Drag Illustrated Issue 139, December 2018 | Page 36

Dirt
NHRA Releases 2019 E3 Spark
Plugs Pro Mod Schedule
T
36 | D r a g
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
At the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nation-
als the racers in the wildly popular category will
compete on the biggest stage during the world’s
biggest drag race, the Chevrolet Performance U.S.
Nationals, Aug. 28-Sept. 2
The title chase will intensify during the last
three races of the year which begin in the shadow
of the Arch during the AAA Insurance NHRA
Midwest Nationals, at Gateway Motorsports Park
in St. Louis, Sept. 27-29.
Following the visit to St. Louis the series re-
turns to zMAX Dragway for the NHRA Caro-
lina Nationals, Oct. 11-13. The champion will be
crowned at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at Las
Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas on Oct. 24-27.
“When we signed on at the beginning of the year
one of the things we loved about pro mod racing
is that it is the pinnacle of sportsman racing,” said
Rob Fisher, vice president of motorsports, E3
Spark Plugs. “The cars look like actual cars on
the street, just stylized and even cooler. Where
else are you going to see superchargers, nitrous
and turbos going at it in an even platform? The
best part about it from our standpoint is you have
to get up on the wheel and drive these cars. It is
nothing to see a guy working the wheel down
the track going sideways and they stay in it. The
aggressive performance orientated vibe you get
from it really matches well and is what E3 is all
about. We are the different spark plug, we are the
unique spark plug, we are the technology spark
plug. It felt very natural to partner together.”
2019 E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing
Series presented by J&A Service Schedule
MARCH 14-17 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA
Gatornationals Gainesville, Fla.
APRIL 12-14 NHRA SpringNationals Houston
APRIL 26-28 NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-
Wide Nationals Charlotte, N.C.
MAY 3-5 NHRA Southern Nationals Atlanta
MAY 17-19 Virginia NHRA Nationals
Richmond, Va.
JUNE 7-9 Menards NHRA Heartland
Nationals Topeka, Kan.
JUNE 14-16 Fitzgerald NHRA Thunder Valley
Nationals Bristol, Tenn.
JUNE 20-23 Summit Racing Equipment
NHRA Nationals Norwalk, Ohio
AUG. 28-SEPT. 2 Chevrolet Performance U.S.
Nationals Indianapolis
SEPT. 27-29 AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest
Nationals St. Louis
OCT. 11-13 NHRA Carolina Nationals
Charlotte, N.C.
OCT. 24-27 NHRA Las Vegas
Nationals Las Vegas
Issue 139
he 2019 schedule for the thrilling
E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag
Racing Series presented by J&A Service
has been announced and will feature 12
stops across the country during the busy season.
“The E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag
Racing Series presented by J&A Service series fea-
tures intense racing action at each event during
the year,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA vice president,
and chief development officer. “The competition
level is second to none and even making a 16-
car field is a feat unto itself. Hoisting the Wally
trophy on Sunday in the category is a worthy
accomplishment for any of the racers.”
The year will kick-off at the traditional season
opener at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatorna-
tionals in Gainesville, Fla. on March 14-17. Teams
will have spent the busy off season preparing for
the start of the year with the hopes of race wins
during the course of the year.
The season continues with two thrilling con-
secutive race weekends including the NHRA
SpringNationals at Houston, April 12-14, and
then will race four-wide at the NGK Spark Plugs
NHRA four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway
on April 26-28.
The series will race into Atlanta Dragway,
Georgia’s House of Speed for the NHRA South-
ern Nationals on May 3-5. The Virginia NHRA
Nationals in Richmond, Va. will play host to
the category for their fifth event of the year on
May 17-19.
The summer months heat up with three con-
secutive events that will test the determination
and resiliency of the racers and their dedicated
crews. The trio of events starts at the Menards
NHRA Heartland Nationals on June 7-9. The
NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals will follow dur-
ing the traditional Father’s Day weekend, June
14-16, at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn. The
stretch concludes with the Summit Racing Equip-
ment NHRA Nationals, June 20-23, at Summit
Racing Equipment Motorsports in Norwalk, Ohio.