VON SMITH & BARWA RACING PRO MOD TEAM SET FOR GSA NHRA PRO MOD DEBUT AT GATORNATIONALS
Al-Anabi Racing Group March 9, 2010 Contact: Wes Buck, 660.216.9779 cell; wesbuckinc@gmail.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VON SMITH & BARWA RACING PRO MOD TEAM SET FOR GSA NHRA PRO MOD DEBUT AT GATORNATIONALS (3-9-10) OAK RIDGE, Tennessee – Just weeks after finishing out the 2009-10 Arabian Drag Racing League series at the Qatar Race Club with an impressive runner-up placing in the world championship points standings, Von Smith and the Barwa Racing Pro Modified team are ready to represent the massive real estate and construction conglomerate on the Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series tour. “Honestly, I couldn’t be more excited to be back racing in the NHRA,” said Von Smith, driver of the team’s Pro Modified 1968 Chevrolet Camaro. “We’ve been honored to be able to race and contend for a championship on behalf of Sheikh Khalid and Al-Anabi Racing in the Arabian Gulf Region, but we’re happy to be back racing on our home soil and are hopeful we can see the same degree of success here in the United States.” Smith continued, “With the announcement at the end of last year’s season that the NHRA was going to consider Pro Modified an official class, we knew we had to be a part of it. I don’t think there is any denying that the cars, drivers and crew chiefs that make up this GSA NHRA Pro Mod Series represent the best in the world and that’s where we want to be – competing against the best of the best.” The Oak Ridge, Tennessee-based team’s pre-season testing has been limited, though, as they spent what is considered the off-season in America competing in the Arabian Drag Racing League’s Pro Extreme division overseas. Barwa Racing’s legendary crew chief, Howard Moon, is no stranger to the winner’s circle and has quickly re-acclimated himself to the “legal” tune-up that earned him four world championships and rights to the NHRA Pro Mod Crew Chief of the Year award in 2005/2006. “Howard [Moon] and the whole Barwa Racing team have been working their tails off to put me in a car that we can go out and win races with, right out of the gate,” says Smith. “We’ve been away from the 20% overdrive deal for a while now, so we’ve had to get back up to speed, but we’re looking to pick up right where we left off this weekend in Gainesville.” Smith and Moon, who will run as part of a two-car supercharged Pro Modified team under the Al-Anabi Racing umbrella in 2010 with Arabian Gulf Region standout driver K.A. Balooshi, led by tuners Jeff Perley and Justin Elkes, are eager to mix it up with the best the sport has to offer, but just as excited about being part of the National Hot Rod Association’s traveling production. “Like I said, we’re truly excited about 2010 and having the opportunity to race for a legendary NHRA Wally trophy in Pro Modified; we’re seeing this class taken to the next level – no doubt about it. It’s going to be a big year for Pro Mod,” concluded Smith. “I’m just glad we get to be a part of it.” The Barwa Racing Pro Modified team will get to work later this week, starting with the opening two rounds of qualifying for the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Florida on Friday, March 12th, with a final session slated for Saturday afternoon and Round 1 of eliminations that evening. Final eliminations will get underway on Sunday the 14th at 11:00 AM. For more information on the Barwa Racing Pro Modified team and Al-Anabi Racing, log onto www.qrczone.com