Nitrous trumps ’charger cars at Gatornationals

Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Steve Gruenwald, Todd Dziadosz and Debbie Gastelu

Khalid Balooshi’s Speedtech-backed Camaro had it go all his way at the Gatornationals.  (action photo by Steve Gruenwald / winner’s circle photo by Todd Dziadosz)

The 2011 season, according to the experts, was going to be the year that turbocharged Pro Mods dominated the NHRA Get Screened America Series. That scenario may still prove to be the case, but at the first race of the season the nitrous oxide cars were at the top of the qualifying charts and Khalid Balooshi’s nitrous-powered car found its way to the winner’s circle beating Danny Rowe’s supercharged ‘Vette. 

Over the winter the NHRA tech department made rule changes for the Pro Mod class designed to “level the playing field” so that nitrous, supercharged and turbocharged Pro Mods made about the same amount of horsepower.

To do this the blower cars had their maximum overdrive of the supercharger reduced to 114 percent from 120 percent. The turbo combinations had their maximum inlet area reduced to 91mm but the nitrous oxide cars rules remained unchanged.