NHRA’s Pro Mod Series has long been a category looking for a sponsor. It’s gone through a few, E3 Spark Plugs being the most notable, but there hasn’t been the proper amount of stickum for one of the most exciting on-track simultaneous displays of horsepower and panache.
For the balance of its 10-race 2022 schedule – after completing a single race in Gainesville, Fla. last month, where Kris Thome was the first-time victor – the class will be known as the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, as that industry leader in performance engine management systems has aligned with this exciting group of competitors.
Next in action during the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on the zMAX Dragway strip outside Charlotte, N.C. the weekend of April 29-May 1, the series includes stops at Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park (Norwalk, OH), Kansas’ Heartland Motorsports Park, Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota, the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, a return visit to zMAX Dragway and at World Wide Technology Raceway outside St Louis before its Texas Motorplex finale the weekend of October 13-16.
“We understand what it is to be something and to truly help, it takes more than just the product and support for customers,” declared Luis De Leon, chief technology officer at FuelTech. “It is a whole group of people and a network of support. We couldn’t have done this without the support of our customers and great dealers.”
FuelTech’s support of the world’s fastest doorslammer race cars allows this company an affinity with racers and vehicles that excite every drag racing fan. The class is highlighted by historic muscle cars and a variety of late-model American muscle cars, as well as a number of different power adders that make Pro Mod one of the most exciting categories on the grounds of its ten NHRA appearances. The unique body styles complement FuelTech Pro Mod’s exciting technical competitions on any given weekend.
FuelTech has been recognized for its PowerFT line of engine management systems for nearly 20 years. The company has been a key partner for several competitors in NHRA, with FuelTech clients earning four NHRA world titles and a number of national event wins. Included among those customers is Thome, a first-time winner at the 2022 season opener, as well as his competitor in the Gatornationals final round, Sidnei Frigo and reigning Pro Mod world champion Jose Gonzalez, just to name a few.
Gonzalez claimed his first NHRA world title a year ago, earning victory in five races as he advanced to six final rounds. That’s quite a win-loss ratio. He made the quickest run in NHRA Pro Mod history with a pass of 5.621-seconds in his ProCharger-powererd Q80 Racing Camaro last year at Gainesville.
There are four versions of FuelTech’s PowerFT engine management system: its top-of-the-line FT600, along with the FT550, LITE and FT450. These systems are known for their standard features, including sequential injection and ignition, O2 Closed Loop, data logger, delay box, Boost Controller, Nitrous Controller, among other attributes.
FuelTech has also developed FTSPARK, a powerful CDI ignition system offered in two versions, that fits in nearly any high-powered application. The ignition setup can be used in mechanical fuel injection combinations – commonly found with Roots and Twin-screw supercharger packages – or can be combined with EFI applications that are regularly seen with supercharged, nitrous oxide or twin turbocharged engines.
“FuelTech has always had an incredible passion for Pro Mod racing, and we are thrilled to welcome them as the series sponsor of the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series,” noted Brad Gerber, NHRA vice president and chief development officer. “They have become a trusted name for many of the standout drivers and this is another great example of their dedication to the class. We are excited to see what the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag RAcing Series has in store for 2022.”
Here’s the schedule for the 2022 FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series:
March 10-14: Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fla. (Kris Thorne winner)
April 29-May 1: Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, zMAX Dragway, Charlotte
May 13-15: Virginia NHRA Nationals, Virginia Motorsports Park, Richmond, Va.
June 23-26: Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio
Aug. 12-14: Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor, Heartland Motorsports Park, Topeka, Kan.
Aug. 18-21: Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minn.
Aug. 31-Sept. 5: Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis
Sept. 23-25: NHRA Carolina Nationals, zMAX Dragway, Charlotte
Sept. 30-Oct. 2: NHRA Midwest Nationals, World Wide Technology Raceway, St. Louis
Oct. 13-16: Texas NHRA FallNationals, Texas Motorplex, Dallas
NHRA it seems like this is the first time this year we have heard anything about this popular category. Why aren’t they shown on TV with the other Pro classes?