Looking to repeat in likely what will be his final season as a driver, NHRA Pro Modified point leader Rickie Smith has three other fellow competitors hoping to rain on what could be his final parade. Troy Coughlin, Mike Janis and Von Smith are all less than 100 points behind the iconic driver.

“It would be great to win a second straight championship,” Smith said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to win a lot of races and championships and to be on the tail end of my career and to have a chance to pull off back-to-back championships would be pretty awesome. If I could pull it off that would be great.”

Looking to repeat in likely what will be his final season as a driver, NHRA Pro Modified point leader Rickie Smith has three other fellow competitors hoping to rain on what could be his final parade. Troy Coughlin, Mike Janis and Von Smith are all less than 100 points behind the iconic driver.

“It would be great to win a second straight championship,” Smith said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to win a lot of races and championships and to be on the tail end of my career and to have a chance to pull off back-to-back championships would be pretty awesome. If I could pull it off that would be great.”

The dual event in St. Louis, completing both the scheduled event and the postponed Pep Boys NHRA Nationals from Charlotte, didn't do Smith any favors. The combination of two early exits tightened up what appeared to be a runaway title defense.  

Troy Coughlin was seventh in points leaving Indy, and ranks second after winning the Charlotte race and going to the quarter finals in St. Louis. Von Smith’s final round appearance in St. Louis put him ahead of Danny Rowe and Steve Matusek to grab the fourth spot. Mike Janis went to the finals of the Charlotte race, but an early exit in the St. Louis race bumped him down to the No. 3 spot.