NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Rickie Smith ended up on the top of the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod sheet in both sessions at the end of Friday qualifying in St. Louis, but not without a little drama. Smith made a 5.763-second pass at 251.63-miles per hour to take provisional pole at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, beating series leader Stevie “Fast” Jackson for the early qualifying lead. 

First, he needed to beat upstart racer Jason Scruggs. Scruggs made the quickest pass in the first session, but it was thrown out after the Mississippi native failed tech inspection because there was old fuel in the tank of his Camaro. Scruggs followed up his 5.186 pass with a 5.877 that put him 13th in the qualifying order. 

How Stevie "Fast" Jackson can clinch his first world championship

That was no concern of Smith, who improved from session to session. He was one of two racers who ran in the 5.70s, along with Jackson. Smith, who finished runner-up in the world championship standings in 2018, has endured an up-and-down 2019 campaign. He is not a factor in the championship chase but is still a threat to win the Wally in St. Louis. 

Jackson can mathematically clinch his first NHRA world championship at World Wide Technology Raceway, though his odds significantly dipped when defending world champ Mike Janis and contender Todd Tutterow made strong runs Friday. Janis is qualified in the No. 10 spot and Tutterow is qualified third. Both racers must miss the cut for Jackson to have a chance at winning the title in St. Louis. 

Eric Latino, who also had his first-session pass disqualified is in the No. 15 spot after running a 5.897-second pass in the second session. Bob Rahaim is on the bump spot, holding out Steven Whiteley, Khalid AlBalooshi and Mike Castellana. 

There will be two more qualifying sessions on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. Central. Race day is set for Sunday at 11 a.m. Central.