The race is the seventh of 10 races in 2013 for NHRA's popular 250-mph doorslammer touring series.

Smith, who is the points leader, kept up his strong weekend pace in his IDG Chevy Camaro, putting together a pass of 6.199 seconds at 229.86 mph in his first-round win against Jason Hamstra. That came on the heels of finishing as the No. 1 qualifier in his nitrous-injected entry, as his 5.963 at 240.68 gave him the top spot for the second straight race.

Smith will be seeking his third straight NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series victory on Monday and will meet Von Smith in a second-round matchup. Von Smith, a former world champion in the class, knocked off fellow Al-Anabi Racing racer Mike Castellana in his supercharger-powered Camaro with a run of 6.023 at 237.80.

Tim Tindle was involved in an on-track incident as his Camaro went out of control near the finish line in a first-round loss to Troy Coughlin. Tindle exited the car under his own power. Coughlin, the defending world champion, and his JEGS.com Corvette will race Kevin Fiscus in the second round. Fiscus went 5.977 at 240.98 in his opening-round victory.

Other first-round winners included Mike Janis, who went a round-best 5.976, setting up a second-round matchup with Kenny Lang. The final quarterfinal matchup will feature Harold Martin, who beat Danny Rowe, and Kevin Rivenbark, who went 6.033 at 234.74 in his first-round win against Mike Knowles.

Eliminations for the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will continue Monday at approximately 2:30 p.m.

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