Longtime Ford Pro Stock racer Robert Patrick has decided to write a new chapter in his storied racing career. The past mountain motor Pro Stock champion turned 500-inch NHRA racer is prepared to debut his first Pro Modified entry this weekend during the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway located on the grounds of Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Patrick will pilot a Rickie Smith-tuned, electronic fuel injected 2012 Ford Mustang built by Jerry Bickel Race Cars. The 903-inch engine from master large displacement engine builder Sonny Leonard will employ nitrous oxide.

This is an abrupt change of direction for the Fredericksburg, Va.-based driver of the Purvis Ford/Easy Care-sponsored driver.

“We came into this season planning to run Pro Stock based on the off-season engine gains made by Bob Ingles in our 500-inch program,” Patrick explained. “While we had some significant sponsorship deals working for 2012, none of them really panned out in time for this season. We had enough funding on our own to run a significant part time schedule. In the end, the lack of major sponsorship at the time and the need to couple those horsepower gains with r & d, along with more races, made us step back and look at the big picture.

“We had a really good 500-inch program but if you really want to make a big impact in this class, you really have to have your own in-house program and run all of the races. We had, through my dad [Eli Patrick] and Don Beverley put together an exceptional engine program with Sonny Leonard and Bob [Ingles]. We were really close to where we needed to be.

While Patrick is a seasoned veteran, sometimes it takes another set of veteran eyes to see the big picture.

Credit Rickie Smith, a legend in doorslammer racing, for inspiring this dyed-in-the-wool Pro Stock racer to consider racing with nitrous oxide in Pro Modified.

“Rickie just pointed out for what I was spending to be part of the program in Pro Stock, that I could take the same amount and be a front-runner in nitrous Pro Mod racing,” explained Patrick. “Plus it became apparent there were more opportunities within 5 hours of my home to race this style of car.”

Patrick has known grown up in admiration of Smith’s drag racing talents.

“Before I could drive on the street legally, I knew and revered Rickie Smith,” explained Patrick. “Back then, the mountain motor Pro Stock cars were the fast doorslammers of the day. There was no Pro Modified. My dad used to have Rickie come to our family dealership to sign autographs. It was a big deal to me when he came to town. Getting to race on the same team with him is a dream come true.”

Smith will oversee the tuning duties on Patrick’s new 2012 Jerry Bickel Mustang. The car will feature an electronic fuel injected, 903-inch engine from Sonny Leonard. Assisting on the crew will be longtime crew chief Rich Purdy as well as past Pro Modified world champion Scott Cannon Jr. Pro Modified EFI expert Pat Musi will be involved in the program as well. Nitrous expert Brandon Switzer will round out the nitrous dream team.

This championship caliber lineup of talent has Patrick brimming with excitement.

“Excited just doesn’t adequately explain the feelings I have now,” Patrick said. “I really feel we have a great group here. I feel good about our chances and while I know that I have a lot to learn about nitrous racing, I do know the set-up is similar to a mountain motor Pro Stocker and that’s something I do know a lot about.

“I am surrounded by a group of people who know how to win and this excites me. This is a new chapter I am excited to write.”

Patrick plans to run a number of NHRA Pro Modified presented by Pro Care RX events, as well as hitting the ADRL Pro Nitrous and Northeast Outlaw Pro Modified tour.

“The car has shown a lot of early potential,” said Patrick. “I’m just excited to get back out there and start having fun again.”