The FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports competed over the weekend at Gainesville Raceway as part of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.
This was the first of ten races scheduled for the 2023 Pro Mod season and officials introduced a new playoff-style scoring format for the highly popular doorslammer class.
Pro Mod drivers will complete their regular season at the sixth event of the FuelTech NHRA drag racing series. After the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk on June 22-25 (which will pay points and a half), the top ten drivers in points standings and all drivers who met the minimum qualifying requirements at the six regular-season events will compete for the title.
The Road to the Championship will include the final four FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod events that includes Brainerd, Indy, and St. Louis with the championship round hosted at the NHRA Nevada Nationals on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 26-29. To sweeten the pot for Pro Mod teams and E3 Spark Plugs racing fans, competitors will also receive points and half for finale.
Justin Bond Wins FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Opener
In addition to the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series nitro and pro stock classes, the 54th annual Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals featured the FuelTech Pro Mod Series presented by Type A Motorsports. J.R. Gray Jr., who has the reputation as one the most feared grudge racers in the country, showed up at Gainesville Raceway ready to go. His 5.731 ET in round two of qualifying boosted him to Number One qualifier ahead of Justin Bond and defending Pro Mod World Champion Kris Thorne.
JR Gray Jr. defeated Stan Shelton, Mike Thielen, and Mike Castellana enroute to his final round matchup with Justin Bond. Gray had a near perfect start with a .001 reaction time against Castellana. Not to go unnoticed, Justin Bond had .016, .012, and .010 RTs to eliminate Dwayne Wolfe, Doug Winters, and Kris Thorne. Although Gray grabbed an advantage off the tree, he had his hands full with tire shake and Bond posted a 5.732 ET for the win.
photo courtesy NHRA
UP COMING:
Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals
Round two of the 2023 regular points season for the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Racing Series will be conducted at the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on April 28-30 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
