LAS VEGAS – In a thrilling winner-take-all final round in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series on Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, J.R. Gray clinched his first career NHRA world championship by taking down Billy Banaka to close out the season as part of the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection.

The event was the final of 10 races in NHRA Pro Mod and the last of the category’s four-race “Road to the Championship” playoffs was powered by JBS Equipment.

Gray, who won three races in the regular season, was stellar on Sunday as the stakes grew with each passing round. He defeated Alex Laughlin, Kevin Rivenbark and past world champion Mike Castella to reach the final round, setting up the high-stakes championship round against Banaka.

Gray left first with a sterling .028 reaction time and never looked back, pulling away from Banaka with a run of 5.749-seconds at 250.04 mph in his Al-Anabi Performance Camaro, clinching the event win and, more importantly, the world championship for the very first time in the NHRA ranks. Continue reading →

LAS VEGAS – The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series closes its 2025 season this weekend at The Strip Las Vegas Motor Speedway and with a bevy of championship contenders, it will be a frenetic and intense fight to the finish to determine this year’s world champion.

It is the last of 10 races during the 2025 campaign and the final of four races in Pro Mod’s “Road to the Championship,” and the title is anything but determined heading into this weekend’s Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals presented by Direct Connection. On the Pro Mod side, the final race is also powered by JBS Equipment.

On the strength of his four-wide win in Charlotte, Billy Banaka still has the points lead, but it’s a small one, as he leads Michael Stavrinos by just 11 points heading into Vegas. Derek Menholt, who won the most recent race in St. Louis, is third and 16 points back, while J.R. Gray, who dominated the regular season, is fourth and just 24 points behind. Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – Two races after advancing to his first career final round in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, Derek Menholt picked up his first career victory on Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway, defeating former world champion Mike Castellana in the final round of the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals.

It marked the third of the category’s four-race “Road to the Championship” playoffs and the event, which is the ninth of 10 in 2025, was powered by Jerry Bickel Race Cars and M&M Transmission.

In the final round, Castellana left first, but his car ran into trouble, opening the door for Menholt, who had engine difficulties late in the run but hung on for the memorable victory with a run of 6.468-seconds at 137.01 mph.

Menholt was the runner-up in Indianapolis at the playoff opener and he made sure to finish the job this weekend in St. Louis, defeating Dmitry Samorukov, Ken Quartuccio and J.R. Gray to reach the final round. Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – Fresh off his first career victory in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, Billy Banaka now finds himself as the man to beat heading into this weekend’s playoff race as part of the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.

The wild, four-wide victory in Charlotte vaulted Banaka into the points lead with only two races remaining in the 2025 season. The trip to St. Louis marks the third event in the “Road to the Championship” playoffs and Banaka’s win handed him a 34-point lead over Michael Stavrinos.

It’s already been a wild postseason in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod class, but Banaka is riding high after the victory and hopes to keep rolling at the penultimate race of the season at World Wide Technology Raceway.

“It was a wild and unforgettable day in Charlotte,” Banaka said. “Honestly, when I saw the red light flash, I thought the win was gone – I really believe I had lost. But the way the cards fell and thanks to my crew, my family and everyone behind me, it worked out. Continue reading →

Media Box of the Pro Mod Final Round from Sunday: PRO MOD MEDIA BOX

CONCORD, NC – In a wild final round, Billy Banaka picked up his first career victory in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series on Sunday at zMAX Dragway, defeating Mike Castellana, Sidnei Frigo and Mason Wright in a chaotic final quad at the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals.

It marked the second of the category’s four-race “Road to the Championship” playoffs and the event, which is the eighth of 10 in 2025, was powered by Shelton Insurance and Real Estate in Charlotte.

Banaka went red at the starting line, but Wright rolled the starting line beams before him and both Frigo and Castella left before the tree was activated. Banaka then went 6.551-seconds at 140.63 mph and narrowly missed crossing the starting line. But he still picked up the victory in what was the first-ever playoff four-wide race in NHRA Pro Mod history.

“It’s very memorable. It was a little screwed up, but I thought I’d lost, really,” said Banaka. “I think the whole thing was a mess up, but it worked out in my favor. I’d like to thank my wife for being here, my crew chief, my whole family at home, my kids and my whole crew. They did a great job.” Continue reading →

CONCORD, NC – Coming off the biggest win of his career in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, Michael Stavrinos is primed for a run at the championship in the class.

His victory in Indy at the prestigious Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals was the perfect start to the four-race “Road to the Championship” playoffs in the category and Stavrinos is eager to continue his hot streak at this weekend’s NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

The four-wide spectacle adds a whole new thrilling dynamic to the playoff race in Pro Mod and Stavrinos can’t wait to get the weekend going in his Al-Anabi Performance Camaro.

“Winning at Indy is the highlight of my career so far and to come out of such a historic race with the Wally and the points lead is an incredible feeling,” Stavrinos said. “Our team has worked tirelessly to get here and carrying that momentum into Charlotte gives us a lot of confidence.” Continue reading →

INDIANAPOLIS – Mike Stavrinos drove to the biggest win in his Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series career on Monday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, taking down Derek Menholt in the championship round at the 71st annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals.

The world’s biggest drag race started the category’s four-race “Road to the Championship” playoffs and the event, which is the seventh of 10 in 2025, was powered by Logan Industries.

Stavrinos advanced to the final round at The Big Go last year but fell to Ken Quartuccio in heartbreaking fashion. The standout got his redemption on Monday against Menholt, going 5.719-seconds at 251.63 mph in his Al-Anabi Performance Chevrolet Camaro to pull away for the impressive victory.

It is Stavrinos’ third win this season, but Monday’s will certainly stand tall as he moves in to the points lead as well.

To reach the final round for fourth time this season, Stavrinos defeated Chip King, Sidnei Frigo and No. 1 qualifier Stevie Jackson. Continue reading →

DINWIDDIE, VA – J.R. Gray extended his incredible run in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series on Sunday at Virginia Motorsports Park, defeating Dmitry Samorukov in the final round to claim his third win in the past four races as part of this weekend’s American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals.

It was the sixth of 10 races during the 2025 NHRA Pro Mod season and this weekend’s event was powered by DPFXFIT by GESi to close out the regular season in the category.

Gray closed out the regular season in style in his Al-Anabi Performance Camaro, continuing a dominant run with a pass of 5.787-seconds at 251.49 mph to defeat Samorukov, who had an unfortunate showing in the championship round.

Samorukov lost control shortly off the starting line, hitting the left guardwall. He crossed the center line and then hit the right guardwall before coming to a stop. Samorukov was alert and exited the car under his own power and was examined onsite by NHRA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Surface before being released. Continue reading →