THE PRO MODIFIEDS ARE IN PHOENIX THIS WEEKEND
by Bobby Bennett Jr. 4-4-2004
Most of the formative years of the Pro Modified division took place east of the Mississippi in the United States. That’s not to say there wasn’t some Pro Modified in the western United States. But when it came to the main stage for the most volatile doorslammers, the show rarely drifted beyond Texas.
The NHRA will bring Pro Modified to the furthest west this weekend as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, presented by LearnEV+, will make its first trip to Firebird Motorsports Park as part of the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals.
There are 20 entries that have made the trek to the facility located just outside of Phoenix. This weekend’s event is powered by LAT Racing Oils, which works with several teams in the NHRA Pro Mod category.
“We are proud to sponsor the NHRA Pro Mod class at Phoenix,” LAT Racing Oils’ Co-owner Danny Vaca said. “As a leader in performance lubricants we support many Pro Mod teams with high-performance racing oils designed to help power these engines to the winner’s circle. We are looking forward to seeing first-hand how our lubricants perform at this race.”
Among those making the trip out west are world champions Kris Thorne, Jose Gonzalez and Khalid AlBalooshi, Justin Bond, Lyle Barnett, Stan Shelton, Ken Quartuccio and Kevin Rivenbark.
Adding to the weekend is also the Total Seal Pro Mod Showdown, which takes place during qualifying. The exciting competition within qualifying will award the driver who puts together the best E.T. average during the four qualifying rounds. The winner receives $10,000 from Total Seal Piston Rings, providing even more incentive for NHRA Pro Mod drivers during their Firebird Motorsports Park debut.
“Total Seal is thrilled to be a part of the Showdown in Phoenix,” said Matt Hartford, president and CEO of Total Seal Piston Rings. “Pro Mod is such an exciting class for the fans, and we love that the class is being showcased at our home track for the first time. Our entire organization continues to work on technological advancements in ring design, and Pro Mod puts them to the test every week. We look forward to our continued support of the class.”