Sun, 27 Sep 2026, 13:26 PM Pro Modified Round 1 Eliminations |
By Rick Green |
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - Results of round 1 eliminations in Pro Modified at the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock:
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 44 Mike Castellana 6280 Justin Bond E1 0.027 5.679 253.24 ****WINNER**** 0.028 5.665 255.54 Qualified: #12 5.681 253.24 #5 5.637 257.58Weather conditions: air temperature 76 degrees, relative humidity 44 percent, barometer 29.85 inches, adjusted altitude 2,108 feet, track temperature 91 degrees.
Justin Bond is 40-21 overall in
Round 1. Mike Castellana is 2-1 against Bond in Round 1.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 211 Tony Wilson 212 Stan Shelton E1 ****WINNER**** 0.001 10.055 86.72 -0.008 5.684 251.68 Qualified: #4 5.636 253.24 #13 5.688 255.83Tony Wilson's three wins against Stan Shelton are the most he has against any opponent. Shelton is 16-19 in Round 1.
Wilson is 3 - 1 against Shelton in prior events.
Shelton goes red to give
Wilson the win. Wilson with severe tire shake and clicked it off. He will give up lane choice Bond
in the next round.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 205 Lyle Barnett 5 Derek Menholt E1 -0.009 5.772 241.16 ****WINNER**** 0.111 5.685 252.10 Qualified: #16 5.727 251.40 #1 5.631 248.89This is Derek Menholt's third No. 1 qualifying position of the year. The No. 16 qualifier is 2-6 in Round 1 this season.
Menholt is 1 - 0 against Barnett in prior events.
Barnett goes red to
give Menholt the win.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 6911 Mike Thielen 43 Rickie Smith E1 0.032 5.722 248.07 ****WINNER**** 0.042 5.673 253.24 Qualified: #14 5.692 250.28 #3 5.636 254.81This will be the 83rd different driver Rickie Smith has faced in Pro Mod. Shane Gray is making his first Pro Mod start.
Thielen with the starting line advantage, but Smith chased him down for the win.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 280 Steve Jackson 2 Billy Banaka E1 ****WINNER**** 0.024 5.671 247.39 0.066 5.664 256.41 Qualified: #6 5.638 255.97 #11 5.676 256.26Steve Jackson's 115 round wins are the third-most in Pro Mod history. Billy Banaka is 32-32 in his Pro Mod career.
Jackson is 2 - 1 against Banaka in prior events.
Jackson with the starting line advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 225 Kevin Rivenbark 3 Mike Stavrinos E1 -0.006 5.788 247.25 ****WINNER**** 0.050 5.669 251.54 Qualified: #10 5.674 253.24 #7 5.642 255.39Mike Stavrinos is 15-6 in Round 1 during his career. Kevin Rivenbark is 0-1 against Stavrinos in Round 1.
Stavrinos is 2 - 0 against Rivenbark in prior events.
Rivenbark goes red to give
Stavrinos the win.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed 54 Shane Gray 1 JR Gray E1 0.022 5.736 249.86 ****WINNER**** 0.009 5.705 251.40 Qualified: #15 5.717 250.56 #2 5.635 255.68JR Gray is 6-0 in Round 1 when qualifying No. 2. Mike Thielen is 1-4 against Gray.
JR with a
great light and never trailed for the win. He will give up lane choice to Stavrinos in the next
round.
Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT-----ET---Speed-----Car#-Driver(Opp'nt)-RT----ET---Speed
9 Chip King 729 Nick Januik
E1 0.043 5.681 255.83 ****WINNER**** 0.031 5.691 253.24
Qualified: #9 5.662 251.96 #8 5.655 255.68
No. 8 is Nick Januik's best starting position. Chip King is making his 52nd start.This is the first time King and Januik have faced each other in eliminations.
Januik with the starting line
advantage and the power to hold on for the hole shot win in a close one. Nick Januik's MOV: 0.0020
seconds (approximately 9 inches). He will give up lane choice to Menholt in the next round.
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