PHOTOGRAPH BY ROGER RICHARDS • PALM BEACH INTL. RACEWAY JUPITER, FLORIDA • SUNDAY, MARCH 6TH, 2011
QUICK RICKIE
Longtime chassis guru and doorslammer wheelman Rickie Jones poses with the No. 1 qualifier plaque he earned for leading the field of 23-plus Pro Mod entries at the inaugural Shakedown at Palm Beach. New York promoter David Hance launched the event as a spinoff to the beloved Shakedown at E-Town, which was eight years old at the time. Taking place early in the 2011 season, the event drew racers from across the country who hoped to take advantage of the warm Florida weather. Another hallmark of Florida weather— rain— plaqued the event, but the show went on with Jones qualifying No. 1 in his Pro Mod debut behind the wheel of a RJ Race Cars-built, nitrousfed’ 69 Camaro. He made it to the final round, where he fell to Shannon“ The Iceman” Jenkins in an RJ-built nitrous Camaro of his own. In the years since, Jones has hoisted an NHRA Wally as a Pro Stock driver, held many more— including numerous world championship versions— as a crew chief, and most recently joined Pro Line Racing as a Pro Mod tuner.
Drag Illustrated
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