Billy Glidden Goes to the Finals in E-town… in a Turbo Car!

When you talk about drag racing the name Billy Glidden is likely to come up. Following in his dad’s footsteps, Billy has become a drag racing legend; especially in the nitrous world. Billy has won numerous championships, and set many records behind the wheel of nitrous powered Mustangs. So when Billy announced that he would be piloting the Precision Turbo and Engine, HPL, Mickey Thompson sponsored turbo Pro Mod Camaro, it definitely came as a shock to the entire drag racing community.

All eyes were on Billy at the NHRA Summernationals in Englishtown as he strapped into the PTE, M/T, HPL twin turbo Camaro for the first time. After facing mechanical issues in qualifying on Friday, he was able to secure the #13 spot in Q3 on Saturday with a 5.941 pass. Skipping to round two of eliminations Billy faced nitrous heavyweight Bob Rahaim. Rahaim led the race early, but Billy was able to use the big horse power from the Twin 88mm Precision Turbos to drive around him on the big end with a 5.920 to Rahaim’s 5.976.

Things got intense as Billy faced former Pro Mod World Champion and Rickie Smith’s team car driven by Khalid alBalooshi. Billy got off the line first with an impressive .008 reaction time and continued to put a gap between him and alBalooshi with a 5.902 to a 5.941. In the Semi-Finals Billy ran a 5.893 at 257.68 to Jim Whiteley’s 5.923 at 244.38, putting the doubt anyone had left to rest.

Now it’s the finals and Billy is going head to head with Troy Coughlin, both driving Precision Turbo powered cars, in pursuit of the Wally. This was the first all turbo Pro Mod final in quite some time, and was nothing short of epic! Both cars left the starting line together, however, Billy got on the tires early and clicked it off. Troy drove to the line for the win with a 5.878 to Billy’s 7.320.

Who would’ve thought after Glidden’s win last year at Summernationals against the PTE Camaro, that he would runner up at the same race this year piloting the PTE Camaro? Billy has seamlessly transitioned from his nitrous Mustang into his new Precision Turbocharged Pro Mod. This past weekend in Englishtown proved that not only can Billy drive a turbo car, but also made it very clear that the Precision Turbo, Mickey Thompson, HPL Lubricants Pro Mod Camaro is back…. and better than ever!