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Alex Laughlin conquers Pro Mod at the Drag Illustrated World Doorslammer Nationals @ Orlando Speed World !!!

By wljphotography | May 3, 2020
Pulling double duty is nothing new for what I call one of the hardest working racers out there right now. A man that has raced Radial vs the World, Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Top Alcohol dragster and a few others, it is almost easier to list what categories he hasn’t driven in yet.
But back to the double duty topic, that is what he did at the Drag Illustrated World Doorslammer Nationals in Orlando Speedworld. We saw Laughlin behind the wheel of his Familiar Valvoline Sponsored Elite Motorsports Camaro, and also as the wheelman for the Caruso Family 69 Camaro Pro Mod, filling in for Marc Caruso who is still recovering from a horrific crash last season caused by a parachute malfunction.
 Alex started eliminations on the right foot, going in to the first round qualified in the number 3 spot. In what was the queickest NHRA Pro Mod field ever with a bump spot of 573 held by Bob Rahaim. That would have Laughlin facing off against Jim Whiteley in the 1st round. Alex turned on the win light with a solid 5.66 and on to round two to face Brazilian Sydney Frigo.
Alex drove his way to the win light after a quick tire shake recovery, beating Frigo who had problems of his own shitting off early.
Semi Finals had Michael Biehle taking on Laughlin. Biehle was looking very strong in elimnations, starting off beating reigning champ Steve Jackson in the first round.
This time Laughlin didn’t succumb to the turbo top end charge and got his ticket in to the final for the 50,000 dollar prize and a chance to be put in to the history books as the Pro Mod winner of the inaugural Drag Illustrated World Doorslammer Nationals.
In the finals Laughlin ended up against no easy task, having Todd “King Tutt” Tutterow in the other lane. King Tutt put a foot forward on Laughlin with a 0.42 to Laughlin’s 0.45.
A super charger explotion put Tutterow out against an already ahead Laughlin.
Team Caruso was quick to swarm the starting line beginning the celebration of what was an impressive feat, with having a driver getting used to a new car in just a few runs. Qualifying 3rd and ending up in the winner’s circle and 50,000 dollars richer!
Congratulations to the entire team on their victory, well deserved!

 Pro Chargers are here to stay:
Justin Bond was quick to lay the hammer down with a combination that made it’s start at this very event. The Pro Charger combination was recently accepted by NHRA to join the other 3 power adders that we are familiar with. So there was very little to go off on what these cars can really do under NHRA trim. But within a few round we saw that the Pro Chargers are a forced to be reckoned with. 

In the 4th qualifying round Justin laid down the quickest pass in NHRA Pro Mod history with a 5.623 @ 253mph, backed up by a 5.626 which he had already ran in Q3 in his Bickel built Bahrain1 sponsored Camaro.
We know how weights and other factors have been a popular topic in NHRA pro Mod over the last few seasons. Keeping parity with 4 different combinations is a challenge in its own. Not saying that will be the case right now, but when a new combination already goes faster than everybody in it’s first race, I am sure that already has some people scratching their heads.

Something is for sure folks, we are in for a very interesting NHRA Pro Mod season this year!
It doesn’t get any easier for Steve Jackson:
After coming from his best season yet in 2019 scoring a Pro Mod Championship with 4 victories including the last event of the season and finishing with 1017 points which that in it’s own was a record within the class; the first NHRA Pro Mod race of 20202 for the Georgia native didn’t go as planned.
A parachute failure had Jackson coming in contact with the wall in the 1st round of eliminations against Michael Biehle. That only added salt to the wound on what already was a tough 1st round loss.
A crash can never come in a “good” situation but when it happens the weekend before the Gatornationals, that makes it even worse.
 
For now the plan is to put Steve behind the wheel of the new Bahrain1 Camaro project originaly being scheduled to be driven by Jeffrey Barker, while the other car gets fixed. The team is pretty positive that they will have the car fixed by the time the Pro Mods get to Charlotte NC.
 

As we all know by know in the pandemic with the Covid-19 virus the Gatornationals  have been postponed until further notice. So lets see if that ends up giving the team some much more needed time to work on the repairs of Jackson’s Camaro.
As for Stevie ? that’s him about 30 mins. After the crash, keeping an eye on Jim Whiteley’s Corvette in the 1st round. Thank God he is ok!

The Car has already been repaired by Reese Brothers Race Cars and should be ready to go as soon as this pandemic blows over. Remember to stay safe folks, things might take a little longer than we would want, but our health and safety is more important. God Bless!

New 4 Cylinder World Record !!!
The shot heard around the world! History was made once again at Orlando Speedworld Dragway when Carl “Top Gun” Brunet from Canada, drove his way in to the history books by accomplishing the 1st ever 5 second pass for a 4 cylinder car in his Ecotec powered Pontiac GXP. Carl was running test and tune passes as part of the Drag Illustrated World Doorslammer Nationals.
Coverage brought you by: Willie’s Monster Shirts & Lubricants Of SWFL -Jose Villegas -Schaeffer’s Oil Sales Rep.
La noticia que corrio el mundo! Se vuelve a hacer historia en Orlando Speed World Dragway cuando Carl “Top Gun” Brunet dese Canada, piloteo su maquina hacia las paginas de la historia, al lograr correr el primer pase en los 5 segundos para un auto 4 cilindros en su Pontiac GXP que cuenta con motor Ecotec. Carl estuvo corriendo pases de prueba como parte del Drag Illustrated World Doorslammer Nationals
Some of the Pro Mod Presents…
Top Sportsman Final !!!
With a .000 reaction time and running dead on the dial, Top Sportsman standout Vonnie Mills got the win against Stanley Albritton in the Top Sportman final at the inaugural Drag Illustrated World Doorslammer Nationals at Orlando Speed World Dragway. Congratulations to the whole team!
Coverage brought to you by: Willie’s Monster Shirts & Lubricants Of SWFL -Jose Villegas -Schaeffer’s Oil Sales Rep.
Con una reaccion de .000 y corriendo su dial exacto, Vonnie Mills se se consagra como la ganadora de la categoria Top Sportman contra Stanley Albritton en el evento inaugural Drag Illustrated World Doorslammer Nationals en Orlando Speed World Dragway. Felicidades a todo el team!
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