Mon, 07 Sep 2026, 13:59 PM Pro Modified Round 2 Eliminations

By Rick Green

INDIANAPOLIS - Results of round 2 eliminations in Pro Modified at the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals:

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    2 Billy Banaka                          311 Peter Norton                 
E2   ****WINNER****  0.037  5.732 252.19                     0.023  5.775 248.43
 Prior rounds:
E1    (R Smith     ) 0.006  5.743 253.42      (T Wilson    ) 0.027  5.751 248.29
 Qualified:             #6  5.739 253.28                       #14  5.811 245.63

Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 56 percent, barometer 30.10 inches, adjusted altitude 2,560 feet, track temperature 115 degrees.

This is the first time Banaka and Norton have faced each other in eliminations.

Norton with the starting line advantage, but Banaka chased him down just past half track to take the win. Banaka with his quickest pass of the weekend for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
    3 Mike Stavrinos                          5 Derek Menholt                
E2   ****WINNER****  0.034  5.719 250.92                     0.041  6.354 164.39
 Prior rounds:
E1    (N Januik    ) 0.036  5.715 251.95      (K Rivenbark ) 0.014  5.739 249.95
 Qualified:             #4  5.720 251.95                        #5  5.732 251.34

Stavrinos is 2 - 0 against Menholt in prior events.

Stavrinos with the starting line advantage and never trailed for the win.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 6280 Justin Bond                           212 Stan Shelton                 
E2   ****WINNER****  0.030  5.684 254.47                     0.014  5.745 253.28
 Prior rounds:
E1    (C King      ) 0.035  5.669 252.99      (L Barnett   ) 0.021  5.748 251.30
 Qualified:             #1  5.654 255.00                        #9  5.749 252.43

Bond is 2 - 1 against Shelton in prior events.

Shelton with the starting line advantage, but Bond had the lead by 200 feet and never trailed from there on for the win. He makes the quickest pass of the round for the win and lane choice over Stavrinos in the semifinal.

 Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
 6911 Mike Thielen                            1 JR Gray                      
E2                   0.039  9.391  94.05     ****WINNER****  0.047  5.729 245.00
 Prior rounds:
E1    (S Frigo     ) 0.014  5.739 246.35      (A Laughlin  ) 0.005  5.758 233.56
 Qualified:            #10  5.756 244.29                        #2  5.693 252.76

Gray is 3 - 1 against Thielen in prior events.

Thielen with the starting line advantage, but shook and Gray is straight down the groove for the win. Gray will have lane choice over Banaka in the semifinal by 0.003 seconds.

Timing data courtesy of CompuLink