NHRA News & Notes: Rickie Smith; Jerry Savoie; Jerry Bickel

Story By: SCOTT SMITH / NHRA – GAINESVILLE, FL – The challenge of staying at the top of the field in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series has only gotten more difficult for Rickie Smith. The talent level is at an all-time high and the class continues to show impressive depth at every race.

But that challenge has also been a driving force for Smith’s recent run of success. The longtime standout has put together three world championships in the past four years, holding off Troy Coughlin’s hot finish to claim the 2016 NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series title.

The challenge to add another world title may be even greater heading into the 2017 season opener as part of this weekend’s AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, but Smith hopes it brings out the best of him in his IDG Chevrolet Camaro one more time.

“It’s a challenge,” said Smith, who won the Pro Mod season-opener in Gainesville in 2016 en route to the championship. “When you’re young, you’re trying to beat the older guys and now I’m the old guy trying to beat all these younger guys. But I love the challenge and I don’t like to lose. It’s always been that way. I love working and trying to get better.”

The highly-anticipated NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod series debut, presented by Jerry Bickel Race Cars, in Gainesville will feature nearly 30 cars as the first of what is now a 12-race schedule after expanding from 10 races in 2016. Trying to keep Smith from a fourth title in five years are a host of talented challengers, including Coughlin, a two-time world champion in the class, 2011 world champion Khalid alBalooshi, Bob Rahaim, Danny Rowe, Mike Castellana, Steve Matusek, Mike Janis, former Pro Stock standout Larry Morgan, Stevie Jackson, who will make his NHRA Pro Mod debut, and Michael Biehle.

Coughlin was a force to be reckoned with to finish 2016, qualifying first at the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in his JEGS.com Chevrolet Corvette and then winning in St. Louis and Las Vegas. It gave him three wins last year after none in his championship season in 2015 and he feels that momentum will carry over to 2017.

“We are ready to roll,” Coughlin said. “The off-season was more of a chance for us to look the car over from front to back and just make sure everything was in good working order. We really came across a very manageable tune-up at Indy last year and Steve (Petty, crew chief) has just been fine-tuning it from there. Obviously, we ended the year on a very strong run so we feel confident.”

In all, the class featured seven different winners at the first eight races, while the 2015 season included a different winner at every event. That showcases the parity and depth in a class where runs in the 5.70s at more than 250 mph will be the norm in 2017, but all roads will still go through Smith. Navigating a difficult field over 12 races won’t be easy, but Smith will continue to try to utilize two keys that have helped him thus far in his standout career.

“You have to stay prepared for everything and you can’t make little mistakes,” said Smith, who has 10 career NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series wins. “In a class like this, those little mistakes can cost you round wins, and those can come back to haunt you. Staying prepared and not making those mistakes have contributed to a lot of our success. We just keep trying to improve a little at a time and keep getting better, an hopefully we can be the fastest nitrous car out there.”

Featuring the world’s fastest and most unique doorslammer race cars, the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series offers something for every kind of hot-rodding enthusiast. The class is highlighted by historic muscle cars, like ’67 Mustangs, ’68 Firebirds and ’69 Camaros, as well as a variety of late model American muscle cars. With more than 3,000 horsepower, the suspended door pro mod cars travel the quarter-mile in less than six seconds at speeds exceeding 250 mph.

NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, March 17 with qualifying sessions at 12:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., continuing with the final qualifying session on Saturday, March 18 at 1:45 p.m. Round one of eliminations is later on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. and continues on Sunday, March 19 at 12:45 p.m.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE’S JERRY SAVOIE READY FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENTUM TO CONTINUE
An alligator farmer doing well at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals just seems to make sense. But for whatever reason, Pro Stock Motorcycle standout Jerry Savoie hasn’t been able to enjoy much success at the famed race.

This season may be a different story for the Louisiana alligator farmer heading into this weekend’s season-opener in the highly-competitive class. Fresh off his first career NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championship, Savoie and his team take plenty of confidence and momentum into 2017. Coupled with a strong off-season making even more improvements on his Savoie’s Alligator Farm Suzuki, and Savoie is ready to taste success at the Gatornationals for the first time.

“We’ve never run well in Gainesville, but (crew chief) Tim (Kulungian) has really been working hard to figure that out,” Savoie said. “I think that will help and going in, I feel like we’ve got a good shot. I would love to win the Gatornationals because it’s the first track I rode a Pro Stock Motorcycle. An alligator farmer winning the Gatornationals would be awesome. It’s one of the closer races for us, and we’re excited and pumped up to get things going this season.”

Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will be televised on FOX Sports 1, including live finals coverage on Sunday at 1 p.m. (ET). The NHRA’s traditional East Coast opener is the first of 16 races in Pro Stock Motorcycle, and Savoie knows he will have his work cut out to defend a championship that came down to the wire a year ago.

The class is rich with talent, but that depth is what excites Savoie about performing in the class. That star list includes previous world champions Andrew Hines, Eddie Krawiec, Angelle Sampey, Matt Smith, Hector Arana Sr. and LE Tonglet – who is teaming up with Savoie in 2017 – as well as Cory Reed, the NHRA’s top rookie in 2016, Hector Arana Jr., Chip Ellis and Melissa Surber.

“A lot of guys and gals are going to be good,” said Savoie, who has six career victories. “We have to step up mentally and physically, and have the right bike. It’s not going to be easy. There’s a lot of talented riders, a lot of new riders and everybody riding a Suzuki now believes they can win a championship. I think last year opened a lot of doors for people. It’s going to be a great year.”

Savoie will have a tough time topping 2016 but he can’t wait to try. He posted two wins and a runner-up finish during the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, wrestling the title away from Hines and Krawiec on the final day of the season.

But as thrilling as that was, Savoie insists he doesn’t feel a bit of pressure heading into 2017. He is excited to see Tonglet’s development on a bike they’ve worked hard on over the winter and has high expectations for both motorcycles.

“We’ve worked hard all winter and feel pretty confident, but for me there’s no pressure,” Savoie said. “I’ve won my race. That’s all I set out to do. The championship was just extra. This year, I’m more eager to do better than ever before. I feel like we should be fast and I’m excited about LE. I think we’ll have a fun time this year. As a teammate, I think the information is going to be good. But he wants to beat me and I want to beat him, so hopefully we can meet up in some finals.”

Brittany Force earned her first career Top Fuel win last year but she will have to deal with Leah Pritchett, who has won the first two races of 2017, and back-to-back world champ Antron Brown.

Hight’s Funny Car win last year gave John Force Racing its first double-up weekend in team history, but he will have to deal with the likes of Matt Hagan, who won the first two races of 2017.

Longtime Pro Stock standout Greg Anderson will look for his third straight win at Gainesville Raceway after ousting teammate and defending world champ Jason Line a year ago.

The event is the season-opener for the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Series and features thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. After Nitro qualifying, fans can watch the spectacular Larsen Motorsports jet dragsters sponsored by Florida Tech and Matrix System. Jet cars are thrust driven vehicles propelled by jet engines with exciting pre-run flame shows.

As always, fans can interact with their favorite drivers with an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:45 and 4:15 p.m. on Friday, March 17 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, March 18 at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 19.

JERRY BICKEL RACE CARS NAMED CO-PRESENTING SPONSOR OF PRO MOD EVENT AT GAINESVILLE
NHRA announced today it has named Jerry Bickel Race Cars, Inc. as presenting sponsor for the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 16-19, at Gainesville Raceway. The race is the season-opener in the 12-race NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

Featuring the world’s fastest and most unique doorslammer race cars, the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series offers something for every kind of hot-rodding enthusiast. The growing class is highlighted by historic muscle cars, like ’67 Mustangs, ’68 Firebirds and ’69 Camaros, as well as a variety of late model American muscle cars. With more than 3,000 horsepower, the suspended door pro mod cars travel the quarter-mile in less than six seconds at speeds exceeding 250 mph.

“The 2017 season of the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing will feature thrilling racing during the 12-race schedule,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA vice president and chief development officer. “The support of Jerry Bickel Race Cars to the NHRA and our races is wide ranging and they are among the best in the industry.”

Jerry Bickel Race Cars, “The One Stop Chassis Shop,” offers a variety of services to racers looking to improve race cars. The Jerry Bickel Race Cars facility in Moscow Mills, MO., houses just about every race part and component a driver could dream of, along with a temperature-controlled manufacturing area and a temperature-controlled paint booth. Jerry Bickel Race Cars Inc. prides itself on its commitment to customer satisfaction. For more information on Jerry Bickel Race Cars, please visit www.JerryBickel.com.

“We are proud to be a sponsor of the NHRA Pro Mod race in Gainesville again this year. The Pro Mod class has been exciting and popular for NHRA, and many of the cars on the track have come through our race shop. It is an honor for us to help support our customers, NHRA and the Real Pro Mod Association.”

The 2017 NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series is showcased in a 12-race schedule that includes stops at several NHRA national events across the country. Rickie Smith is a three-time and defending champion and will have the eyes of the field on him during the season. Troy Coughlin, Danny Rowe and Steve Matusek will be top contenders furin the course of the grueling season. All 12 races in the 2017 NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series season will air on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and FOX Sports 2 (FS2).

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 24 national events featuring the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. NHRA also offers NHRA Jr. Street program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates four racing facilities: Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.