DINWIDDIE, Va. (June 23, 2024) – Legendary multi-time NHRA Pro Mod champ Rickie Smith picked up yet another victory in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ on Saturday at Virginia Motorsports Parks, defeating Kris Thorne in the final round as part of this weekend’s PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals.
It was the six of 10 races during the 2024 season and the final race in the regular season in the category. This weekend’s event was also powered by DPFXFIT by GESi.
Smith went 5.702-seconds at 253.37 in his nitrous-powered Ford Mustang, taking down Thorne’s 5.714 at 252.43 with the quickest run of the weekend. It is Smith’s first victory since Brainerd in 2022 and gives the multi-time champ his 18th career NHRA Pro Mod win.
“I never thought I’d win another race at 70 years old,” Smith said. “I’m just so proud of the people who are behind me. I wouldn’t have even made it the last three years without them. It’s awesome. I don’t even know what to say. I’m usually crying and overly excited, but I don’t even know if it’s hit me. Out of all the races I’ve won, I don’t know how I pulled this one off. We weren’t even qualified until the last run.”
To reach the final round, Smith defeated Lyle Barnett, J.R. Gray and Jason Scruggs, taking down Thorne with an impressive run.
Thorne moved into the points lead by advancing to his third final round this season and the 11th in his career, taking down Khalid AlBalooshi, Justin Bond and Kevin Rivenbark.
The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ opens its four-race Road to the Championship playoffs at the prestigious 70th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals on Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
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DINWIDDIE, Va. — Final finish order (1-16) at the Fourth annual PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. The race is the ninth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
TOP FUEL:
1. Doug Kalitta; 2. Shawn Langdon; 3. Antron Brown; 4. Tony Stewart; 5. Brittany Force; 6. Steve Torrence; 7. Tony Schumacher; 8. Josh Hart; 9. Dan Mercier; 10. Clay Millican; 11. Billy Torrence; 12. Lex Joon; 13. Shawn Reed; 14. Justin Ashley; 15. Jasmine Salinas; 16. Cameron Ferre.
FUNNY CAR:
1. Austin Prock; 2. Bob Tasca III; 3. Blake Alexander; 4. Matt Hagan; 5. Ron Capps; 6. Daniel Wilkerson; 7. Mike Smith; 8. John Force; 9. Dave Richards; 10. Cruz Pedregon; 11. J.R. Todd; 12. Buddy Hull; 13. Terry Haddock; 14. Paul Lee; 15. Chad Green; 16. Alexis DeJoria.
PRO STOCK:
1. Aaron Stanfield; 2. Dallas Glenn; 3. Greg Anderson; 4. Bo Butner; 5. Erica Enders; 6. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 7. Eric Latino; 8. Deric Kramer; 9. Mason McGaha; 10. Chris McGaha; 11. Jeg Coughlin; 12. Matt Hartford; 13. Kenny Delco; 14. Val Smeland; 15. Jerry Tucker; 16. Brandon Miller.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
1. Gaige Herrera; 2. Richard Gadson; 3. John Hall; 4. Hector Arana Jr; 5. Angie Smith; 6. Chase Van Sant; 7. Jianna Evaristo; 8. Matt Smith; 9. Chris Bostick; 10. Kelly Clontz; 11. Steve Johnson; 12. Ron Tornow; 13. Marc Ingwersen; 14. Eiji Kawakami.
DINWIDDIE, Va. — Sunday’s final results from the Fourth annual PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. The race is the ninth of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Doug Kalitta, 3.752 seconds, 333.41 mph def. Shawn Langdon, 6.148 seconds, 101.99 mph.
Funny Car — Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.921, 327.90 def. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 7.145, 90.55.
Pro Stock — Aaron Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.614, 207.15 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.617, 205.88.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.755, 199.26 def. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.786, 198.32.
Competition Eliminator — Joe Carnasciale, Chevy Cavalier, 8.944, 151.48 def. Michele Costa, Ken Keir, 8.177, 158.59.
Super Stock — Jeff Adkinson, Chevy Camaro, 9.345, 140.72 def. PJ Fouts, Chevelle, 11.975, 108.79.
Stock Eliminator — Cody Phillips, Chevy Corvette, 10.372, 126.15 def. Cliff Hynson, Chevy Camaro, 9.418, 141.19.
Super Comp — Anthony Bertozzi, Dragster, 8.907, 178.61 def. Amanda Boicesco, Dragster, 8.884, 172.41.
Super Gas — Keith Mayers, Porshe, 9.888, 154.37 def. Don Knoblick, Chevy Corvette, Foul – Red Light.
Top Sportsman — Sandy Wilkins, Chevy Camaro, 6.563, 199.02 def. Jeff Brooks, Henry J, 6.379, 215.17.
Mountain Motor Pro Stock — Johnny Pluchino, Ford Mustang, 6.335, 222.00 def. Elijah Morton, Mustang, 6.312, 221.92.
Top Fuel Motorcycle — Larry McBride, Suzuki, 5.003, 235.89 def. Mitch Brown, Suzuki, 5.180, 207.37.
Junior Dragster Shootout — Chloe Greyes, Bos, 7.981, 80.39 def. Valarie Wright, Halfscale, 8.008, 80.71.
DINWIDDIE, Va. — Final round-by-round results from the Fourth annual PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, the ninth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Josh Hart, 3.982, 317.12 def. Dan Mercier, 3.981, 308.85; Antron Brown, 3.913, 318.32 def. Billy Torrence, 4.121, 274.44; Shawn Langdon, 3.911, 313.88 def. Lex Joon, 4.154, 275.73; Doug Kalitta, 3.940, 318.84 def. Cameron Ferre, Broke – No Show; Tony Stewart, 3.874, 319.07 def. Clay Millican, 4.109, 254.18; Tony Schumacher, 4.095, 246.66 def. Shawn Reed, 4.490, 221.34; Brittany Force, 3.920, 321.27 def. Jasmine Salinas, 4.653, 178.47; Steve Torrence, 4.010, 298.34 def. Justin Ashley, 4.499, 187.65;
QUARTERFINALS — Kalitta, 3.964, 311.56 def. Hart, 4.490, 191.57; Brown, 3.923, 316.38 def. Schumacher, 4.284, 212.93; Langdon, 3.976, 307.65 def. S. Torrence, 3.971, 319.67; Stewart, 3.907, 314.53 def. Force, 3.931, 319.82;
SEMIFINALS — Langdon, 3.815, 326.40 def. Brown, 3.826, 323.35; Kalitta, 3.828, 326.79 def. Stewart, 4.631, 180.65;
FINAL — Kalitta, 3.752, 333.41 def. Langdon, 6.148, 101.99.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Mike Smith, Ford Mustang, 25.970, 53.27 def. Chad Green, Mustang, Broke; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.063, 306.53 def. Dave Richards, Toyota Camry, 4.183, 302.28; Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 4.046, 308.21 def. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 4.232, 292.65; Blake Alexander, Mustang, 4.109, 302.82 def. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.625, 187.68; John Force, Camaro, 4.100, 302.62 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 4.803, 186.98; Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 4.094, 317.94 def. Alexis DeJoria, GR Supra, Broke; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.335, 275.34 def. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 4.395, 264.60; Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.799, 174.55 def. Paul Lee, Charger, 6.193, 108.60;
QUARTERFINALS — Tasca III, 4.126, 316.30 def. Wilkerson, 4.458, 219.08; Prock, 4.036, 321.73 def. Capps, 4.127, 282.84; Alexander, 4.096, 305.36 def. Force, Broke – No Show; Hagan, 4.266, 252.10 def. Smith, 7.627, 87.16;
SEMIFINALS — Tasca III, 3.980, 330.07 def. Alexander, 3.997, 317.72; Prock, 3.962, 316.97 def. Hagan, 4.031, 312.42;
FINAL — Prock, 3.921, 327.90 def. Tasca III, 7.145, 90.55.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.635, 207.21 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.692, 205.91; Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.723, 205.07 def. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.720, 206.35; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.654, 206.20 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.666, 206.67; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.677, 207.30 def. Val Smeland, Camaro, 6.718, 206.83; Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.673, 206.26 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.707, 205.79; Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.666, 207.62 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.686, 206.57; Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.624, 206.39 def. Brandon Miller, Dodge Dart, 6.785, 203.22; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.629, 207.94 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.716, 205.26;
QUARTERFINALS — Stanfield, 6.685, 206.92 def. Coughlin Jr., 6.708, 206.57; Glenn, 6.696, 204.76 def. Kramer, 17.282, 47.43; Anderson, 6.623, 207.05 def. Enders, 6.653, 208.07; Butner, 6.710, 205.54 def. Latino, 6.716, 202.18;
SEMIFINALS — Glenn, 6.631, 206.20 def. Butner, 6.658, 205.88; Stanfield, 6.627, 207.94 def. Anderson, 6.627, 206.04;
FINAL — Stanfield, 6.614, 207.15 def. Glenn, 6.617, 205.88.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE — Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.905, 195.73 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.934, 192.85; Hector Arana Jr, 6.920, 193.74 def. Marc Ingwersen, 6.989, 193.13; John Hall, 6.884, 197.36 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.889, 196.19; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.826, 197.68 def. Ron Tornow, 6.966, 195.90; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.809, 199.91 def. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.783, 199.94; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.871, 197.59 def. Eiji Kawakami, 7.146, 185.46; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.803, 198.50 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.870, 194.41;
QUARTERFINALS — Gadson, 6.906, 196.87 def. Evaristo, 6.871, 198.64; Hall, 6.851, 151.19 def. Van Sant, Foul – Red Light; Arana Jr, 6.892, 196.44 def. A. Smith, Foul – Red Light; Herrera, 6.782, 196.50 was unopposed;
SEMIFINALS — Gadson, 6.813, 198.09 def. Arana Jr, Foul – Red Light; Herrera, 6.760, 199.70 def. Hall, 6.816, 198.58;
FINAL — Herrera, 6.755, 199.26 def. Gadson, 6.786, 198.32.
DINWIDDIE, Va. — Point standings (top 10) following the Fourth annual PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, the ninth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel
1. Doug Kalitta, 751; 2. Shawn Langdon, 684; 3. Justin Ashley, 643; 4. Steve Torrence, 575; 5. Antron Brown, 542; 6. Tony Schumacher, 522; 7. Billy Torrence, 477; 8. Clay Millican, 461; 9. Tony Stewart, 458; 10. Brittany Force, 425.
Funny Car
1. Austin Prock, 824; 2. John Force, 693; 3. Matt Hagan, 658; 4. J.R. Todd, 627; 5. Bob Tasca III, 615; 6. Daniel Wilkerson, 474; 7. Ron Capps, 469; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 427; 9. Chad Green, 393; 10. Blake Alexander, 371.
Pro Stock
1. Dallas Glenn, 791; 2. Greg Anderson, 751; 3. Erica Enders, 726; 4. Jeg Coughlin, 599; 5. Aaron Stanfield, 598; 6. Troy Coughlin Jr., 492; 7. Jerry Tucker, 465; 8. Cristian Cuadra, 386; 9. Deric Kramer, 335; 10. David Cuadra, 307.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
1. Gaige Herrera, 618; 2. Richard Gadson, 365; 3. Matt Smith, 362; 4. John Hall, 332; 5. Chase Van Sant, 294; 6. Angie Smith, 291; 7. Hector Arana Jr, 268; 8. Jianna Evaristo, 242; 9. LE Tonglet, 233; 10. Steve Johnson, 186.