Drag Illustrated Issue 114, October 2016 | Page 94

BOB RAHAIM

94 | D r a g

I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com

TOGETHER
A family atmosphere provides the
backbone of Bob Rahaim’s recent string
of success in the Pro Mod world. Rahaim
won the ADRL Pro Nitrous world title
in 2012 and claimed his first NHRA Pro
Mod Series win in 2015, finishing third
in the highly-competitive class each of
the past two seasons. His team, led by
crew chief Chris Bell, have continued to
be forward-thinkers with their nitrous
set-up and continue to take impressive
steps forward each season.

ping-stone,” Rahaim said. “We were discussing
who could take over (as crew chief ), and I had a
good relationship throughout the years with Chris
Bell and we had been running his shocks anyway.
I wasn’t up to speed with how well versed he is at
so many different things – as far as being a crew
chief is concerned. I just called him to see if he
was interested, and through the course of a few
conversations we just put something together.

We clicked instantly.”
As simple as that sounds, it’s an ideal illustration of how Rahaim operates, both on and
off the track. Rahaim’s successful career as a
businessman is rooted in trust and family values, two matters he takes very seriously. It’s also
two aspects that are expected of each member
of the team. Though Rahaim’s transition from
up-and-comer to perennial contender, it’s been

Issue 114

PHOTOS: IAN TOCHER

131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich. in 2008.
He attended that and then the ADRL’s event in
Norwalk that year before making his debut in
Pro Nitrous in 2009.
After showing impressive signs in 2011, advancing to his first semifinal, Rahaim was dynamite a
year later, winning the world championship on
the strength of three victories and five final-round
appearances. It was an incredible opportunity for
Rahaim to celebrate as a team and it would have
been just as easy for the then 52-year-old to go
out on top. But there were other opportunities to
be conquered and Rahaim didn’t want to leave
any “what-if ” moments out there.
“Everything you do in life in general, from the
time you’re born almost, is about competition,
you know,” Rahaim said. “Whether it’s school
or athletics, even if it’s competition to have the
best grade-point average,
there’s competition involved. As you get older,
you try to be successful
in business and I just
think competition built
this great country we live
in, and many of the role
models that were influences on my life were just people that helped fuel that
passion to be competitive
and strive to be the best.
You can’t sit still because
you’re going to get passed
up or you’re going to age
quickly. It’s better off to keep yourself active, keep
challenging yourself and God-willing, you’re going to get t